New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-09-08
freed BY Bloodlounds.
Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Free Press.
was among the first batch of pris-
oners sent from the overcrowded pris-
| ons OF Richmond to Andersonville-,At
that time there was nothing dismalsin
the place, andthe prisoners received
fair rations and We're humanely treat
ed. 1t was the custom to permit
gangs OF us 80 go out every second
morning after wood, each gang of from
SIX to ten prisoners being in charge Of
from one to. three guards. It was
hardly to be supposed that any of us,
ragged, penniless and in the middle OF
the Confederacy, would make q dash
for liberty, and we were given censid-
cradle latitude while outside the stock.
ade. On several occasions wandered
quite out Of sight OF the guards and
took my own time to return, and this
seeming carelessness on their part E.
nally gave me the idea OF seeking to
make my escape.
A fellow prisoner was WELL acquaint-
ed with. that portion OF Georgia, and,
while he would not join mein an at
/, tempt to escape, he advised me in case
was determined to try it, to make
for Alabama across the pine barrens
and then head for Tennessee. 1t was
/ long and perilous Journey, but
there was a chance that. / might get
through. had a $40! greenback con-
cealed in one OF the. buttons of my
blouse, and for five days I laid aside
! a portion OF my rations. Then, one
morning when my gang was to go out,
/; 1 placed the surplus food in my peck,
ct, babe my friends goodbye, and
marched out determined to brave all
risks of an escape. We proceeded to
a point about quarter OF a mile
from the stoekade, and while the
guards sat down on logs or stumps,
we began gathering fagots. I at once
edged away for the woods, and was
no sooner concealed by the pines than
started OFF on my trip. The gang
would be granted:.half an hour at
least, and 1 ought to be two miles
away, and probably was, before Twas
missed. / made this distance at fast
walk, and then covered two or three
miles more at "dog trot." Iexpect-
ed to hear the report of q cannon to
signify my escape, but none came, and
hurried along hoping that the gang
had been marched back without my
absence being discovered This, as l
atterward ascertained, proved to be
the case. l headed slightly to the
northwest, calculating to pass near
Columbus, on the state line. Itravel.
ed FIVE miles before I came to a creek,
and in this waded for about half
mile before taking to the barrens again.
l was in pretty good condition, and
my purpose was to push ahead as fast
as possible until l had put fifteen or
twenty miles between me and the pris-
| on pen. did not rest moment for
fully four hours, and l knew that
Travelled at least seventeen miles in
that time. Five miles from the first
creek came to another, and | waded
down this for about mile, although
there were several spots where the
bed was almost dry OF water. At noon
! sat down under treeto rest. Ihad
just crossed a highway, and from
where l sat could see log house
about mile away. was not
only very hungry, but very tired, and
presume sat there for an hour.
was about to get up and resume my
| journey, when l heard the distant
bark OF bloodhounds. 1t had hardly
reached my ears before a second bark
answered it. had never heard that
bloodhounds were used to run down
prisoners, and therefore had no idea
the dogs were after me- The last mile
Travelled before resting was across the
edge of a swamp. There was not
much water, but the ground was
damp. The dogs had just struck this
piece of ground when l heard their
cries. Presently they gave tongue
again, and thereafter at intervals for
the next quarter of an hour. They
were bothered to pick up the scent,
but were slowly approaching me.
had risen to my feet to start off when
colored man came running up from
the highway and called out:
cam you one o. dem Yankees from
An ersonville?"
EYES," I answered without hesita
ton.
"Den climb tree quick, fur de-
bloodhounds am on your track"
He ran away at this, and | started
of at my best speed. l had made
about eighty rods when the hounds
called out in a voice that meant they
had sighted me. There were trees
| all about me, and 1 turned aside and
Skinned" up one about the size o.
my body, having to go fifteen feet be-
/ fore l found place to rest. was
hardly up before the dogs were at the
foot of the tree and making the most
determined efforts to reach me- l was
safe from them, however, and ate,
about fifteen minutes waiting four
cavalrymen rode up, and was order.
ed to come down. I was made to
take a "dog trot" all the way back to
I the Oen, and upOn arriving there