The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-06-27
WAR MEMORIES.
A STORY OF ESCAPE FROM A SOUTHERN PRISON.


written by capt. IRA u. SAMPSON Of the second
Heavy Artillery, FOR the Springfield Republican,
Inc Union .b garrison o. ~ O. after
1904, and | was reported wounded and a prisoner.
Is not my purpose TO recount The hardshps OF my
prison life NJ the South Their story has often been
told and are already matters OF history. The atroci
Ties aud prvaions Incident to prison life In the Con-
upon two thoughts-the hope OF exchange or the
possibility Of escape. These bucycd him above each
recurring ,s III and were ever the source OF nspra-
often deferred made sick the heart OF many q man
who had dreamed OF regainlng freedom through cx
change g, ana large numbers made desperate attempts
After three months confinement In the prison pen
mp for removal. we were a light brigade and
especially lifted for n dying column Our only bur-
den was the ,aitered clothes upon our backs, while
The amount OF rations assigned us while on the way
was considerably proportional to our strength. We
were not surprised at the order to move a. "fresh
fish" new arrivals OF prlsonera) had informed us
that Gen. sherman was on what proved TO DO his
atlanta, only eighty miles distant. SO about the
last OF July we were STATED for the coast. A plan
Q, escape by SELLING the train between Savannah and
frustrated BY division Of the prisoners, onc-half
being sent TO each OF the two cities.
acre and half In extent. Al the Time Of our arrival
board fence about fifteen feet high along the guard
line, with elevated sentry boxes built up on the ont
ns 5 NE ss feet se ~ an 81
aided nclosure were carefully noted nv anxious eyes
slbiliiIes OF escape. There were two trees. about
twenty inches Ia diameter and fifteen feet apart,
cieniiy distant from the sentry boxes on either side
to make them suitable covert for an escape by dig
Cling under the fence. at once formed the purpose
tn make an attempt at this point, and cOnnded my
plan to a trusted conirade. We decided TO await n
very dark or stormy night for the venture.
occurred tempest with vivid lightning and torrents
OF rain. gave Into my comrades keeping every
WORK. Ny plan was to tunnel IN ansr The Gesdlne,
then pass over to the guard line between the two
trees, and tunnel under the stocsa,ie. About 10
vanced To the dead line fence with nothing save an
old case knife had hardly begun digging beneath
| sentry posted on the other side OF the camp some
fifteen rods distant. hastily Withdrew before his
The gun failing to discharge, tho camp was not
alarmed mr. was the corporal OF the guard called
on reaching " my quarters found my CSrsre had
low In the track OF my next attempt should sue
coed In passing the fences There were, 10 addition
Dickerson, Sixteenth Uonneciicut Volunteers, OF
Hartford, NOW deadly Lieut. =. w. McManus, Lieut.
the twenty seventh Massachusetts Volunteers
After half hour started forward, this time with
the purpose OF jumping the dead lime and combining
my iunneling to the outside stockale. In my pre-.
vous hasty retreat had left behind my trusly case
knife, hut, securing another, made my way toward
| the sentinel who hal before discovered me, care.
| fully keeping between US tent occupied by the
senior Union Oicer OF the camp 1t Is not possible
to adequately convey an iiea OF the intense feeling
crowdlne such moments of peril. vig,lant guards
| with loaded muskeis p0ste, on every side were try
lngio pierce the gloom only too nnxions To sli not
down the luck!ess prisoner who should dare TO ap.
| proach that line OF DEATH The honor OF promotion
was potent Incentive 10 our cruel guard, for this
| was The reward for shooting a tOO-venturesome
Union prisoner. After binding Hash of lightning In
which liked my Objective point, ran forward, and
bound, and quickly reached the outer st0ckaie be-
tween the sheltering trees before another flash could
reveal my movements began at once to dig nnd 4,
two sentnels to the right aud left. The water ran
In rivuleis over the gronnd filling my excavation
almost ~ fast as the soil was removed. Unfortu'
natey my knife broke at the outset forcing me to do
the entire work with my hands. But II was the way
TO liberty anil no demand was too great that prom
lsed It's achievement. The gathering waters. how.
ever. snftened the ground for my hands, 80 that
had place large enough to warrant escape as
sticks and small stones back 10 where my comrades
were to be awaiting my signal OF success, sought
to advise them OF the completion OF my work. The
effort In vain, for, ~ sfterward learned, they
| had remained under shelter till such time AZ
they thought sufficient for the work, when as they
came forward toward tho place, they heard what
seemed the discharge OF firearms, and seeing lights
moving rapidly outside the st0ckade. concluded
To me delay was dangerous, for 1t was nearly time
for relieving guard, and the irenched AMI weary
men the posts could be much easier avoided than
| the fresh ones soon to replace them. so defer
| mined to attempt escape alone. The wafer n!le,l
my excavation 10 the brim, reaching the boards OF
the stocka,le which skinned lis surface Nothing
,launed, with long breath anu closed eyes, male
dive for life and liberty to nnl on reaching the
outside only room enough tn get nv head out and
above water, while my body remained under and my
legs the inner side Of the fence It was plight
| as ridiculous IA uncomfortable, hui II was no time
to phtl0sOphize or varlllaie an with mouth jus
above water 1 soiiened the earth underneath aud
around my shoulders with my angers, forcing II u
the rear until was able to exiricate myself.
The next aud pressing question was what to do
AKIN 10 hs afsns when s, s hsuas
wondering what they are and what to do with them
The difficulties OF my position were painfully appa
rent. on either side, 10 close range, were two
guards. whom the nashes OF lightning revealed lean
ing back In their sentry boxes for protection from
the peltinK rain, with eyes firmly fixed upon the
prison camp. Near by were the quarters anu guart
of the garrison and on every side vgilant enemy
stockade to detect the escape Of ncsless prisoners
Between myself and the coveted prize Of freedom
were miles OF ncHe,ea on highway ant
/ most as unsafe In my ignorance TO trust myself
II MY body, too. was AZ uncomfortable as my mind
| My clothing was heavy with water and Shiny mud
rendering motion slow and laboriOus Cautiously
Withdrew from the fence and the hated prison lie
hospital that the "relIei" were already on Incl
rounds and movements none too soon TO avoid thei
vigilance Reaching the street and taking the direc
led to Fort Pulaski on the coast, | made my wa
down the road The intensity 2t the storm appar
and gea,s Of thunder rapidly followed each c,he
eral lines during The night Tell to tho ground be
fore what seemed 70 me the noise Of pokets upo
the road preparing 10 nre, experiencing by anticlpa
ton all the anguish Of recapture or the palms
) an could command advanced. often admit wilt
y rsea sp eay e
passed over and stopped TO wiring the water from
barking Of bloodhoands. reaiIxing my worst fears
that my escape had been discovered by the dogs an
8 that they were now in full pnrsnit on my scent.
had seen the lacerated forms OF comrades returne
cruelty torn by these Spanish blOOdhOnnds anu NJ,
blood curdled at the thought that few minnie
i only might Intervene between me ami similar fate
I was neryei TO q desperate effort to distance m
and Jumped INTO ne Ditch 6esd .n the rSa
ns MI to The c Quarter Of ms rssc
. brook leading out Into Wide expanse Of marsh
y hastily tasted the water, and, to my great Joy
and that could he at no great distance from The &c
!, and tho friendly Aisier q Fort Pulaski or som
i Union gun-boat on blockade duty.
Following the brook some distance to where
d point OF land made Into tho marsh. discovered al
Sasns o. The hounds having c aSs aas ase
Ing that the trail had been brdken ventnred to re
), connollre my surroundings y was now gni
peasing my hunger and an immediate retreat from
d the vicinity. Going 10 the stream found a It'll
: row-boal happily suited to my need. Visiting IN
l. Held secured what seemed to me at the tim
large amount. really only seven ears Of green cor
would roll me Of It's valuable aid. With ailgni hea,
II jumped ntn the h0ai, which was simply lied to
J. stake, and soon made u half mile or kn dawn III
river 10 u marsh OF high reeds, Into whiah ran tn
r boat AMI hid myself Tor the day. Everything IA
j. had been prOpitlOns-the storm and darkness an
o tempest had served my purpose WELL Tho sirang
providence directing me 10 The boat AMI supply q
3 food were miracles In my sight, aud ! seemed Q
10 the eve Of an easy and speedy dellyerance. Tn
easy grasp, that could hardly restrain myaclf frOl
r risklng the remaining perIa by daylight It was
warm day, anh surrounded by ihickei OF reeds an
II grass the sun heat mercessly upon me without
u, breath Of air 10 relieve liz burning heat. An ni.
IL scrlbable thirst possessed me. How gazed ut III
~ salty waers flowing past me inocklng my madnes
\ and paini The green corn enabled me In measuI
u to relieve my cravings aud chided myself for M
N having strength 10 endure for Il few hours ten
J. porary III that might escape great aud endurn
II one.
e the rivers OF the southern coast are many OF the
p broad esluarIes from the sea extending long al
n tances into the land They are alled with low In
M ans or marshes OF reeds requiring OF the unfaIpi
lar vOyager constant watching at the tide to preve
- Ills being lost in their ahyrlntha Having saisne
III myself of the Tide during the day started at ng
M on what thought 10 be ah0rt row to headlal
~ mt far ahead, ey0nd which was sure lay my tug
e. The dear old ocean. ReaGnIDQ thia headland
" were discovered In the distance Inward which oo
o. tnued d0ggedly to advance, OFTEN finding my WI
ne blocked by reeds and grasa. In this way passt
N The whole night and the daylight Afforded no ey
o. dence that was nearer The deared haven than Il
previous evening. Late In tho morning reached
small tAlAnd OF pNrhapH ten ncre0. After diliQel