The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-03-09
VI ANkA4o FREE Press.
PRIpAY. MARoH 0 less.
DARING AND SUFFERING.


Buffum followed after him and got over
the fence with difficulty, but though
very brave man and q bard fighter, he
was a poor runner. One Confederate,
who was quite swift footed, kept right
after him, gaining considerably, and
threatening to shoot him If he did not
stop. To this Buffum paid no attention,
for running man has an unsteady hand
and no certain aim, but he soon stopped
because of exhaustion, Just as the man
overlook him. Now Buffum thought 1t
the right time to try his yankee WITH
so he threw himself down and said; 81
am so done out that can go no further;
you run ON and catch that fellow" point
ing TO q fugitive running q short distance
ahead. But the man saw the design, and
with great oath declared that he had
him now and meant to keep him. Poor
Buffum was allowed very brief time to
rest, and then was marched back again to
the prison, have scarcely doubt that
il he had not waited to unlock the doors
he would have made good his own escape.
Capt. Fry and myself were close to-
gether in going down the stairs, he being
little in advance. At glance he saw
there was no chance in the front yard
the way We had intended TO lakeland at
once turned to the back door, which was
left open by the passage of the rebel de-
serter. He got over the wall with little
effort, but finding himself chased as Buff
FUN had been, he used a little strategy.
A good many shots were being fired in all
directions, and he suddenly threw up his
hands and fell fiat. Those who were fol-
lowing him passed on after unwounded
game, and when the way was clear he
arose and resumed his course. He was
seen again and had a most desperate
chase, but reached the shelter of the
friendly woods.
At no time in all my southern expe-
rience did find defective vision to be
such dreadful misfortune as Just now.
My eyes were easily dazzled by a sudden
increase of light, and as came out of the
obscurity into the broad light, for some
seconds / could scarcely see at all. In
this interval / was parted from Fry by
running to the front door according to
our original plan. There were two
frightened guards in the gate tossing their
guns about and seeming not to know what
they should do. These were not danger
GUS looking and ran up to them-for now
the power of seeing had come back; but
just as was about darting out of the
gate saw the stream of guards outside.
They called on me to surrender, but /
was not ready for that and hurried back
into the yard. A sentinel tried to shoot
me at point blank range, but, fortu-
nately, his gun failed to go off. !
got back into the jail and now started
out the back way-the course
should have taken at first. There were a
number of guards in the back yard by
| this time, but in the confusion I got
through them and to the top of the fence.
What was my dismay to see a consider
able number of self possessed soldiers
outside waiting with lifted guns to shoot
any one whose head might appear above
the fence. I jumped very quickly down
on the inside. One hope yet remained.
ran into the building and out at the front
door, thinking that now the front gate
might not be guarded, and that in this
least likely way 1 might slip through.
But it was vain; large number of sol
diers were on the ground and they were
being carefully posted. / saw that the
first panic and all the advantages of sur
prise were over. l ran back into the jail
to try the back door once more, but q
sentinel was now standing at it and
several soldiers followed me into the
building. / did not care whether they
fired or not, for 1 now utterly despaired.
l went up the stairway, the guards not
molesting me, and looked out at the chase
which was continuing over the adjacent
hills.
1t was wild and exciting spectacle.
Company after company of soldiers came
up. The bells of the city were ringing,
and shots were being fired rapidly, while
loud commands and screams were min
gled. feared that many of our number
were or soon would be killed. Then left
the window and went to the front room
where the prisoners of war were, and to
my ineXpressible surprise found that they
had not gone out of their room at all
They said that there was too much risk
in it-that it would not be possible fol
any one to get off.
Parrot and Reddick were captured In
side the prison yard and Buffum outside
Bensinger, who had been so gallant in the
struggle in the jailyard, had fearful ex,
perience afterward. After the first race
for the woods. he was discovered by some
men with dogs. For some three hours
they pressed him sorely. He could gel
ont of sight of the men, but the hounds
chung to his trail, like bloodhounds a:
they were! When wearied almost Il
death, he found a stream of water, anC
by running for long distance in that
was able at last to get away from them
| But he was utterly exhausted in this Ions
and critical chase, and, being alone, wa!
in no fit condition for the terrible journe!
that lay before him.
The next evening he went to the negrt
quarters on a plantation and was received
by the slaves with the sympathy the.
were always prepared to extend to fugi
tives But the planter also saw his ap
proach, and, coming unawares upon Ben
singer, revolver in hand, forced his sI1r
render. A messenger sent to Atlanti
brought company of cavalry yer,
promptly, and we had the melanchol,
pleasure of welcoming back our comrade
Mason was brought in shortly after, ant
the account stands: Six recaptured, ant
eight Of our own party, with two others
Capt. Fry and the deserter-escaped
This was better result than we had an,
good right to anticipate, when planning
the attempt.
The most lamentable part of the stor,
was the case of Barlow, young Eas
Tennessee soldier, who alone attempted t,
go with us. He was only Is, but brav
and very amiable. No harm came to hin
in the fight, but in jumping down from
the fence he broke his leg Just above tn
ankle, and was dragged back to his cell II
very rough manner. No attention wa
paid to him till the next morning, ant
very little then. He died from the injury
after enduring great suffering.
From the window where / was / had
good view of the proceedings below. Il
short time all the force of the place, in
Guiding a regiment of cavalry, was draw
up in front of the Jail. l heard Col. Lee
directing the pursuit. He was in a tower
ing passion, and shouted out his orders II
very angry tone. Said he: Don't TAX
one of the villains alive Shoot them dow
and let them lie in the woods" H
ordered pickets to be placed at the ferrie
of the Chattahoochee, along the railroad
and at all cross roads. was glad to hea
such arrangements, for these were tn
very places we had agreed to avoidI
All night long the guard talked owe
their adventures. There was hammocl
belonging to one of the prisoners in tn
front room, and this he kindly permitted
me 10 occupy. 1t was suspended right be
fore the window, and could hear ard SCI
much that was going on. The guards haC
their reserve around q camp fire close by
and could hear their discussion of thei
parts in the affray. Generally the.
lauded their own bravery to the skies
telling how they had served the prisoner
who had broken out upon them. Occa
sionally one who had been present theI
would suggest that it did not show q grea
deal Of bravery to let unarmed men snatch
their guns from them, but such hinteC
ISLANDERS were always received with tn
contempt they deserved, and the work o
| self praise went on. One wondered at thu
speed of the Yankees who had been KEEP
/ In Y11.iupp 90 lone AnoHbor ~ q oI,yI,