The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-10-06
Out Of AndersOnVille.
AFeteran's Story Of His Thrilling Escape from
Rebel Prison,

sRebel Prison.
Of the thousand ormore Anderson
vile prisoners who at one time or
another made a break for liberty,
nine-tenths were captured within an
hour, says New York Sun CORE
spondent. Of the other tenth, the
majority were returned inside of a
day. So far as | can learn, only three
prisoners ever made their way from
Andersonville to the Union lines, and
was one of them. / was captured
soon after Lee returned to Virginia
from Gettysburg, and was sent with
about $50 Others direct to Anderson
vile. | had at the moment ofcapture
about $500 in Confederate money
with me, hidden in the lining of my
vest, and $50 in greenbacks in the
heel ofone ofmy shoes. Twas searched
tour different times before I passed
through the gates OF Andersonville,
and my money was not discovered.
They would have taken my clothes
away from me, but would not have
1t that way. On two occasions when
| was ordered to "shuck" I stood
boldly up and said:
'This is my uniform. paid for it.
own it. I'm going to keep it. If
the Confederacy is so hard up that
it must needs rob prisoners, England
and France ought to be informed"
entered the stockade with nay full
suit of clothes and all my money,
much to the surprise of my fellow
prisoners, all of whom had been de-
spoiled. The place was then ap-
preaching it's worst. l had made up
my mind directly after capture that
If taken to Andersonville, l would
run any risk to escape. had not
been inside an hour, before was can
vassing the chances. According to
all accounts they were slim indeed.
The stockade was heavily guarded,
the guards were aware of every Yam
kee trick, and the people in the coun-
try around eagerly took up the hunt
alter any prisoner who made dash
for liberty. There was no longer any
hope of tunnelling under the fence,
and the idea of a sudden uprising
of all the prisoners had to be
abandoned in the face of the artil-
iery planted to prevent such move
ment. In two days / had figured the
matter down to this: First, if l got
away it must be while Ihad strength,
pluck and money. Secondly, the
first move toward escape must be to
get detail outside the stockade.
On the third day of my stay I sent
word that l was willing to serve on
the medical staff of the post if de-
sired, and my offer was accepted.
Just at that time there was a good
deal of sickness among the Confeder-
ates as well, and there was no one at
the post worthy of the title of sur
geon. l had served for six months
as hospital steward at Washington,
and, though nothing of a doctor,
was better qualified to administer
medicine than any one at the post.
The dispensary was a room about
twelve feet square, and the stock on
nand was almost worthless. There
were about a hundred boxes of ca
thartic pills, some blue mass,
not over two ounces of qui-
nine, an ounce of calomel, and
gallon jug of extract of black
berry root. There were few
surgical instruments but the whole
outfit would have been held in con-
tempt by a backwoods beginner. The
day went out of the stockade there
were twenty-three Confederates on
the sick list, and at least one thous-
.spd prisoners should have been I'M
der medical care.
was informed that I would be
put on my honor not to
attempt to escape, but was
not sworn or asked to sign any pa
per. l therefore felt at liberty to car
ry out any plan which might cometo
me. / knew the location of Ander-
sonville to a dot, and the long dis
tance one would have to travel to
reach the Union lines. Such prisoners
as had got away had no other idea
than to put distance between them
and the stockade and had soon worn
themselves out. My first at.
tention was given to the country
around us. In two weeks, by
observation and inquiry. | knew
every highway and plantation for
ten miles around us. In another
fortnight / could have made my way
across the State of Alabama without
asking question. A great many
colored people came to the post as
sightseers, and, as employed some
of them to bring me bark and roots,
L had every chance to pursue my in
luiries. l got the highways to the
West truthfully mapped out in my
mind, and | was posted as to every
negro cabin between Andersonville
and the Alabama State line. Aweek
before made my break had every
detail planned and every emergency
provided for, and there was no fear
that anything would miscarry.
After coming out of the stockade
| had gradually exchanged my uni
form for civilians clothes, and by
the time / was ready to go l had
nothing blue left. Up to three
days before l left my secret
was my own. But for one
thing I should have kept it locked
in my own breast. l wanted
to get hold of a horse, and 1 could
not do it unaided. The horse l
wanted belonged to the Captain, and
was cared for by a colored man
named Joe. had spoken with him
on several occasions, and from words
he had let fall | realized that he was
anxious to escape to the Union lines.
To reach Joe after nightfall ! must
have an excuse to pass the guard.
This alone he could furnish. I was
to go, horse or no horse, but to get
the horse if could. Autumn had
now come, and the rainy season
might soon be expected. On the
morning of the day | had set for my
last at Andersonville Joe came to see
me about sore throat. His tie
meanor was such that l determined
to fully trust him, and / finally
queried: Il
"Joe, would Won advise me to try