Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-07-01
4 SOUTHERN CAPHN.Sn'
KNtNAOA' yISfsst Over Frozen
- the COlorsd Men
ooo =, AMY Risks Of
Tramp OIL ''' Capture.
Bosom GlObs.


Yankee land after having escaped from Co
lumbis, S, c., told only part Of large
number of somewhat similar and equally
hazardous EXPERIENCES undergone by Others
who mauaged to make their escape on the
same day, November 4, 1864.
The best aud probably only record Of
those events ia small diary kept by Major
Charles G. Davis, u member Of one Of the
parties which escaped, and at present clerk
in the Office OF Sergsant-at-Arms Adams, at
the : ate House ON Beacon Hill. He and
four others, Captain V. h. Hart from ke-
okuk, L. of the Nineteenth Infantry Reg
ulars; Lieutenant William Nelson, now o!
Kansas, a member ofths Thirteenth Reg
ulATs; Lieutenant Thomas b. Devices of
PENNSYLVANIA, of the Second United States
Cavalry; Captain Charles 5. Kendall of the
First Massachusetts, Infantry, left camp on
their "trip north" AZ he happily terms it
in his diary, at about l o'clock p. m.
Toe general plan OF escape Was to march
ut night and sleep during the day in as Sc
cluded places ~ could be found. When
marching the lock step" was made use OF,
and this habit became 80 fixed that even
after arriving at Knoxville thtS9 five raw
elers would start out together in tile, as
was their Custom on the escape.
NOV. > Saturday J, - reads the first page
of the diary, latter leaving camp yesterday
We travelled about three miles, and con-
cealed ourselves until dark, when We
started on our journey. Not being able to
tind any course that would take rs to
where we wished 20 20, we had to travel in
the woods. We had great difficulty in
keeping our course, but with the ald o.
the compass we had We could keep onr
general direction. After travelling until
about o'clock We concluded TO stop, and,
fudiug a suitable place to conceal our
selves, we lay down and were soon asleep
We all awo&e about daybresk, being near
ly frozen, and concluded to get mp and
walk mile Or 50 to get ourselves warm
again.
NOV. 6 Sunday We left our camp
Yesterday evening at about dark. Met an
old negro soon after stsr,iDg. He directed
US TO tina main road, which we found after
some difficulty. Had TO get out Of sight
OF several per- oIS who | suppose were ne
COOS We Travelled very quietly aud did
not attract the attention of dogs or men.
We went into camp about 3a. m. Had in
tended to travel until daylight, hut Que OF
the party became tired out ,Keudall) We
had travelled about l. miles, gaining Is
miles on our course. Now about 24 miles
from Columbia"
So the journey continued day by day
and the long, march of three hundred mile
WIS geadually shortened. What would
have been Done If it had not been for
friendly negroes aioEG the way, who gave
them food. cannot ba guessed.
"Nog. : Monday" the diary reads,
cleft our camp ~ the usual hour last
night. We had gone hut short distance
when we met two negro womed. We
stopped them. and after telling them We
were Yankees they .old Us they had Just
met three othgr Yankees and that they
were then goiag TO get them something to
eat We soon found the officers they
spoke Of, and We remained with them
until the negro women returned, bring
iny them corn bread and corn. We
made arrangements with one of them 10
bring N a supply also, and waited about
returu-quite a disappointment to rs as
we were anxious 10 get the provisions, and
besides we had lost mnch valuable time.
w $500 --s''s,ss F,lana aud retired foI
fore sunrise, aud iiading ourselves in thick
woods We concluded tn travel awhile. We
marched about i've miles aud again went
into camp, The day has been beautiful,
reminding one Of spring. The hounds
have been bowling oil around us to-day;
We lear that wa'il be discovered; trembling
in our boots
NOV. :, Tuesday We again started
on our tramp, night having come CD.
After q few hours travel through thick
undsrhrush and over hills We came il
Sigh; OF house, and concluded 20 camp,
a. We thought It would afford us a good
opportunity 10 obsa!u sOuIe Iations early
in thu morning, n We supposed IL was q
negro Int But WHEN We came 10 recon-
nOitre the quarters early this morning, we
found the house WAS occupied by white
folks, 50 We huuiied mp aui lef5 there I'm
msdRtely. IL soHu conm need to rain,
and we concluded it would be safe 10 travel
80 long ~ the Ialn ieli, though l.
was violating our rule by travelling in day
light. Dor object WA to meet some negro
from whom We could get some rations
About II o'clock we met negro who
promised 70 bring Us some bread and pota-
toes after dark, and directed us to safe
camping place. We were all quite hun
gry. Oar breakfast consisted OF one cracker
apiece and a few persimmons. Tue negro
met IA according to promise, and brought
Us enrnbread and potatoes enough tor q
hearty supper. We soon had it dsvOured
and felt lIka new men.
"Nov. 9 Wednesday After fiui' hipg
our meal last night We were again on our
way, accompanied by our negro, who had
agreed TO pio.et VI through the woods Il
few miles to another negrO's house who he
knew was all right and VINO would give
us provisions TO Inst us another day. We
found MIN very glad TO see ia. lie had
q pan of nice biscuits baked for Us. We
were here increased in number by
another one OF orr officers (DimicS)
who hsd escaped the same day VT
had. He and h,s party two Others) hSd
besn captured since they lefs the camp.
but hSd again gotten away, and in run.
ming from the guard they became separa-
ted. The negro had been secreting him ali
day, 80 when we came he joined us. We
soon afterward bivouacked near small
ersek and had good wash, the first in
about three days"
The notes Tor November 10 close With
the sentence: ave are ont of rstions again,
and will have to find a friendly negro to-
night"
November IL (Fidsy)-Just before
dark last night one of our party recon
noitered our position, and fonnd we were
camped near large plantation and not far
from q field where i've negroes were plough
ing. Oue crawled near to the fence and
attracted the attention Of one OF them,
and the negro got over the fence
aud came To him. After some
little talking he promised to bring
us some provisions. He went
back 10 his work, and soon al old negro
came over 10 where We were and and was
Quite glad TO see Us. He said he would do
all in his power for Us, and showed US
where to meet him after dark. As soon
"a il was dusk we went to the appointed
place, where negro met Us and took US
into barn. We lay there on the hay for
about an hour, when the old negro came
IL, Il. -, kha raar - HE