Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-02
ESCAPE FROM PRISON.


or the thousand or more Andersonvi1ls
prisoners who at one time or another made
break for liberty, nine-tenths were recap
tured within an hour. OF TIE other tenth
the majority were returned inside Of day.
So far as I can learn only three prisoners
ever made their way from Andersonville to
the Union lines, and | was one Of them /
wi as captured soon after Lee returned to Fir-
ginia from Gettysburg, and was sent with
about lJ0 others direct to Andersonville. !
had at the moment Of capture about $500 in
Confederate money with me, hidden In the
lining of my vest, and go in greenbaeks in
the heel Of one Of my shoes / was searched
four different times before passed through
the gates OF Andersonville, but my money
WIS not discovered. They would have taken
my clothes from me, but would not have it
tLat way. On two occasions when / was or
dered to ''shuckn stood boldly up and said:
This is my uniform. paid for it. Town
It. I'm going TO keepit. Ii the Confederacy
Is so hard up that it must needs rob prisoners,
England and France ought to be informed
entered the stockade wita my full suit Of
clothes and ali my money, much to the sur
prise Of my fellow prisoners, all Of whom had
been despoiled. The place was then approach
ing It's worst. | had made up my mind
directly after capture that If taken to Ander-
sonville | would run any risk TO make my
escape. had not been inside an hour before
was canvassing the chances According to
all accounts they were slim indeed. The
stockade was heavily guarded, the guards
were aware of every Yankee trick, and the
people in the country around eagerly took up
har do dach
for liberty. There was no longer any hope
Of tunneling under the fence, and the idea of
u sudden uprising Of all the prisoners had to
be abandoned in the face OF the artillery
planted to prevent such movement. In
two days had figured the matter down to
this: First, if got away, it must be while
had strength. pluck and money. Secondly,
the first move toward escape must be to geta
detail outside the stockade. On the third day
Of my stay sent out word that 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 Confecerates as well, and
there was no one at the post worthy Of the
title of surgeon. | had served for six months
rs hospital steward at Washington, and,
though nothing of doctor, / was better
qualified to administer medicine than any
one at the post. The dispensary was room
about twelve feet square, and the stock on
hand was almost worthless. There were
about q hundred boxes of cathartic pills,
some blue mass, not over two ounces of
uuinine, an ounce of calomel, and a gallon
Jug of extract Of black berry root. There
were a few surgical instruments, but the
whole outfit would have been held in con-
tempt by a backwoods beginner. The day l
went out of the stockade there were twenty
three Confederates on the sick list and at
least 1. 900 prisoners should have been under
medical care.
was informed that would be put on my
honor not to attempt to escape, but was not
sworn or asked to sign any paper. l there
fore felt at liberty to carry out any plan
which might come to me- | knew the loca-
ton OF Andersonville to u dot, and the long
distance 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 themselves and the stockaie, and
had soon worn themselves out. My first at
tenton was given to the country around us.
In two weeks, by observation and inquiry, |
knew every highway and plantation for ten
miles around u.s. 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 sightseeis, and, as | employed some of
them to bring me bark and roots, l had every
chance to pursue my inquiries. l got the
highways to tbs west truthfuily mapped out
in my mind, and / was posted as to every
negro cabin between Andersonviue and the
Alabama state line. A week 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 l had
gradually exchanged my uniform for civil
ian's clothes, and by the time was ready to
go had nothing blue left. Up to three days
before left my secret WIS my own. But for
one thing / should have kept it locked in my
own breast. wanted to get hold of horse,
and could rot do it unaided. The horse /
wanted belonged to captain, and was cared
for by colored man named Joe. l had
spoken with him on several occasions, and,
from words lie 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. 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 de-
meanor was such that determined to fully
trust him, and finally queried.
Joe, would you advise me to try and es-
cape from thisF'
'On footi' he asked.
"No on horseback"
"Whar' We gwine to git hossr
'I'll take the captains
(which way We gwiue"
"West. into Alabama"
How furf'
about twent y-fve miles; then I'm going
to stop with an old colored man for month,
or until the matter blows over"
"How We gwine to cit dat hossy'
"Why, tonight, soon after dark, you'll be
taken with cramps aad send for me- I'll
come Then I'll ride OF"
'.Brt dey'.l track yer"
"Its going to rain. 1t will he rainy
night"
Oar aought b, TWO hcsses IN de stable"
10 Sid, after looking ct tie weather from
the window.
Glow
ID Gaping bougt: enoeer yesterday.
which hes gwiac 10 secd OF to somebody"
"Wel, you can 80, toe"
After dinner l had opportunity to speak
with hicl again, end it Yves settled that he
should 80 with Ele He realized the danger
rs fully cs did If recaptured, would be
returned to the pen, but he would suffer
death in some horrible form. A slave who
would not only help prisoner of, but 60
with him, and rob his master in the going,
would bc burned at the stake as fitting
punishment. At 5 O'Clock in the afternoon
the heavens were overcast, and q Glow,
steady rainstorm set in | was determined