Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-09-27

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the windows of the prison, and with
tears in his eyes, said: "Boys, good
luck to you," and throw mo blanket.
Inside of the blanket / found five
dollar green back carefully rolled in.
We were slowed on board the train,
and were soon on our way for n ride Of
one hundred and twenty miles-the
distance to Danvillc. To vary the
monotony OF the journey, we had num-
erous wordy tilts with the guards. An
order occasionly came from them to
''sit down ~ but none OF the prisoners
would think OF oboying, and gave many
insolont answers, and then ask, "What
are you going to do about 1t ?" Threats
of shooting were of no avail I; the guards
only received threats in return, and
were many times warned that II they
rcsorted to shooting, they would be
thrown from the car. Our converse
tions were really funny at times; but of
course we were Mt their mercy II they
only thought so; two guards inside the
car, and four more on top, and rebel
soldiers stationed everywhere; but it
afforded us vast amusement to witness
their anxiety in the uncertainty OF our
actions. They implicitly believed that
we intended doing something desperate
before we arrived Mt our destination,
which occurred about dark.
After being divided into six different
squads, and put into as many different
tobacco warehouses, about one thousand
soldiers in each. These warehouses
were all built of brick, and were four
or five stories in height, and were
known according to number. The
squad TO which l belonged was con-
signed to prison No. /, along with a
few of the comrades of my regiment,
the balance being assigned to other
prisons.
AS soon MS we had become accustomed
to our new quarters, we began to look
about for n possible chance of escape,
and soon came to the conclusion that
we had found one.
Leading out from the prison to the
closets was an ally about Is feet
wide; on each side of this ally was n
fence 16 #. high, made of plank set on
end and spiked to frame work of
heavy scantling. Outside of this fence
the rebel guard paced to and fro, on
one side and then on the other. This
was our plan: By digging carefully on
one side Of the alley while the guard
was on the opposite side, and then
resting when he came back, we could,
in short time get hole sufficiently
large for egress by crawling. Success
crowned our efforts, and about sixty of
the prisoners escaped before the
scheme was detected.
If memory serves me right, Levi
Sarnes and myself were the first to get
out, and strange as it may seem, were
the only two that were not captured
within the next two days. We made
our way to the Dan River, short
distance from the prison, and although
the water was very cold, with ice along
the shore, we waded in the stream n
distance of seven miles, MS we after
ward learned from n negro who had
rendered us some assistance. After
leaving the river, we marched as
hastily as possible directly south, trav-
cling the entire night. think we got
over about fifteen miles of ground that
night after leaving the river. Next
day we secreted ourselves in thicket
near ravine, and remained there all
day, leaving it only once to get water.
We did very little sleeping during the
day, as IL was quite cold and we had to
exercise in order to keep from becom-
ing benumbed with the cold.
Up to this time we had nothing to
eat since leaving the prison, and our
stomachs began to rebel Mt this neglect.
About eight o'clock we once more
began our journey South.
About ten o'clock we observed n light
in shanty short distance in advance
of us. Carefully stealing my way up to
it, cautiously looked in the window, and
found that the occupants were an old
colored man and woman, and II little |
girl i should take to be about seven
years old. Returning to comrnde |
Starnes ! told him the situation. We |
proceeded to concoct some story in |
order to supply the inner man. sug-
gested that we tell them that we were |
rebel soldiers who had been at home |
in Danville on visit, and were just re-
turning to the army, which was
stationed ut Kings Salt Works, in |
Virginia; but how to account for having |
on Union uniform was n question l
could not get around; in fact it was II
puzzler for both of u.s. Finally Sarnes
suggested that all colored people should |
be friendly to the union soldier, as they |
had proven themselves to be friends TO |
the colored race, and that now we |
should go to them in full confidence |
and tell them our story just us it wns
and trust TO their friendship for the
rest. Ever after, this was our course
of procedure whenever we came in |
contact with the colored people.
After deciding rs to the course to
pursue, we walked boldly up to the
little shanty and knocked on the door.
we were Immediately told to enter, and
as coon us we were inside, the old col
ored people embraced us with many
God bless you's," /" and every manifes-
tation of friendship, after hearing our
story. They seemed TO look upon all
Union soldiers as their saviors, and
could not do enough for them. After
the congratulations had somewhat sub
sided, VIC asked II We could not get
something To cat, us we were very hum
cry, not having had anything to put