Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-05-06
Rebellion War Record.

alton and to make another escape at
the earliest possible moment. The
provost marshal offered to give US the
liberty of the jail yard, quite large
enclosure, if we would give him our
parole; otherwise we were to be shut
up inside the Jail. We liked the air
and so took our parole. Our situation
seemed tolerably comfortable and we
were quiet till about IL o'clock, when
the provost marshal came in swearing
and raging and calling US nigger
thieves.
A word more on the negro: Our
darkey whom we left hid in the woods
at the time of our capture the day
before, managed to get himself dis
covered and they set the hounds on
him and he was terribly mangled.
He was taken to the prison where we
were the next day, and in a condition
not much better than dead. 1t SEEM
ed that he told on us, claimed he was
going North with us, ETC., etc. The
whole village and country around was
in a state of excitement and the feel
ing against us was such that we bare
ly escaped lynching. If some of the
women had had their way we should
have hung for it. 1t was looking
pretty blue for US; but there were a
few Union people who plead in our
behalf and probably saved our lives.
Toward night it happened that five or
six more Union prisoners were bro't
to the Jail. They were officers from
the same camp from which we had
escaped; we felt little relieved
when they came, thinking the Rebs
would not wreak their malice on us
and leave them unframed.
We were kept in this jail one week,
when we were informed that we were
to be taken to Augusta, Ga. The
marshal wanted us to take a parole,
but we refused to take one. He was
short of men and for guards and want
ed to put us on parole. We told him
| he need not trouble himself about
sending guards, as we could 90 along
alone. We would not promise to let
an opportunity to escape 60 unim-
| proved, and he was mad, said he
would tie us. We said, 'All right"
The next morning we started under
a pretty good guard, and walked to
Augusta, tired and terrible foot-sore.
We were here put in an old building,
and were subjected to another search
| by rebel lieutenant and squad of
men. They looked us over to see if
there was anything more they could
take from us and leave a scrap of
clothing or anything valuable about
us. [ had nothing worth stealing
but coat, and managed to hide that
before they reached me in their
search. | saved my coat. There
was Capt. Noble from Maine reg
iment that was taken from the Jail to
Augusta. Not long before he made
his escape he received a nice suit of
clothes from home. The robbers
took the whole suit and gave him
ragged suit of rebel gray. He felt
very bad about the loss of the suit,
and the next morning when the pro-
vost marshal came around and had
US in line, Noble complained to him
about being robbed of his clothes.
He said he did not care d-n, he
wished they had taken his hide. Not
long after, this same lieutenant that
led the robbers, came and called
Noble out and he has never been
heard of since. l have no doubt they
murdered him because he complained
to the marshal. l suppose by a slip
of the tongue [ came near being
''wiped OUT that same day. There
was man confined in the room with
US, think he was q spy he did not
claim to be a soldier, and it was not
known which side he was on. He
said he was from Maryland. In the
afternoon this man and myself were
standing in the door, when squad
of prisoners were brought in, follow
ed closely by this same gang of rob-
bers. AS they passed by | said:
$50 in, robbers, skin them % | knew
that was what they were going to do,
but | was foolish in saying what l
did after seeing what did in regard
to Capt. Noble in the morning. In
course of half of an hour the lieuten-
ant came back. He did not recog-
nize me as the one that spoke and
inquired who it was that said $50 in,
robbers!" We paid no attention to
him, and he repeated the question
but got no answer. Then he said
ssIt will be lucky for the man if l
don't find OUT He then went away
and [ asked this Marylander why he
did not tell. He replied: 81 don't
talk much" | put my arms around
him and hugged him, for l believed
he had saved my life, and told him
so. He said there was no doubt of
it. ] expected when | went into the
army to take my chances of being
killed, but resolved not to take any
more chances like this of being mur-
dered, and made up my mind that if
my tongue ever got me into another
such scrape | would cut it off.
The next day we were sent back to
Columbia. 1t was late in the even
ing when we arrived. As it was two
miles to the old camp they concluded