The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-02-20
A DARING DEED.
HOW THE TOWN OF ST, ALBANS
WAS TAKEN.

I"enty-six Confederntes Escn pc from pris-
on and Captured II Vermont Tawu--The /
Banks Sncked--TrinI In Candy,
Atlanta Constitution.
Sketches iunumerable, have appeared
In newspapers and magazines, on both
sides Of Mason and Dixon's liue. purpor-
ting to be 'the most daring exploit of
ihe war;" have, however, seen no al.
fusion to what claim, was the most
daring, viz. the capture of St. Albaus.
0ermont, by twenty-six confederates in
he latter days Of December 'G4, or early
ln January '65. This audacious episode
IS so lit'b known in Atlanta, that a brief
account by one who was almost (not
qute) part of the capturing force, may
not be uninteresting.
In the summer of 1864 about 1870 con-
tederate prisoners of war. who had con-
tr.ved to escape from different northern
prisons made their way to Canada in
preference to taking the risk Of recap
'ure IN the endeavor to pierce the militia
ry lines, aud perhaps have to answer the
charge, so freely made against suspicious
straDgers, OF beng spies. Rock Island
Camp Chase, Camp Douglas, Camp Nor
ton and other prisons of lesser note each
furnished its quota of this contingent.
Now, such a body of men, who had the
shrewdress and energy to effect their es-
cape, were not likely to be inactive in
the stirring events which so much con.
cerned them. Consequently movement
was set on foot looking to the liberation
OF the prisoners on Johnson's Island.
This ended in the capture and execution
of Major Beal, of Buffalo, N. Y. Fol-
lowlrg on the heels of their beloved
leaders death, it soou became apparent
that Sherman was about to abandon the
sword of the soldier for the torch of the
lncendiary. AS the mothers, wives and
aud sisters of these exiled patiots we're
exposed to insult and pillage, naturally
their rage knew no bounds. Said Cap
tam --, Of Alabama, to the writer
There arc enough Of us here to draw
oil 10000 cutthroats form our beloved
homes, if we but hang together and
strike IN the most tender spot, as these
vandals have been striking ue."
AS result Of mature deliberation
like clap OF thunder in a clear sk7
news flashed over the wires that "arebel
horde had captured St. Albans, VT,
Subsequent events developed the face
that "the horde' consisted Of twenty-s1x
men, who quietly entered the town and
throwing OFF their outer wraps, appeared
III the garb OF confederate soldiers, arm
ed to the teeth, and enforced an immedi-
surrender. Although the place con
tanned 5000 inhabitants, the mayor and
city officers counseled submission. The
entire male population was corraled in
the public square and held for hours.
twenty being detailed as a guard foi
them, while the other six went through
the public buildings, both local and fed
ctal, and the national banks. Five mil
hons III grcenDacks, bonds and securities
compensated the captors.
On returning to Canada, demand
was made from Washington for their ex-
tradition. The case was taken before a
n judge in Toronto on wrt Of habeas
corpus, and postponed for ten days to
enable the prisoners to procure evidence.
Now, as much courage aud greater
shrcWdncSS was necessary to prove these
men were soldiers not mere robhers
FIVE scouts were Immediately dispatched
for Richmond, each commissioned on
the same GRAND, so if one OF more fell
int" the hands of the enemy some of
them might get through. On the night
one OF the couriers returned, and on
the tenth morning, just before court
convened, two others camo in with n
certified copy Of Lieutenant Youno,s
commission, and certi led copies of the
enlistment papers of each and evcry one
OF the other twenty-five. The trial pro-
ccedtd; the court decided the parties
were bchgcrents, and they were aconit-
ted accordingly.
80 strong pressure, however, was
brought to bear on the Dominion gov
crnmcnt that parliament was convened
IN session extraordinary. and the ALLEN
sedItlon act passed under the govern
ment whip and spur. This act NAV be
briefly epitomzed rs follows: H1he
goVernaI general is empowered TO sus-
pcnd the habeas corpus by proclamation
IN the dominion within forty-eight
hours"
But little remains to be told. AL
though only twenty-si took part in the
81. Aioans raid there were about one
hundred and twenty distributed through
tAc cities of Montreal, Toronto, St.
GATHERINGS and Hamilton. A portion
conceived the idea of going to Europe,
cDerjng their services on blockade
runner, and gaining entrance to some
southern port. This was deemed the
most feasible plan, as it would be mad
ness to attempt returning through the
northern states. Well, they found
themselves, in course Of time, in Edin
hurgh, Scotland, with all arrangements
made to man vessel, prepared for the
purpose on the Clyde, about forty miles
distant, when news came of Lees sur
render and as consequence they sur
rendered their blockade running re-
solves.
How many Of these cx-cscaped priso.
ncrs arc left in twenty AS write
coincidence presents itself to me
twenty men partici pated in the St.
AIbans raid, and it is just twentv-six
years since it occurred.
Ii this should catch the eye Of any
)ne who was in Canada at that time
%lll he confer with the writer of this
Trough the Constitution.
EX-CONFEDERATE.