Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-12-11
How Fifty Escaped.

unTelleNeu DI NAoSeioi VI NNNfO'
ment is capable of schemes which
rival fiction. Many thrilling tales
are told by prisoners of war about
their privations and adventures
while under the espionage OF an alert
and relentless enemy. An experience
worthy OF record was told an Ameri-
can reporter, the other night, by
man who now stands high in public
life in Tennessee.
He was once Confederate soldier.
He had the misfortune TO be number
ed with the captured at Fort Donel-
son. and with hundreds of his com
rades was hurried across the Ohio ana
incarcerated in Camp Butler, spot
which will long be remembered by
those who were SO lnlucky "a 10 be
Imprisoned within its battlements.
After pining for several weary
months for an exchange that was
never effected these southern patriots
set about TO accomplish their own de
liverance. Various plans were con
cocted. but were all successfully
thwarted by the vigilance OF their
custodians. Finally the inspiration
of this story hit upon scheme which
for audacity and cleverness is unpre-
cedented. and won for its originator
a title and distinction among his com
panions which time has not yet OBJ
liberated.
Among the prisoners at Camp But
Ter were a number Of boys who served
the Confederacy in the capacity OF
powder monkeys a function well
known TO heavy artillerists.
The duties OF these Youngsters were
to convey powder charges from the
magazines 10 gunners in trenches or
TO assist in like manner on the float
ing batteries which annoyed the fed
eral gunboats in the Mississippi river.
Two OF these little fellows, who had
fallen into the hands Of the enemy,
were treated with the dignity due
prisoners OF war, and consequently
found themselves hundreds of miles
away from home and mamma and
subject TO all the heartlsss discipline
of military prison. The manly fortl-
tude OF these two juvenile warriors
attracted the martial soul OF Colonel
Morrison, who commanded the post.
To make their imprisonment less ar
duous he made them his office order
lies. and sent them on the hundreds
of errands which a commanding OF
ficer finds daily necessity in the dis
charge Of his duty.
The little fellows were true patriots
and no persuasion or punishment
could dissuade them from the cause
of their fathers. 1t was through them
the the hero OF this story accomplish
ed his designs. The boys had access
at all times to the coloners Office,
likewise the adjutant's desk. One
night they were hidden to steal from
the adjutant's desk lot Of blank
passports.
But what good were passports to a
soldier whose very uniform forbade
exit from the inner stockade OF the
prison, might be asked. Fortunately,
however, in the prison there was a
sutler who possessed all the venality
characteristic OF his cloth.
Among the prisoners in Camp But
Ter there were several Confederate
soldiers who were the sons OF wealthy
parents and occasionally received
money from home. From this ele
ment a general fund was collected
and appropriated to the use OF the
ingenious plotters for deliverance
With the sutler, whose loyalty to the
American dollar exceeded his fidelity
to the American Union, it was an easy
matter TO smuggle in a suit OF citizen
clothes now and then.
On visiting days hundreds OF people
from the country around wonld
throng to the post TO look at the hery
rebels. They were shown. under the
escort OF guard. through every part
of the prison, and oil several occasions
these parties, in some unaccountable
way. would number one or two more
ON coming out than they did on com
ing in. Each individual. however
displayed his passport 10 the guard
at the gate, and retired unquestioneo
from the portals Of the fort into the
loyal prairies OF Illinois.
Had the guards counted their guesti
upon their arrival and departure SONS
startling surprises would have re
suited. On one occasion two Confed
crate officers escaped by the guarc
with forged passes and had taker
seats in a carriage which was waiting
10 serve visitors at the gate OF the
fort when Colonel Morrison hinsel
came out and, addressing them, asked
if they had seen all they wanted tt
see.
"Yes, SIR" replied one OF tn
fugitives suaveIy. They are harc
looking set, amt they, colonelf "A
the same time he was 20 alarmed tina
his tongue almost refused 10 articu
late
BY this process half hundred Con
federates were released from custod'
and returned TO their commands II
the field. The reader mus: not i'm
agine that these men were not misses
by their guardians, for after ever.
muster the guards were doubled am
many commissioned and non-com
missioned officers relieved, 1t beini
suspected that they were respon
sible for the mysterious disappear