Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-12-26
NEW YEARS IN 1864.
INCIDENTS THE ESCAPE OF NORTH
ERN SOLDIERS FROM PRISON.

How Patriotic viii Denny Sang THE
star SpangIed Banner on the Tennes-
see ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Music from the
Echoes i'm the Valley.
In the early part of 1868 three Federal
soldiers found themselves in captivity III
Columbia S. c., in the stockaded prison
best known as Camp Sorghum" A long
course oil raw cornmeal and sorghum mo-
lasses, without salt or any means OF cook
Ing. had made the men desperate, and
they resolved at all risks to break away
and start for the north. James Dean and
John Brady were from the Third Indiana
infantry, while Francis Charcot was lieu
tenant in the First Tennessee. At this
time there was we'll understood route TO
freedom known to the prisoners, crossing
the Saluda and Broad rivers into western
North Carolina. and once in the Alleghanies
it was not difficult to find guides and
friends So on the night of Nov.
the ATTEMPT was made. Charcot and
Brady succeeded in crossing the dead line
safely but poor Dean wIs shot dead.
The survivors at once started on a run
through the open pine woods. They did
their best, for the cry of the dogs kept to
pursue runaways from the stockade was
plainly heard, but they finally baffled them
by walking about 200 yards down small
stream, and in the early morning they saw
the men and dogs hunting their lost trail
Another start was made. and a long,
weary walk through the rain, when they
saw a small cabin ahead Cautiously re-
connoitering, an old negro came to the
door, and at once asked them in ''I'ze
heard of We; de boss told me to keep my
eye open and give an alarm, and the old
fellow gave hearty chuckle.
A baked coon and corn bread made the
party a hearty supper. and a long and re-
freshing sleep followed.
And now for thirty-two weary days they
kept on TO the north, the face of the coun-
try becoming more and more mountainous,
for they had reached the foothills of the
Alleghanies.
Late at night they reached the home of
..Shooting John Rogers" to whom they
were directed. Carefully looking through
the chinks they saw one man sitting IN
front of the fire, while tall woman was
moving about the loom that took up half
the ROOM A low whistle and the man
sprung to his feet.
ssCome on,'' said Charcot; ''we're two to
one and it's all right" and they entered.
The man said at once:
prisoners. where from? Why, Pm from
Florence myself, and I've been forty days
on the road"
Mrs. Rogers was reserved, but friendly,
and the new companion was found to be a
Vermonter named Denny, who was taken
at Chattanooga out of an Ohio regiment.
: He certainly II character, as will APP
. pear further on Shooting john was
away but expected home After a supper
of chicken and corn bread all hands lay
on the floor and slept until midnight, when
they were rudely awakened and found the
room full of men in butternut suits and
OH 1QaA dor t.3I "a n
tain of the home guard, and inclined to be
jolly He asked for our adventures and
placed them under arrest, at which he
laughed heartily. Guards were set, and
all went to sleep again, and in the morning
the fugitives found all the ConfederaJes
gone but three men, who were supposed to
guard the prisoners, which they did in a
very easy going manner, leaving their guns
in the chimney while they went outside to
divide pint of applejack. With a rush
the guns were taken, and, bidding the as
tonished ''rebs'' goodby, the ''Yanks"
marched up the road. The guards We're
only raw country boys and We're, in fact,
badly scared.
The fugitives soon learned that the rebel
authorities wanted Shooting John" badly
and he was now in hiding in the mountains,
so that it was not until Christmas day
that they met him, being fed in the mean
Time at a SUlllHOuSe kepC ny a IldH HdIlcti
Bean.
From Rogers they learned that party
of thirteen prisoners and refugees was to
start north, each of the soldiers to pay fifty
dollars on reaching the Federal outposts.
Early in the day, guided by Cissy Headly,
stout mountain lass, the three wanderers
started for the rendezvous to meet Rogers.
After making their way through the lands
by a cattle track, they turned a high rock
The effect was startling. Before them lay
seventy miles of the valley of east Ten
nessee; the air clear, the blue mountains
were seen until lost on the horizon, the sun
glistening on the snowy ridges. Leaning
against the face of the rock WAS d log
shanty. No one there save ali old
negro, who said that the others Guild come
before morning.
The girl started for home, and the rest
of the party made themselves comfortable
They had plenty of food. and Beau haG
given Denny half gallon jug of very good
applejack, New Years eve was spent
hilariously The night was lovely, the
moon near the full. pouring a food of sill
very light on the snow decked pines. As
the night wore away Denny grew demon
strative and intensely patriotic, and rose
with the remark that he was ''gOin to the
top of the mountain to sing the Star Span
gled Banner'' The others demonstrated
The negro was white with terror.
''Whoopl'' There was no stopping him
and in moment he had gained the sum
init of the rock above the cabin. He was
large man, but his outlined form agains
the sky seemed gigantic-it was near morn
ing-and striking an attitude he began il
a powerful tone:
OH say, can you see by the dawn's earl,