Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-14
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
A PATRIOTIC YANKEE.

Ne Sang the "star spaugied Hammer"
Anaidst His Foes.
In the early part Of 1898 three federal
soldiers found themselves In captivity
In Columbia, South Carolina, IN the
stooksded prison Best known a. Camp
Sorghum" long course Of raw corn
meal and sorghum molasses, without
salt, or any means OF cooking, had
made the men desperate, and they re-
solved ct ell rislxs to break away and
start for the north. James Dean and
John Brady were from the third In
diane infantry, while Francis CHARGE
was lieutenant in the first Tennessee.
At this time there was a well under
stood route 10 freedom known TO the
prisoners, crossing the Saluda and
Broad rivers into western North Caro-
lima and once in the Alleghenies II was
not difficult TO find guides and friends.
SO on the night Of November s, the at
tempt was made. Charcot and Brady |
succeeded in crossing the dead line
safely but poor Dean was shot dead. |
The survivors at once started on run |
through the open pine woods They |
did their best, for the cry Of the dogs |
kept TO pursue ranaways from the
stockade, was plainly heard, but they
finally baffled them by walking about
two hundred yards down a small stream,
and in the early morning they saw the
men and dogs, hunting their lost trail.
Another start was made, and long,
weary walk through the rain, when
they saw small cabin ahead eau
tiously reconnoitering an old Negro
| n..A ~ aglrnA
them in. Use heard of ye; 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 hearty supper and long
and refreshing sleep followed.
And now for thirty-two weary days
they kept on TO the north, the face OF
the country becoming more mountain
Gus for they had reached the foothills
Of the Alleghenies.
. 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
0 sitting in front Of the FIRE, while q tall
man was moving about the loom that
Z took up half the room. A low whistle
q and the man sprang to his feet.
Come on, said Charcot, were two
) TO one and its all right" and they en-
II tered.
c The man said at once.
u prisoners, where from? Why, I'm
l. from Florence myself and I've been
~ forty days on the road"
Is Mrs. Rogers was reserved but friend
ly and the new companion was found
d 10 be Vermonter named Denny, who
was taken at Chattanooga out Of IN
Ne Ohio regiment. lie was certainly Q
ig character, as will appear further on
le shooting John" was away but ex
le pected home. After a hearty supper o
ID chicken and corn, all hands lay on thu
$. floor and slept until midnight, wher
ed they were rudely awakened and foun,
y, the room full of men in butternut suits
d and well armed. Their leader was
in tall captain Of the home guard and in
'e. clined to be Jolly. He asked for our ad
VI venturers and placed them under arres'
"a at which he laughed heartily. Guard
on were set and all went to sleep agar
ne and in the morning the fugitives foun
-, all the confederates gone, but thre
ar. men who were supposed to guard til
prisoners which they did in very easy
eh going manner, leaving their guns
We the chimney while they went outside
IN divide a pint of apple jack. With a rus
sy. the guns were taken, and bidding III
The astonished 'rebs" goodbye, ii
,ea ''yanks" marched up the road. II
nil nil guards were only raw country boys an
the were, in fact, badly scared.
ley The fugitives soon learned that u
'sy rebel authorities wanted "Shootir
oes John" badly and he was now in hidir
In the mountains, so that it was NJ
ion until Christmas day that they met hir
. Yes being fed in the meantime at ST
, is house kept by man named Bean.
hat From Rogers they learned that pa
me W Oh thirteen PRISONERS anu reIuHe
ich was TO start North' each Oh the soiuie
not TO pay hity collars on reaching the &c
be- be, eral outposts' Early IN the Jay, gu 10,
-, py Cissy heauiy' SVouI hiouh'a,h iH'
to the three wanderers started ior the re
dis DEVIOUS 10 meet Hogers' hIIer Iha max,
In thelr way through Vhe Janus ny Sa''
lS hs track they turned d high rocN Inc
ar. iect was s'ur'iihB' p1loro xnem ~, :
it'll. seventy niiios oi the Naii,y Vi rasV
i'm hessee' inc ar SioaI 'le pi"s niou'lV" :.
IT, were seen uh'i' ioe' on 'ho horiAoh, .
,y.r sun gihuehing On lhe snowy rug
EN-. Leaning against 'he iaee oi the 70
tile was roy snahy' NJ ono was Va.
,,,o save an oiu Nesro; who saiu tnu'
by others wouiu cou,e oe,oic morning.