Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-07-14
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
A PATRloTIc YANKEE.
He Sang the "Star Spsngled Banner
Amidst His Foes.

IL NOAumD4d, SOuLn OdFOAlud- II lne
ktockaded prison best known as Camp
Sorghum" a 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 at all risks to break away and
start for the north. James Dean and
John Brady were from the third In
diana infantry, while Francis CHARGE
was lieutenant in the first Tennessee
At this time there was a well under
stood route TO freedom known to the
prisoners, crossing the Saluda and
Broad rivers into western North Caro-
lima and once in the Alleghenies it was
not difficult to find guides and friends.
So on the night of November 3, 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 a 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 baffied them by walking about
two hundred yards down 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. Cau-
tiously accommodating, an old Negro
came to the door, and at once asked
them in. Use heard of We; de boss told
me to keep my eye open and give an
alarm, and the old fellow gave a hearty
chuckle.
A baked coon and corn bread made
the party hearty supper and a 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 We're directed Carefully looking
through the chinks. they saw one man
sitting in front of the fire, while tall
man was moving about the loom that
took up half the room. A low whistle
and the man sprang to his feet.
Come on. said Charcot, we're two
TO one and its all right" and they en-
tered.
The man said at once.
prisoners, where from? Why, I'm
from Florence myself and I've been
I forty days on the road"
Mrs. Rogers was reserved but friend
ly and the new companion was found
to be Vermonter named Denny, who
was taken at Chattanooga out of an
Ohio regiment He was certainly a
character, as will appear further on.
Shooting john was away but eX-
pected home After hearty supper of
chicken and corn, 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 well armed. Their leader was a
tall captain of the home guard and in
clined to be jolly. He asked for our adj
] venturers and placed them under arrest,
( at which he laughed heartily. Guards
Z were set and all went to sleep again,
and in the morning the fugitives found
all the confederates gone, but three
men who were supposed to guard the
I prisoners which they did in very easy
going manner, leaving their guns in
divide pint of apple jack. With a rush
the guns were taken, and bidding the
astonished 'rebs" goodbye, the
''yanks" marched up the road. The
guards were 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 meantime at a still
house kept by man named Bean.
From Rogers they learned that par
ty of thirteen prisoners and refugees
was to start North, each of the soldiers
to pay fifty dollars on reaching the fed
eral outposts. Early in the day. guided
by Cissy Headly, stout mountain lass,
the three wanderers started for the rem
devious to meet Rogers. After making
their way through the lands by cattle
track they turned a high rock The eff
feet was startling. Before them lay
seventy miles of the valley of East Ten
nessee, the air clear the blue mountains
We're seen until lost on the horizon. the
sun glistening on the snowy ridges.
Leaning against the face of the rock
was log shanty. No one was there
save an old Negro, who said that the
others would come before morning.
The girl started for home and the rest
of the party made themselves comfort
able. They had plenty of food and
Bean had given Denny half gallon
jug of very good apple-jack, so New
Years eve was spent hilariously. The
night was lovely the moon near the
full pouring a flood of silvery light on
the snow-decked pines. As the night
wore away Denny grew demonstrative
and intensely patriotic, and rose with
the remark that he was ''goin' to the
top Of the mountain 10 sing the star
Spangled Banner. " The others re-
monstrated. The Negro was white with
terror.
''Whoopr' There was no stopping
him. and in moment he had gained
the summit of the rock above the cabin.