Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-06-11
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
A PATRIOTIC YANKEE.
He Sang tho "Star spanglcd Bannor''
Amidst His Foes.

soldiers found themselves IN captivity
in Columbia, South Carolina, in the
stockaded prison best known as "Camp
Sorghum" n 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 We're from the third In
diana infantry, while Francis CHARGE
was lieutenant in the first Tennessee.
AT this time there was 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 8, 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 baffled 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 reconnoitering, an old Negro
came to the door, and at once asked
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 We're directed. Carefully looking
through the chinlls, 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 it's all right" ard they en-
tered.
The man said at once.
prisoners, where from? Why, I'm
from Florence myself and I've been
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
cliped to be jolly. He asked for our adj
venturers and placed them under arrest,
at which he laughed heartily. Guards
We're 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
prisoners which they did in very easy
going manner. leaving their guns in
the chimney while they went outside to
divide a 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 We're only raw country boys and
were, in fact, badly scared.
The fugitives .soon learned that the
rebel authorities wanted Shooting
John" badly and he was now an hiding
| ~ &l.at 1x-
until Christmas day that they met him
being fed in the meantime ut still
house kept by man named Bean.
From Rogers they learned that par
ty of thirteen prisoners and refugee:
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, a stout mountain lass
the three wanderers started for the ren
devious to meet Rogers. After making
their way through the lands by a cattle
track they turned high rock. The eff
feet was startling. Before them lay
seventy miles of the valley of East Ten
nessee, the air clear the blue mountain
were seen until lost on the horizon, th
sun glistening on the snowy ridges
, Leaning against the face of the rocl
was a log shanty. No one was ther
save an old Negro, who said that tn
others would come before morning.
, The girl started for home and the res
/ of the party made themselves comfort
, able. They had plenty of food AM
Bean had given Denny a half gallol
jug of very good apple-jack, SO Ney
, Years eve was spent hilariously. Th
night was lovely, the moon near tn
full pouring flood of silvery light o
the snow-decked pines. AS the nigh
, wore away Denny grew demonstrativ
l and intensely patriotic, and rose wit
! the remark that he was ''goin' to tn
top of the mountain to sing the sta
Spangled Banner" The others II
: monstrated. The Negro was white wit
: terror.
"Whoop!" There was no stoppin
him an1 in rnnrpaut he had rainp