Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-12-30
NEW YEARS IN 1864.
INCIDENTS IN THE ESCAPE OF NORTH
ERN SOLDIERS FROM PRISON.

How Patriotic Will Denny Sang "The
Star SpangIed Banner on the Tennes-
see Mountains-Weird Music from the
Echoes in the Valley.
In the early part of 1868 three Federal
soldiers found themselves in captivity in
Columbia, S. c., in the stockaded prison
best known as Camp Sorghum" A long
course of 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 well 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. 3
the attempt 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 runaways from the stockade was
IL,
by walking about 200 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 a small cabin ahead. Cautiously re-
connoitering, an old negro came to the
door, and at once asked them in. "I'ze
heard of ye; 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 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.
"Come 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 q
Vermonter named Denny, who was taken
at Chattanooga, out of an Ohio regiment.
He was certainly character, as will ap-
pear further on. shooting John" was
away, but expected home. After a supper
nf obi OH oil Low
ON the floor and slept until midnight, when
they were rudely awakened and found the
room full of men in butternut suits and
we'll armed. Their leader was tall cap
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 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 applejack. With a rush
the guns were taken, and, bidding the as
tonished 'rebs" goodby 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 hewas 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 stillhouse kept by a man named
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 cattle track, they turned 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 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 comfortable.
They had plenty of food, and Bean had
given Denny a half gallon jug of very good
appleJack, SO 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.
'WhoopP 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 against
the sky seemed gigantic-it was near morn
ing-and striking an attitude he began in
a powerful tone:
Oh! say, can you see by the dawn's early
light
We were all startled by what followed.
The position he had taken was evidently
place of echoes, as from the valley below,
palIsaded with pines, came thunderous re-
verberations. "By the dawn's early light"
rolled westward until until lost in faint
melody in the recesses of the hills. And
SO it went on. 1t was very grand, but it
might bring the enemy Yet Denny was
beside himself with excitement, and it was
only after repetition of the chorus that
he came down, The land of the free and
the home of the brave" dying away in soft
bugle notes.
When Rogers came in the morning he
was told, and said Darn the mad Yam
keel Let's get away" and SO we started
New Years, 1864, and after seventy miles
of tramp through a primitive wilderness
reached the Union lines at Loudon. Of all
the adventures that befell the wanderers
in their escape nothing will be, while life
yEaII oIr,.1 lac 10