The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-22
WALKED OUTOF ITBBT PRISON.
A Tall Pennsyivsnian Taken for Confede-
rate and Told TO Leave.

There are different qualities Of physical
courage. just as there are Of cloth There
are men, and / have seen them, who in
company would rush with a shout upon a
battery but who. II alone. would be in
capable OF anything Ike reckless daring.
says George +. Singer, in the New York
Commercial Advertiser Lieutenant Kupp.
Of the Eighty-eghth Pennsylvania Nolun-
teers. was a tall, lank. slab-sided young
man, who spoke but little. and that little
with drawl. and who in appearance and
manner was far from being an ideal sol
der. He had n fair reputation in his regi-
ment. in which there were "a great many
sturdy pennsylvania Dutch from Read
ing and Berks counties
l first saw Kupp in Libby Prison in the
early part Of 1864. He with a large number
Of his regiment had been captured at Get
tysburg. l believe. and eight months in
prison had reduced his uniform TO RAGS.
At this time the Richmond authorities
permitted the friends Of prisoners in the
North to send through under flag Of truce
boxes containing food and clothing, pro-
vided the clothing was such as Is warn
by citizens.
Kupp was fortunate in getting "A box.
and in the box tuere was a suit Of brown
clothes, the cloth OF which looked as IL
ii We're made at hOme-there was no doubt
that the tailoring was done there. Dress
ed in this butternut costume the Lieuten-
ant bore a striking resemblance to one Of
those North CarOinians so familiar TO all
at the front. Indeed. his friends in THE
upper east room" called him n "Tarheel."
and made frequent inquiries about the
last news from North Killeny." which he
bore with characteristic good nature, II
not actual indifference. But all the time
Kupp was "dOin' a powerful sight Of pri-
Vate thinkin'." and more than once he
amused his friends by saying that he had
serious notions OF escaping, at which they
laughed.
Every morning at daylight clerk
named Ross. with sergeant and guard
came in TO count the prisoners; the pro-
cess was known rs "roll-call.' Some
times Confederate soldiers on leave in
Richmond ana even private citizens camo
In with the guard 10 see the Gagged
Yankees
one duh morning in early February the
guards were going down the steps lead
ing TO the Office Of Turner. the cOmman-
dant. on the ground floor In the west end
or the building, when, 10 the unsDeaka-
bic amazement OF all who saw the act.
Kupp fell in behind them. The guards
passed directly through Major Turner's
quarters and out 10 the street but here
the commandant entered, ana supposing
him to be a Confederate private he shout
ed out:
Hello, what the devil do you wantg'
WAL" drawied kupp. II got a fur
Tough 10 come up 10 Richmond, and 50 !
thought I'd like TO drop in and take
look at the Nanks, If so be you don't
mind"
But I do mind; get out OF here. con-
found YOU, and go TO the front. where
you'll see Yankees enough to scare You
TO death" and Turner motioned his guest
10 the door.
kupp said. "All right. Kernel" and left
the prison by order Of his keeper.
An ordinary man would have made
tracks as soon as he got out but not so
kupp. The man had no nerves. no fitting
sense OF the danger Of his situation. He
crossed 10 the other side OF Cary street
and stood looking up at the bars behind
which swarmed his astonished friends.
At length he lifts his hat and made a bow
that set even the guards laughing. He
deserved to get through and he did. Up
to this time Kupp's escape ranks first in
my memory OF all the acts OF cool daring
witnessed during the war.