The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-30

in some manner it leaked out among the
rebels that the Yankee raiders, by mistake
or accident had left two of their party at
Marietta How this Information got out
never learned, but it could not be otherwise
than that some one of our party had indls-
creetly told more than he ought to when
captured; who the man was we never
learned. The excitement ran very hiRh,
and we discovered, when it was loo late,
that we had run into the very Jaws OF
danger for Immediately we fell under sus-
picion and were sent to Headquarters, and
| there ordered TO give a truthful account OF
ourselves, under the penalty OF death II we
lied. We were taken into a room, one al II
time, and interviewed by number OF rebel
officers-Hawkins first and myself after
wards When Hawkins came out, l saw at
glance that something was wrong; but my
turn had come, and l took my seat in the
| room, confronted by six Confederate officers.
when | put on the boldest front / could.
IN TIGHT PLACE.
Gone of the officers, a Colonel, took me in
hand and began by irst inquiring my name,
which did not give in full, as had gwen
my name John Reed when | enlisted. lie
proceeded In his order of examination as
| best shifted him, and | answered as best
suited myself, just the reverse of what they
desired. Finally, Others Of the party COM
menced asking questions, and found that
| was in pretty tight place.
"On various occasions during nearly four
years of army lie l experienced some pretty
close calls, and run the gan let frequently,
but this was n little the closest corner ever
got into. They were very menacing and
! abusive, expecting, | suppose, to scare me
! into a confession.
The Colonel finally said: Mr. Reed,
| vou stand there thrice damned. You may
make your peace with your God, but you
never can with JEFF. Davis, and we ought to
| hang you without any further ceremony
was permitted to return to the room
with Hawkins, where we were closely
guarded, and were not allowed to converse
with each other The word soon spread
through the camp that we were Yankees,
and belonged 10 the railroad party. In
short time the building was surrounded with
an excited mob that demanded our imme-
| diate ecution-some threatening to shoot
Us and some 10 hang us before we should
leave there. As they still gathered around,
the excitement increased, until they placed
& heavy guard around the building, and the
crowd soon began 10 dispense, intent upon
| fresh attack At night.
As soon as the first train came along
| going south. we were put aboard, under
guard, and sent to Marietta, where we were
handcuffed and chained together by the end
81 a trace-cban being placed around the
neck of each and locked with padocks.
| Then, to make assurance doubly sure, we
were placed i'll an inner cell OF the jail for
safe keeping during the night.
ALMOST MoBBED.
The news soon spread through the town
of our arrival, and in a short time an lnfur-
ated mob gathered around the jail and Ge
manded our release, that they might wreak
out Their vengeance upon u.s. otherwise they
would burn the Jail. As the night wore on,
the crowd increased, until they finally placed
another heavy guard around the jail That
some hat allayed our fears for the re-
mainder OF the night. That night, with it's
blaekness and darkness will long be re-
! memb ered by me, as hardly closed my eyes
during the night, and ii seemed as though
morning would never come When it did
come, however, the Jail was> again sur
rounded by curiosity seekers and a mob
spirited crowd, to see the wild Yankees as
they called u.s.
During the morning we were hurried to
the depot under a strong guard to protect
as from the mob, and were put aboard for
Chattanooga, where we were put into Old
Swim's Hotel or more properly the hole
where we found eight of our old comrades
who had preceded US into this horrible den."
Porter and John Wollam, who passed so
near to where Wood and / lay under the
bushes on the night Of the escape, struck
westward, and after one month and two
days of almost incredible hardship reached
the Federal lines al Cofinth Miss.
Hawkins and Dorsey, of the SD regiment,
after a very similar experience of hunger
and privaton, reached some Union friends
in the Cum berland Mountains, who aided
them to reach the Federal forces in Ken
lucky.
Mason, Of the 21st, now q resident Of this
State, who escaped with Brown and Knight,
and was taken sick, was recaptured, rs also
was William BensiDger, of the same regi-
ment, and who is also resident of Ohio.
OF the other four Of the six who did not
succeed in making good their escape have
but little present information. Robert
Buffum, poor fellow, once an enthusiastic
anti-slavery soldier and compatriot with old
John Brown in Kansas, died, ! regret to
learn, by his own hand some three years
since
Jacob Parrott, the heroic young soldier
who was so brutally whipped, went to Ken
Ton, o., physically, like most Of the others
OF the party, a mere wreck.
/ have no tidings OF William Reddcl1, of
the 33d regiment.
Wililan Pittenger, of the I'd Ohio, 1
learn began leading a useful life in the min
istry at Vineland, n. j. These six prison
ers were changed to a safer prison, and
through the efforts, no doubt, of the War
Department and Secretary Stanton, were
afterwards sent to Richmond, from which
| latter place they were sent out to Fortress
Monroe in the latter part of March, 1863,
almost year from the time they were
captured, when they were regularly ex-
| changed with other prisoners.
Now few words personal, for which I
be- the readers pardon, and | am done.
After joining my regiment / was detailed
for detached duty, and remained at Fort
| Rosecrans, Mnrfreesboro, during the re-
mainder of my term of enlistment, at the
expiration of which / was discharged at
Atlanta Ga, in 1864. Each member Of our
party, by act of Congress, received medal.
We also were given 500 extra pay, which
was presented by Gen. Rosecrans at his
| Headquarters in MHr.reesboro. L do not
| know whether the money was sent us by
| act of Congress or was q private donation
from Secretaries Chase and Stanton. / have
heard the matter stated both ways.