The herald., 1898-12-26
County Deputies Tell When the
Flag Seemed Most Beautiful
ROSS VISIT TO HAVANA IN 1859
Deputy Sheriff Jenkins Tells About His Escape From Ander
sonvlle Prison and His Subsequent Recapture
by the Confederates

Some of the courthouse attaches were
talking the other day about the manner IN
which the old Stars and Stripes were being
carried to foreign lands, the policy OF expan-
sion being under discussion SAID one OF
them "The time you can appreciate the
old flag is when you are yourself in iorelgn
parts. Just stay away for few years from
this country, and you will hail the sight OF
the Stars and Stripes as long lost friend,
a glimpse OF home, never-fading memory
turned once more to reality
Il can vouch for that said George +.
Ross, one of the deputies in County Clerk
Newlin's office. ''In the latter part of the
season of 1859 l found myself on board a
Spanish steamer bound for Havana. For
several years | had been travelling abroad,
and the English jack was to be seen every
where, but not a glimpse of the American
flag had l seen for many months.
"The Spanish ensign, the flag of France,
and the national colors of Germany, Nor
way and Sweden were encountered often
enough, so that there was no special novelty
in the sight, but there had been away
from home thousands of miles without
passing reminder of anything belonging to
the United States, and the flag of this coun-
try was most conspicuous by its absence. L
was engaged in business in New York, but
had been making long and pleasant tour of
the continent, and was then steaming back
toward home by way of the Antilles.
"As we went sweeping into the harbor OF
Havana, what should we see butt four
masted ship, standing all alone, and from
her peak the old Stars and Stripes waved
aloft, the most beautiful thing to me that
had seen in all my travels. Farther on, and
on both sides, were numerous other vessels,
but not another one flying the American
ensign England, Italy, France and Spain
were all represented there, their national
colors being displayed on from half dozen
to dozen boats, but the finest ship in the
harbor was that which had the red. white
and blue flag of my own country, floating
there in the blue sky, above all the rest, and
more beautiful than any Of them.
"This was shortly after the famous Lopez
expedition The little band OF patriots had
fitted out in this country, and had gone to
Cuba for the purpose of planting the seed
of freedom The result Of the expedition
you will recall, how the Spaniards stood
them up with their faces to the wall and
shot them like dogs, throwing their bodies
at was bad time for Americans to be in
the country, but one of my personal ac-
quaintances who had been in the Lopez
party had escaped the wholesale slaughter,
and was confined in Moro castle when we
arrived. went with the American consul
to see him, and, thanks to his energetic rep
resentations. the authorities were induced
to let him go. Istayed there till some time
in the following year, but the sight of the
old flag had gone to my head, and returned
to New Y York as soon as could arrange my
business on the island.'
Speaking of the time the flag looked the
finest to you" said Charles NJ. jenkins, the
genial deputy sheriff, Suggested to me the
time 1 thought it looked pretty good. 1t
was right after | got out of Andersonville
prison, and l saw it on a gunboat in the
river. | was on shore, and the rebels came
up just then and took me in again, and as
they carried me away l looked back, and |
never saw the Stars and Stripes look
brighter or more beautiful than when | saw
no possible way of getting nearer to them"
"Tell the story, captain; tell the story
cried those present, for they smeled
reminiscence which would be worth the
hearing. 1t required some persuasion, for
the captain is not disposed to be personal in
his storytelling. but he was induced, with
some reluctance, to relate the circumstances
to which in a jocular way he had referred.
at happened in this way" said the dep
uty sheriff. you know / enlisted in
regiment" but he was in
terrupted by some one, who responded:
"Oh, yes, have heard that jenkins was the
only man who went out of Los Angeles
county to fight in the war of the rebellion,
at least on the union side. You went into
the cavalry, didn't you:' he asked
eyes, | had no disposition to join any
other arm Of the service" said the captain,
"but you mustn't bother me if you want to
find out how happened to get into that fix
where the rebels bagged me, and that just
when l thought L had got well away from
them.
'When | was first captured they took me
officers being put into one part of the build |
ing and the non-commissioned officers and |
privates into another Soon the old |
tobacco house got too small to accoA-
nodate us, even when they showed us
n so thick that we could not turn over at
night without the word Of command, and |
Cne Wnole lou turned togetnef. L was par |
:elled off for Andersonville
81 didn't much like the looks Of the place
when | got there, and | was always schem-
ng how | could get away. Finally dug
tunnel under the palisades, and one dark !
light / punched a hole through the other
md and, struck out for the union lines. |
,new / was away down there in the heart
f the Confederacy, and the 7ca struck me
o make the best time possibly could in the I
light, and to lay off in the daytime. My |
scape was not observed till morning, and |
" that time | was five miles away or more.
knew they would send the hounds after
ne, and so | waded in the stream for dis
ance, going ashore when it began to get
ight, and covering myself up with brush
slept till nightfall, and then took to the
treams again / kept that up for several
lays and the stream commenced to grow
yder
Finally I found small skiff. 1t was
ocked to the bank with chain and paddock.
smashed the lock with a stone and got on
oard. There were no paddles, and | was i
orced to let it drift with the current. A
'ranch which ! broke from a tree on the
ank enabled me to steer the boat. and |
ound ] could make better time than when
aiding in the water.
I'm the darkness ] would sometimes strike
he shore, but | would push off again. and
round and over any quantity of obstacles
worked along until one night / felt an
nusual jolt. / reached down and felt all