Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-08-10

tOouttuueu from r lyst E9se.t
ing us comfortable for the night
and giving us good, wholesome food.
BIT best Of all he proved 5 most
excellent guide. and having been .
constant visitor 1t the prison, where
he sold eatables TO the soldiers, was
veil equipped with the very knowl-
edge we sought. Capt. Yeatman
10 perhaps the best-known light
house keeper on the Atlantic coast,
and il the Eestor Of them all. He 10 .
man below the medium stature,
yearly seventy years Of age, wrink-
led, With az old-fashioned beard OF
snowy white about his chin and
neck. He bashfulIy protested when
asked permission to take . pict-
ure ofhim, saying I'd better wait nm
til he got his "togs." His toys, he
explained, was his uniform the gov
eminent made him wear. He stood
against the wire fence which inclos-
ed the field where the old prison
vas located and | snapped him. !"
We we're oil fonr bundled into a
large room looking out upon Ches-
apeake bay that night.
We we're all up before the sun,
and after breakfast repaired to the
field, where sweet clover and luxu-
rious grass marked the place where
the old prison stood. Capt. Yeat-
msn carried as over the ground,
and after pointing ont the land
marks gave way to Mr.. Seward.
who, locating as nearly as he could
the spot where he domiciled in the
second division, led as to the shore
and commenced the story Of bis
thrilling escape.
xr. Stewards Story Of Capture.
"Just before the battle of Gettys-
burg Lee dispatched Early to threat
en- Washington, and in that way
draw of some Of the Union forces.
I was q private in Stuart's cavalry,
and toward the latter part of June
started for the capital. Just this
side Of Rockville / was detailed
with DIR. q. Smith, Captain Joe
Walton, Major Wade aud James
Rowe to make q reconnaissance
We were all horseback and were
chatting pleasantly, when DR.. Smith
espied small troop Of Union SOL
diers Just ahead. Thinking there
we're only q fewin the command
we decided to charge them, but
were surprised to see them coming
full tilt toward as. Then we dis
covered it was quite q company,
and we tried to get away. Three
of us were captured, and the SOL
diers thinking there was a small
body behind us. rushed pell NELL in
the direction of where General
Stuart was encemped. OF all that
composed that brave little band Of
Union soldiers but few escaped. /
was taken TO Washington and put
in the Old Capitol prison, where,
all things considered, / was treated
fairly well. It was in here that /
made the acquaintance Of one Of
Mosby's men, and he served me 0
good turn later. After remaining
here for some weeks / was hurried
~ called one morning and told to
get ready for transportation to the
military prison at Point Lookout.
We fellows had heard very little of
the place, and | was rather glad to
get g change.
II Point Lockout Prison.
"We we're put on big steamboat
and ono bright morning landed at
the big wharf Jon see yonder. It
was even prettier place than it is
now. The ground was covered with
picturesque cottages, and all seemed
contentment in this little hamlet
by the sea. At that time there
we're only about 1000 prisoners in
the camp. bnt this number was
greatly augmented until at one time
there were 5000 or more. There
WIS nothing at that time TO dis
tinguish the place as Q prison, save
the huddled multitude of boys in
gray and the sterner men in blue
keeping watch. Sentries we're plac-
ed every few feet. and it seemed al
most impossible to escape, although
We made many plans. In the early
days Of my imprisonment the food
was very good, bat after q few
months it became miserable, both
in quantity and quality. We al
wava dakad mr. nndo;no froc. .ha