The National tribune., 1899-04-20
pRISON-pEN
AND SWAMP.
Massachusetts Cavalryman's
Escape and Attempt to Reach
the Union Lines.
By VIM. &. LAWRENCE,
Sergeant, Co. NJ, I'd Mass. Cav.
SYNOPSIS.

SiN0t olS.
The author enlisted in TIE California Bat
TALON. at San Francisco, Cal, i'll March
1863. TEis organization became Ccs. L, +,
/, 81 1 N, I'd Mass. Cav, losing its identify
as a California command. While scontlne
lear Vienna, Va, in February, 1864, de
tachment Of 4 little over 4 hundred men
under Maj. Read, was ambushed by MosIy's
men. A number of the party, including
Mai. Read, were killed, and %, among them
the author, were taken prisoners, while TIE
otLers escaped in the darkness. The rris'
oners were sent TO the PembertOn Buildins,
Richmond, thence TO Andersonville. and
later to Savannah Twentv-oDc of the p
taken prisoners died in eight months. The
author then decided 10 attempt escape. and
after securing Confederate uniform by trad
ing with the guards, he climbed the stockade.
After leaving the prison he IS aided by
friendly negroes.
Neither hearing nor seeing anyone, VEN
tured out Of the swamp in my search for a
boat i was walking along the beach near
the water, when / heard someone call out:
"Halt - Looking in the direction from
which the voice seemed to come, was sur
prised TO see Confederate picket sitting on
his horse near the edge of the beach. He had
been concealed behind the brush and trees,
and had advanced when he saw me.
"Who goes there ?' the picket called out,
as stood thinking how ! was to get away.
Advance and give an account of yourself. u
started, hut moved more sideways than
forward, lifting my feet at every step 10
make him believe ! was trying to get out OF
the deep mud. When got near the edge of
the swamp he called out again: Halt"
halted.
''Whar We gwine 2" he yelled.
81 am getting ont of the mud.'
"Yo'uns has gwine fur 'nough; cum here,
now.''
"All right, answered, and again started,
taking one short step forward and two longer
ones sideways. Again the order rang out:
Halt +" made a break for the swamp,
tie picket giving chase. i dashed through a
torder of rose briers and fell into shallow
ditch. There lay concealed. not more than
10 feet from the picket. He had no place TO
hitch his horse, and after waiting for awhile,
and not hearing or seeing anything of me,
he went away to report.
/ made my way into the swamp as soon as
the picket had gone soon found, however,
thath had not given me up, for heard hounds
baying. i made for the overflow swamp,
and a greater part of the time for two days
/ wandered back and forth, battling the
hounds. But at one time came in full view
of my would-be captors and barely escaped
At the end of the second day they gave up
the chase. But during this time l had
finished eating the rations in my haversack.
i started out on the road again, and avoid
ing the pickets, in due time arrived in
Grahamviile. passed through the pickets,
and back to Savannah River, foraging on the
way, and travelling only at night
did not venture to speak to anyone until
] came TO the place where George, the Octo-
room, lived. He was surprised to see me
again. i told him what had happened, and
asked him if he knew of any other avenue
of escape for me. He did not, SO l fina lily
decided TO make for Sherman's army i
heard that some of his forces were near A u
gusta, and resolved to make that my OBJ ject-
I've point So l took the road that followed
the course Of the Savannah River, on the
north side. The dawn OF the second day
found me in a rolling country and away
from the swamp, but still in a CODED and
brushy country.
Finding no good hiding place, kept on
travelling by daylight, hoping soon to come
to another swamp. / think it must have
been 0 or 10 o'clock, when / came suddenly
into an opening, in the center of which was
house. and on the front porch sat a Con-
federate officer surrounded by his family
He saw NE rs / came into the clearing, 50 /
kept right on, and as l passed gave him
the military salute, which he returned. !
had gone only short distance, when / met
man driving mule hitched to a cart
loaded with sugarcane. pulled two stalks
out of the cart as he passed, and, seeing me
do II, he stopped TO talk with me. / told
Ia I -
leave Of absence; but as he was too inqusi-
tive 10 suit me, and as it was beginning to
sprinkle, / told him l must hurry on, so
thanking him for the sugarcane had helped
mysclf TO, and bidding him good-day, left
him.
Soon after ! came 10 thicker-wooded
country. ! left the road, going toward the
river 1t was now raining quite hard. Com
ing TO a leaning tree, / found shelter there
until tie rain was over. l then started on.
and soon came 10 a large cornfield, in the
center of which was a cabin. / made nv
way through the field towards the cabin,
looking for corn on the way, but not a nub-
bin did find. 1t had all been harvested
On reaching the cabin found it deserted. !
tore some OF the boards from the floor, built
small fire, dried my clothes, cooked some
sweet potatoes, and then lay down and was
soon fast asleep.
l slept until after dark, and my haversack
being empty, started on again. Near the
edge Of the ccTnfield came to what had been
vegetable garden, and finding some Sum-
mer squa-hes l filled my haversack with
them, and after carrying them all night and
camping in tie morning started my fire in
anticipation of having feast from them, but
imagine my disgust when found them only
shells and so hard that it needed hatchet to
break them open.
After looking around found that had
camped near a coInfeld, and crawling around
among the stalks found some corn, and also
some vines loaded with beans. / now had a
treat before ME. i crawlcd back into the
swamp, built another fire farther in, cooked
what beans ! wanted to eat, parched nv
corn, ate my breakfast. and lay down and
went TO sleep for the rest of the day.
i awoke about dusk, cooked and ate some
more beans, and again started on my Journey.
] had been on the road about three hours
when saw someone approaching, carrying 4
pine torch. stepped into the brush and
waited until he came up. lie proved to be q
slave, and after talking with him few min
utes, found he was going short distance
on the road 10 see his Dinah. needed some
assistance and information, which he prom-
ised to give Inc if | would 90 back with him.
consented 10 this, as | hoped TO get on an.
other underground railroad.
We started back, but had gone but a shor,
lXl ha al