The National tribune., 1901-04-11

port upon it. After full investigation Col
I.oring reported in substance as follows:
Instead of censure, Gel Garrard is en-
titled to much credit for his management
of the late affair at Rogersyille."
After the engagement was over the
rebels gathered their prisoners together
and started with us toward Virginia
Among them was Lieut.. A A. Carr, Of
our regiment, who was captured in the
hospital at Rogersville. He was suffer-
ing from rupture, and, like myself, was
hardly able to keep up with the procession.
We were marched in twOs, Carr and
forming one set of twos in the column
with mounted guards alongside. The
rebels marched us east along the main
road, leading up the Holston Valley, for a
few miles, and then crossed over to the
Carter Valley Road. At sundown the en-
tire command of about 5000 troops
stopped to feed their horses from the
cOrnfields along the Carter Valley road.
We prisoners were all turned into a pas
ture field and strong guard surrounded
us. During the afternoon march My COM
panion, Lieut.. Carr, and | discussed the
situation, and we agreed to make an eff
fort to escape, taking advantage of the
first opportunity which might offer The
opportunity came even sooner than we eX-
pected. As we rested In the pasture it
became cold, and as / had no overcoat.
D.
in two parts, and gave me one, which |
was very glad to throw over my shOul-
ders.
1t was soon plain to US that it was the
intention of the rebel commander to make
night march, and as neither Carr nor
/, at that time felt able TO make an ali
night march, / asked the officer in COM
mand of the guard to permit me to go
to the Commanding General and ask for a
mount for myself and Carr. The officer
Of the guard complied with my request,
and sent a rebel soldier with me to Gen.
Jones. L stated to the General that it
was evident he intended to make night
march, and as Lieut.. Carr and myself
were both badly disabled, | asked him
to permit us to ride, they having extra
horses. Gen. Jones granted this request
and sent word to the officer of the guard
that two horses would be furnished for
Carr and myself.
When the night march. was about to
begin and the prisoners We're ready to
march cut of the field into the road, the
soldiers who had been guarding US by
day were relieved, and new detachment
was sent to take charge. 1t was now
quite dark, though starlight. Just at this
time the two horses which had been sent
by Gen. Jones arrived and the officer of
the day guard explained to the officer of
the night guard that the prisoners Allen
be permitted TO ride, and the horses We're
given us. Lieut.. Carr was not able to
mount without assistance, and / boosted
him up on one horse and mounted the
other myself. By fortunate and entire
ly unexpected accident a company Of
rebel mounted troops came our way at
this moment, and before either Carr or
/ knew what had happened or how it
came about, we were mixed up with these
mounted men, and at the same instant we
both discovered that the soldiers guarding
the prisoners had omitted to take us two
into consideration. We were free, except
that we were mixed up in a rebel company
now passing from the field into the road
Carr and l held a whispered council of
war" and decided that the best thing
to do was to go along with our new COM
pany.
We formed q set of twos and marched
out of that field with the company and
nearly a mile along the road with the rebel
column, looking all the while for gap
in the fence through which we might
ride and get away. After what seemed
to be an exceedingly long time we fonnd
an opening in the fence at the road side
and dropped out of the column and
stopped near this opening. We waited
only an instant, and then, with our hearts
in our throats, slowly walked our horses
through the gap in the fence. The col
umn passed along without remark or no.
tice of this departure, no doubt taking
us for their own soldiers.
A dozen steps from the roadside and
darkness covered our escape. We then
struck into a gallop, and on the other side
Of the field we pushed over the top rail
of the fence. and, having good horses,