The National tribune., 1904-04-07
CAPTURE AND ESCAPE.
Adventure Of ssrgt xAson-Encountsr with
fits Hugh Lee Pelitsasss Of Chivalrous
Rebel.

Adventure OF Soret &doon-EncouAtef With
Hits Hugh Lee Pelitsnsss Of Chivalrous
Rebel.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I gave,
some months ago, q brief account of how
my comrade, Geo. e. Edison, saved the life
of Brig. Gen. Howell at Morris Island in
1863. 1 promised that later ! would tell
how he was taken prisoner and how he
escaped.
His command on the morning Of April
6, 1865, was on the march from Peters
burg to intercept portion OF Lees army,
then supposed to be in retreat from Rich
mond. 1t received orders to proceed to
High Bridge and destroy it. The COM
mand consisted Of two regiments Of infan-
try and four companies-I, *, l. and M
OF the Independent Battalion, Massachus-
etts Cavalry, then attached to the 4th
Mass. Cav. Col. Washburn was in COM
mand of the infantry and Col. Reed in
command of the cavalry.
When they arrived at High Bridge they
found it already in possession of the
enemy, under command of Fitz Hugh Lee.
We We're ignorant as to the number OF
the enemy's forces. The brief engage
mem that took place resulted in both
Coils. Washburn and Reed being wounded,
killed Or wounded and the rest taken pris-
OnerS.
will now state what took place rs near
as l can in the Sergeant's own words:
THE cavalry was Mt once sent forward
to ascertain il possible the position and
strength of the enemy. We very soon
found out that they Outnumbcred our own
force, and were partially intrenched. AT
the same time quite brisk firing was
heard in our rear, and we surmised that
our infantry had been attacked, which
proved to be true. Our cavalry at once
fell back, and arriving at ridge, saw
upon the partly-wooded plain just below,
and directly in our front, our forces in q
brisk engagement with the enemy.
"A charge was ordered upon what ap-
peared to be the enemy's left; this was re-
peated two or three times, and the enemy
was driven back with the loss Of several
taken prisoners by our small detachment
OF cavalry. But we soon learned that we
were largely outnumbered. Our conf
manders, with many Of the line officers,
had been killed or wounded, and the re-
naming portion OF our force was cap
tured. A retreat seemed to be the next
to obey the self-given order and lookout
for himself as best he could. at once
started, and was riding along one of those
zig-Zag fences SO numerous in Virginia
when came to sharp angle in the fence
and knew that l must jump it. Putting
spurs to my horse, tried to clear the
fence. but my horse struck the top rail,
stumbled and fell to the ground, holding
me fast with my right leg under the sad
die. Before could. free myself and get
my horse upon his feet, two elderly-look-
ing rebel soldiers were at my side, and
was examining the muZzles of two dan
gerous-looking guns. l was told to sur
render, which Of course l gracefully did
under the circumstances, who wouldn't!
1,,x~A
was: Give US your pocket-bOOk! l imme-
diately obeyed, with the question: Who
will l give it TOT One of them replied, i
guess we will dividev He then mounted
my horse, gave me the order to take hold
Of the girth Of the saddle. and move on.
| was at once taken to where the rest Of
the prisoners had been gathered. On the
way fine-looking officer halted us and
said to me: 'Yank. how large q force did
you have here!' / was so scared that l
told him the exact truth: "A squadron OF
cavalry and two small regiments of in
fantry.' He replied: 'YOu are
liar That officer was Fitz Hugh Lee.
Very soon after we started for our des-
tination, not knowing where they We're TO
take us. We had not been OH the march
many minutes before l began to plan for
my escape. Our captors had already
taken all the clothes we had that We're Of
any value, and left us with what bits of
old blankets and rags we could secure, for
a covering.
During the day following my capture
/ found part of an old gray, dirty blanket,
which / picked up and threw over my
shoulders. This suggested to me the idea
of rigging up i'll appearance like our
guards. The same day l secured al ex-
change of caps with one Of my comrades.
who had one that looked much like those
worn by the rebels. l now began to look
like rebel in my apparel. l also came
across a tobacco stick on the march.
which l hid usder my blanket for future
use, although it was about four feet long.
Night came on. and kept close watch Of
our guards. They were in close line on
each side Of their prisoners, keeping strict
watch, that no one escaped.
During the night / gradually worked
myself out on a line with the guard, keep
ing my eye on the man in my immediate
rear and now, carrying my tobacco stick
at shoulder arms playing the guard as
best knew how, l soon found that my
change Of position was not noticed at ALL
About midnight We came to quite a
wooded section of the country, where the
road ran close to the edge of the woods
l began to feel that my lucky moment was
soon to come; and it did. The attention
Of the guard at my rear was for mo-
ment turned in another direction, and
side of the road. lay down and kept per-
fectly quiet until the line passed on,
when / knew that my escape had not
been noticed.
"After lying still for few moments I
got up, worked my way along slowly. it
being very dark in the woods, until came
upon wooden bridge over small
stream, underneath which were the ex-
posed roots Of trees, from which the earth
had been washed by the current, and into
one Of these hollow places / managed to
crawl. Being thoroughly exhausted. hav-
ing had no nourishment since my capture.
l soon fell asleep.
when / awoke it was broad day, with
the sun well up, and l could hardly move
l was SO thoroughly chilled, wet, tired and
well-nigh played out, knowing not which
way to turn to reach friends.
THAT nights severe exposure made me
Il pensioner from the day Of my discharge
from the service
Il very soon decided to make my way
i'll the direction Of what judged to be the
sound of 4 large and distant army on the
move. / was soon Overtaken by large
number of stragglers, who were going in
the same direction that l was, and knew
by their appearance they were a party OF
rebel soldiers. They took little or no no.
rice of me, l being dressed much like
fhomSalvaS I w1S NOW oOuyipnnI fhot