The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-05-19

to scale" the walls, but was too
closely guarded to use 1t Several Of
the other boys" did get away on it,
and l still have the rope in my posses
stony. Another night the guard on
dut! was drugged, but that plan
fa1leu, too.
After considerable work. finally
succeeded in biting on successful
scheme. In the prison 1here were, be.
sides the regular guards, what were
known as Supernumeraries," whose
business it was to accompany prison.
crs to various places in the city. /
had gotten ON quite friendly terms
with one Of them, Canadian named
Redmond, who belonged to an Ohio
regiment. He did not know of my
sentence. told him that my child
was sick, and l wanted him TO go to
my house with me SO could see the
little one, as it was not expected to
live. This was true. The man re-
piled that he, too had wife and
children, and IL they were sick he GER
tainly would like to see them, SO
granted my request. had sent word
10 my family that 1 would be home
and they must make arrangements
for me to get away. 1t was quite easy
for me to get q message home. AS
the prison fare was unfit to eat, some
OF my friends always brought me my
meals; so when L got my breakfast
next morning sent the message
When had been homo few min
utes, Mrs. Miller asked me il would
not like to take a bath and change
my linen. She had prepared bath In
the adjoining room. The guard took
bis position at the door. The room
into which went, after taking Off my
hat coat, vest and boots, had second
door, which Redmond could not Gee
from where he was standing. In the
meantime the young woman who was
nursing my child attracted the guar DIS
attention by showing him some hand
some pictures in book. l was not
idle, and quickly stepped into second
suit Of clothes which my wife had pro.
vided In the room in which l was bath
ing, or suppo ed TO be bathing, for in
reality my wife was splaShing the wa
ter while L was getting away. l left
the house at once. TO do this l had
TO Jump out of window, aud to
1
middle OF company OF federal caval-
ry thai was camped in lot near my
house. Luckily, they took no notice
OF me, and q vicious bulldog, which
came up about that time gave me
good excuse for breaking into run.
| crossed the street in q hurry, aud
at 4 bound cleared six-fCot fence,
which CtfeCtuaily hid me from view.
a carriage was in waiting for me in
front OF my house, but in such posi-.
lion as to be in plain view OF the
guard. While l was crossing tbs
street l signaled the driver, an inti-
mate friend Of mine, who was acting
in that capacity, and by the time 1
reached the allcy on the other side OF
She high fence he was there waiting
for me- l shall always think that
jump over the feuce saved my life
Once in the carriage, l was rapidly
driven short distance outside OF the
city, whera stopped at the house OF
Judge Woodruff. l wanted to keep
on that night. There we're three lines
OF pickets to be passed and the judge
advised me to wait until morning
which did. TIE next morriig my
hest put pair Of navy skies in my
hands, with these I made my way
safely south. 1t was case OF life
and death, and l would have fought a
regiment 1 rejnined the Confederates
unaer Gen. Holmes. Subs Iuently |
was transferred 10 Gen. Il Kirby
Smiths command, where L remained
until the close OF the war.
MIR. Redmond was still interested
in the pictures, but finally said to
Mrs. Miller who bad just returned to
the room, Mrs. Miller you had bet
ter call your husband " She replied,
HE Is not there.' Mr.. Radruond
said, Il did not think that of you y
My wife said, He is my husband -
hIr Redmond thought moment, then
locking up, said, Il cont blame you.
My wife would have done the .amc
for me-"
Redmond was suspected OF he ing
been instrumental in aiding ms 81
escape; but IL was never proved against
him, for no one noticed when we went
out Or paid any attention to Redmond
when he returned. The eX!ct hour
OF my escape was not known, ana the
guards were charged so often that it
could not be found out who vas or
DUTY at the time. When my escape
was discovered, l had been gone sev-
crnl hours. The strange part OF the
affair was that when Redmond was
tried enc Of the witnt sses sWore that
he saw him return with me.
AT the time OF my escape the news
papers stated that, having had access
TO the city engineer off,e which Gen.
Sherman was using, had carried OF
plans OF all the works around the city.
On the strength Of this, reward OF
50, 600 was offered for my capture.
This statement was not, however,
true; for although | was at liberty to
go In and out OF the engineers onlce
at will, l did not carry eff any plans
with me. l was able, through n.em-
ory, to give Gen. Forrest some infor
nation as to the location Of the enc.
iny's works, which proved Of great
service to him in making his raio into
Memphis.
| learned after the war was over
that by the intercession Of Mr.. Nc
| Pners0n (Who had been college mate
Of minO and some Of my relatives ana
! prominent friends in the north, presi-
dent Lincoln was prevailed upon to
pardon me. The papers, though, we're
| not received until after the dav unon