Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-04-21


Army q the Potomac as the only
Union prisoner Who ever escared from
Libby prison III day Wight This was
John c. MCGOWAN of the First Mary
land infantry. He was captured by
the Confederates in 1861 but managed
to escape. He was captured at lat
er date and sent to Libby prison. One
night a number of prisoners were no.
titled that they would be exchanged the
next day.
Among these was man named
Quail of Michigan regiment Quail
knew that MCGOWAN was in very poor
health, and he proposed that the lat
ter cake his place in line and answer
20 the name of Quail when the roll
was called MCGOWAN did this md
was marched out with the released
prisoners. He stipulated, however,
that before the party reached the ex-
change boat Quail should make him
self known, and, insisting that he had
been overlooked demand his release.
Quail carried out his part of the
program and was sent after the march
ing column. The guards were instruct
ed to halt the column and discover if
possible, the extra man. One count
was made as the men stood in line, but
no extra man was found. Then ii was
decided that Quail should take his
place in line and that another count
S14 I,.,
board the exchange boat. Given fair
warning, MCGOWAN boarded the boat
among the first, and before the final
muster was made by the delivering and
receiving officers. hid himself
The prisoners in number and name
talliGd with the rolls, and all we're
Turned over to the exchange officers
who at the time knew nothing of Nc
Cowan's presence On the boat Later
he vent aboard the Union exchange
boat that met tie other at a designat-
ed point. He made good his escape.
ami TIE adventure was in every way
creditable to both McGowan and Quail
But MCGOWAN was not the only Union
on IN broad daylight.
In the first campaign up the Kama
villa in July 1861, Captain John Il.
Iurd of the Second Kentucky infantry
was captured at Poca. In due time he
was sent 10 Libby prison, wearing the
| jaunty uniform Of gray adopted by
the First and Second Kentucky regi
ments and by the Twenty-SiXth Ohio
which also became part Of the Kama
wha division.
'One day Captain Hurd was walking
| about in the room occupied by the of
| ticerS when several surgeons came III
| to look after the sick. These were
| from civil life. and in civilian dress.
each wearing a green ribbon or scarf
on the left arm. IIurd noticed that
| the green ribbon carried the Wearer
past the guards without question or
! challenge Just then one of the sur
| of prisoners, dropped his green rib
bon llurd placed his foot upon it,
and then put ii i'll his pocket
lie retired TO Il corner. tied the
ribbon or scarf about his own arm.
ana. assuming an authoritative pro
| fessional air, walked into the hall.
! passed the guards at the entrance and
| passed the guards at the entrance and
went down the street unmolested. He
! was assisted by some old acquaint
Ia,
| lines and returned to his regiment To
do good service rs major in the later
! years of the var. This was the most
notable escape of a Union prisoner
: from Libby prison in broad daylight
! The story is worth telling again and
again.
"A good many men" said George r.
| Gorham. had war adventures worth
| the telling. Early in 1863 | was run
nlnG an engine between Murfreesbofu
ami Nashville. was getting used to
| the now conditions. and when the army
went south in June / went. too one
| day the First regiment Michigan en-
gineers and mechanics. went by under
| the CDilllndHu OF Inlollel INNS ana
| Lieutenant Colonei .idnt0ou. Huntoon
had been master mecnanic ut Marshall
| Mich. when / was running on the
| Michigan Central before the war. He
recognized me as | leaned forward to
watch the boys and called my name
! lie said at once that they wanted my
train to 20 right along with them and
| | went.
Il was with the advance Of the army
for several months and witnessed a
good many skirmishes and exciting ps-
capes. On one occasion General Sheri-
dan climbed on nv engine and ordered
me forward. Ne vent prospecting to-
ward Decherd and Bridgeport the