The National tribune., 1907-02-28
COL. sTREIGHT'S ESCAPE.
One Of HIS Companions Now Living in
the Indiana Soldiers Home.


old veterans snugly housed in the Ma
tional Soldiers Home at Marion, Ind,
and generally grateful for the comforts
conferred by generous Government.
confined to our barracks most of the
time, We find opportunity TO relate some
OF our experiences of the late civil war.
and 1t was only few days ago that ]
was apprised of the fact that we had
In our ward one who had made that
daring and miraculous escape from the
Infamous Libby Prison He is First
Lieut.. Samuel Setter, late of Co. E, 51st
Ind. commanded by the late Col A. d.
Streight- Thereupon l questioned him.
and 1 now relate some of the leading
features of the terrible ordeal through
which they passed, as told that day BY
the Lieutenant, now in the 65th year
OF his age.
Among the thousands OF Western vol
unteer soldiers of the civil war there
are few who did not know or hear Of
Col. A. D. Streight, of the 51st Ind.
After a few months service his regi-
nent was mounted, and was soon MAX
ing successful raids through the enc
mys country, until he met with an
overwhelming force of Wheelers cav
airy. and his brigade was captured, or
as much OF II as was with him. The
oncers were held as prisoners of war.
and the men We're turned loose on
parole. The prisoners were taken by
freight train, by way of Knoxville to
richmond. and were confined in an old
TOBACCO warehouse. known as Libby
Prison. 1t Was full at the time. The
sanitary condition Of the prison at the
time was terrible the rations coarse
ana often limited. and protection from
the weather wanting. as the old build
ing was mere shell, but we'll guarded
on the outside.
rnf
straint and idleness imposed on him
He wrote note to Jefferson Davis, in
which he complained that the usages
OF war had been ignored in his case
and that of his brother officers and tina.
the miserable old prison was intolera.
bic. Davis returned an answer that he
(Streight) ought 10 be glad that he was
afve. This aroused the Colonel, and It
proved an unfortunate remark for the
head of the Confederacv.
The scheme TO tunnel out and escape
was put into effect at once, as told by
Lieut.. Setter. who assisted in the he
roic effort. made his escape and came
into the Union lines after many davs of
privation and hardships with his two
companions-Col. Streisht ard Adi't
Ramsey. When Col. Streight told of
his scheme his comrades approved II.
the thought of employment and obtain
ing relief from monotony cheering
them. Besides, they did not know what
morning they might be called out and
shot.
Col. Strefght. Lieut. Setter and AdTtI
Ramsey went together in front. The
colonel was a large man, and he had
some difficulty in getting through the
tunnel. '
aunt Rhoda, q good old colored nam
my. somehow got an intimation of what
was going on, and smuggled in two
broken Knives, with directions to come
to her house when they got out and not
y 10 ieave the city "jes yet. as dey'l
hab de dogs aftah YOU"
Hope came to the trio when thay
crawled out and saw the stars again.
jumping into the shallow creek. they
went forward and reached Rhoda's
cabin with the aid of a colored a,,Ide
Here they hid in the basement Tor
nearly a fortnight, while the excitement
seemed to increase outside. Their COL
ored friends kept them informed and
supplied them with food.
one dark. rainy night they left the
place after being supplied with q small
quantity of provisions They were soon
under the dripping branches of the for
est. following directions given them
ana fully impressed with the trial be-
fore them. All night they plodded on
In the cold rain, with only vague idea
as TO where they were going Common
roads and byways had to be avoided Q !,
near The capital
Taking southwesterly course. as II
was known the country north of Rich
mond was swarnling with guerillas and
Dush"heckers, they pushed on thru
lhe WOODS under cover, trying to reach
the front, where they had been directed
by their colored friends. In the morn.
sng the rain ceased. but the cold or
early Winter increased and they were
unable TO find a place to rest. They
had missed the place TO which they ha d
been directed. and after eating what
they had !oft they gathered a few drv
leaves from under the damp ones in n
thicket are huddled together in the
cold until night
When they left Richmond Aunt
Rhoda had provided each with a s,,it
OF old clothes. for which they exchang-
ed their suits of blue The Colonel
wore an old plug hat, and under other
circumstances his appearance would
have provoked laughter, but thew were
al too much absorbed in the outcome
OF their venture to indulge In much
pleasantly.
The second morniag found them. as
near as they could calculate. about 40
miles from their starting point and
they were beginning 10 take adyantagc
OF unused roads and private paths that
led in the direction they desired to GO
Finally they helt"d. sore. stiff and al
most exhausted. chilled to the marrow.
and hid in the underbrush The Ad-
5utant, always on the alert with a pair
OF sharp eyes, seeing a little smoke
curling up some distance away, recon-
noitered among the bushes and found
a negro cabin Of which they had been
told. 1t was not long until he returned
with corn pone in one hand and a
piece of hog meat in the other. They
could have shouted with joy.
Another colored friend had been
found. who advised them to build a fire
and get thawed out, while he stood
guard, and the glow of a wood fire
never fell on a more grateful trio. The
coiored friend brought them a bundl.
of hay, and on this they rested until
darkness closed in.
With fair supply OF food and full
directions how to find a certain cabin.
they started toward the hills on a 90
mile march, tho still very weary. 1t
seemed the next morning would never
come and with heavy feet they plodded
on until the first streaks of dawn be-
gan to show. Stopping because they
could go no farther. they saw 4 clear
ing across a brook, and a cabin which
they supposed was the one they were
looking for. While consulting as to
the next move, baying hounds were
heard across the way. Not q moment
ded speed as they ran toward the west.
until they fell exhausted. Their alarm,
however. was soon turned to rejoicing
for In an opening in the woods they
aaw colorad man DasAnR II aaemed