Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-12-16
ESCAPE OF w. o. SINGLETON.
An Interesting Incident of the War
Between the States.


My recollection of the incident Is
that 1t was January, 1865. We were
camped near the Charles City road,
three or four miles south of Rich
mond, Va, and no open hostilities
were going on between the Intend
Ing armies. The reader will pardon
the use Of the names of those who
were concerned. Capt. p. b. Ben
son was trying to get a man of his
company to go over to the Federal
line and exchange newspapers with
the boys on the other side. The
name of the man whom the captain
was trying to get to go was Merritt.
l told Capt. Benson to give me his
papers and I would go over to the
line, or meet the Yankees between
the lines. (Most of the old Rebs
know how that was done). The dist
ance between the Rebel line and the
Federal line was $50 or 800 yards.
took the paper and went a little
way towards the Yankee line, and
talked in the mute language to a
lieutenant, Bentley, from Baltimore,
Nd, he telling me that he would
meet me half way. went my half
way, and when got that far he told
me to meet him half way from where
l then was. In this way 1 soon got
near his line. where we could talk
orally, and he told me to come on
to his line. told him I did not want
to approach his line, but he and
many others in his command told me
to come right up to The line and
that I should return to my command
unharmed at my pleasure. In this
was l was persuaded to the line, and
as soon as l got there Lieut.. Bentley
arrested me as prisoner of war. OF
course that excited me very much.
For few minutes I was choosing
between death at the point of the
bayonet, or starvation and freezing to
death in Northern prison, and be-
traying the confidence of my COM
rades In war, who were over at my
line looking after me with great anx-
1ety. A prison was the last place for
me. had never intended to be taken
prisoner. In the midst of my ex-
citement they offered me a number
Of Gen. Grants circulars, which read
about as follows:
Come unto me, all ye Rebs that
are weary and heavy laden Of Rebel
dom, and 1 will give you rest, pay
the government price for whatever
army equipment you bring with you,
give free transportation to any point
in the United States you want to go,
and give you a position where Rebel
dom never can come. ...
~. s. Grant,
Commanding General"
Now, the oath Of allegiance to the
United States was connected with
this circular. I looked at the papers
and told them with emphasis that I
had quit. swearing. Just at this
moment lieutenant of a New York
regiment (his name was McClesky)
stepped up and said, Bentley, you
should let this man return to his
command; heard your agreement
with him." Bentley said he could
not let me return. Lieut.. McClesky
said, "Sir, you have as much right to
let him return to his command as
you had to let him come here" This
was good news to me; I thought /
saw a hope Of getting back to the
boys In gray again. I called for the
officer Of the day, and he and Lieut..
McClesky heard my story Of how I
got there. The officer Of the day re-
ferred my case to the division officer
OF the day. He came, and my New
York friend remained with me as /
told my story to him. This officer
said i would have to go to Gen.
Orrds' quarters. Gen. Orrds was the
commander Of that army post. l
thought 1t would suit me to 90 to
Orrds' quarters, but when we got to
the woods they told the sentinel who
was guarding me 20 take me out
there in the woods and keep me until
further orders. / went with him
quietly, as 1 had learned that it was
best for me not to differ much with
that old Irish New York regular
(The New York regulars had a name
for turbulence. I stayed there in
the woods with that Irishman some
three Or four hours, and v hile we
were out there the division officer of
the day came along, and I called to
him. He stayed with me and the
1rishman long while, and told me
that he had been to headquarters,
and seen Gen. Orrds, and he thought