with the assistance of the teaspoon keys, opened from the inside. This he failed to do, and for our doors, and by two o'clock in the morn- fear of detection next morning, myself and parting of July 5, we were nearly through the ner resolved to escape that night. wall; we were however detected shortly afterward, and again locked up. The jailer thinking I was the one to blame for the damage done, threatened me with a chain round my neck, and one around each ankle, should I make another attempt to escape. JULY 22.-By another ruse, we again succeeded in getting out of our cell. By 2 o'clock we had an opening nearly large enough to pass through. Being in the third story of the jail, we required a rope, with which to reach the ground, and made it by tearing our blankets up for the purpose, and a very strong cable was the result of our labor. Fifteen minutes, and we would be outside of the gloomy walls. But again we were doomed to disappointment, and were again locked up, and after this attempt a guard of soldiers was placed around the jail to make sure of us. The prisoners of the cell in which we had managed to smuggle ourselves, not having made any attempt to escape, the jailer was in the habit of only locking the inside door upon them. Any one having a key could open this door from the inside; I had altered a key to fit it. About nine o'clock, we opened the door, and after passing out closed and locked it again. I was to pass the guard first, get over the fence, and make a signal to my comrade. I stole gently down to the large outer door where I could observe the guard passing and repassing. We had hoped to catch the guard asleep, but after watching until three o'clock in the morning, they were still on the alert. I resolved to attempt the passage when he was pacing his beat with his back toward me, and was in the act of making the leap, when the command "Halt! who comes there?" rang out upon the JULY 26.- Captain Whitlock and myself con- air. I drew back and discovered the relief-guard cluded to attempt the passage of the guards dis- approaching; the guard was relieved, and five guised as one of the negro attendants of the jail. minutes later I gave a leap, and thinking the Accordingly, we made a fire on the cell floor by guard had noticed me, and was about to fire, splitting some fine kindling of pine wood, burned threw myself upon the ground; I lay here some some cork which we were fortunate in procuring, ten minutes, the guard passing within twelve feet and by 6 o'clock that evening were ready for the of me. Finding that he had not noticed me I experiment, myself to attempt it first. When made my way to the fence and scaled it in safety. the doors were opened for the purpose of chang- I made the signal agreed upon, waited an hour ing the water, I placed one bucket on my head and a half, and thinking my friend would not and another in my right hand, and passed within risk the running of the guard, started on my jourtwo feet of the guard without detection. I was ney, reaching the city limits just at daylight. in the act of passing out of the yard-gate when Sometime before my escape I contrived to get recognized, and the attention of the guard called hold of a confederate uniform, upon which I to me by a deserter from the Army of the Poto- sewed two bars which indicated, in the rebel armac. I was again placed in my cell, and passed my, a first lieutenant. Five miles from the city the night sadly. It appeared to me that I was I obtained a first-rate breakfast, for which they not to succeed in making my escape, no matter refused pay, thinking that I was what I representhow often I attempted it. But I concluded to ed myself to be," Lieutenant J. R. Brown, Fourth try again." Louisiana Battalion Volunteer Infantry." DurJULY 30.- Our plans were interrupted by ing the forenoon I lost myself, and at noon found being placed in the cars "for Charleston, South myself only nine miles from Macon. I took dinCarolina," but Stoneman came to the rescue. ner at an old planter's; living at this house was The authorities, learning that the road had been a young man who had been in the army — he cut, removed us from the cars to the stockade. proved very inquisitive; he asked me the names Stoneman fought the rebels all day within our of our officers, engagements in which we had hearing, and toward evening drove the rebels taken part, &c., all of which I was able to anwithin three-fourths of a mile of the city. His swer correctly, being in possession of the shells struck several buildings in the centre of the complete history of the regiment, which I obcity, creating quite a panic. Hopes of being re-tained from a confederate soldier in prison. The leased by Stoneman created the warmest feeling old gentleman was not so suspicious, but on the among our prisoners, but we were doomed to dis- contrary was very sociable, asking me if I was a appointment, as our troops were compelled by the overwhelming force brought against them, to fall back, and two days later Stoneman himself was brought in a prisoner. 66 I married man, and drawing my attention to the fact that he had four daughters, all unmarried, &c. Before I left, the young man was satisfied that I was a loyal southerner, and the old gentleJULY 31.-Captain Whitlock, myself, and man refused to take any pay from a 66 soldier." eight others were returned to jail as "dangerous thanked him, and bade them all good-by. characters." August 3, another plan was con- That night I had to pay five dollars in Confedcocted. Myself and another were to smuggle erate money, for supper. I engaged a bed, and ourselves into a cell on the outside of the door had a good sound sleep only twelve miles from which closed at the end of the entry, and which Macon. I also learned that two hundred of it was necessary to open in order to allow the es- Wheeler's men were in camp only two miles cape of all the prisoners. Another prisoner was off. Next morning I started early, and passed to remain outside his cell, and co-operate with us about one hundred wounded men on furlough going down to the station to take the cars for home. I approved of the policy of allowing wounded men to go home, &c. They wanted to know whether I was on furlough or not. I replied that I was just out of the hospital, and then en route to see a friend three miles from Forsythe; I passed on. Near Forsythe I passed a squad of Wheeler's men, in search of the camp of which I had heard the night previous. I gave them directions where to find the camp, after which they asked me what command I belonged to, &c. I gave them the same old tale, which satisfied them and passed on. At the edge of Forsythe, I passed three hospital camps, and experienced no trouble in doing So. Two miles beyond the town I asked permission from an old planter, who was returning home, to ride with him in his buggy, which he granted. Seven and a-half miles from town, we came to this gentleman's home. I thanked him for his kindness and passed on. be satisfied. I fitted myself out for the purpose Yank. -"Over two months. I was wounded at Resaca; after recovering from my wound, I was taken with erysipelas." Reb.-"You can give the names of citizens of Forsythe if you have been there two months." Yank. "No, sir, I cannot. I suffered severely, and was afterward so sick that I did not leave camp, and consequently did not form any acquaintances." Reb.-"Describe the camp and buildings surrounding it." I learned from a negro the names of parties living on the opposite side of the Omulgee Riv- I described quite a number of buildings I had er, which I had to cross that evening, and meet-noticed in coming through. ing any one, I generally satisfied their curiosity by telling them that I was just going down to Mr. Bradford's or "any other man's" name that I happened to know in advance. At the river I found three cavalrymen (Wheeler's), on duty, "looking after Yanks." Stoneman's men at this time were scattered all over this part of the country, and made it more difficult to escape than under other circumstances. Reb.-"Can you describe no others?" "No, sir." Yank. Reb. 166 "You have omitted the most conspicuous building in the camp. Can you not describe it?" Yank. "No, sir." Reb. "Well, sir, I will have to take you to camp at Graball, where there are officers better able to decide the matter." The old ferryman was very inquisitive. I think Yank.- "My friend, if you do your duty you I satisfied him by giving him a larger bill than do well; but when you go beyond that, it is unhe could change, and telling him to keep the bearable. I am a confederate officer, and exchange until my return on the following day. I pect to be treated as such. I have given you asked the guards if they were "looking out for enough proof to satisfy any reasonable man; and Yanks," to which they replied, "Yes." I told if you were an old soldier you would have been them what command I belonged to, &c., and satisfied with half the questions answered by passed on. Five miles from this place I encoun- me. I have to be in Forsythe on Monday next, tered my hardest customer. He had been an in order to go to the front. If I go with you, İ officer in the rebel Eastern army, but resigned will have to come back to-morrow to Middleearly in the war. He suspected me at first sight, brook's, and then I cannot reach Forsythe in and the following dialogue ensued between us: time." Reb.-"What command do you belong to?" Yank. "Fourth Louisiana Battalion." Reb.-"Give me the names of officers commanding your regiment, brigade and division." Yank."Lieut. Colonel John McHenry, formerly commanded the regiment. He was wounded in the arm and thigh at the battle of Resaca, since which time Major Bowie has commanded. Colonel Gibson commands the brigade, and Major General Stewart the division." Reb.-"Well, come and go back to Mr. Smith's and stay all night." Yank. — “I cannot go there, for the same reason that I cannot go to camp." Reb."Well, sir, if you will describe Mr. Smith's house, I will be satisfied that you are all right.” It struck the rebel that if I was one, I could describe the house. That if I was a Yankee, I had not been to Mr. Smith's, which was three miles off the road, and consequently could not describe it. I knew that if I did not describe it I would have to go to camp with him, so I determined to make the attempt. In order to gain time, I pretended not to understand him. I knew that there were no brick buildings in that part of the country, and that it must be either a frame or a log house. Mr. Smith being a miller, I concluded that it must be a frame. After asking him what he said, I told him that I could describe it; and commenced to do so. I told him that it was a two-story frame house, of pretty good size. He replied that I was right, and that he was thoroughly satisfied; asked my pardon for detaining me so long; shook hands, and we parted. After this I resolved to travel at night, only. lady's house; she told me of the cruel treatment received at the hands of the Yankees, &c. She mentioned one case, I remember, in which she had traded butter and milk for flour and coffee, and afterward the flour and coffee were taken from her by the Yankees. retreat, and I was compelled to swim it, which I did at twelve o'clock at night. I passed through Roswell at daylight, and concluded to travel that day until I reached our lines at Marietta. I met quite a large number of citizens, to whom I represented myself as having been paroled by StoneAt Hillsboro I was compelled to lie over man, in front of Macon, with the understanding three days, until General Iverson's brigade of that I was to send out a Federal Lieutenant in Wheeler's command, got out of my way-nar- my stead, and that if I failed to do so I was rowly escaping capture, twice, by pickets or to report at Marietta as prisoner of war. Severscouts of this command. One of Stoneman's al of them advised me not to report, but "I raiders was captured at this place, driven into the couldn't think of breaking my parole." Five woods, and brutally murdered by his captors. miles from Marietta I took breakfast at an old Near Monticello I was chased by blood-hounds, but having procured an article which destroys the scent before leaving Macon, I escaped from them and their savage masters. The dogs having lost the scent, myself and negro guidewhom I engaged to take me around the town went into a negro house and took supper. While there we were informed that three Yankees had been caught a short distance from town, and a negro, caught with them, had been shot. My guide, upon hearing this, made an excuse to go out, and never returned. Shortly afterward I started on again. There being but one road for me to take, and fearing my pursuers might cross over and lie in wait for me, I concluded to lie over that night. I came to an old cotton-gin in the end of which was a window, but no visible means of getting up. After hunting around awhile, I found a pine pole, which I placed against the end of the building, and, by dint of pretty good climbing reached the window and got in. Here I lay all next day, sometimes gazing at the soldiers passing along the road, not more than fifty yards distant, and sometimes sleeping. At night I got down, went back to the negro house of the night before and took supper. At Madison, three more of Stoneman's cavalry were captured and murdered in cold blood. Near Lawrenceville, hearing that our army had been driven across the Chattahoochie river, and was retiring on Chattanooga, and deeming it best to change my direction, I resolved to enter the house of a rich widow lady, engage supper, and endeavor to obtain sight of a map. I reached our lines at Marietta that day, August 26th, at ten o'clock, A. M., after a tedious and dangerous journey of twenty-two days, having travelled a distance of one hundred and sixty miles, all but thirteen miles on foot. None but those who have experienced it, can imagine the intense feeling of joy that overwhelms one upon again beholding the old flag, after a period of suffering in Southern dungeons. DRAGOON'S SONG. CLASH, clash goes the sabre against my steed's side, tear; Keep back that bright tear till the day when I come, SOUTHERN OPINIONS. I got supper, and also saw a map, from which I added some new points on my lead-pencil map. While in the house, the old lady asked me what I thought about the war. I replied that if the people of other States did as well as those of Georgia they would be successful. She replied that she thought they were a subjugated people. This was before the fall of Atlanta. While I stayed At every movement near Lawrenceville, large numbers of rebels of General Sherman's army, he captured more passed by some going home, others making for or less of the confederates, and occasionally a few the mountains. They said there was no use stay- came forward and voluntarily gave themselves ing at Atlanta and being killed up; that they up. One of them being asked what he thought were whipped anyhow. of the Union forces and General Sherman, reThe morning of August 25th found me six plied in the following rather extravagant but at miles from the Chattahoochie river, and twenty-the same time truthful style: "Sherman gits on a seven miles from Marietta. hill, flops his wings and crows; then yells out, Attention! creation! by kingdoms, right wheel! march!' and then we git." That night I reached the river at a place know as Mackeyfield's Bridge. I found that the bridge had been destroyed by our cavalry in their เ Some of the prisoners, with an air of curiosity |