USA > Texas > Prison life in Texas : an account of the capture and imprisonment of a portion of the 46th Regiment, Indiana Veteran Volunteers in Texas > Part 4
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Colonel Brown was astonished at the result. He pre- dicted the re-election of Mr. Lincoln, and declared that the chances for the success of the Confederacy, were very small. He bought three gallons of whisky, and with his officers got gloriously drunk over the "Indication."
On the 5th of December, three hundred and forty-two men and officers, including all of the 46th Indiana, pres- ent, were notified that they were to be paroled and pro - ceed to New Orleans by way of Galveston and Houston. It did not take long to prepare for that move.
The paroled prisoners were conveyed to Galveston by railroad, where they were detained but a few hours, as a steamer was awaiting them. With some of the rebel guards, who were as glad to get away, the late prisoners were soon happy and safe under the stars and stripes.
In thirty-six hours the party was landed on the levee at New Orleans, and felt that they were again in a land of civilization.
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During the voyage, John Cunningham of the 46th Indi- ana, died and was buried in the gulf. Isaac E. Smack and Joseph Davis, of the same regiment, died in hospital shortly after their arrival at New Orleans.
Of this regiment John Merideth died at Camp Ford, Jacob Oliver at Hempstead, and Robert Lewis and George Lane, at Camp Groce. Thomas S. Evans died on the plains, in endeavoring to escape.
Information was brought from camp Ford, by Jasper N. Mullins, who left there early in March. There were then
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fifteen hundred Federal prisoners there, among them Daniel Garbison, the only representative of the 46th.
At Shreveport, among other of different regiments, were John Shaffer, Alexander Reed, and William Bacome. The two latter had escaped from Camp Groce, were re- · taken and conveyed to Shreveport.
Mullins escaped from Camp Ford, by taking the place of Enoch O'Brien, of the 43d Indiana. That regiment was called out for parole, and as O'Brien's death which had occurred a month before, was undiscovered, Mullins answered to the name and was paroled.
Escape of Lieutenant Colonel Flory.
On the 13th of November, Lieutenant Colonel A. M. Flory, of the 46th Indiana, and Captain W. B. Loring, of the United States Navy, made preparations, having left the prison at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. It was the custom of the prison commandant to give passes each day, to Federal officers to pass out on parole, not to es- cape. Upon this occasion. a pass was written by one of these officers, who put the commandant's name to it. With their blankets under their arms, ostensibly to collect brush, they presented themselves at the gate, showed the passes and were passed out. They had previously, sent out some Confederate clothing and some provisions. These had been sent to a designated point. On getting out, the officers went to a thicket, and waited until dark, in the mean time putting on Confederate uniforms. At dark they started, and traveled as rapidly and steadily as pos- sible all night. It is estimated they made between thirty and thirty-five miles, which is all that saved them. The escape was discovered the next morning, and cavalry sent in the direction they had taken, but the cavalry did not make that day, the distance the officers did the night be- fore, and gave up the chase. The fugitives did not stop long the morning after the escape. After a half hour's rest and a cup of coffee, they again pushed on and in
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twenty-four hours after leaving prison, they were fifty-five miles away, with twenty miles of swamp between them and their pursuers. They were then on the head waters of the San Jacinto, and in a perfect wilderness.
This description of country extends a distance of one hundred miles, without the sign of a habitation. The region is traversed by the San Jacinto, Trinity and Neches Rivers, with their numerous tributaries, and is covered with heavy timber and dense cane-brakes, matted witlı brambles and every kind of tangled growth, common to the rich alluvial soil of the south. Heavy pine forests lay across the track, hundreds of acres of which, had fal- len from the effects of fire, forming a most intricate abatis, grown up with an immense growth of blackberry briers, often ten or twelve f.et high, and under ordinary circum- stances, impenetrable. The fugitives were obliged for many rods, to cut their way through these jungles with a knife, and then pass into a cane-brake of enormous growth, equally laborious and discouraging. Passing these there would be a stream to cross, which had to be swam, again to enter upon the like experience upon the other side.
Thus they traveled day by day, with food in their haversacks to tempt them, but it must last ten days. The stock, twelve pounds of flour bread, two pounds of bacon, a little coffee and sugar, must hold out until cultivated districts are reached.
On the 20th they crossed the Neches River-quite a considerable stream. Heavy rains having prevailed for two days the entire country was, in a manner flooded- the streams full and the bottoms overflowed.
Owing to the cloudy weather they were now unable to travel for two days. Having no compass, it was impossi- ble to keep the direction in a wilderness without the sun or stars.
Again, occasionally getting a glimpse of the sun, and by the aid of the clouds the fugitives marched on. At last, food all gone-hungry and drenched with rain-they reached a corn-field-the limit of civilization. They at
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once fill:d their haversacks with corn, built a fire in the woods, and on a tin plate cooked their grated corn-meal.
Having reached a part of the country where discovery was possible, they prepared for night marching At dark they started guided by the moon, and made the greatest distance possible by morning. They had water to wade, bayous to swim, and tangled cane-brakes to penetrate. About the 25th a cold norther sprung up, and ice froze a quarter of an inch thick. Struggling through this was laborious and discouraging.
As the travelers approached the eastern line of Texas, which is the Sabine River, they became entangled in bayous, which form a perfect net work. Scarcely had they crossed one before another presented itself. For two nights they marched hard without, as it afterwards was learned, making any material advance. Coming at length to a saw-mill, they discovered a negro in a boat. They secreted themselves in the brush until dark, when stealing cautiously up, they captured the boat and quietly drifted out into the bayou. When out of hearing they rowed down the stream. Down this bayou they moved until 3 o'clock in the morning, when coming to a larger one run- ning south, they imagined themselves in the Sabine River. Crossing this they landed, set the boat adrift and took an eastern course through a dense cypress forest. The sky being overcast with clouds, they had no guide for direc- tion. After three hours march in day light, they were astonished to find fresh tracks, and came to the conclu- sion that they were followed, but on examination they proved to be their own tracks, and they discovered they were not two hundred yards from where they landed. That day's march was made through briars and swamps. Three times they were compelled to build rafts, undress and swim streams, two of which were full a hundred and fifty yards wide, swift and very cold. Three times dur- ing that day, they crossed their own path ; it being almost impossible to keep direction-getting only an occasional glimpse of the sun, during intervals of rain.
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Night found them on a plain traveled road, which after a good rest, they followed all night, wading mud and water and swimming a very wide cold stream. At day-light they entered a dense woods, built a fire and parched and eat their last grain of corn.
They took the road again near night, and coming to a dilapidated hut, learned from a woman that they had passed during the night, the road they should have taken. A retreat was necessary, and at dark they found the road and stopped at a house for the night. Here the party got a good supper, bed and breakfast, and discovered, after a careful course of questions, that instead of being across the Sabine and out of Texas, they were on the west side of that river, and but five miles from where they set out thirty-six hours before.
Early next day the river was reached and crossed on a table turned Lottom up. Now there was no mistake, and the fugitives had to be prepared for bold movements. They had prepared before starting, orders with the signature of the Colonel of a Texas regiment, directing them to go to their homes near Vermillionville, Louisiana, to remount, and refit. The order stated that their horses had died, and the men were out of clothes. It was the intention now to push on boldly, as rebel soldiers. As such, they successfully passed Niblett's Bluff, through the fortifica- tion, eat dinner with the rebels, and handled the "Vandal Yankees" without mercy. Here, incidentally, they gathered all needful information in regard to stopping places on the road.
They were now forty-five miles from " Lake Charles," the most dangerous point on the route, where a number of escaped men had been re-captured and sent back.
On the evening of the 30th, they reached the " City," crossed boldly at the ferry and lodged with the ferryman, at whose house there was a squad of Provost guards. Their papers were examined, and pronounced good. On the morning of the 1st of December, they rode in the wagon of their host, which took them twelve miles on the road, and with a letter of introduction to a friend of his,
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who lived some twenty miles beyond. Here again they enjoyed the hospitality due the soldier.
On the 2d they traveled hard over a low flat prairie, covered with water and met the most dangerous adven- ture of the trip. A Confederate Colonel, stationed at Lake Charles, met the fugitives on the road, and with a musket presented, demanded their papers. They were handed over and closely examined. He deliberately gave it as his opinion, that the party were escaped Yankees, and that their papers were forgeries. This insult was re- sented in a becoming manner, but it required very close management, and skillful talking to convince the Colonel that they were really Louisiana soldiers going home on leave, to refit. This, however, was done, and the mag- nanimous Colonel, attoned for his unjust suspicions by putting his own endorsement on the paper. This made the paper perfectly good, up to the point it specified.
Approaching Vermillionville, it was deemed more safe to travel at night and lie by all day. There were Con- federate troops at every station, and on the road, and the danger would be increasing as they came nearer the Union lines.
After marching the first night until 4 o'clock in the morning, a heavy rain came on. They waited until light and discovered a wood about a mile distant, Here they determined to remain all day, but found the wood to be 'but a narrow strip of oak, with no underbrush, a house on either side not twenty rods off, and with the scene not improved by a negro riding from one house to the other. Being almost discovered by the negro, and most probably seen from one of the houses, they were forced to come out. They found an officer at home on leave, and two rebel soldiers on furlough. The clothes of the fugitives were soaking wet, and they were most frozen, as a norther had come with daylight. The, rebels made them welcome and gave them hot coffee, and seats at a large fire. They remained until after dinner, and were treated with the greatest kindness.
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A rebel Government wagon train going east, was over- taken and they rode in it till night.
The night of the 3d of December, near Vermillionville, the officers passed in the woods where the regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Flory encamped the year before. The party was now safe as regarded the road, for Colonel Flory had been over it three times.
They had now eighty miles to the lines, and traveled at night hiding by day and living on parched corn. They meet squads of rebels on the road, but would turn off as soon as they would hear them. They passed around the towns, and had no further trouble before reaching Ber- wick Bay, on the night of the 7th of December. A gun- boat lying in the stream was hailed, but no boat was sent over until morning, when they were taken on board the boat, the most completely overjoyed men that it is possi- ble to conceive of. Their Confederate rags were soon stripped off and suits of navy blue given them. They were once again under the stars and stripes, and almost bowed with reverence as they gazed on the old flag, and felt its protecting power.
In twenty-five days these officers traveled five hundred miles, swam over twenty streams pushing their clothing before them on rafts ; for twenty days they were in the water almost constantly, and for days had nothing to eat but corn.
Escape of Carr and Guess.
Josepli Car and Jacob Guess, escaped from the stock - ade at Camp Groce, on the night of the 3d of Septem- ber. A good singer of the 130th Illinois, who frequent- ly performed this part, was employed in attracting the attention of the guard by a song. When singing was go- ing on, the guards would collect in the neighborhood and enjoy the music, with the prisoners. The fugitives climb- ed the stockade and traveled to the very best of their
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abilities, until daylight, and made twenty-five miles. It was necessary to make a good stretch the first night to get clear of the dogs.
All the next day they laid in a prairie near a town. The sun was very hot and they obtained but little rest. The next night, they made a good march, but were very much fatigued. On the third night they came to and crossed the San Jacinto river, and passed through an im- mense cane-brake. On the other side, was a cornfield, from which they obtained some roasting ears.
On the morning after, they found themselves, after a laborious night's march, surrounded by a settlement. They retraced their steps, and made a detour around the settlement. It was not deemed safe to proceed, so they laid by all day, but three or four hundred yards from a house on either side of them, and between which, negroes with dogs, frequently passed. During the next night they came to the railroad, near Trinity river. Whilst passing a plantation house, they were attacked by dogs, which alarmed and brought out the proprietor. They asked for water, when the man began to ask suspicious questions, which scared the travelers, and they pushed on. Carr subsequently learned that this man was an ar- dent sympathiser with escaping prisoners, and he would have assisted them, had they remained long enough to have satisfied him that they were Union soldiers.
Carr and his companion then struck a line of posts, as they really were, fifteen, twenty-four, and twenty miles apart, of Union people, with whom they rested and re- cruited, after their night's march.
At one of these places, the man being from home, the woman directed the men where to hide, and then sent them food. She told them if they would remain another day, she would prepare them a quantity of provisions, and send them some clothing, of which, she saw they were in the greatest need. They remained, for both were sick and weary, and the next day a friendly Irishman brought thein out enough clothing to make them comfortable, and good provisions.
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They were now six days out, and Guess had become so sick, that he was unable to proceed. He went to a neigh- boring house, declared himself an escaped prisoner, and was taken back to the stockade, from Beaumont, on the train.
Carr went on alone, traveling during the night, and lying by or near a friendly house during the day.
The stations were upon the railroad, and were kept by other than Southern people. They directed escaping prisoners from one to the other. One station beyond the Sabine, ended the friendly route. . Here, when fifteen days from camp, Carr had become very sick, and was obliged to halt. He had been lying out in the woods during the day, and staying in the house at night. He could not be kept in the house during the day, because of the hands at work on the road. He became rapidly worse, and determined to give himself up. The man who had been taking care of him, took him on a hand-car, back to Beaumont, twenty-five miles. Here Carr went to a friendly house, but finding that he could not be concealed, directed the proprietor to go to the military commandant, and inform him that an escaped prisoner had just come there, sick. Carr was arrested, and taken in a boat down to Sabine City, to the Hospital. He became very ill, and remained there four weeks. He was then put in the guard house.
There being a fleet of Federal vessels in the bay, Carr wrote, under a flag of truce, to the Commandant, stating the situation of himself and another prisoner, and ask - ing for some clothes. After some delay, a boat, under a flag of truce, brought up a package, containing a splen- did suit of seaman's clothing, for each of the prisoners, embracing every article required for a complete suit. A letter accompanied the goods, stating that they were the gift of the officers and men of the U. S. ship " Pocahon- tag."
Subsequently, Carr's shoes were stolen by the guard- afterwards his stockings and overcoat.
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After being in the guard house five weeks, and being perfectly recovered, Carr was sent back to the stockade, and making his appearance in his fine clothes, was re- ceived with hearty shouts.
Escape of Dennis Bagley.
Bagley escaped from the stockade on the evening of October 15th. He took a wrong direction, and was seen by a negro wading a river. The unusual circumstance, was reported by the negro, to his master, who told some home guards, and Bagley was followed, and arrested whilst resting upon a log. He was returned to the stock- ade the next day, almost before he was missed.
Another opportunity offering, on the night of the 16th of November, Bagley again went out, with William Cook of the 46th, and a member of the 34th Indiana.
They traveled nearly east, and met with good success, until they came to the Sabine, where they were seen and suspected. They were halted at Sibley's Bluff, where, as three men arresting them, went into a house, Bagley ran off and escaped. His comrades were captured.
The next day, Bagley was fairly captured at "Lake Charles," where he was securely locked up in prison. After six days' confinement, with others, he was taken towards Alexandria. When within forty miles of their destination, a dance was gotten up, one evening, at the camp fire, by some of the Federal prisoners, and Bagley and a member of a Missouri regiment, took advantage of . the inattention of the guards, and left without them. . The escaped men traveled all night, and were not overta- ken. They kept on at nights, and, passing near China- ville, came along the Red River road. At one place, they came, unexpectedly, upon a negro in the woods. He knew what they were, and assured them he would not expose them. After getting them food, he got a horse, and piloted them twelve miles. Subsequently, when they heard chopping in the woods, they would go directly to the negroes, and obtain food and advice from them.
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At "Lake Charles," Bagley heard of Lieutenant Col- onel Flory and his companion. The officer who had met them, had become convinced that he had been imposed upon. He was exceedingly angry with the success of the Yankees, and with his own stupidity.
The travelers crossed the numerous bayous on the road and, finally, struck the Atchafalya. The great width of this stream, for a time, baffled them, but they got over.
They were now within a day's march of the Mississip- pi, and began to feel extremely anxious and fearful. On the east side of the Atchafalya, they stopped to get breakfast at a house on the road-side. They passed for Confederate soldiers, and were invited to sit down to breakfast. The proprietor had been a heavy sufferer from our army, in its repeated marches past there. On the return down Red River, the soldiers had taken every horse he had, with much other property. He waxed wroth in relating the outrages practiced upon him by the Yankees. The fugitives became alarmed at his vindic- tive utterances, and thought themselves discovered. The breakfast they were eating, was disposed of very rapidly, and they were glad to find themselves again on the out- side. There is no question, but what the man knew who his guests were, and was only prevented from going into them by prudential considerations.
The next day, December 16th, brought the wanderers to Morganza, where they were once more under the flag that could protect them.
Death of Thos. S. Evans.
In August, about thirty men of the 46th Indiana, es- caped from the stockade at Camp Groce. They scaled the walls, early, one bright moonlight night, unobserved, whilst a party of singers drew the attention of the guards in another direction. After getting outside, the men separated into squads of two to four, and took different directions. One of these squads was made up of
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William Bacome and Thos. Smith Evans. These travel- ed hard during the night, and laid by during the day. After crossing the San Jacinto river, they entered a wil- derness region of country, in width, from twenty to forty miles, and extending to the Sabine river, the eastern boundary of the State,-a wild, uninhabited desert,- abounding in marshes and jungles. Upon getting somc forty miles into this wilderness, both men were taken sick. Their rations became exhausted,. and after wandering about some days, hunting for a settlement, or a habita- tion, in vain, were obliged to halt, from weakness. Evans became delirious from brain fever, and Bacome, under the effects of fever and ague, was unable to assist Evans, or in any way to alleviate his sufferings.
In this deplorable condition, in the midst of a desert, infested with wild animals, muttering around them by day, and howling by night, with no hope, they looked for a horrible death. During the day, Bacome would roam over the wilderness, attempting to find even an unfriend- ly house, and return at night, unsuccessful. Daylight would again find him on the same errand, to meet with the same disappointment, and to pass a terrible night with his suffering and sinking companion.
Four days, he passed in this way, but found no sign of a habitation, or the sight or sound of a human being. He chose to remain with his companion until he died, rather than to seek his own safety by deserting him to the beasts that were about. At last, Evans died, alone, with his suffering and helpless, but faithful friend, with the howl of the wolf, the last sound that fell upon his ear.
Bacome dug a grave, as well as he could, in his weak state, with sticks; buried his friend, and then only, thought of his own safety.
Almost unable to travel, Bacome nerved himself for a desperate attempt to reach a habitation. After travel- ing a distance of twenty miles, through canc-brakes and swamps ; almost impenetrable forests ; miles of fallen
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timber, overgrown with brambles, he gave himself up. He was kindly treated until he recovered sufficiently to return to the prison.
This sad story, when related at the camp, cast a gloom over the prisoners. Evans was a good soldier, and much respected by his comrades.
Bacome again escaped, in a few weeks, and was not heard of until in March, when hearing that J. N. Mul- lens, one of his regiment, was at Shreveport, on his way home, he sent him a line, stating that he was in prison, near Shreveport.
Other Escapes.
In addition to the escapes already narrated, there were numerous others. Of these, but one, so far as is known, was successful. Lawrence Hartlerode, who left Camp Groce on the night of the 4th, and reached the Union lines on the 21st of September. He left the prison at a time when some forty escaped. They divided into small parties, but were all re-taken, with the above exception, at various times, and on different stages of the journey.
Of the 46th, who were so unlucky, were Moses Tuck- er, Ellis Hughs, Alex. Reed, John Briggs, Theo. Taylor, Geo. Oden, Isaac E. Smack, David Murphy, John T. Reese, Elihu Shaffer, Geo. W. Nield, T. C. Jackson and Anthony Eskew.
Tucker, Hughs, Briggs, Reed and Taylor, went togeth- er on the night of the big escape. Tucker gave up in two or three days, Briggs and Taylor were brought back in a few days, and then Hughs and Reed.
Oden, in company with two men from another regi- ment, got nearly to the Sabine, but becoming sick, had to give up. They were taken to Houston and put in jail,-again moved and put in a jail, where Oden was when the regiment left Camp Groce. He was, subse- quently, paroled.
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