Civil War Reminiscence
by Jessee G. Jones
Chapter 3 (written 1911-12, Knoxville, Texas)
The sun was half an hour high when the prison door clanked behind me and I was left to my own reflections. I had much to stilmulate hope. Common sense war all sufficient to guide me on the only course practical, which was to make a risky venture to save or lose my life. This I would do regardless of consequences. As I was surveying the different departments I discovered a sick confederate soldier on a cot, "hello there, have you, too, been doing something naughty?" "I have been very sick for many days, unable to be moved when my regiment was sent to Camp Douglas.""What regiment was it? "it was the 26th Mississippi, my name is Reuben Tucker from Guntown and you are from Corinth?" Jesse Jones is my name and I am well acquainted with at least half of the 26th boys.Reuben I am glad to see and talk with you but very sorry to hear of your sickness and pained to know that you are a prisoner.
"I am a prisoner also but have firmly decided not to remain one. I would rather die in the attempt for freedom than to rot away in a prison cell" "wait awhile friend before you undertake too rash a deed, circumstances govern matters of that kind and life is too precious and dear to haphazzard in speculation."
"My case is too serious a one to admit of any delay which I have not the time now to give you in detail. I must commence my work after dark, or rather after the night officer has made his rounds. Positively I must refuse to listen to your pleadings to defer delay proceedings."
"So determined a spirit invariably wins the victory, and if I was only stout enough to take care of myself would join you in the enterprise." "Oh no Reuben conditions are not alike, your army record is clean and clear, mine is debauched with every crime known to the foul deeds of humanity, that is why my case is so urgent my only defence to these foul charges is to elude arrest." "I understand your meaning" said Reuben. "The night officer will soon be around we had better get to our cots and feign to be asleep." so we did. The officer was satisfied that we were all O.K. and after he passed out I rolled off of my cot and told Reuben that I was going to make a careful search of the premises and would report to him before trying to escape. After careful inspection of the Baraicks wall I decided on a certain place being preferable to others.
Though the sentinels were regularly distanced in their patrol or their beats, and any one wanting out must risk the marksmanship of a picket fifty yards distance, this I carefully weighed and accepted.
Reuben begged to be heard on a very important matter. "It is true I am unwell but my courage is strong and I feel like I am capable of making an effort for my freedom. I want to go with you as far as the outside, then I think best to separate for fear that I might prove a burden to you. I came to this conclusion in the last few moments, and am now at your service if ready to start. "All right Reuben I will not encourage you but will warn you of the danger before us and inform you of the fact that we are up against the hard thing itsself. Let no noise betray us, follow me, when we reach the wall you must claw and pull for the top whilst I aid you with all my strength with a push. Our work must be done quickly, when over go to the left." Almost instantainously two men dropped outside, three or four guns fired, no harm was done except a few bruises from our sudden fall, all in a wad. "Follow me quickly don't you hear the Calvary bugle? they will search for us." Cumberland river was near us and a sand bar reached out half way across grew many weeds and brambly bushes affording a splendid hiding place. Whilst the calvery was making a mad rush to overtake the fleeing Jakeys we were completely submerged in water, slush, mud, weeds and brambles patiently awaiting our opportunity for travel. About three o'clock in the morning we decided they had given it up for the night after blocking every avenue of egress with pickets.
We had now to avoid them by avoiding every road, path or
opening, and shelter our movements in the dense foilage of the
woods. Careful, causious and slow were our movements. What to do
with ourselves when daylight dawned was a question to agitate and
harasss our distracted minds. "Reuben we have almost reached our
limit in this direction and must soon change ocourse.
Our greatest danger is just besore us. I know that you are already
fatigued and hungry and it would be an injustice to urge you on to
a greater effort."
"My comrade I am holding up remarkably well and am only too eager to obey your commands, what is it you would have us do?"
"We must cross the Cumberland river at once if we aucceed in getting over we are safe for the present, if we stay here we are not." "Alright lead and I will follow, if we get drowned the difference in modes of death is too little to baffle over." We both could swim but were not experts in that line. By the friendly aid of a plank procured from a drift, we launched our craft for the other shore resolutely and determined. Daylight was too near on hand for any delay, we had to do our work briskly and secure a proper hiding for the day. We had traveled perhaps one mile from the river before halting. “Reuben excuse me, I forget that you are a sick man and need rest, we are about ready to take a whole day’s rest for we must not attempt to travel today. We are yet in four miles of the Fort and hope that our enemies will be content with a fruitless search for us on the other side."
I will not dwell on the torture and pangs hunger created, they were amelorated to a great degree by the good luck we had.
Our thirst for liberty predominated every thing else and for it we could sacrifice all. "Hoping our success will continue for one more day, try to sleep a little Reuben it will strengthen you for tonight's work. I will be on guard to give the proper warning if exigencies require it." Thank God the sun was lowering in the western skies and our opportunity to renew our travel was near and wern’t we glad that our persuers had not disturbed us. The exclusive woods route was the one for us we didn’t want to make any mistake after so much success. We traveled slowly all night. In the early morning I said "Reuben you stay here while I go down to that house to get something to eat."
Source:Cheryl's Family Index | email to Cheryl Grubb
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