CHAPTER XIV.
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THE ESCAPE OF OFFICERS FROM PRISONS AND A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THOSE WHO DIED THERE.
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CONCLUSION.

     In the Spring of 1864 the most of our officers who were then in prison where changed to various prisons throughout the South, some of them making the entire circuit of Libby, Raleigh, Macon, Savannah, Charleston and Columbia.
     Two officers escaped by means of the straight tunnel," and Col. Wilson, Lieut. Col. Hunter, Capt. Chamberlin, and two or three others were exchanged and sent North, and, soon after, joined the regiment; while the greater portion of the remainder made their escape from some of the above named prisons and at different times.  All of them, in fact, save Lieut. M. H. Smith, who was released by Gen. Sherman, on his celebrated march to the Sea, and Captains Riggs and Bender, who died there from cruel treatment.  And, in-as-much as the escapes were all very similar, it will be necessary only to recount a few of them. 
     Captain Randolph escaped from Columbia, South Carolina, during the Summer of '64; by floating down the Santee river on a flat boat, with several others, and, after a voyage of nearly one month, reached our fleet - blockaing its mouth.  On the trip they passed under several railroad bridges guarded by soldiers, and sentinels being in plain sight.  Their plan was to float down the river at night, using long 'sweeps' to force the boat through the water.  As soon as daylight came, they would lay by for the day, secreting their boat,  as best they could, among willows, or brush of some description.  As a matter of course, they foraged for their rations, or had colored men to do it for them.  Sweet Potatoes were in abundance; and, with young chickens, or a pig from a neighboring farmyard, a very fair meal could be gotten up.
     On the 3rd of November Lieutenants Colver and Boyce, observing that the guards were very slick in watching the prisoners who were permitted to go to a wood near by for fuel, thought that the time had come to attempt their escape; so they, in company with another officer, resolved to try it.  Getting all ready, they walked out-as though they had given their parole - and kept right on to the woods, and, as soon as they were under cover, secreted themselves until after dark, when, taking the North Star as their guide, they struck out for East Tennessee - distant about four hundred miles.  After having traveled six days, they suddenly came upon some Rebel cavalry; and, while the other two were parlying with them, Lieut. Colver made off through the woods and escaped.  He then had three hundred miles to travel alone, but by the never-failing aid of the negro, he, after traveling thirty days - or rather nights - reached our lines at Charleston, East Tennessee, and was soon at home in Ohio.
     November 26th, '64, Capt. Rosenbaum and Lieut. T. W. Boyce made their escape from Columbia in the same manner that Lieut. Boyce did the time he started out with Lieut. Colver, and their journeyings were of a similar character.  Lieut. Boyce, who had been over the ground part of the way once before, knew about the direction to take.  They made East Tennessee their objective point.  It was in the dead of winter, and the ground was covered with sleet and snow for the most of the way, making very bad walking, besides not contributing greatly to the comfort of sleeping out of doors.  However, after many narrow escapes and almost superhuman exertions, they arrived in our lines in safety - though pretty nearly worn out - on the 26th of December, having been just one month on the trip.
     Capt. William H. Bender, of Company I was wounded at Winchester, June 15th, '63, and taken to Richmond, remaining there until May 7th, '64.  From there he was taken to Macon, Georgia, thence to Savannah, where he was taken down with fever.  He recovered, somewhat, and was then taken to Charleston and placed under "fire" in the city jail yard.  On September 4th he was sent to Columbia, where he was taken down with "yellow fever."  Receiving no medical aid for twenty-four hours after being taken sick, he died on the morning of the 8th, a victim of Southern cruelty and neglect.  He was a good soldier, a gallant officer, and a gentleman always.
     Capt. Charles H. Riggs was born at Tiffin, Ohio, in 1835.  He was, there fore, at the time of his enlistment, twenty-seven years of age.  He was agent of the Cleveland and Toledo railroad at Sandusky, a position which he filled well and ably, being well liked by the entire community and highly esteemed by the men of the road.  Thus, young, loved and prosperous, he left with his command for the seat of war, alas!  never to return.  Always deporting himself as a true soldier and Christian gentleman, he possessed the esteem of his men and the confidence of his superior officers.  Cool and brave in the hour of danger, he had none of the bravado spirit, that courts battle in the quiet camp, or anticipates brave deeds to be accomplished.   He was taken prisoner with his command at Winchester, June 15th, 1863.  Not of a sanguine temperament, he seemed to think from the very first that he never again would behold the free North or the faces of dear ones at home - which unhappy sentiment of course little fitted him to bear up under the hardships, privations and diseases incident to a prisoner of war.  Early attacked with a chronic complaint - from which he never seemed to rally- after long months of suffering, he breathed his brave, young life away on the 15th day of September, 1864, in the hospital at Charleston, amid the thunderings of cannon hurling missils of destruction upon the doomed city, where first the flag of treason was flung insultingly to the breeze.  Many a heart was made sad in the regiment at the news of his death; it seemed as though a brother had been taken from us.  Groups of men upon the company street could be seen moving listlessly along, talking over the sad intelligence.   What then must have been the sorrow of his family at home?  Poor, stricken ones, our hearts bled for you then as we sympathize with you now.  A dutiful son, a loving brother, a brave soldier, and a true friend - well may be said of him:
"Green be the turf above thee, friend of my better days,
None knew thee but to love thee, nor named thee but no praise."

     Many more events and episodes of deepest interest to us might be narrated, did space permit.  Of the tiresome marches, the sleepless nights, and the lonely picket posts, in the dead of winter, no pen can fittingly the story relate.  No!  Only in your meetings can you even faintly outline the unwritten history of your soldier lives.  The sufferings, the danger, and the privations so patiently born, you yourselves can only know.
     By these memories so holy, by our brave ones gone, by the defeats sustained, and victories gloriously won, let us hope that the Union, which it was our fortunes to help sustain and preserve, may remain unbroken forever.