Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/279

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Incidents of Prison Life. 269

Incidents of Prison Life at Camp Douglas -Experience of Corporal J. G.

Blanchard.

H: By Rev. William G. Keadv.

[The following interesting narrative is from the pen of a gallant soldier who lost an arm while serving in the trenches at Vicksburg, and whose empty sleeve tells as eloquently of his devotion to the Confederate cause as his voice now pleads the cause of the " Prince of Peace"]:

Amongst the prisoners captured at Island No. lo, and sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois, in April, 1862, was Corporal J. G. Blanch- ard, of the celebrated Pointe Coupee Battery, of Louisiana. Though then barely seventeen years of age, he had already been over a year in active service; and the restless activity, untiring energy, and un- bounded enthusiasm characterizing his course from the time of his entry into service, bespoke unmistakably of how lively he would make matters if circumscribed for an indefinite term within the boundaries of a prison camp. When the news of the capture of his native city reached Chicago, restraint broke loose, and his one ex- pressed determination was to escape from prison and rejoin the Southern army.

For several days his efforts were bent towards effecting a quiet escape. Realizing, however, the impossibility of so doing, he de- termined on an attempt at any hazard, and on a dark and stormy night, early in May, he scaled the lofty fence inclosing the camp, within a few feet of the sentinel, the report of whose gun drew upon him the concentrated fire of half a dozen more, so incessant were the lightning flashes at the time. Having reached the outside walk, without a moment's hesitation he walked to the very gate of the prison camp, where all was excitement, and entered a street car which was just starting for the city.

Whilst the Federal soldiers were roaming for miles and miles around Camp Douglas in seach of yoiing Blanchard, he was enjoy- ing the comforts of a Chicago hotel, busying himself in the mean- while in ascertaining the best method of leaving the city and return- ing South. The second day after his escape he met a former ac- quaintance who professed the deepest solicitude for his escape, and offered to further the same by every means in his power.

The next day he became suddenly convinced of his supposed