. Annals of Iowa. ich was so deep with quick sand that part of the companybarely escaped drowning. The night before, Eagsdale and Byers, while waiting atthe corner of the camp where the path led to the spring,for their turn to get water, fell into conversation with oneof the guards named Sledge. This man announced himselfto Ragsdale and Byers as a Union man at heart and urgedthem to make their escape. Becoming convinced that he wasreally what he pretended to be, a friend, the two men con-fided to him the secret of their intention to attempt an es-cape the next night, whereupon Sledge promised
. Annals of Iowa. ich was so deep with quick sand that part of the companybarely escaped drowning. The night before, Eagsdale and Byers, while waiting atthe corner of the camp where the path led to the spring,for their turn to get water, fell into conversation with oneof the guards named Sledge. This man announced himselfto Ragsdale and Byers as a Union man at heart and urgedthem to make their escape. Becoming convinced that he wasreally what he pretended to be, a friend, the two men con-fided to him the secret of their intention to attempt an es-cape the next night, whereupon Sledge promised to help directed them to go dowQ the river about six miles untilthey should find themselves opposite a certain house, on theplantation of a Confederate major, where his brother-in-law,a Mr. Green, resided. Green was a Northern man, Sledgeexplained, and devoted to the Union cause. He was, how-ever, the most successful farm superintendent and niggerdriver in that part of the country, and because of his value. E. P. TAYLOR JONATHAN NIXON J. F. PAXTON J. S. RAGSDALE W. W. BYERS SIMON BODKIN J. F. DAUGHERTY ESCAPE pniOM C^ONPIODEKATE I>KISON ^47 in these msi)ects, mid lliroiigli political and personal influ-ence, he had been allowed to remain South and keep out ofthe Confederate army. It was Sledges intention to go tohis brother-in-laws house next morning as soon as he shouldbe relieved from guard, and he promised to arrange withGreen to help them get away. After wading the creek already mentioned, and a swampwhich was neck deep, the escaping party hid in some woodsand tree tops opposite Greens house for the remainder of thenight. When daylight came, they saw a negro on the oppositebank of the stream, to whom they signaled their wish to negro came over in a boat. It had no sooner struck thelanding than all seven of the men rushed down the bank andboarded it, considerably alarming their black ferryman. Hesuspected who they were, however, and rowed them across,cau
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