The New York Herald, US
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH
ARKANSAS
AN ESCAPED PRISONER FROM CAIRO—A FAITHFUL SERVANT
{From the Helena (Ark.) Shield}
A few days since Major, a slave belonging to Mrs. Rabb[1] of this vicinity, who was taken prisoner at the battle of Belmont[2] and carried to Cairo, made good his escape and returned home, and is now at the plantation among his real friends—A happy, contended, honest darkey. Many interesting incidents connected with his captivity, perilous escape, fortunate meeting with friends in the depths of the forest of Missouri, his arrival at Columbus, where he had the happiness of finding that his young master had escaped unhurt on the battlefield, where he was taken prisoner, are all related by Major in a manner at once concise, straightforward and doubtless honest.
On the morning of the battle he was instructed by his master, Mr. Rabb, who was a private in company A, Thirteenth regiment Arkansas Volunteers[3], to remain at the hospital tent during the progress of the conflict; but the enemy having gotten possession of the encampment, he, with others, was taken prisoner and was taken to Cairo—was confined in one of the guard rooms several days, during which time he was frequently interrogated as to whether he would like to return home.
Being shrewd enough for unprincipled captors, he told them that he had no regard for his owners, and was delighted at the prospect of freedom, which was promised of course. He was subsequently taken by an Illinois captain for his cook, with the promise of $12 per month, but up to the 31st of December received nothing. On that night he managed to crawl through the lines, secured an old leaky skiff, which he had seen in the willows about a mile above town the day previous, whilst out with an officer’s servant watering horses. He found the skiff destitute of oars, but with a bit of plank as a substitute, poor as it was he boldly pushed out into the stream—landed upon an island first, mistaking it for the Missouri shore, where he wandered about several hours; again embarked, reached the main shore, where he was near being discovered by a sentry nearby or at Bird’s Point. But he eluded the drowsy Lincolnite, escaped into the woods and made for Columbus.
This was on Wednesday, January 1, and he wandered about until Friday following, when he came upon an humble dwelling far back in the forest. He tells us that at this time he was greatly fatigued and worn out by constantly travelling and the cravings of hunger. He determined to venture into this rude hut, and did so, finding it tenanted by three stalwart men, whom he soon found were Southerners, to whom he, without reserve, told his tale of suffering and privation, and who kindly proffered to accompany him to Columbus, where the four started and reached their destination about noon the next day, where the poor fellow experienced the joyful happiness of again meeting his young master.
Lincoln and his myrmidons will learn from the story of Major, which we have briefly narrated, that they cannot convert such as he (and there are many such in the South) into incendiaries and executioners. The truth is, we know many servants whose attachments for their masters and owners amount almost to frenzy or adoration. There are, maybe, a few who might be induced to raise their hands in an insurrection put on foot by abolition emissaries, but the loyal slaves in our midst would so far outnumber them that they could do but slight mischief.
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