| From the Richmond Dispatch |
| |
| June 27, 1864 |
| |
| Capture and escape of the Rev. Dr.
Theodrick Pryor |
| Our citizens were greatly
surprised to learn yesterday morning that
Wilson
's raiders had captured Rev. Dr. Pryor on Wednesday, but were much
relieved upon hearing subsequently that the Doctor had succeeded in
effecting his escape and returning to Petersburg. We had a long conversation with the Doctor yesterday, during which
we elicited many facts which will be found highly interesting. |
| The Doctor was riding
leisurely along the Boydton Plank road on Wednesday, about 2 o'clock,
enroute to see a near and dear relative in Brunswick
county, now prostrated by sickness. When 12 miles from the city, and
within two miles of Dinwiddie C H, he was suddenly halted by three of
the enemy's pickets and ordered to dismount. |
| He told them frankly that he
was a Chaplain in the Confederate Army, on an errand of affection to
the sick bed of a dear child, and requested that he be allowed to
proceed on his journey. This was refused, and he was at once conducted
to Wilson's Provost Marshal, who after a brief examination of his letters and
papers, carried him before the commander in chief. This officer
received him with marked courtesy, and invited him to partake of
lunch. This the Doctor politely declined, and proceeded to state that
he was a Chaplain and a non combatant, and according to the usages of
all civilized belligerents, entitled to a discharge on his parole. Gen
Wilson
heard the statement with patience, regretted exceedingly the Doctor
had fallen into his hands, because of the embarrassment which he
alleged it caused him, but stated that his orders from Gen Grant were
imperative, and that he would be compelled to produce him at
Headquarters. ***** |
| Dr. Pryor informs us that
Wilson
is in supreme command, and he is accompanied by Col Speare, but the
men informed him that Kautz was not along. They claim to number 4,000,
but Dr. Pryor did not see more than half this number, which he was
informed was only one column of the expedition. |
| ***** |
| The expedition left its
rendezvous in Prince George
at 3 o'clock Wednesday morning, and traveled over forty miles the
first day. The heat was very oppressive, the dust intolerable, and Dr
Pryor thinks that the wagon train could have been easily captured, if
it had been encountered. Upon reaching Ford's Depot {20
miles from Richmond on the South Side RR} the raiders were
highly exhilarated at the rich harvest which was spread out before
them. Here was a Depot containing 80 or 90 sacks of county salt. On
the track were three first class locomotives, and some twenty or more
cars. The cars and two of the locomotives belonged to the Norfolk
& Petersburg
railroad, and many of the former were
filled with valuable machinery, etc. All hands dismounted, the guard
pitching their quarters some distance to the south of the railroad,
and picketing their horses at a fence close by. |
| The thought now occurred to Dr
Pryor that he might make good his escape, and the immediate departure
of the Captain of the guard, with the remark that he was going in
pursuit of food for the horses, resolved him on the attempt. Leaving
his favorite mare, which, being a present from the citizens of
Petersburg, he deeply regretted, and throwing down his saddle bags as
an additional "blind," he groped his way through the
darkness about a hundred yards, when he struck a dense body of
undergrowth. He had not proceeded more than a quarter of a mile before
he heard an exultant shout, and immediately there burst through the
darkness a great blaze of light. This through the darkness a great
blaze of light. This he knew was the depot in flames, and by its light
he was enabled to direct his steps with more accuracy, as he kept his
back in that direction until he had proceeded probably a mile. Here he
suddenly plunged into a marsh, and in his efforts to extricate himself
suffered smartly from severe falls, and lost his hat. Finally getting
upon hard ground again he lay down in the woods, and there remained
until 5 o'clock Thursday morning. He heard the raiders when they
departed, which was at two o'clock in the morning; but knowing that
there are always many stragglers, Dr Pryor did not venture to find his
way to any house until the hour above mentioned. About nine o'clock,
his bare head exposed to the rays of a scorching sun, and suffering
greatly from loss of sleep and undue exertion, he reached the house of
a friend, and was hospitably entertained. He was then provided with a
hat and horse, and reached Petersburg
late Thursday evening. |
| The raiders made a great many
inquiries of Dr Pryor about the roads, and particularly of that which
would take them to the Junction. They had ten days rations, which
would indicate a long journey, and as they have diverged from the
Junction towards Danville, we shall not be at all surprised to hear of their extending the
expedition to a section never before visited by raiders. Unless met by
determined resistance, we have no doubt their destination is not only Danville, but even
Greensboro' and other portions of North Carolina, where the people have never dreamed of a visit from Yankee
marauders. |
| We would advise the people of
that State to prepare at once for an irruption of these vandals. Arm
themselves and give the invaders a bloody reception. Should Wilson
extend his expedition to that section, it is in the power of the
people to exterminate the entire party, and they should see to it that
not a man survives. |
|