Page 116 - Arkansas Confederate Women

NARROW ESCAPE FROM FEDERAL PRISON.

By Mrs. Sue L. James, of Hot Springs.

The great Civil war opened its first tragedy on Saturday,

April 13, 1861. A few minutes past 12 that morning an old

Virginian, Edmund Ruffin, was granted the privilege of firing

the first gun on Fort Sumpter. Three thousand shells fell in
and about the fort and the Union garrison surrendered Sun-
day, April 14. In the call for troops that was speedily issued

my only brother, Ben H. Wills, enlisted in Fagan's First Arkan-
sas Infantry regiment. He served as a flag-bearer until captured

when he was sent to Rock Island prison, 111., where he re-

mained a prisoner until the close of the war. He now sleeps

the sleep of the blest.

In the latter part of 1862 Lieut. Henry James, who was

my husband, enlisted for service with Capt. Brown's cavalry

volunteers, commanded by Gen. Cabell ; later he was made adju-
tant, and put on Col. Munroe's staff. Still later, when Capt.
Brown was wounded, he was placed in command of this com-
pany, was wounded and captured on the Missouri raid, -and sent

a prisoner to Johnson's Island with several others of Monroe's
regiment, where he remained a prisoner until peace was declared
in 1865.

A few months prior to his capture, while Cabell's brigade

was stationed near Columbus, Hempstead county, Arkansas, a

thrilling incident occurred in my own life which I will relate

in as little space as possible.

My husband Lieut. James, had received permission to come

with a scout within several miles of Benton, Saline county,

Arkansas. He ventured there alone and came to see me and

our two baby boys, one eight months, the other two years old.

I was at that time with my mother, Mrs. J. A. McAdoo,

formely Mrs. James M. Wills, where I had refugeed from Lit-

tle Rock, my home, when the war broke out. It took only a