FORT SMITH NEW ERA, June 18, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
Escape of Lieut. Hayes.
The Carrie Jacobs came up from Little Rock, Thursday, heavily loaded. Among the passengers was Lieut. John Hayes of the 2nd Kansas Colored, who escaped from the rebels at Princeton, the night of the 6th inst. His father, Lt. col. of the 12th Kansas, being dangerously wounded, John remained with him until he was out of danger, when knowing that all the prisoners were to be taken to Tyler, Texas, the next morning, escaped from a window of the church, where they were quartered, and crawled past the guard within eight feet of his beat. Five others, four belonging to the 50th Indiana, and one to the 33rd Iowa, followed him, and together they started for the north. They traveled most all night, but in the morning found they had made only 8 miles from Princeton, it being so cloudy that they wandered in all directions. After two days and nights tramp they crossed the Saline near Jenkins ferry, having traveled 22 miles in that time. It was with difficulty that the boys evaded the rebs, as Gen. Fagan's cavalry were between Princeton and Little Rock, scouting the country. But by keeping a rear guard and Lieut. Hayes going in advance, and using signals whenever there was danger, arrived the morning of the 5th day out, as they thought, nearly out of danger, within 15 miles of Little Rock, where the Lieut. stopped for something to eat, leaving the boys outside. Finding nothing in the eating line, he procured a pitcher of buttermilk and took out, and thinking they were having a "good thing," they were making a little more than their usual noise when a rebel scout came out of the brush and hearing them talking, retreated back a few rods and stopped as if deliberating what course to pursue. Being entirely unarmed and not liking the idea of being again taken, and that by one man, the boys slipped up to within a few paces of him, and rising slowly with their canes pointed in his direction, the scout, sinking his spurs into his horse's sides made good time in the opposite direction. The boys, though foot-sore, hungry and worn out, with their constant travel, could not help taking a heart laugh over the success of their ruse, and went on their way, arriving at Little Rock that afternoon. They had started with but two days provisions in their haversacks and done without the rest of the time, or until they were near Little Rock. They were very much fatigued, having traveled in their five days trip three times the distance that it would have been could they have taken a direct course.
Lieut. H. reports the rest of the boys in good health and says that Capt. Armstrong and Lieut. Hitchcock, who were reported killed in the battle of Poison Springs, are alive and unharmed. Three of the 1st Kansas Colored who were wounded are in the hands of the rebels. Nine of the 2nd Kansas Colored, who were wounded at Jenkins Ferry were killed while in the hospital by a rebel soldier. The rebel was afterwards taken to Camden and tried, and it was reported by rebel soldiers, and also by his wife, that he was hung for the crime.
The rebel Medical Director in his official report of the battle of Jenkins Ferry states that they had 207 killed on the field and 904 wounded, many of whom died for want of proper nourishment, having nothing to eat but corn bread and beef.
The rebel officers and men said they had a different kind of men to fight at the Saline from what were under Banks.
When Lieut. Hayes left the rebs, his father and Dr. Stuckslager were, as they said, "running the regimental mess," the Colonel being to do double duty at the table and making up for absent members. He is in good health and spirits—his leg healed over, and he sent word to the boys that he would be with them as soon as possible, and remain with them while they were a regiment.