Giles R. McDaniel, P. O., Miami. Was born in Booneville, Missouri, December 20, 1842. When but two years old, his father moved to Saline county, where he was raised on a farm, and received a good English education. He entered William Jewell College; but had only been there one year when the war broke out, and he volunteered, August, 1861, in the southern army, and continued in the service until the close, in 1865. First volunteered in the Missouri state guards. When discharged at the end of his six months, he enlisted in the Confederate army, Capt. Ruxton’s company, and was captured with Robinson’s regiment of recruits at Blackwater, December 19, 1861, and imprisoned in the old McDowell College, St. Louis. In the next month, January, 1862, he escaped from the prison, passing the sentry in the disguise of a negro, and spent the night in one of the hotels. Early the next morning he started out on foot, but soon encountered the picket. As soon as he came to the sentry, he stopped, and remarked to his servant (who was with him) “George, we can’t get any ice out of the river here, and we might as well go back!” They therefore turned back toward the city, but in a short time met a lost of cows going out to the common to graze, so they fell in with them and thus passed the picket. They walked all day up the river, but were recaptured that same evening. From some cause, the officer who had captured them, called Giles a “liar.” He replied, “you are neither a gentleman for a brave man, you have two revolvers, and I propose that we make this personal, and settle it with them.” The officer took the proposition in good part, and bringing out a supply of old Bourbon, proposed that, instead of fighting, they should drink and be friends. McDaniel agreed. With the idea of escape in his mind, he then encouraged the drinking, but only pretending to drink himself. By daylight, the whole of his guard, officer and men, were too drunk to take any notice of him. So he bade them adieu; and that is the last he ever saw of them. After going a short distance, he met an Irishman that had seen him the night before. The Irishman accused him of being the man, he denied it, until the lie passed, and the Irishman started for McDaniel. Mac. had no arms, but put his hand in his pocket, as if he had, and ordered him to halt, or he would shoot him. The Irishman was bluffed, and a recapture avoided. He now moved on, but found it impossible to get rid of the Irishman, who now pretended to be his friend. The Irishman finally agreed to ferry him across the river. After they got in the skiff and out a little way from the shore, McDaniel again put his hand in his pocket, and notified the Irishman that unless he landed him safely and quietly on the Illinois shore, he would be shot through the head. The Celt rowed for dear life, made a safe landing in Illinois and received his pay and returned. The rest was easy, and except that the weather and roads were bad, he had little trouble in reaching home. But the Federal soldiers soon heard of his return, and endeavored to capture him. He dodged them, and went to Louisville, Kentucky, then around to Richmond, Virginia, crossing the Chesapeake bay in a canoe, where it was twenty miles wide. From Richmond he was passed on to Little Rock, Arkansas, and reported to Gen. Price. Mr. McDaniel was married February 12, 1867, to Miss Laura V. Garnett, and to them have been born five children, all living: Mattie D., Minnie L, Ethel F., Chapman A., and Bessie R. He is a member of the Baptist Church and A. O. U. W.
