LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
IN MEMORY OF
STEWART S. HOWE
JOURNALISM CLASS OF 1928
STEWART S. HOWE FOUNDATION
973 . 781
Eb9o
c op . 2
I.H.S.
"CARE FOR HIM WHO BORE THE
HEAT ArtD BfDEN OF THE BATTLE."
A.LINCOLN.
Co/umbi3. Unless you, my .son, save me, / wi// be
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Iwill be your generous friend and proieclor
aa long as you live.""
Observations of an Illinois
Boy in Battle, Camp and
Prisons 1861 to 1865
By Henry H. Eby
MENDOTA, ILL.
V
Published by the Author, 1910
Copyright, 1910
By HENRY H. EBY
??/
DEDICATED TO MY COMRADES OF THE CIVIL WAR,
ESPECIALLY THOSE OF COMPANY C, SEVENTH ILLI-
NOIS CAVALRY, OF WHICH I WAS A MEMBER
PREFACE.
The story contained in this book is a true one. It was
taken from letters, memoranda and memory. The author
has in his possession twenty-nine letters written by him
while in the army, from 1861 to 1865, and sent to his rel-
atives, who returned them to him at the close of the
war.
The memoranda were written soon after his return
from the army. The accounts taken from memory are
reasonably correct, as the scenes through which he passed,
though here poorly portrayed, are of a character not
easily forgotten. They are indelibly stamped upon the
memory, and it seems, as time rolls on, that it renders
the recollection of them even more vivid and distinct.
After revising this story a number of times it is presented
to the reader in its present form.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Beginning of the Great Rebellion, April 12, 1861, 15
CHAPTER II.
Beginning of Three-year Service Camp Butler and Bird's
Point Night Trip to Belmont A Reconnaissance
into Western Kentucky, 23
CHAPTER III.
New Madrid, Point Pleasant, and Island No. 10, 39
CHAPTER IV.
Up the Rivers to Hamburg Landing, and Thence by Land
to Corinth and Cortland, Ala., 47
CHAPTER V.
From Northern Alabama to Nashville, Tenn., and Its
Occupation by Us Fight at Lavergne and Many
Skirmishes 55
CHAPTER VI.
The Advance on Murfreesboro B'attle of Stone River
Occupation of Murfreesboro by the Federals Crip-
ple Creek and Tullahoma Campaign Advance on
Chattanooga and Chickamauga Stuck in the Mud
Orders to Prevent Foraging, 65
10 CONTENTS
CHAPTER VII.
Battle of Chickamauga Two Days of Fearful Fighting
The Federals Holding Chattanooga, 93
CHAPTER VIII.
My Capture by the Confederates Good-bye to My Faith-
ful Horse Introduction to Confederate Diet Packed
in Box Cars During a Journey of About Nine Hun-
dred Miles Fearful Suffering, 119
CHAPTER IX.
Entrance into Belle Island Prison Pen Discouraging Out-
look Libby Prison, and the Smith Prison 137
CHAPTER X.
Our Return to Danville Many Sick with Smallpox
Smallpox Hospital, and Convalescent Camp, 155
CHAPTER XI.
Escape from Prison Much Suffering A Number of Nar-
row Escapes from Recapture and Finally Taken In, ..163
CHAPTER XII.
Our Recapture and Return to Prison Four Days in Coun-
ty Jail' Behind the Bars Journey to Richmond, and
Pemberton Building, 189
CHAPTER XIII.
My Second Entrance into Belle Island Prison Pen In-
tense Suffering from Cold and Hunger Many Die, . . 199
CONTENTS 11
CHAPTER XIV.
Under the Protection of " Old Glory " Once More
Caught in a Terrific Gale and Nearly Shipwrecked
Land at Annapolis, Md. Stripped, Scoured, and
Dressed in New Uniforms, 221
CHAPTER XV.
My Return to My Company and Regiment, May 25, 1864, 233
CHAPTER XVI.
Reminiscences of George W. Westgate, 245
CHAPTER XVII.
Letter from Calvin W. Hudson His Escape, Recapture,
and Escape the Second Time, 249
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Consequences of War, 255
CHAPTER XIX.
A Chapter to the Boys and Girls, 263
CHAPTER XX.
Birth of " Old Glory," .271
CHAPTER XXI.
The Consequences of Secession, 273
CHAPTER XXII.
A Talk with the Comrades, 281
Then.
Now.
CHAPTER I.
Beginning of the Great Rebellion in the United States of
America, April 12, 1861.
The " Star of the West," a United States boat, was
fired upon by the rebel batteries in Charleston harbor on
Jan. 9, 1861, which some people claim as the beginning of
the War of the Rebellion ; but the firing on Fort Sumter
was the time when the war was really inaugurated.
Fort Sumter, a United States fort located at the en-
trance to Charleston harbor, was fired upon by the Con-
federates, April 12, 1861, and Major Anderson, who was
in command of the fort, was obliged to surrender to
them.
This caused great excitement throughout the United
States. Soon after a call was issued by President Lincoln
for 75,000 three months' troops, which was responded to
in a very short time. Patriotism ran high, and it seemed
to most of us that the government should be defended at
all hazards. The fife and drum were soon heard on the
streets of Mendota, 111., and throughout the loyal States.
Quite a number of young men, including myself, from
Mendota and vicinity, at once signed our names to the
16 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
roll of enlistment. I was now 19 years of age, and con-
sidered it my duty to help defend the flag.
By the latter part of April a company of about 100 was
organized in Mendota, with Capt. Rust as commander.
We were drilled here for a few days before leaving for
Springfield. We were all rather green in regard to mili-
tary affairs and it was laughable to see the performance.
There was about as much awkwardness shown as there
would be in breaking a pair of young oxen. In a few days
we started for Springfield, 111. On the day of our de-
parture, which was April 19, 1861, the excitement in Men-
dota was beyond description. It was probably as intense as
when McClellan's army left Washington for the capture
of Richmond. People came flocking into town from all
the surrounding country and villages, with flags flying, to
see the soldiers start off for the war. The streets were
crowded with people who came to bid us the last good-
bye. Flags were unfurled and speeches made in honor
of our departure.
About 11 o'clock all who had enlisted were formed in
two ranks in front of the Illinois Central freight house,
facing toward it, when a Miss Davis, who stood upon a
raised platform at the northwest corner of the building,
delivered an appropriate address, presenting us with an
elegant flag in behalf of the citizens of Mendota. This
was responded to in a happy manner in behalf of the com-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
17
pany by L. B. Crooker, a chubby farmer boy about 20
years of age, who had drifted to Mendota for the purpose
of studying law, and who had also enlisted.
He afterwards served his country with honor during
the greater part of the war, receiving several severe
Presentation of the Flag 1 at the Freight House.
wounds while serving as a commissioned officer. At the
expiration of his term of service he returned home and
studied law, which profession he followed for a number
of years, serving also in various offices.
About 12 o'clock we marched to the depot, and an im-
mense crowd of people gathered around us, bade us good-
18 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
bye, and we boarded the train and were soon on our way
to Springfield, where we arrived the following morning
and met a number of companies from different parts of
the State. A few days after our arrival we were organ
ized into a regiment, which required ten companies. The
Mendota company was made Co. B, and the regiment the
12th Illinois Infantry, with Col. McArthur in command,
who was subsequently commissioned Major General.
The Mendota company contained more than the re-
quired number of men. Among the surplus bone and
sinew who found no place in the home company were
L. . B. Crooker, James W. Larabee, William Eckert,
George C. Loomis, S. P. Whitmore and myself, who all
determined to stick together and stay in service. We im-
mediately began looking about for an opening large
enough to hold these six husky farmer boys, and it was at
last accomplished by entering Co. H of the same regi-
ment. This was from Tiskilwa, and was commanded by
Capt. Swain, who subsequently lost his life at Shiloh.
We remained together in the same mess until discharged
at the end of three months.
It was now imagined that we were going south to
crush the Rebellion at once, but, alas, we failed to realize
what was before us. Little did we think that it would re-
quire four long years to end the great Rebellion. We re-
mained here several weeks, passing the time in drilling
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
19
and running about town. On May 25 we were trans-
ferred to Caseyville, 111., about ten miles east of St. Louis,
where we remained a month or more. While here we
received a good many instructions in military tactics, and
soon considered ourselves equal to Napoleon or any other
great general.
The Kicking 1 Musket.
The guns we received were of the old kicking variety,
and could kick equal to a mule. I can well remember
having a very lame shoulder from the effects of dischar-
ging one of these firearms. It reminded me of a story I
heard when I was a boy, about an Irish soldier in an
20 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
Illinois regiment during the Mexican War. One day
during a small engagement the soldier fired at the enemy
with one of those kicking guns, which knocked him over
backward flat on the ground. His captain, thinking that
he was shot, said, " Mike, are you wounded ? " He re-
plied, " Captain, it seems as though I had the wrong end
against my shoulder."
.The latter part of June the 12th was transferred to
Cairo, 111. We marched across the country from Casey-
ville to East St. Louis, then got on board a steamer and
went down the Mississippi, arriving at our destination on
the following day. The only excitement occurring on the
way down the river was caused by a man on the Missouri
shore waving a rebel flag at us while passing. We went
into camp at Cairo on the river bottom behind the levee,
our camp being about ten or fifteen feet below high water
mark in the river. The levee was constructed for the
purpose of keeping high water in the river from over-
flowing the city. This camp proved to be worse than any
experienced during all our subsequent three years' serv-
ice. While here we received a visit from Gen. McClellan,
who addressed us.
We remained here during the balance of the three
months' term, and nearly all of us were sick, caused by
the malaria of the river bottoms and other causes. After
the expiration of the three months' term of service I en-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 21
listed for three years, in Co. C, 7th Illinois Cavalry. L. B.
Crocker, James W. Larabee, and S. P. Whitmore enlisted
in Co. I, 55th Illinois Infantry, William Eckert remained
at home, and George C. Loomis remained in Co. H of the
12th, became a sergeant, and was twice wounded, losing
his right arm at Altona. L. B. Crocker received promo-
tion as a solace for four wounds, and Larabee was twice
wounded, receiving the grade of sergeant, and brought
home a glorious decoration in the form of a Congressional
medal for gallantry, a proper reward for his splendid sol-
diership.
CHAPTER II.
Beginning of Three Years' Service. Camp Butler and
Bird's Point.
The three months' service ended in August, 1861, and
I enlisted for three years in Sept., 1861. Was discharged
Oct. 15, 1864, serving in all three years and about four
months. The 7th was organized at Camp Butler, near
Springfield, 111., in the fall of 1861, where it was partly
drilled. Prescott Bartlett, of Sublette, 111., was chosen
captain of Co. C, John H. Shaw of Lee Center, 111., first
lieutenant, and B. F. Berkley, of Sublette, 111., second lieu-
tenant. S. H. Richardson was orderly sergeant, and
James Henderson commissary sergeant. The names of
other sergeants were R. D. McCord and David S. Porter,
and the corporals I have forgotten. In November the
regiment was transferred to Bird's Point, Mo., where it
went into winter quarters and remained until about
March 1, 1862.
The picture represents a camp in the idle days between
the great campaigns. The army has settled down to
weeks of forced inaction, and the men make themselves
as comfortable as the means at hand will allow. They
24
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 25
have shown wonderful thrift and industry in housing
themselves. The tent in the foreground shows this. Its
builders have made a pen of logs neatly chinked with
chunks and clay to keep out the wind. They have built
a fireplace of clay and used an old plow on top of the chim-
ney to assist the draft. The roof is made of pieces of
shelter tents and ponchos and at the entrance has been
laid a pavement of pork-barrel staves to keep mud from
being carried into the sleeping apartment. The other
tents in the distance show similar devices. The whole is
as accurate a picture of a winter camp as the camera
could make.
The veteran in the foreground is a man whose love of
music is so strong as to be irrepressible. He has con-
structed a fiddle out of a cigar box and such other mate-
rial as he could lay his hands on. It shows as much in-
genuity as his tent. Probably the tail of the Colonel's
horse has suffered to furnish hair for the bow. The music
made is far from that which could be drawn from a high-
priced instrument, but he and his boy listener enjoy it a
hundredfold more than the most cultivated listener ever
did high-priced strains. And he plays the tune that al-
ways went most directly to the soldier's heart, " Home,
Sweet Home."
While at Bird's Point the 7th performed the ordinary
camp and picket duties, occasionally going out on a scout-
26 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6^
ing expedition, making a visit to the vicinity of the
enemy. Every morning about daybreak four men from
the cavalry were sent out on the road leading from the
camp outside of the picket line for the purpose of pre-
venting a surprise by the enemy. One morning, some
time after they had gone out as usual, the four horses re-
turned to camp riderless and with blood-stained saddles.
A force of the boys was immediately sent out to investi-
gate. After they had passed some distance beyond the pick-
et lines, the bodies of the four men were found lying m the
road dead, and almost riddled with buckshot, supposed to
have been fired from shotguns. It was evidently the work
of bushwhackers, as there was a large log lying within a
few feet of the road and parallel with it, and behind this in
the soft ground were seen tracks made by a number of
men, and the conclusion was reached that these bush-
whackers had concealed themselves behind the log and
awaited the approach of the four men until they were
very near. They then fired upon them, probably kill-
ing them instantly.
Gen. Oglesby was in command of the camps on
Bird's Point, during the winter of 1861-1862. I re-
member him well, as I was an orderly at his head-
quarters a number of times while on the Point. Gen.
Oglesby appeared to me as being an officer who fair-
ly well understood his business, and attended to it.
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6^ 27
In some respects he appeared like Gen. Grant, modest,
kind, and thoroughly loyal to his country. Gen. Ogles-
by was not of the aristocratic class, but appeared
neatly dressed, and was an officer who used good
common sense in commanding his troops.
Soon after our arrival here we began the construc-
tion of barracks for winter quarters, which were built
of logs in log house fashion. Co. C's building was
a long, one-story structure, with bunks for beds,
which contained straw and made very comfortable
sleeping places.
About Christmas time nearly all were supplied
with good things from home. I can never forget the
luxuries we received. They were just delicious. I
received a box containing a roast turkey, a number of
pies, cakes, and other things too numerous to men-
tion. We had just moved into our new barracks, and
stored away our delicacies for safe keeping until
wanted. Late one afternoon, when nearly all of us
had gone to water our horses, one who remained in
camp lit a candle and placed it under the bunk to aid
him in searching for something he had lost. The
lighted candle immediately set fire to the straw in the
bunk and in a few minutes the whole building was in
a blaze. When we returned our good things had
nearly all been destroyed by the fire. Scarcely any-
28 .IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65
thing- was saved, and thus our anticipations of grand
feasts and dinners were dashed away. We were
obliged to be content with hard-tack, bean soup, and
bacon.
The event of the day was falling in for soup, pre-
pared by the cook on detail for the day, in his open-
air studio. It was an article that would not pass
muster at a fashionable restaurant, but it was hot,
there was usually plenty of it, the beans were abundant
and as good as Michigan or New England soil could
produce, the pork was the finest product of the Illi-
nois pork raisers, and if the cook had been mindful
of his duty, had cooked the soup long enough, and
stirred it diligently to prevent its burning, it was very
appetizing, went right to the spot, and built fine loco-
motive apparatus for the future marching and battling.
If on the other hand he had been careless and lazy,
there was likely to be a summary court-martial, and
he was lucky if he escaped with nothing worse than
being tossed in a blanket. When one looks on the
steaming pot, the words of the old refrain rise at once
to mind.
" Beans for breakfast,
Beans for dinner,
Beans for supper,
Beans, beans, beans."
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
30 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
Our blankets and shelter being also gone, we were
poorly prepared for winter. But ere long we were
furnished with tents and new blankets, and were com-
fortable again.
George Westgate, George McKeen, William Orris
and myself occupied a tent together. It was a small
one, and after lying down to sleep we occupied all
the floor space except about two feet of its length at
our feet. This was occupied by a small sheet iron
stove, cooking utensils, and a water pail. One even-
ing after retiring Westgate began tickling my face
with a straw. He thought it a good time to have a
little fun at my expense, as I had been out on picket
duty the night previous and was very tired and sleepy.
Having fallen asleep Westgate began teasing, which
of course awakened me. I insisted that he should stop
bothering me which he did until after I fell asleep
again, and then resumed his work of tormenting me.
Finally I told him that I would put him out of the tent
if he did not stop, and becoming impatient I jumped
up and the scuffle commenced. After a few tumbles
about the tent, Westgate struck one foot among the
cooking utensils and finally stepped into the water
bucket, which was full of water, causing it to splash
about the tent and into the faces of Orris and McKeen,
which roused their tempers and they yelled, " Eby,
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 31
put him out ! " At this juncture of the performance
Westgate was willing to capitulate. He was in trouble,
his foot being forced into the bucket in such a posi-
tion that it was a difficult matter to extricate it. I
had failed to put him out of the tent, but his unfor-
tunate position put an end to the scuffle. Our attention
was now turned to helping him out of his difficulty.
The feet being of the largest kind used for plowing
corn in Illinois, and the utensil being only the regular
size, pretty near a surgical operation was necessary.
The following morning, the boys on hearing of our
affair of the previous night, declared that they did not
believe impossibilities, as Westgate could never have
crammed a foot the size of his into a common water
bucket.
A few days later quite a number of troops composed
of cavalry were sent out on a scouting expedition,
down the Mississippi on the Missouri side to a small
town named Belmont (the scene of Gen. Grant's first
battle), where a Confederate battery was supposed to
be located. This was about twenty miles from our
camp, and we made the journey mostly during the
night. We found nothing of importance on our trip
except when we struck the river, near Belmont, where
we discovered a Confederate gunboat in very close
proximity, but the land battery was a hoax. It being
32 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
in the nighttime, we were unable to see the boat dis-
tinctly, but could see enough of it to satisfy us that it
was a dangerous concern. We kept quiet, and left
that neighborhood as soon as possible, going in the
direction of camp. On the way we came in contact
with an enemy in the form of a small flock of geese
not far from a farmhouse. One of the men who was in
advance of us a short distance caught sight of them
first. They hissed at him, and he called out : " Boys,
I have found a squad of rebels, and they hissed at me.
They should be made prisoners and taken along to
camp." We immediately went to our comrade's as-
sistance and the capture was soon made. Of course,
according to the rules of war, we were obliged to put
them under guard and take them to camp. The read-
er may guess what became of the geese. This being
the day before Christmas, these captures were ap-
propriate, and after the manner of Yankee soldiers
were duly assimilated.
On the way to camp, the night being intensely dark,
the proper trail was missed and we became entangled
in dense thickets. Hats were lost, clothes were torn,
faces were scratched and disfigured. The reader can im-
agine the amount of patience required of us to keep
a smiling face on this occasion. As we rode through
the thickets we endeavored to keep in line or march in
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 33
military order, that is by twos, and follow the file
leaders. The man who did not receive a severe whack
in his face, by a branch of a tree bent forward by his
file leader until it received a very high tension, then
came back with tremendous force against him, per-
haps almost dismounting him, was considered out of
place. Some of the language fired off into the night
air would not be considered appropriate at a Sunday-
school picnic. The man who emerged from this af-
fair with a smiling countenance was looked upon as
being a saint. We arrived in camp at Bird's Point
about noon the following day, looking like a lot of
Indian warriors with their war paint on their faces,
being scratched and battered by riding through the
thickets.
In January, 1862, an army was organized here for
the purpose of making a reconnaissance into western
Kentucky. It was in command of Gen. U. S. Grant,
and Co. C, 7th Illinois Cavalry, was detailed as hi?
escort on this expedition. The troops consisted of
quite a large force of infantry and artillery from Bird's
Point and other places. We were out six or eight
days, but did not encounter the enemy in large force.
The weather a part of the time was very unfavorable,
and we rode for two days while the rain was pour-
ing down. I was on outpost picket during the night
34 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65
following the first rainy day. The rain continued
nearly all night, and the sergeant in command of the
relief failed to find my post on account of the dense
darkness. Therefore I was not relieved until morn-
ing, having stood in the rain with my horse all night,
keeping a good lookout for the enemy. When arriv-
ing in camp, after daylight, the rain was still falling
in torrents. I was thoroughly wet, sleepy and tired,
and the boys accused me of being cross, which I
dared not deny. Having just lain down to take a
little nap when the bugle sounded for boots and sad-
dles, I jumped up, feeling as the boys had accused
me. All this time the rain continued. The order soon
came to move forward. We mounted and started on
the way back toward Bird's Point, riding nearly all
day in a pouring rain.
Late in the afternoon the wind commenced blow-
ing cold from the northwest, and it began to freeze
and snow a little. Just before dark we were given
orders to halt and go into camp in the woods, by the
roadside, which was obeyed. We cared for our
horses as best we could and proceeded to build fires.
Co. C started a fire under a large log, which soon
blazed up sufficiently for us to warm ourselves. We
had some hardtack and bacon, which we proceeded
to devour. After supper I fixed up a sort of a bed
IN RATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 35
near the log, by placing considerable rubbish on the
ground, in order to keep out of the mud, and cover-
ing this with brush and leaves. I then pulled off
my fine cavalry boots and set them up near the fire,
in order that they might dry out, and then retired.
When I arose in the morning and took hold of my
boots I found them brittle in some parts, having
been scorched by the fire during the night. When
putting them on they broke, so that they were ruined.
After breakfast we again moved on toward Bird's
Point. During the day, when riding along the road,
two of our soldiers belonging to an infantry regi-
ment were discovered a few rods away who had just
killed and dressed a hog, and had it hung up to a
tree. (As I previously stated our Co. C was escort
for Gen. Grant on this expedition.) Of course the
General also discovered the men and dressed hog, and
immediately gave the command to halt, which was
promptly obeyed. The General rode out of ranks and
called to the men who had the hog. They walked
up near him and he proceeded to lecture them, as I
well remember, being within twenty-five or thirty
feet and overhearing the whole conversation. The
first question the General asked was, " Where did
you procure that hog?" The answer was, "Foraged
it." The General then spoke as follows: "Men, do
36 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
you not know that kind of work is strictly against
orders? " He talked to them as a father would to his
sons. He then said, " Sergeant, take charge of these
men under guard, and report them to headquarters."
The order was then given, " Forward," and we rode
toward Bird's Point. I could not help thinking about
that delicious looking fresh pork, but it was a con-
solation to know that the boys who came after us
would not let it go to waste. I never learned what
became of the two soldiers nor the hog. I was too
bashful to tell the General about my craving appetite
for some of it.
This was our first experience under the immediate
command of the great General Grant, and belonging to
the escort I was in close contact with him a number
of days, and had an opportunity of studying his
character. Of course he was then comparatively ob-
scure, but had reputation enough in this part of the
army to arouse curiosity. The impressions of an
immature youth, if not valuable, may be characteristic
of the time and place.
Gen. Grant had not the imposing stature that we
in our then romantic notions regarded as heroic. He
was quiet, kindly and considerate under all circum-
stances. He indulged in no parade and wore no fine
feathers, as the picture books had caused us to ex-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 37
pect. His alertness to see, and his fairness to correct
all breaches of discipline, were displayed in the in-
cident above alluded to, while his gentle but firm
way of applying- the remedy was impressive.
These characteristics are now a matter of history,
but were then only known to those in his immediate
presence. While Gen. Grant, in this our first experi-
ence in his presence, at first disappointed us in lack
of fuss and feathers, he impressed us with confidence
that he knew his business and attended to it, and we
began to think that the high stepping generals so
implanted in our youthful minds were not so much
needed as practical ones of another mold.
I think we arrived in camp at Bird's Point the fol-
lowing day, remaining there during about all the
month of February, doing the ordinary camp, picket
and scouting duties.
CHAPTER III.
New Madrid, Point Pleasant and Island No. 10.
About March 1 the movement began down the Miss-
issippi on the Missouri side of the river to New Mad-
rid, and later to Point Pleasant, where the 7th went
into camp, -remaining there about three or four weeks,
doing ordinary camp and picket duties. The camp was
located in the woods, which contained some very large
trees. One night a terrible tornado passed through
our camp, uprooting trees and blowing down nearly
all the tents. The trees crashed down among the men
and horses, killing two men and a number of horses
belonging to our regiment. Each company had one
row of tents, and when the storm came on nearly all
were asleep. A large tree nearly four feet in diameter
came down with a crash, parallel and within a few
feet of our row of tents, but leaving Co. C uninjured.
We congratulated ourselves on our narrow escape.
When our tent went down we jumped up and tried
to get out from under it as quickly as possible. I
scrambled out through a stovepipe hole in the upper
part of the tent. I had some difficulty in passing
40 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
through this small opening and the boys were obliged
to come to my assistance. They extricated me, and
then began laughing at me, about jumping through
the chimney.
The camp was located a short distance back from
the river out of reach of the Confederate batteries on
the opposite side. They occupied several small forts
on the east side of the river, and whenever we at-
tempted to get water from it, or water our horses,
they would open fire on us with their siege guns. On
one of these occasions I saw an oak tree about fifteen
inches in diameter which was cut nearly off by a shot
from the large gun. Thereupon we abandoned the river,
and procured water from a frog pond near the camp.
We did not hesitate to use water from the pond be-
cause it was nicely covered over with a green scum.
Gen. Pope was in command of the land forces in
this vicinity, and by this time had concentrated quite
an army. One night during the stay at this place,
one of the United States ironclads named Carondelet
ran the gauntlet past Island No. 10 and came down
the river to Point Pleasant without sustaining injury
by the Confederate fire. The following day it captured
the small forts located on the east bank of the river.
I witnessed the whole affair, which did not continue
a very long time. A few days after this the Con-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 41
federate forces on Island No. 10 and vicinity sur-
rendered to Gen. Pope.
General Pope, as I saw him, appeared to me like
another one of those sound minded, honest, patriotic
and well informed soldiers. He loved his country and
his flag, and as he appeared to me and what I learned
about him caused me to believe that he understood
his business and attended to it. Gen. Pope, accord-
ing to what I learned about him, possessed the right
conception of the American volunteer soldier. He
once said, " It is true and must in the nature of things
always be true, that in a free country and among a
free people the real heroes of every war are found in
the ranks : men who have taken up arms with the sole
purpose to serve their country, and with intelligent
knowledge of the object for which they dare the perils
of battle and disease."
I had nearly forgotten to tell how well we were en-
tertained a portion of the time while camping in the
vicinity of Island No. 10.
There were in the river six large United States
mortars and a number of ironclad gunboats. The
mortars were of very large caliber, capable of throw-
ing a shell as large as an ordinary water bucket, in
diameter I think twelve inches or more. The mortars
were mounted on small flatboats, one on each boat.
42 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 43
Old Abe.
44 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
During a period of about three weeks, every half hour
during night time as well as day, one of those large
shells from a mortar was sent over to Island No. 10,
and exploded with terrific force. Whenever one of
those mortars was discharged it would fairly shake
the earth about us. During a few nights in the be-
ginning of the siege the noise made by those guns
disturbed my sleep, but I soon became accustomed to
it. The gunboats also annoyed the Confederates on
the island, by throwing solid shot at them. While
we were in the vicinity of Island No. 10 and New Mad-
rid, we^casionally met the 8th Wisconsin Regiment,
which carried by the side of its regimental flag the
famous war eagle (Old Abe), whose photograph ap-
pears above. I well remember seeing this proud-ap-
pearing bird a number of times, while it was being
carried, sitting upon its perch, beside Old Glory. It
appeared to me about as large as a fair-sized turkey,
and it served through a three years' campaign, return-
ing to its native State in safety, after passing through
many battles. When Gen. Pope's command had fin-
ished its work in the vicinity of Island No. 10 it went
by steamers to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., near the
battlefield of Shiloh.
CEN. P<
CROSSED APR. 7 185
Map of Island No. 10, and Vicinity.
CHAPTER IV.
Up the River to Hamburg Landing and Thence by
Land to Corinth and Jacinto, Miss., Tuscumbia
and Cortland, Ala.
Gen. Pope's army, of which we (the 7th) were a part,
on April 18 embarked on steamers and moved down
the, river toward Memphis, Tenn., but after going in
that direction some distance our fleet of steamers faced
about and steamed up the Mississippi River to Cairo.
From thence up the Ohio to the mouth of the Ten-
nessee and up the Tennessee to Hamburg Landing,
Tenn., where we landed April 22. We were sent there
for the purpose of assisting the armies of Buell and
Grant (then under Gen. Halleck) who had fought
the battle of Shiloh and were now preparing to fol-
low the Confederate army, which was concentrating
at Corinth, Miss.
While here considerable skirmishing was done. One
day during the latter part of April, 1862, Co. C was
ordered out, with Capt. Bartlett in command, to make
a reconnaissance in the direction of Corinth. We
moved out through a timbered country interspersed
with considerable underbrush. When out a number
48 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
of miles from the river, in looking across a small field
to the opposite side, some horsemen were discovered
through the open spaces in the brush, which on close
investigation proved to be a line of Confederate
cavalry. They had seemingly discovered us and were
in line of battle and ready. Some of the boys did not
wait for orders, but left the ranks and started toward
the enemy, when the captain called out, " Keep in
line," " Get back in line," but before they would get
back some others would start out. The object of the
Captain was to get all in line and then make a charge.
While we were fooling in this manner the Confederates
gave us a volley, mortally wounding one of our num-
ber named Dick Springer, of Sublette, 111., who died
a few days later. Just then the Confederates started
to retreat and we charged on them as fast as horses
could carry us. The excitement was intense, for it
was a race between us and the enemy with the ad-
vantage on our side. We occasionally gave them a
shot when opportunity afforded. In the pursuit several
of the enemy were killed, a number wounded and a
few taken prisoners. Some of their horses and saddles
were also captured, and those of the enemy who re-
mained ahead of us were chased into a swamp and
there the pursuit was given up, it not being prudent
to venture any farther. When the swamp was reached
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 49
I looked about and counted and to my surprise there
were only seven of Co. C together at the end of the
chase. The remainder were strung out behind for a
distance of nearly a half mile. A laughable and yet
dangerous incident happened to one of our men in
this chase. A large oak tree had fallen to the ground,
and one of its branches projected out over the road
unobserved by the rider who was going at full speed
and came in contact with it. The horse ran under
the branch, which caught the saddle, pulling it from
the horse which passed on; the saddle stopped and
the rider tumbled over the limb upon the ground. At
the time of this reconnaissance a young attorney from
Mendota, named William E. Beck, was visiting the
company. He insisted on going out with us and the
Captain furnished him a horse and some firearms.
Although he was not an enlisted man he did as good
service as any of us. This man became a leading
lawyer and died a member of the Supreme Court of
Colorado. We came out of this skirmish with the
loss of one man, while the enemy's loss was five or
six killed and wounded and quite a number of prison-
ers.
Soon after this a part of the regiment went out on
another skirmish, in which I did not participate on ac-
count of being on other duty. This proved to be
50 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
quite an affair, as there were some infantry troops
engaged and the enemy used artillery. Sergeant Por-
ter (later captain) of our company had his horse killed
under him by a cannon shot, but he was uninjured.
The country between Hamburg Landing and Corinth
was mostly timbered, having a great deal of under-
brush. I noticed some of this brushy land had been
farmed at some time in years past.
The whole army now slowly moved southwest to-
ward Corinth, skirmishing along the way. Our regi-
ment occupied a part of the line of battle, remain-
ing in this position four days and nights, standing by
our horses' heads except while trying to sleep, or feed
and water our horses. At night we endeavored to get
some sleep and rest in the following manner: Al-
ternately one man would hold two horses by the
bridles while the other attempted to get some sleep
by lying down in front of his horse, but this general-
ly failed on account of occasional firing in close prox-
imity, which would cause some of the horses to jump
and thereby disturb us. When we were relieved at
the end of the four days we were " played out," as
the illustration shows.
When the army arrived in front of Corinth, and was
preparing to capture the place, we were surprised on
the morning of May 29 to find that it had been va-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
51
cated during the night, the Confederates having gone
southward. Our regiment went to Booneville, where
it remained several weeks. Then it was sent to Ja-
cinto, Miss., a small town where we camped about a
month, doing the ordinary military duties. While
Flayed Out.
there everything seemed to be quiet, with no enemies
to disturb us except millions of woodticks and swifts.
This tick is a small gray-colored insect. They stuck
on our horses in such a manner that we were obliged
to scrape them off, or they would probably have tor-
mented them nearly to death. The swift is a small
52 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
four-footed animal formed like a lizard and the color
of a frog. At night when we retired they would hop
about us by the hundred. They are a noisy creature.
One night after we had about all fallen asleep a swift
jumped into one of our boy's open shirt bosom, and
scrambled about over his bare body, and he thinking
it was a snake jumped up, yelling like a demon, arous-
ing nearly the whole camp.
On July 20, 1862, the 7th broke camp and moved
eastward into northern Alabama, to a place by the
name of Tuscumbia, where we found one of the largest
springs of water that I ever saw. It poured forth
from a cavity in the rocks with such volume that as
it flowed down over a bed of gravel a stream was
formed almost knee deep to the horses, and twenty-
five or thirty feet wide. The water was very clear,
and so cold that the horses sometimes refused to
drink it. We camped there a few days, and then part
of the regiment moved on eastward to Cortland, Ala.,
where we found a most beautiful camping place, on
the banks of a fine stream, along which were many
springs of good water. The country in the immediate
vicinity was quite fertile, and foraging was good, as
not many of the enemy had passed through here
previous to this. Peaches and small fruits were quite
plentiful. One day some of the boys brought in a
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 53
nice lot of fine peaches. The sight of these put me in
the notion of making some peach pies. The com-
missary had previously issued some flour. My short-
ening for the pie-crust I procured by frying some bacon.
(The bacon-flavored shortening was substituted for
nutmegs and other flavorings.) I proceeded to mix the
material for the crust which was a new experience
for me. After the dough was made I looked about
for a rolling pin, with which to prepare the crusts.
I found one of those long champagne bottles, which
answered the purpose very well. I placed the lower
crust on one of our tin plates, and on this the pre-
pared peaches, with plenty of sugar, and then put the
covering on and placed it in a cast iron bake-oven.
We built a fire around it, and occasionally took the
lid off to inspect the process. The baking was soon
completed, the pie taken out, and pronounced well
done. After eating it we called it good, and I was
congratulated on my success. Of course, you know,
a soldier in our position would call anything good
that could be eaten. But some of the boys declared
that I had put the shortening in lengthwise. I thought
if I was spared to get home I would try and get a
position in a first-class hotel as baker.
Nothing of an exciting nature occurred during our
stay at Cortland, except that we received a report
54 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
one morning that the Confederates in small force were
encamped in a village a few miles away. A squadron
of our cavalry, in command of Capt. Bartlett, was im-
mediately sent out in the direction of the village, to
take the Johnnies in out of the wet, as we supposed.
We moved along cautiously until arriving in the vi-
cinity of the village, when we halted and formed to
make a charge into the town. When all was ready
the Captain gave the command " Forward, charge,"
and away we flew into and through the town with
drawn sabres, and found nothing to run against. Not
a solitary " Johnny " was to be seen. It was like
kicking against nothing. We were somewhat dis-
appointed, but as I thought the matter over I con
eluded to be willing to be thus deluded.
CHAPTER V.
From Northern Alabama to Nashville, Term., and Its
Occupation by the Federals.
Early on the morning of Aug. 28, 1862, the bugle
sounded for boots and saddles. About fifty or sixty
of Co. C, including myself, mounted and prepared to
move, thinking that we were going on a scouting ex-
pedition some distance from camp. Therefore our
blankets and small trinkets were left, with the sup-
position that we would return in the evening. We
moved out, and after riding quite a distance, perhaps
eight or ten miles, we met Gen. Palmer and staff,
with a division of infantry and artillery. He was on
his way north, to Nashville, Tenn., a distance of over
one hundred and fifty miles. Co. C was employed as
escort for the General on the journey, and we never
returned to Cortland, losing our blankets and other
things.
We were on the way a number of days, occasional-
ly seeing a few of the enemy in our front and having
a skirmish with them. During the fore part of the
journey a scene was witnessed which I considered
56 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
very aggravating. A short distance north of Pulaski,
Tenn., we passed a cotton mill by the roadside. It
was a two-story frame building, with quite a number
of windows on the side next the road, and from each
of these windows there peered many heads of women.
As we were passing they hissed at us, and called out,
" Run you cowards." " They will catch you before
you get to Nashville," and many other insulting
phrases. Gen. Palmer halted in front of the factory,
and after listening to them a few minutes he said :
" Ladies, do you know that these soldiers carry
matches in their pockets? This building would burn
nicely." They took the hint and all was quiet.
One day when three of us were on advance guard
we occasionally started forward on the gallop, and
left quite a distance between us and the main force.
When in the vicinity of Columbia, Tenn., my horse
had gained some distance on the other two, and the
road winding through the woods, I was unable to
see whether the others were in supporting distance.
I continued riding until the business street of Co-
lumbia was reached, when I halted and looked back,
but could see neither of the boys. I waited, momen-
tarily expecting their arrival. At a little distance I
saw a small group of men in citizens' dress. I rode
up near them and ordered them to disperse, which
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 57
they did. Why this was done I hardly know, unless
because I thought a bold front would intimidate them,
and cause them to believe that reinforcements were
very near at hand. I felt somewhat uneasy, as previ-
ous to this we had found Confederate soldiers dressed
in citizens' clothes, and therefore had good reason to
suspect some of the group as such.
I remained here on my horse in suspense, with
carbine in hand, a minute or more before the arrival
of my two comrades. The minutes seemed long on
account of being in doubt. We waited here until the
main column arrived, then passed on through the
town, skirmishing with a few of the enemy during
several days as we advanced, arriving at Nashville the
12th of September. Gen. Palmer was in command of
the troops composing his division, and Gen. Negley,
being senior, was in command of the district. Com-
munication with the North and other parts of our
army was entirely cut off, and we were unable to re-
ceive mail or supplies of any kind. The main part
of the Union army in this vicinity had gone into
Kentucky in pursuit of Bragg. The commissary stores
were scant, and we were obliged to go out foraging
sometimes in order to get enough to eat. While here
we experienced a number of exciting incidents by way
of skirmishing and small engagements with the enemy,
58 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
who were continually lurking about our picket lines.
I was now detailed as orderly at Gen. Palmer's head-
quarters, in which position I served until Sept. 20,
1863, when I was made a prisoner of war at the bat-
tle of Chickamauga.
After being at Nashville some time Gen. Negley was
informed that a force of Confederates, consisting most-
ly of infantry, to the number of several thousand,
were encamped at Lavergne, Tenn., about thirteen
miles from Nashville. The generals immediately laid
plans for the capture of this camp. One night they
sent out a brigade of infantry, which marched by a
circuitous route to the rear of the Confederate camp,
arriving there a little before daylight, but did not dis-
turb the enemy until we attacked them in front. Our
forces who made that attack were composed of Gen.
Palmer and staff, Co. C, and a small force of in-
fantry and cavalry; also several pieces of artillery.
At first we merely attacked their pickets, which
drew the enemy's attention toward us. At the same
time the infantry assaulted them in the rear, causing
their surrender to us, with the exception of their
cavalrymen, who escaped. The Confederates had one
piece of artillery, a four-pounder, which was disabled
after firing a number of shots. This fell into our hands
along with their entire camp equipage, including a
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 59
large quantity of new uniforms which they had just
received. We also captured a brigadier-general. Dur-
ing this engagement I witnessed something that I
had never seen or heard of before. As I was look-
ing directly at the Confederate four-pound cannon,
which was perhaps eighty or one hundred rods from
us, it was discharged and the instant that I saw
the smoke issue from the mouth of the gun a small
black speck was seen coming toward me and in a
second or two it crashed into a rail fence close by.
After it had struck the fence I was satisfied that the
black speck I had seen was the ball from the cannon.
Soon after this I heard a rattling noise to the left.
I turned and looked in that direction and saw brick
rolling down over the roof of a residence which was
in close proximity. Evidently a ball from the Con-
federate gun came in contact with the chimney, caus-
ing a confusion about the house. While looking that
way a man came out of the house and looked up at
the chimney, apparently surprised at the condition of
things. I concluded that the people in the house were
in a perilous condition.
While this small engagement was in progress Gen.
Palmer was busily engaged with his telescope, view-
ing the battlefield and directing the movements of
troops. He stood upon a small strawstack in good
60 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
view of the enemy, giving directions as composedly
as if talking to pupils in a schoolroom. After the
firing ceased we rode into the Confederate camp and
found that we had captured many wagon-loads of
property, which was loaded and hauled with us to
Nashville.
The reader can comprehend to some extent (by the
former descriptions of battle scenes) the hardships and
desolation that people are compelled to undergo in
countries where armies pass through in time of war.
I often felt grieved for people in the South when their
stock, grain and fences were appropriated for the use
of the army. Of course a commander will not allow
his soldiers to starve. If his trains cannot keep up
with the troops he will order the commissary to gath-
er provisions from the country through which they
are passing (of course citizens were not allowed to
starve), and when an army is on the march and goes
into camp in the evening, the soldiers have not time
to chop down trees for fuel, but take fences, and there-
by the country is more or less desolated, generally
more. I can remember when orders were given to
the soldiers allowing them to take only the top rail
off a fence for fuel, but each rail in turn became a top
rail and in a few minutes the whole fence would dis-
appear.
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 61
An exciting chase and skirmish. One afternoon
Lieut. Shaw of Co. C was ordered to take a squad of
Co. C, some ten or twelve in number, and go outside
the picket lines to see what he could discover in re-
gard to the location of the enemy. After riding some
distance across the country, Charles Evitts, William
Orris and myself, who were advance guard, arrived
near the top of a hill, and looking over its brow dis-
covered three Confederates seemingly on outpost pick-
et duty. We thought they were performing their
duty in a very careless manner as they were dis-
mounted. We fired, and of course the instant they
heard the report of our guns they mounted their
horses and rode away as fast as they could, one of
them leaving his gun leaning against the fence. We
immediately started to follow them at full speed. As
we passed the picket station I slowed up and grabbed
the gun which the Confederates had left and destroyed
it (by throwing it down upon the stone road, which
broke the stock off), so that it was of no further use
to the enemy, and it would have been of no use to
Uncle Sam. Then I followed on at a fast gait, over-
taking the other two boys.
During the chase one of the three Confederates fell
from his horse and we made him a prisoner; he hav-
ing been shot through the arm by our first fire. We
62 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
pushed on after the other two Johnnies, who gave the
alarm to their reserve force which numbered prob-
ably fifty or sixty, who were just cooking- their sup-
pers beside the road in a ravine. As soon as the alarm
was given of our approach they all mounted their
horses and rode up the opposite hill in confusion,
leaving their suppers cooking. Some of them even
left their saddles which they had removed from their
horses. The fun this time was on our side. It was
laughable to see the Confederates hustling up the hill
in such confusion with us, perhaps less than one-fifth
of their number, in pursuit. The roads being very
dusty at this time, and no wind blowing, the trail of
dust we left behind us caused them to believe that
there was a large force in pursuit, thus causing their
hasty flight.
In this little skirmish we captured one prisoner, a
fine double-barreled shotgun, a horse, some saddles
and numerous other small articles, and returned to
camp after dark in the evening.
Attacking the Confederates behind a stone wall.
Some days later while at Nashville we went out on
another reconnoitering expedition into the enemy's
country, with a small force consisting of Co. C, Capt.
Bartlett in command, two pieces of artillery and sev-
eral companies of infantry, with Gen. Palmer in com-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 63
mand of the whole. After marching some distance
from camp we discovered a small force of the enemy,
which gradually fell back before our advance until
they reached a farmhouse, where a thick stone wall
was found, used as a fence between the house and
barn. The Confederates thought the wall a good
stronghold, and took a position behind it, not being
aware that we had artillery with us, and therefore
considering themselves safe behind the wall. They
opened fire on us, but we did not like to attack them
with our small arms while in their fortified position.
Therefore the general ordered the artillerymen to open
fire on them. The first or second shot passed through
the wall, and another one through the barn, which
caused quite a commotion among them. The house
also received a number of shots from the rifles. They
immediately took to flight and we went down to in-
spect the barn and wall. I found one large hardwood
timber in the barn nearly cut in two by a shot from
our artillery. I do not remember of any one in our
command being seriously injured during this engage-
ment. We returned to camp, performing our mili-
tary duties as usual. We experienced a number of
skirmishes similar to the above during our stay at
Nashville.
Nov. 7, 1862, brought good news to us. The Federal
64 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
army from Kentucky arrived at Nashville, which
opened communication once more with the North and
our homes. We had not received any mail for about
three months and were very glad indeed to receive
letters from home, some of which had been on the way
two or three months. The army was now being
thoroughly reorganized, and named Army of the
Cumberland, with Gen. Rosecrans in command ; and
preparations were made for the advance on Murfrees-
boro. We remained here at Nashville until Dec. 26,
1862.
CHAPTER VI.
The Advance on Murfreesboro Battle of Stone
River Occupation of Murfreesboro by the
Federals Cripple Creek and Tullahoma
Campaign Advance on Chattanooga
and Chickamauga.
The announcement was made on Christmas night,
1862, to the Army of the Cumberland, to prepare to
march the following morning, with three days' ra-
tions in the haversacks and cartridge boxes well filled.
The reveille sounded loudly throughout the camps
about Nashville early on the morning of the 26th, and
all was alive, with thousands of busy soldiers preparing
for the advance. The morning dawned drearily, with
threatening clouds overhanging the sky, but prepara-
tions to move forward went briskly on. After break-
fast the order came to strike tents and prepare to move
soon. Regiment after regiment filed out on several
different roads leading toward Murfreesboro, with
fifes and drums playing inspiring music, which cheered
the soldiers to a high degree.
But alas ! How little did we know how many of our
number, now so cheerful, would be laid low within a
66 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
few days by the enemy's bullets and that 9,700 of our
number would be killed or wounded within eight days
on the battlefield of Stone River.
The whole army was soon on the move, and outside
of the picket lines. A skirmish line was pushed for-
ward, and did not march many miles before the skir-
mishers of the enemy were met, who gradually retired.
We continued to advance, sometimes meeting quite
a force of the enemy, who repeatedly withdrew. This
continued until we reached the vicinity of Stone River,
Dec. 30, 1862.
During the march of the Army of the Cumberland
from Nashville to the vicinity of Murfreesboro, which
continued from Dec. 26 to the 30th, rain fell in tor-
rents nearly every day, which caused the roads to be-
come almost impassable. After thousands of horses
had passed over the soft and water-covered roads, the
mud was fearful, from four to six inches in depth and
in some places half knee deep, and of the consistency
of cream or very thick paint ready for use. The read-
er can judge by looking at the illustration whether
it was a pleasure for the soldiers to tramp all day on
a road in the above-mentioned condition, while the rain
was pouring down.
The soldiers were loaded as mentioned, following:
First a knapsack, containing extra garments, under-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 67
The Army Marching 1 Throug-h Mnd and Bain.
68 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
wear and blanket ; also any trinkets that a soldier chose
to have; second, a haversack, containing three or four
days' rations ; third, a gun, a heavy belt with cartridge
box containing 40 rounds, and last but not least, a
canteen full of water. The cavalry and artillery fared
but little or perhaps no better than the infantry on
those muddy roads, as the tramping of the horses
caused the mud to splash in such a manner that both
horses and riders became literally plastered with it,
which gave them a job of cleaning up. It requires
grit and a good constitution to march all day on a
slushy road with rain pouring down, and then go in-
to camp at night and lie down to sleep on the muddy
ground with rain-soaked clothes. It also requires iron-
clad patriotism, to keep a smiling countenance under
these conditions.
The haversack and canteen were as essential to a
soldier of the War of the Rebellion from 1861 to 1865
when on a long march as a tender is to a railroad loco-
motive. The locomotive when running would soon
become powerless if the tender did not accompany it
to supply fuel and water with which to create power
to enable it to travel.
That was also the fact with the soldier. If he did
not have the indispensable haversack and canteen well
filled, attached to himself when on the march, he
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 69
could expect that his locomotive power would fail in
a short time and he would become unable to march.
The haversack generally contained the following ar-
ticles when filled for the march: First, a quantity of
the genuine, indispensable, hard-as-a-rock-Uncle-Sam-
hardtack, sometimes animated hardtack ; a slice of
bacon, sometimes animated ; a small package of
browned coffee, a small quantity of sugar tied up in
paper and tucked away in a corner, and last but not
least, a pinch of salt. But why was salt needed? The
bacon was salty, and the hardtack did not need salt,
and it would not have improved the coffee. The salt
appears to be a mystery, but perhaps it was not a
mystery to the soldier. Some people may not under-
stand the meaning of the words, " animated hardtack."
Therefore we will explain. Animated hardtack was
that which was inhabited by the larvae of flies, a foot-
less insect or grub, but plainly speaking, a maggot. The
soldiers of the war from 1861 to 1865 were occasional-
ly treated to a few rations of animated hardtack and
animated .bacon also, perhaps by mistake. In such
cases the soldiers were liable to find a portion of their
rations escaping.
The canteen generally contained water, but there
were occasions when it did not contain water; per-
haps milk, if a cow could be found, and the finder
70 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-6$
chanced to be an expert milker, capable of milking
into the small mouth of a canteen. The haversack
was not a thing of beauty, nor was it ornamented,
especially after it had been in use during a consider-
able length of time. It was generally constructed of
heavy canvas, and of course after the greasy bacon
had been stored in it and carried on those long marches
in that broiling Dixie sun, and on dusty roads, it be-
came a slick-appearing object as the canvas became
saturated with grease from the bacon and then a coat
of dust adhered to it, which, after considerable wear
and several alternate coats of grease and dust, made
it as polished as a looking-glass. A story was circu-
lated during the war about some remarks that a south-
ern lady made when a number of our regiments were
passing. She said, " There are the proudest lot of
Yanks that I have seen. Every fellow has a looking-
glass hanging to him." She evidently mistook the
glossy haversacks for looking-glasses.
Now after marching all day loaded, as previously
described, the soldiers would receive orders to halt
and go into camp by the roadside in their order of
march. The camping place sometimes was in a mud-
dy cornfield or cottonfield, and other times in the
woods. After each regiment and company were as-
signed to a place to be occupied during the night, ar-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 71
rangements were made for the purpose of procuring
fuel and water, and if sticks could be found the proper
size the pup tents were erected, after which the boys
would proceed with the preparations for getting sup-
per, which were generally not very elaborate, as the
cooking utensils during a long march were few, con-
sisting of a tin cup, in which the coffee was boiled,
and a small branch of a tree fifteen or eighteen inches
in length and pointed at each end. One end was stuck
in the ground at an angle of about 45 degrees, and
a slice of bacon hung on the other end near enough to
the fire to make it broil and also make it palatable.
The coffee was next in order. The butt end of a gun
was substituted for a coffee mill on these occasions.
The coffee was boiled in a tin cup, or a very small
coffee pot if the soldier chanced to have one, until it
became strong enough to float an iron wedge (as the
boys termed it). When supper was ready they would
sit on the ground in small groups and gnaw at their
hardtack and bacon. If the weather happened to be
cool they would sit in a circle around a small camp-
fire and eat and talk until they became sleepy or taps
sounded for lights out. Then a sleeping place was
prepared. If their camping place was in a cornfield
a few cornstalks or other rubbish would be gathered
and placed on the ground for a bed, and when about
72 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
ready to retire they would perhaps be surprised by
the orderly who called their names for extra picket
duty, perhaps to go on outside picket. They go out
to their post of duty and perhaps about the time that
they are posted rain begins falling. A long, dreary
night is spent by watching for the enemy. Morning
dawns and the rain still continues falling. The men
are called in off their post of duty. When they ar-
rive in camp the bugle sounds to fall in ready to march.
Then another call forward when they begin their
march for the day without breakfast or making their
toilets. But after marching some distance hunger be-
gins to gnaw, and a few hardtack are found at which
they begin to nibble as they march. Hungry, sleepy,
and tired, they continue to march all day on the mud-
dy roads, while rain is pouring down, for $13 per month
for the purpose of perpetuating our glorious govern-
ment.
On the morning of Dec. 31 the memorable battle of
Stone River, or Murfreesboro, began. At daylight Gen.
Bragg, who was in command of the Confederates,
made a furious attack upon the right wing of the
Federal army, and drove it back, but at a fearful cost.
A temporary panic followed immediately on our right
wing, mostly among the army wagon teams and run-
away horses, and horses from which riders had been
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 73
shot. All these came rushing back at a furious rate.
I witnessed a portion of the above scene and have no
desire to see another like it. I well remember seeing
a six-mule team with army wagon attached running
at full speed over a rail fence, brush, rocks and logs.
At the same time I saw wounded soldiers covered with
blood, horses perhaps in a similar condition, all with
a mad rush making their way toward the rear. The
above was only a sample of other such scenes.
After the right was driven back the Confederates
concentrated their forces upon our center and the
right of the left, which were composed of Palmer's
and several other commands, who repulsed the Con-
federates with great loss. Our artillery swung into
line on the run, and poured forth its deadly missiles
into the enemy's ranks.
Nothing in war is more exciting than to see a bat-
tery go into action. It has been drilled incessantly
for months, perhaps years, for just such a crisis for
the moment when it can gallop directly into the very
hell of the battle and throw all of its terrific power in-
to a few minutes of awful work in deciding the con-
test. Day in and day out men and horses have been
unweariedly drilled for a few moments of intense ac-
tion at a critical time. Time and fatigue have been
disregarded, to train them thoroughly as parts of a
74
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 75
great machine of destruction. They have become such
integral parts that they go through their duties auto-
matically, as if they were second nature.
Nothing deranges the perfect operation of the ter-
rific machine. They will dash into the midst of the
fight, where the shells are spreading wild havoc and
the deadly rifle balls patter like rain, without a
thought of their surroundings, and open their vol-
cano on the enemy without making a blunder or miss-
ing a motion. A man is torn to fragments by a shell
and another instantly steps into his place; a horse is
shot down, he is immediately cut out and another
hitched in his place. The guns bellow uninterrupted-
ly, no matter what havoc the enemy's missiles are
creating around them. It is the grandest yet most
awful spectacle that war affords.
The Confederates made three or four desperate at-
temps to break this portion of our line, but failed and
were repulsed each time, and remained nearly all the
balance of the day under cover. During the day the
shattered divisions of the Union army from the right
were reorganized and were soon ready for action. The
day was now far spent and the firing about at an
end. The troops were mostly concealed in the woods
or behind knolls, so as to be out of reach of the enemy's
fire. Shortly before the sun disappeared in the west
76 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
I rode out into a small open space where my curi-
osity led me. Near by was a long line of infantry
lying behind the crest of a knoll flat on the ground.
When I was within a couple of rods of them two of
the men looked around at me and one of them said,
" You better get away from there." He had hardly
spoken the words when several bullets from Confed-
erate sharpshooters, who were concealed in a cedar
thicket, whizzed uncomfortably close to my ears, and
I took the hint, and in a very short space of time I was
out of sight in the woods, where a portion of our
troops were posted.
The day's battle was now ended and everything
seemed to be quiet along the lines. Darkness soon
settled down over the battlefield and we proceeded to
get something to eat. This was New Year's eve, and
the army held watch-night, but not in the same style
that we do at home. A good portion of the soldiers
slept upon their arms. I distinctly remember that
night, the moon shone brightly the fore part of the
night and all was quiet in our front. All that could
be heard was the rumbling of the ambulance wheels
rolling over the battlefield, hauling the wounded to
the hospital.
The morning of Jan. 1, 1863, dawned drearily upon
us, but before noon it cleared off and the sun shone
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
78 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
and Nature smiled lovingly upon the field of the pre-
vious day's carnage. The day passed without a gen-
eral engagement, but the lines of the army were being
reformed and preparations were made for another bat-
tle the following day.
The illustration is full of the spirit of war. It rep-
resents the lull which comes after one attack has been
repulsed before another is made. The men behind the
rude, hastily-constructed but quite formidable de-
fenses, are having a brief respite. They know that it
is only a respite, but are making the most of it. They
will get what comfort they can in the meanwhile. It
is probable they will be attacked again soon, but while
they are ready and willing to meet it they are borrow-
ing no trouble about it. They feel that they can re-
pulse it as certainly and easily as they did the other.
If the hour has any comfort in it they are going to
enjoy it. The squad of prisoners in the foreground
is very eloquent. It shows how the Confederate con-
scription was forcing into the ranks "all classes and
conditions of men."
The capture of prisoners had become so common a
thing that the squad hardly excites a ripple of interest
among the men. They hardly look up from their cook-
ing or their game to observe the new captures, who
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 79
simply go to swell the tens of thousands already in
our hands.
Jan. 2 opened with some firing along the line, and
late in the afternoon became a general engagement on
our left, which resulted in a complete defeat of the
Confederates. About the time that this battle of Jan.
2 fairly began, Lieut. John H. Shaw, of Co. C, 7th
Illinois Cavalry climbed a tall forest tree for the pur-
pose of locating the enemy and directing the firing of
our artillery, which he did with good success. And
while he was up in the tree, sitting upon a limb four or
five inches in diameter, viewing the enemy with a large
telescope, a cannon shot cut the limb off about 7 or
8 feet from where he was sitting. The Lieutenant told
me that it was quite a nervous shock to him, and he
scrambled down from that tree faster than he went
up.
During this engagement Gen. Palmer sent me on
an errand, and on the way I was obliged to pass
through a line of our artillery posted on the west bluff
of Stone River. On my return trip, when riding
through the line and within ten or fifteen feet of one
of the guns, I saw the axle cut from under it by a
shot from the enemy. The beautiful brass gun tumbled
to the ground. The battle was raging fiercely, causing
havoc all about. Shells were exploding and shrieking
80 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
through the air. Solid shot was plowing the earth
and throwing the ground in showers around us. it
seemed as if the whole Southern Confederacy had
broken loose upon that spot. Rifle and musket balls
were doing their share of execution also. After pass-
ing the line of guns I found myself among the artillery-
men and horses, where an alarming confusion was
found, caused by the fearful execution of the enemy's
fire, which appeared to be concentrated right on that
place. When near one of the artillerymen, on his
horse, I saw the upper part of his head disappear. A
cannon shot did the work, and he fell from his horse
a corpse. By what I have just mentioned the reader
can judge in regard to the condition of things during a
battle, as this was only a sample of many similar
scenes.
After extricating myself from the confused mass I
made my way back to headquarters and reported to
Gen. Palmer, and considered myself extremely fortu-
nate in running the gauntlet of the enemy's fire with-
out injury to myself or horse.
Soon after making my report to the General the fa-
mous charge took place across Stone River by Gen.
Negley's division and other troops. Negley's division
formed the principal part of the charge. The men waded
through water several feet deep, some of them waist
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
81
82 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
deep. A few were shot while wading and fell into the
water. The battle raged fiercely for a short time and
the Confederates were repulsed with great loss. Gen.
Rosecrans then ordered an advance and our soldiers
obeyed with a cheer. We soon heard continuous cheer-
ing, and the Confederates were routed and on the run.
Gen. Palmer was so elated over our success that he
fairly stood up in the stirrups of his saddle and said,
" The boys have got them on the run, the boys have
got them on the run," and swung his hat above his
head. " Pap Palmer," as he was called by some of
the men, was loved by his soldiers, and as a conse-
quence Palmer's division nearly always held its line
of battle, and did not know defeat.
The day was drawing to a close, and the Con-
federates were falling back, leaving the battlefield in
our possession. Thus ended the battle of Stone River.
Just as it was getting dusk the General and I rode
down across a portion of the field which had been
occupied by the Confederates during the heavy firing
from our artillery and musketry combined, and where
Breckenridge's corps lost 1,800 men in less than a half
hour. We found the ground strewn with their dead
so thickly that our horses could hardly pass through.
It was a fearful sight to behold. The battle of Stone
River proved to be a very hard-fought battle. The
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 83
Federal loss was about 9,700 killed and wounded, and
the Confederate about 10,000. The Federal army soon
afterward occupied Murfreesboro, going into camp
south and east of the town. The Confederacy had
received another blow, but at a fearful loss of life.
The Federal army was now being replenished with
ammunition and other supplies, and remained in this
vicinity during the winter months performing the
ordinary military duties. Gen. Hazen's brigade of
Palmer's division was camped 9 miles east of Murfrees-
boro on a high knob, where a signal station was
located, and we received messages by signals from this
station.
In the spring of 1863 Gen. Palmer moved his
headquarters and a part of his division five or six
miles east of Murfreesboro to Cripple Creek, where we
remained until the latter part of June.
The Execution of a Spy and Bounty- jumper.
While camping at Cripple Creek we witnessed the
execution of a spy and bounty-jumper.
The troops were drawn up in line on three sides of
an open field in military order and facing inward. The
criminal was escorted around on the inside of the
square passing in front of the troops, and his coffin
was carried in advance.
84 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
When the prisoner reached the open side of the
square or field he was halted and placed near his
coffin in a standing posture, blind-folded and shot to
death. The executing party was composed of eight
or ten soldiers (the exact number I have forgotten).
Their guns were loaded by outside parties in order
that the executioners could not know which of them
fired the fatal shots, as one-half of the guns were
loaded with powder only.
On June 24 we again took up the line of march in
pursuit of the enemy. It was then reported that Gen.
Bragg, in command of the Confederate army, would
offer battle at Tullahoma, Tenn., but he failed to do so,
retreating in the direction of Chattanooga, south of
the Tennesee River. On these marches we experienced
much rainy weather, during which I had some ex-
perience of sleeping on a rail during a very rainy night.
Three or four rails were used under me with some
rubbish on top of them. My saddle for a pillow, rub-
ber blanket for a cover, and hat over my face. This
rail bed kept my body out of the water.
Part of our army, including Gen. Palmer's command,
moved southward, and when it was found that the
Confederates were crossing the Tennesse River Palm-
er's division went into camp at Manchester, Tenn.,
where it remained about a month. At the battle of
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 85
Sleeping 1 on a Rail.
Stone River, as the regiments of our division were
about to be attacked by the enemy, Gen. Palmer rode
along the line to speak words of encouragement to
the men, and when he came to the 6th Kentucky he
said : " Sixth Kentucky, you have work to do, stand
up to them and you may steal for six months." This
last sentence was spoken in a sort of joking manner.
But some of the boys had not forgotten it nearly six
months later. When on the march from Cripple Creek
86 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65
toward Tullahoma, and rations were scarce, one even-
ing before they went into camp many of the men
dropped out of ranks for the purpose of foraging, which
was contrary to orders. Soon after camp guard was
established the General gave orders ta the captain of
the guards to arrest all foragers as fast as they came in
and escort them to his headquarters. They soon be-
gan to arrive, some loaded with fresh beef, others with
dressed hog, calf, and other articles of food. As fast
as they arrived, the General ordered them to lay their
meat on a pile near his tent, and afterward ordered it
to be divided by the commissary. Among these for-
agers was a very small man, a German, belonging to
the 6th Kentucky, who was brought in sweating,
loaded down with the half of a hog. At the General's
orders he threw his load down on the pile, and the
General said to him : " Who gave you leave to break
ranks and go out and steal?" "You did," he said.
The General replied : " You lying rascal, I never
authorized you to steal." The man again said, " You
did." A crowd of the boys were standing around en-
joying the scene. The General then said : " When did
I authorize you to steal? " He replied: "At the battle
of Stone River you ride up and you say, ' Stand up to
them, 6th Kentucky, and you may steal for six months/
and the time is not up, we have one more day." The
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 87
General then remembered the occasion and the crowd
roared with laughter. The next man interviewed by
the General belonged to the 41st Ohio. He had the
half of a calf he had found and killed. The General told
him to throw his meat down on the heap, and he did
so. He stood very respectfully for a few minutes and
then said : " General, aren't you going to let me have
my meat?" He replied: "No, you break ranks and
go out and rob the people and expect to have the re-
sult of your robbery?" Soon the tears ran down the
man's cheeks. The General said to him : " You great
overgrown booby, are you crying about a thing of this
kind?" The man replied: " General, I have had noth-
ing to eat since yesterday morning." His orderly ser-
geant was sent for \,ho confirmed the statement. Gen.
Palmer gave him his veal and some salt, and then
said : " My authority has been subverted, I have been
laughed out of the hog and cried out of the calf."
In the fore part of August Gen. Palmer with his
division moved eastward and crossed the Cumber-
land Mountains into Sequatchie valley, where we
spent a number of days in slowly moving down the
valley toward Chattanooga, striking the Tennessee
River west of the city, where we arrived about Sept. 1.
On these marches I often slept in my pup tent, or with-
out any shelter.
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
Pup Tents.
A few of us crossed the river in a canoe, leading our
horses, who swam along beside us, there being no
bridge or ferry at this place. I do not remember at
what places the army crossed, but they probably
crossed somewhere on a pontoon bridge, or ferry, con-
structed by themselves. I think they found a cross-
ing at a place called Shellmound. We had not been
on the south side of the river very long before we saw
the brigades of Gen. Palmer's division also on that
side.
We were now in the vicinity of Lookout Mountain,
where a portion of us camped and remained a day or
two. A part of the army went up on top of the moun-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 89
tain, the summit of which is 1,700 feet above the
Tennessee River. It appeared to me almost perpen-
dicular at the end next the river, there being just
room enough between the mountain and the river for
the railroad and wagon road. When Palmer's division
began ascending the mountain, Lieut. Shaw and my-
self were sent on an errand by the General, going by
a circuitous route, and were obliged to climb the north
side of the mountain, following a footpath. We dis-
mounted and led our horses, having hard work to get
the animals up. After accomplishing this difficult feat
of climbing the steep mountain-side we found the Gen-
eral and his troops already there. We marched east-
ward to the end of the mountain, where I walked out
on a projecting rock.
A small town named Summertown, or Summerville,
was here entered, and the road extended down the
mountain on the south side, on which the troops de-
scended. We were then within three miles of Chatta-
nooga, and again moved forward in a southerly direc-
tion, or rather a southeasterly direction, leaving the
town to our left, and went into camp a short distance
from Rossville, Sept. 9, and the following day moved
forward as usual in a southeasterly direction. We
found that the city had been evacuated by the Con-
federates. On our way between Chattanooga and
90 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
A Projecting Rock on Lookout Mountain.
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 91
Ringgold, Ga., we found a patch of the finest sweet
potatoes I ever saw. Whenever I hear the song,
" Marching through Georgia," containing the lines,
" How the turkeys gobbled, which our commissary found,
How the sweet potatoes even started from the ground,"
I am reminded of that sweet potato patch away down
in Georgia.
We were getting in the vicinity of the enemy again,
and now moved forward in a southerly direction but
without encountering the enemy in large force until
after passing Ringgold, Ga. I distinctly remember
camping there one night, only a few days prior to the
battle of Chickamauga. While there some of the Co.
C boys got into a drug store, which seemingly had
been abandoned, where they procured something to
drink that was stronger than water; so much so that
several of them became intoxicated. They were quite
hilarious, and one of them became almost sick in con-
sequence, and another, who also had unwisely im-
bibed, procured a bottle of medicine from the store
with which he tried to treat the man, whom he claimed
as his patient, and who was lying down. He opened
the bottle and tried to pour some of its contents into
the mouth of his patient, who refused to swallow, and
soon his face was besmeared with the stuff, which
was as black as tar. His face presented a ridiculous
92 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
spectacle. The division surgeon was sent for, and was
told to hurry up as we had a very sick man in our
camp. He soon arrived, and found the man lying on
a blanket with his eyes closed, his face being rather
pale excepting where it was besmeared with the black
tarry medicine, and presenting a comical appearance.
The doctor made a brief examination of the patient,
stepped back and smiled, saying to the boys, "The
man will be all right in the morning," and rode away.
The following day we went in the direction of Lee
and Gordon's Mills, Crawfish Springs, and the upper
Chickamauga. We remained in this vicinity a few
days, watching and skirmishing with the enemy, then
retraced our steps, going slowly in the direction of
Chattanooga. Some firing continued with the enemy,
which was Sept. 17 and 18. By that time Rosecrans'
army was concentrated on the north bank of Chicka-
mauga Creek and the skirmishing became more gen-
eral.
CHAPTER VII.
Beginning of the Battle of Chickamauga.
Major General Rosecrans commanded the Army of
the Cumberland at the battle of Stone River and al-
so at Chickamauga. What I saw of Gen. Rosecrans,
and also what I learned about him otherwise, con-
vinced me that he was brave in battle, and capable in
command of a small army, and patriotic. But he
possessed a passionate gallantry, which we saw dis-
played on battlefields by a few of our generals. A
commander possessing these qualities will generally
become easily discouraged, and relinquish a contested
battlefield with but slight occasion for doing so.
Brig. Gen. Hazen commanded a brigade in Palmer's
division. I delivered messages at his headquarters
often, during a period of more than a year, and had
an opportunity to learn his character to some extent.
I considered him to be a fine soldier and a gentleman.
He was always at his post of duty, and enforced dis-
cipline with his soldiers, and was always ready to see
that they were properly supplied with rations, cloth-
ing, and everything they were entitled to.
Col. William Grose commanded a brigade in Gen.
94 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
HAZEMS BRIGADE.
PALMERS DIVISION -CHITTENOENS CORPS.
BRIG. GEN. WILLIAM B. HAZEN.
|'".T POSITION
9TH INDIANA COL ISAAC C. B SUMAN
STH KENTUCKY- -COL. GEORGE T. SHACKLEFORO
LIEUT. COL RICHARD ROCKINGHAM
MAJ RICHARD T WHITAKER
41ST UHID COL AQUILA WILEY
I24TH OH i a _ COL OLIVER H PAYNE MAJ. JAMES B HAMPSON
BATTERY F. 1ST OHIO. LIEUT GILES J. COCKERILL.
(SEPT 19, 1863. 12 30 H M)
rnr BBIGAOE WENT IN o ACTION ON THIS GHOUND.BEING THC LEFT or PALMER'S
LTiviMON. WITH CRUFT'S BRIGADE ON ITS RIGHT. THF LINE ADVANCE a m ECHELON OF
aair.Aots HAZEN'S BEADING. IT ENCOUNTERED TROOPS OF CHEAT* AM s DIVISION AND
fOUGHT ITS WAV STEADILY FORWARD TO THE MIDDLE OF THE BROCK FIELD
THERE IT WAS RELIEVED ABOUT 3 O'CLOCK evTuRCHm's BRIGADE AND WITHDREW
TO THE VICINITY OF THE POE MOUSE FOR AMMUNITION.
FROM THE LATTER POINT A PORTION OF THE BRIGADE WAS SENT TO THE AS-
SISTANCE OF VAN CLFVE'S DIVISION NFAH THE BKOTHEHTON Housr.Am THF REMAINING
HUHTION WAS RALLIED TO THC SUPPORT OF THE GUNS FORMED CMAGllNALLY ACROSS
Tur LaFivf TTF no/>o T rur NORTH LINE or TMF l 'nt .
Hazen's Brigade.
'o GROSES BRlGAQt
PALMERS DIVISION- CRITTILNGEN S CORPS
001. . WILLIAM UROSe
..I -1ST Pul,,-.,
84TMILLINOIS-COL LOUIS H WtfTFRS
36rn INDIANA- MAJ Giu'j ; ' THUSLE.R
aao KENTUCKY- LIEUT, c -.i. JAME=I c rot
fc^nOHIO-MAJ. SAMUE1 C Eft" ,N
24TOHIO-COL.DAV.O J M.Q^.iMJ
THU S.AR7ULERY. BATTERY H LIEUT, HARHt C CUSMIHG
'HU.s.AHTn.t.Efir BATTERY M LIEUT FRANCIS L o RUSSS
Grose's Brigade.
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
95
Palmer's division. I delivered messages to Col. Grose
as often as I did to Gen. Hazen, and had as much op-
portunity of studying his character. I considered him
to be a gentleman, and a good and patriotic soldier.
He did not enforce discipline as readily as Gen. Hazen,
but held his command fairly well in hand.
No.9. CRUFTS BRIGADE. u
PALMER'S DIVISION- CRITTENOEN'S CORPS.
BRIG GEN CHARLES CRUFT
SEPT 20. 1863 - IMPOSITION.
3isr INDIANA COL JOHN T. SMITH
I<-T KENTUCKY- LIEUT COL ALVA R HADLOCK
2c KENTUCK r COL THOMAS D SEDGEWICK
9OTHOHIO COL CHARLES H PUPPET.
ISTOHIO LIGHT. BATTERY B LIEUT NORMAN A BALDWIN.
4E BRIGADE AS THE :cr r or PALMER'S DIVIS-ON WAS FORKED ON THIS GROUND DURING im
MCNTOF S^PT. J9rt. WITH THE BATTERY ON THE MGHT OF THE FIRST LINE. THE 31n IMOIANA OH ITS
LEFT TNE 2o KENTUCKY BEINS THE LEFT Or TE FRONT LINE THE SECOND LINE WHICH RtutVED
THCRCCIMENTS IN FRONT ABOUT II A.M.. CONSISTED OF THE 9On.OIO ANOTME ItiKtNTUCKY.
T*E BRIGADE WAS SO STRONGLY PROTECTED BY LOG WORKS THAT NOT AN ENLIS1EO MAN WAS
KILLED AND BUT FEW WOUNDED WHILE OCCUPYING THEM. TiE ATTACKS MADE BY 1HE ENEMY UP
on ITS RIGHT w/.s SENT TO SNOOCRASS HILL. AND THE SECOND LINE or CRUFT'S BRJCADC TOOK ITS
PLACF. AT 5.12P.M. IT WAS ORDERED TO WITHDRAW ACROSS THE KELLY FIILO.
THE BRIGADE MOVED IN COLUMN or REGIMENTS AT LONG INTERVALS. ENCOUNTERING AVCHV
SCVERC ARTILLERY FlRE FOM BOTH FLANKS. BUT CUFFEI INC LITTLE LOSS. UPOM CROSSmC, THE
'.4FYtrTE ROAD THE BRIGADE PROCEEDED TO RorSVILLE. STHEN1.TH IN ACTION StPT. 19fM.
_'!OB OFFICERS AND MEN. CASUALTIES' KILLE9 24; WOUNDED 213. CAPTUPEO OF. 'AlSSltlG S3
TOTAL 290. PERCENTAGE CF LOSS. 20. -fl.
Croft's Brigade.
Brig. Gen. Cruft also commanded a brigade in Pal-
mer's division, and I delivered messages to him the
same as I did to Gen. Hazen and Col. Grose, and
learned his character about as well as I did theirs. I
formed a good opinion of Gen. Cruft. He appeared
96 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
to me as very kindly, and pleasant to his companions.
He apparently knew his duty and did it.
Sept. 19, 1863, dawned with the enemy in close prox-
imity, and apparently moving toward our left, threat-
ening- to cut our communications with Chattanooga.
During the day heavy fighting occurred along dif-
ferent parts of the line. Of course we also moved
toward our left which was in danger of being flanked
by the enemy. By the evening of the 19th the battle
was well under way, and during the night many
changes were made in our lines. Gen. Palmer's di-
vision took position in the woods, on a long, low ridge
extending north and south, and a short distance east
from the famous Kelly field (perhaps twelve or fifteen
rods), which also extended north and south.
Accompanying is a photograph taken in 1907, faintly
showing the position occupied by Gen. Palmer's di-
vision at Chickamauga on Sept. 20, 1863, with Rey-
nolds' division on his right, and Baird's and Johnson's
on his left. The line is marked by monuments, show-
ing the place occupied by each regiment. But the
monuments do not appear distinctly in this photo-
graph, on account of its having been greatly reduced
in size. The above battle line extends parallel with
the east line of the Kelly field and faces to the east.
Near the southeast corner of the field can be seen a
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 97
Photograph of Kelly Pield East Side.
98 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
pyramid of cannon balls, which marks the spot where
Col. E. A. King, commanding a brigade in Reynolds'
division, was killed, Sept. 20.
I closely inspected this part of the battlefield in
September, 1906, and found its location almost exactly
as I remembered it from 1863.
During the night of Sept. 19, 1863, a line of tem-
porary defenses was constructed with old logs, trees
and stones, or anything that would answer the pur-
pose. These breastworks were from two to three feet
in height, making very good protection for the in-
fantry while they were lying down.
During the morning, when the battle was momen-
tarily expected to open, Gen. Palmer was standing in
rear of the temporary defenses, inspecting them, and
the infantry were lying on the ground behind them
awaiting the attack, when some of them were peering
over the top of a log which composed the upper portion
of the defenses looking in the direction of the enemy,
trying to discover their position. Everything was as
still as death, when an enemy's bullet struck the log,
knocking off a large spinter and sending it whizzing
through the air. The General, seeing what happened,
cried out, " Down with your head, my man, you have
got only one head and you may want to use that in a
minute." In an instant several more bullets came over,
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, *6l-'65 99
passing- through the folds of the General's pants. One
of the boys seeing what took place looked at the Gen-
eral and said : " General, down with your legs, you
have only one pair of them and you may want to use
them in a minute." In an instant all was confusion,
and the bullets were coming over almost as thick as
hail, and I think there was use for heads and legs.
During the evening of the 19th, as the members of
Co. C were sitting around a small fire, Lieut. Shaw
made the remark : " Boys, tomorrow will be the
hardest fought battle that we have seen " ; which sub-
sequently proved to be true. One of the members,
named William Buchan, folded his arms and said in
a sort of joking way : " I wish I was at home with
mother." Poor boy, it would have been well for him
if he had been there, for he was hit. by a shot the fol-
lowing day while serving as orderly for Lieut. Shaw,
and lived only a short time. When he was struck
they were obliged to retreat, with the enemy not far
away. They halted, took him from his horse, laid
him down, and the brave boy spoke and said : " Lieu-
tenant, go on or you will be captured; do not stop for
me, in a few minutes I will be done." He then shook
hands, saying, " Tell Scudder (my chum) to tell my
folks how I died."
This incident about Buchan I did not witness, but
100 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
it was related to me later on by my comrades of Co.
C. Comrade Buchan was a sample of whom the ma-
jority of the army was composed. Dear reader, think
of the unselfish patriotism displayed by him in his
dying hour. He was willing to be left alone on a
dreary battlefield to die, in order that his comrades
might escape capture and therefore be able to assist
in the restoration of the Union, that future genera-
tions, in fact all mankind, might enjoy the blessings
resulting from a united country and the best and most
righteous government on earth.
About two months later, after the Federal army had
been reinforced and the enemy driven back, a large
party of Federal troops, including some of Co. C, went
out to the battlefield of Chickamauga to bury the
dead who had been left there unburied after the bat-
tle. I was informed that they found more than one
thousand unburied bodies. A number of members of
Co. C proceeded to the portion of the battlefield where
they had left Buchan at the time he was killed, and
there found his remains. There was not much re-
maining except the skeleton, but they identified him
by his curly hair, and a certain peculiar ring on his
finger, which was removed and sent home to his folks.
The boys removed and buried him, and marked his
grave. Later his remains were removed to the Na-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 101
tional Cemetery near Chattanooga, Tenn., which I
visited in September, 1906, and with a kodak photo-
graphed the grave, which is shown in the illustration.
He was a good boy and loved by all. On the day
that the remains of Buchan were found and buried
by the Co. C boys, many sad scenes were discovered
by them on the battlefield of Chickamauga, which bat-
tle was fought two months previous. The marks of
the fearful strife were yet visible. Here and there
were lines of hastily-constructed defenses, the ground
was strewn with knapsacks, fragments of harness,
haversacks, canteens, pieces of clothing, tin plates,
bullet-pierced, round shot and' unexploded shell. And
there were also found straps., cartridge boxes, old
socks, old shoes, letters rotting on the decaying bodies
of once brave soldiers, all sad signs and telling their
silent story of the great fight at Chickamauga. What
a crowd of sorrowful memories ! Where is the soldier
who wore that belt? Where the one who wore those
shoes? Is he cold in death? If so what eyes have
been dimmed with tears at his sad fate? What hopes
have been destroyed, what affections crushed, what
hearts wrung with anguish never more to brighten?
But sadder sights than the above were discovered by
our boys as they moved over the battlefield. The un-
buried remains of hundreds of Union soldiers lay full
102 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
William Buchan's Grave.
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 103
length here and there, and again some had been part-
ly buried, and others so slightly covered with earth
that they were rooted out by the swine and lay scat-
tered about in promiscuous heaps. And another sight
was beheld. A deep well was discovered,. filled to the
surface with Union soldiers. Fellow citizens, do we
appreciate what we enjoy, which has been secured by
such sacrifices?
Soon after the time that Buchan was killed by the
enemy's shot I was inside of the line of the Confeder-
ate army looking for a place to escape. Sept. 20, 1863,
was a day which will remain fresh in my memory as
long as I live, on account of its terrible battles, the
loss of William Buchan and many others, and myself
being made a prisoner of war. The battle in our front
began in the morning about nine o'clock, and raged
fiercely at intervals during nearly the whole day and
along Snodgrass Hill until after dark. The Con-
federates charged Palmer's front repeatedly, but were
as often repulsed. Some parts of the Union lines were
broken by the enemy during the day and our pros-
pects for success appeared rather discouraging.
On one occasion during the forenoon, when the
Confederates charged on Palmer's and Baird's posi-
tions, they approached so near that those in advance
came inside of our temporary defenses and were made
104 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 105
prisoners. I well remember seeing them after their
surrender.
The Confederate loss in our front was fearful, be-
cause whenever they came in sight our artillery poured
forth grape and canister, which literally mowed swaths
through their ranks. And if they approached within
rifle or musket range, a dazzling sheet of flame would
burst forth from our long lines of infantry.
This each time compelled them to fall back in dis-
order. During the day, while Gen. Palmer and my-
self were riding from one part of the line to another,
his horse was struck just over one eye by a bullet,
which stunned him and he fell to the ground. The
General, being in a hurry to reach another part of our
line, asked me to let him ride my horse, to which I
consented and remained with his, which soon re-
covered, regained his feet, and apparently was all
right again. The General returned and gave me my
horse, and we mounted and rode away to another
part of the line, where he wished to give some direc-
tions. We remained here for some time to watch the
progress of the next attack, which was looked for soon
to come. The infantry were lying behind their low
breastworks, and the gunners of the artillery were
alert near their guns awaiting the attack. The Gen-
eral had just dismounted in rear of the line of battle,
106 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
and I was on my horse near by waiting for orders,
when the enemy made another terrific movement on
our line. Immediately our artillery bellowed with a
deafening- roar, sending forth its terrible missiles of
destruction among the enemy, who when coming
within rifle range received also the fire from our in-
fantry, from whose long lines burst forth a sheet of
flame ; and the Confederates were repulsed with heavy
loss. Their bullets came over at a fearful rate; at
times it seemed as though they came as thick as if one
would take a handful of shelled corn and scatter it
broadcast. The roar of firearms from friend and foe
was deafening, and it seemed as if the earth trembled
beneath our feet.
The General was standing, talking to some of the
officers. He turned toward me, saying : " Eby, you
should not expose yourself unnecessarily. You would
better dismount and step behind a tree while you are
waiting for orders." I immediately obeyed the Gen-
eral's suggestion with a good will. It was now some
time after noon, but we had not stopped for dinner,
as there seemed to be some objections on the other
side. The firing in our front ceased at times, but we
could hear the incessant roar of musketry and artillery
off at our right and rear, we being on the left. It
seemed to move off farther and farther, until it sounded
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 107
as though it were a mile away. Then in a few mo-
ments it would begin again nearer to us, and again
roll off gradually in the distance. And now after
these forty-five years of time have passed when I think-
about it I imagine that I can hear that same roar of
firearms.
Thus the afternoon wore slowly away, we occasional-
ly receiving some news from other parts of the army
in regard to the progress of the battle, sometimes
favorable and at other times unfavorable. I well re-
member when the news came that Gen. Granger's re-
serve corps was coming to assist us. We felt very
much encouraged and felt like cheering with per-
haps many others. During the day, the exact time I
do not remember, the General with part of his staff
(including myself) was riding down the line quite a
distance when we met several generals, among them
Major Gen. Thomas.
They halted and so did we. The generals immedi-
ately began talking very briskly, and seemed to be
holding a council of war. I well remember Gen.
Thomas. During their conversation I noticed by
their manner that something was not going right in
regard to the battle, as Gen. Thomas shook his head
several times in a way that indicated trouble. After
the generals finished their talk they rode away to their
respective commands.
108 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 109
Sept. 16 ,1896.
Henry H.Eby:-
Mandotta, Illinois.
My dear Eby:-
Am obliged to you. for your letter of the llth
and for the clip you furnished me containing the names of the
old comrades who were present at the Re-union and who answered
t& roll call. I trust you tendered all who assembled my kind
e.st regards.
Yours truly,
110 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
Eastern Slope of Snodgrass Hill, Chickamauffa.
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 111
General Thomas was a model of good and noble
character, who solicited no praise for himself and was
sparing of praise to others. He declined all the numer-
ous gifts of houses, lands, money and bonds tendered
him by his grateful countrymen. When he declined
gifts offered to himself, he urged his proposed bene-
factors to provide out of their abundance for the wants
of the widows and orphans of those who died
for their country. General Thomas was one of
the most resolute men. He did not possess
the passionate gallantry that we have often
seen displayed on fields of battle, but his sure-footed,
reliable judgment did not allow him to fall into a mis-
take. The victories he won speak louder than words.
After returning to our division I saw a fine horse
lying upon the ground dead with its head almost
severed from the body. We were informed that it
belonged to Gen. Cruft, who commanded a brigade in
Palmer's division. The horse had been struck by a
cannon shot.
Late in the afternoon the heaviest firing seemed to
be shifting toward that part of the line of battle ad-
jacent to Snodgrass Hill, where the enemy was con-
centrating its best forces, trying hard to turn our right
flank and get possession of the road leading to Chatta-
nooga. They could thereby sever our communications
112 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
Snodgrass Hill, with Stable.
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 113
with the latter place and the North, and they came
very near accomplishing their object. Tliey attacked
Gen. Thomas' line repeatedly and as often were re-
pulsed with heavy loss, Gen. Thomas holding his po-
sition.
The battlefield of Chickamanga is now owned by
the United States Government. Monuments have
been erected marking the places where each command
was stationed during the battle, and cannon are in
position in the same places where the cannon of the
opposing forces stood during the battle. The above
illustration, made from a photograph taken by the
author in 1906, represents a portion of Snodgrass Hill
(which was occupied by Federal troops during Sept.
20, 1863), showing the old Snodgrass log stable partly
fallen down, and also one large tree which was shot
nearly to pieces by the Confederate artillery during
the battle of Sept.- 20, 1863. As can be seen in the il-
lustration, the limbs of the large tree were nearly all
cut off by the Confederate cannon shot. Their guns
being located down in the valley they were obliged
to elevate them when firing, and the tree being quite
a distance back on the summit, as a consequence they
could hit the tree only on its upper portion. The tree
is dead and apparently has been since the battle, or
at least has been for a number of years.
114 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
Portrait' of Gen. Thomas.
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 115
The tree standing near the stable was alive when
photographed, in 1906. Its top was entirely cut off
during the battle, but it remained alive and formed
a new top, as shown in the illustration. The Federal
troops occupied Snodgrass Hill until the battle ended
in the evening of Sept. 20, 1863.
The last desperate effort to dislodge Gen. Thomas'
command was made by the Confederates just at night-
fall, and they were repulsed with the usual result.
They then ceased the combat and withdrew their
forces. The road to Chattanooga remained in pos-
session of the Federals. Gen. Thomas then also with-
drew his troops from the battlefield to Rossville,
several miles in the rear, where they remained until
Sept. 22, when they leisurely marched into Chatta-
nooga. Thus closed the fearful battle of Chickamauga.
The enemy's loss according to reports was about 19,-
000 killed and .wounded. The Federal loss was
about 16,000. It is claimed by many that the great
battle of Chickamauga was a victory for the Con-
federates, but I think differently. Chattanooga was
the objective point in this campaign. The armies met
ten or twelve miles south of the place, where a gen-
eral engagement occurred for the possession of the
city, in which the Confederate loss in men was great-
er than the Federal. The Confederates gained pos-
116
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
session of the battlefield, but ceased the combat be-
fore the Federal army vacated its last line of battle.
The Federals took a new position several miles to
the rear, near Rossville, which they occupied until
Sept. 22 without being- molested by the Confederates
Trading 1 Between Lines.
during the 21st and 22nd, then took possession of
Chattanooga and held it.
It was immaterial whether the fighting for the pos-
session of Chattanooga occurred ten miles away, or
within a mile or two of the city. The Federal army
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 117
accomplished its object at the battle of Chickamauga.
The Confederates gained nothing that was of any ben-
efit to them, but lost several thousand good soldiers
in excess of the Federal loss.
This picture represents a scene which lives in many
a veteran's memory. A truce to the murderous picket
firing has been established, and the men have met to
exchange the things they may have for others that
they want more. The rebels bring tobacco, rebel
newspapers, and sometimes corn-bread and fresh meat,
but mainly tobacco. The Union soldiers bring coffee,
hardtack, papers, knives, combs and similar articles,
but mainly coffee. The rebels wanted many things
which were plentiful enough in the Union camps, but
they wanted coffee more than anything else. They
and their " women folks " seemed half crazy for
" Yankee coffee." They would swap anything except
their muskets for it. A pound of Yankee coffee was
the most acceptable present one of them could send
back home to his mother or sweetheart. It was not
often that one of them had the self-denial to do this.
He wanted it too badly himself. From the way the
Union soldier in the foreground is displaying his stock
of coffee, he must be expecting to buy up everything
the Confederates had in that section of the country.
118 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
The Historic Balm of Gilead
Johnson Farm, Waterloo, N. Y.
T EAV1NG his scythe hanging in this tree Wyman J. John-
-* * son enlisted and was mustered into service at Elmira,
N. Y., November 15, 1861; and became member of Company
G, of the 85th N. Y. Volunteers. He served in 15 engage-
ments; was promoted to Fourth Sergeant April 13, 1863;
was wounded at New Burn, N. C, and died in the hospital,
Raleigh, N. C., May 22, 1864.
The young sapling has now grown to be a massive tree,
enveloping nearly all of the scythe, and becoming indeed, a
living monument of the dead.
CHAPTER VIII.
My Capture by the Confederates.
I was made a prisoner of war at the close of the bat-
tle of Chickamauga, Ga., Sept. 20, 1863. Being a
mounted orderly on Gen. Palmer's staff, my duties
were to go where ordered, carrying messages from one
part of the army to another. Gen. Palmer's division
held its position during the last day of the battle, and
just about the time that the battle closed, which was
near the close of the day, it was withdrawn. A short
time before its withdrawal Gen. Palmer and staff, in-
cluding myself and two other members of Co. C, rode
away from the line of battle across the Kelly field
toward the woods beyond. But before reaching the
woods we came to an old-fashioned rail fence, and
just as the fence was reached a heavy artillery fire
was opened upon us. As near as I could ascertain it
came from the extreme left of our army, some dis-
tance north of the Kelly field, beyond a patch of open
woods, where I saw the smoke roll up from some can-
non about a quarter of a mile away. The shots struck
nearly lengthwise of the fence, cutting and splinter-
ing the rails and throwing the pieces about us in
120 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
every direction, frightening our horses so that we were
prevented from crossing the fence as soon as we de-
sired.
I had no objection to rails but preferred to have
them remain in the fence. The General and staff
managed to cross the fence in advance just about the
time that the battery opened fire upon us, and rode
into the woods, where we lost sight of them. Two
other comrades and myself were yet at the fence, try-
ing to cross and follow the rest of the group, which
was our duty to do. We finally succeeded, and also
rode into the woods in search of the General but he
had gained some distance on us and we failed to find
him. We continued the search until, becoming some-
what discouraged and night closing in upon us, we
stopped and held a council of war as it was called,
trying to determine in which direction to go in order
to find the General or his division, but we failed to
agree. My proposition was to go in the direction
where our division (Palmer's) was located during the
day, thinking that we would find it and by this means
also find the whereabouts of the General, I being un-
aware that the troops had been withdrawn from their
position. My two comrades started off in a different
direction from the one taken by myself, and reached
the Union lines in safety. I went in the direction in
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
121
122 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
which I expected to find Palmer's division, thinking
that I would be all right. After riding through the
woods a short distance I came to a deep ravine, and
after passing down into it I found many wounded
soldiers, who called to me asking for water, which
I was unable to give them, as my canteen was empty,
I having been without water nearly all day myself,
and did not know where to find any. This was a try-
ing time for me, as I heard these poor wounded com-
rades groaning and calling to me for help, which I
was unable to give. I rode up the opposite bank of
the ravine and some distance beyond. It had now
become quite dark, and I soon arrived at the place
where I expected to find Palmer's troops, and sud-
denly came to a long line of stacked guns, which
could be seen by the aid of some small camp-fires be-
yond, and on approaching them saw some men be-
tween myself and the fire, near the guns. Some were
standing, some sitting and others lying on the ground.
These I thought might belong to Palmer's division.
Riding up close to them I asked one of the men the
number of his regiment. He replied " The 16th Miss-
issippi." He of course had not discovered that I was
a Federal. I was a little doubtful in regard to these
troops. Thinking that there might be some mis-
understanding between us I rode down the line a short
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 123
distance and inquired again. The answer came " This
is the 20th Louisiana." I was then satisfied that they
were Confederate troops, but they had not yet identi-
fied me and perhaps thought that I was a Confederate.
As the fires beyond the line of guns were not suf-
ficient by which to distinguish my uniform, I still
had hopes of reaching our lines in safety. I saw some
small fires in different directions which apparently
had just been started. As I subsequently learned I
was now inside the main line of the Confederate army.
My opinion was that the Federal troops had with-
drawn from their* position during the evening and
these Confederates had come in there and stacked
arms. The next thing for me to do was to contrive
some plan to make my escape from inside the enemy's
lines. The first thing I thought of was to get away
from these troops before some of them would identi-
fy me. I immediately rode away, perhaps fifteen or
twenty rods, thinking that I might escape unnoticed.
While riding through the woods without a friend ex-
cept my faithful horse (that had done good service
for Uncle Sam for two years), I thought of many
things in a few seconds. A difficult task was before
me (that of reaching the Union lines in safety). One
great difficulty was that I did not know in which di-
rection to go. It being nighttime I was unable to
124 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-6$
see distinctly what was before me and my reader can
imagine my predicament. As I proceeded on farther
a voice near me called out " Halt ! " which I obeyed.
I was able to see some object just ahead of my horse,
but was unable to tell what it was. In a few seconds
I discovered two men near my horse's head. One
called out, " Surrender, here, get off your horse " ;
which I proceeded to do, as they had the muzzles of
their guns uncomfortably close to my face. And now
my goose was cooked.
I never obeyed orders more promptly, and did not
stop to argue the case with them noV ask whether their
guns were loaded. By the light of a few fires which
had been started in the vicinity, these Confederates
were enabled to identify me by my uniform, and I
could also distinguish them as we were now so near
together. The Confederates could see me more dis-
tinctly than I could them on account of my being on
a horse and they on the ground. There was not the
smallest chance to escape, as I now found myself sur-
rounded by quite a number of the enemy, about ten
to one. The two Confederates who captured me quar-
reled, each claiming my sabre and revolver. My sabre
was one we had captured from a Confederate lieutenant
at the battle of Stone River, and was a beauty.
Little did I care which one got them, I was a
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 125
126 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
prisoner of war under guard and obliged to comply
with all orders, no matter what they were. I cannot
describe the state of my mind just then, but guess I
felt some like the boy, after getting a good whipping
which he did not deserve, very despondent. In a few
moments I was conducted under guard to some com-
missioned officer's headquarters for inspection. Be-
fore starting I took my pup tent from my saddle, hung
it over my shoulder, and bade good-bye to my faith-
ful horse, rubbing my hand down over her honest face
as we parted. But now at our final separation came
over me a more piercing sense of the loss of my honest
four-footed friend, that was always so willing and
ready to do her duty. We had endured together the
perils of the battle, the scout, the outpost picket, and
the skirmish ; also the hardships of the march through
mud and slush, the courier service, and many gripings
of hunger which we had shared together. Now at last
our paths separated, I was retired from actual serv-
ice to become a prisoner, and she bore her new rider
away to battle against her old friends. It was a sad
parting.
We immediately started and marched some distance
through the woods to the headquarters of an officer.
I judged him to be a colonel or a brigadier general, who
asked a number of questions and called me such
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 127
names as are not to be found in a dictionary, and caused
me to think that he was not very polite in speech.
One question I distinctly remember was, " What did
you come down here for and what are you doing here?''
I said, "To lick you folks into the Union." He re-
plied, " That is a h 1 of a way," and appeared as
cross as a bear with a sore head. But I thought that
he was excusable, because they had suffered severely
along this part of their line which was in front of
Palmer's, Reynolds', Baird's and Johnson's divisions.
Judging by what I could see and hear during the even-
ing after my capture, I was convinced that the Con-
federates were severely punished in front of our part
of the army.
When this sauce-box had gotten through with me,
I was conducted a short distance farther where five
more of my comrades in misfortune were met, who
had been captured during the day and were fellow
prisoners with me. We were here allowed to rest
but not to eat or drink, for good reasons. It was now
between eight and nine o'clock in the evening of Sept.
20, and there was a little time for reflection. I felt
a trifle hungry and very thirsty, having had neither
dinner nor supper, and no water all day. The dust,
smoke and heat, combined, made me feel as though
I was about perishing. I turned my attention to my
128 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
haversack and found it as flat as a pancake, contain-
ing only a few crumbs of hardtack which remained
after a scanty breakfast. After eating those, which
amounted to nothing in satisfying my hunger, I felt
even more hungry than before. We soon lay down to
rest and sleep, and I realized that I was about worn
out from the effects of the two days' battle. I slept
but little, but thought more about what might be our
fate in the near future. I probably felt like a criminal
under death sentence on the night previous to ex-
ecution, as we considered confinement in southern mili-
tary prisons equivalent to a death sentence. I feared
that I could send no letters to the folks at home, and
if ever a person had the blues I had them that night
of Sept. 20, 1863. Being made a prisoner of war was
something that I had never thought to experience.
Early on the morning of Sept. 21 found us on the
march to some point unknown to us, without any-
thing to eat. About ten o'clock we were joined by
1,500 of our boys who had met with a similar fate,
and were also on their way to some southern prison
pen. About three o'clock in the afternoon we arrived
at Ringgold, Ga., where a brief halt was made and the
Confederates wrote a list of our names. When this
was accomplished the march was resumed in a south-
easterly direction until evening, when we halted and
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 129
camped for the night. On the morning of Sept. 22
we drew the first rations from " Uncle Jeff's " com-
missary, consisting of one pint of unsifted cornmeal
for each man, which was our day's allowance, but
was hardly sufficient for a half a meal. I think the Con-
federates were short of rations themselves and had
none to spare for us. We had now fasted forty-eight
hours, and a pint of cornmeal appeared rather small
to subsist on for the next twenty-four hours. My
cooking utensils consisted of one pint cup, and with it
full of meal how was I to cook my mush ? I took part
of the meal out of the cup and put it in my haversack,
mixed the balance with water, set it on the fire for a
short time, and named it mush. But now another
difficulty arose. How was I to eat the stuff without
a spoon? Well, it has been said that necessity is the
mother of invention, which was true in this case, as
I combined a small stick with the mush, to assist me
in licking it out of the cup, in dog fashion. I then
cooked the balance of the meal and ate it also. After
finishing our breakfast of mush, we were called up in
line by the Confederate officers in charge, who
searched us for firearms, but failed to find many, as
there were but few in the crowd.
When the search was finished we resumed our
journey, and walked until night, when Dalton, Ga.,
130 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
was reached, a small town on the Chattanooga and
Atlanta Railroad, where we camped until the morning
of Sept. 23. During the night rations were issued the
second time by the Confederates, which consisted of
about a pound of flour or dough to each man. I well
remember that it tasted bitter, and appeared to me
like flour that had been wet in the sack, and formed
into chunks, which were mouldy and bitter. Some-
thing had to be done with the stuff, to fix it up in some
way that could be masticated, because I had eaten
nothing except a pint of very inferior mush during
sixty-eight hours, and to tell the truth I was beginning
to feel a trifle hungry. I built a fire, and determined
to try and bake my lump of flour, which was per-
formed in a way. We were camped in the woods
where some large trees had been chopped, and there
we found some clean chips. I took one of them, pasted
my ration of flour upon it, and set it near the fire to
bake, at an angle of about forty-five degrees. When
I considered it baked I took it off the chip and found
it baked only a little on the surface, and that it had
not " raised " a bit. Some of the boys declared that the
" raising " had been put in upside down. It was about
as tough as a piece of rubber. I attempted to eat some
of it but it was hard work and it seemed to stretch and
contract alternately. The more I chewed the stuff
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 131
the bigger and tougher it seemed to get, and it did
not want to go down. I viewed it and it appeared
very sad, but my condition was much sadder. It was
a very serious affair indeed. I thought of lockjaw,
and many other misfortunes that might befall me in
my attempts to swallow some of the rubbery bread-
stuff. It was swallow or starve. It is natural for a
person to think of remedies in a strenuous case like
this. I thought if the stuff did unfortunately stick
fast in my throat we might apply the leather whip-
stock remedy, which I remembered was applied to
a cow when choked with a turnip. A dog would have
turned up his nose at the offer of some of the above-
mentioned bread.
It was now sunrise, Sept. 23, and we received orders
to get on board the cars, which were promptly obeyed.
They were ordinary freight cars, but we were thank-
ful to ride on any kind of a car. The train moved
southward and we arrived at Atlanta, Ga., in the even-
ing of the same day, and were transferred to a pen
inclosed by a high, tight, board fence, where we re-
mained until Sept. 25, when orders were again re-
ceived to get on the cars. They were common freight
or box cars, and they packed us in almost as thick as
sardines in a box. This was the worst experience that
I ever had in railroad traveling. We were obliged to
132 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
stand up or sit on the floor, and fold up like a jack-
knife with our hands clasped around our knees to keep
our backs from breaking-, and we suffered all the
tortures imaginable. I felt as if every joint in my body
was coming apart. It was about as severe as being
fastened in the stocks. We were eight days on this
journey by rail from Dalton to Richmond, Va., but
lay over in Atlanta one day and two nights, and were
unloaded two different nights after leaving Atlanta,
in order to allow us to straighten our weary limbs and
sleep. But the other three nights we spent on the
cars, in torment. It was hard to endure, but I sup-
pose it was as well as the Confederacy could do for
us.
As I stated before, we were ordered to get on board
of the cars at Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 25, when we started
on our journey toward Augusta, Ga., located on the
banks of the Savannah River, which was reached the
following evening. We were here unloaded and trans-
ferred to a churchyard to rest during the night, which
was found to be a very pleasant resting place. We
had drawn rations at Atlanta, which consisted of about
a pound and one-half of hardtack and a small quantity
of bacon. Two and one-half pounds of hardtack and
bacon for each man to subsist on for six days were
small rations. From Augusta we went by rail into
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 133
South Carolina, running down within about twenty
miles of the city of Charleston to a small place uamed
Branchville.
On our way we passed through some swampy
country. The train stopped at a place where a large
ricefield extended close to the track. The rice was out
in head and I was anxious to get some of it, so the
guards permitted me to get off the car and procure a
few heads.
I now discovered Captain Muhleman, of Gen. Palm-
er's staff, on the train, he being also a prisoner of
war, captured about the same time that I was taken.
I was surprised to see him, not knowing previously
that he had been taken prisoner. I talked with him,
and he appeared to be very much discouraged in re-
gard to our condition. At Branchville we turned north,
and soon arrived at Columbia, S. C. (the capital of
the State), where the train halted for a short time, but
we were soon on our way again northward, passing
through some country which appeared to me extreme-
ly poor. The soil had the appearance of red chalk,
and here I heard a good many remarks made by the
men about the country. One said, " The ground is
so poor that they could raise nothing but a rebellion
and the d 1, and would be obliged to fertilize it
before it would make brick."
134 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
I was of the opinion that birds flying over that
country would be obliged to carry haversacks, because
they could find nothing there to subsist on, and that
the hogs we saw in the woods were so thin that two
of them were required to make a shadow. Many
other similar remarks were made by the boys. We
passed on northward, finally reaching the borders of
North Carolina, the land of tar, pitch and turpentine.
Passing on, most of the country was found to be
heavily timbered, but of course we saw only a portion
of it, as some of our journey was made after night.
Our next stopping place of importance was Char-
lotte, N. C, where we arrived Sept. 27, left the cars,
and camped for the night in a nice, grassy field. I
rested well here. We began thinking about our ra-
tions, which were getting low, and I proceeded to eat
some of mine, and relished them after fasting for some
time. While eating some of the bacon a peculiar
flavor was noticeable, and I remarked to one of my
comrades that I thought the bacon had a peculiar
taste, and he said it tasted of the Southern Con-
federacy. We arose in the morning feeling quite re-
freshed, and after eating a light breakfast were again
put on board the train and started eastward, arriving
at Raleigh, the capital of the State, some time during
the day. The train stopped here for a short time, but
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 135
soon moved on through the city northward, toward
Virginia, nothing of importance transpiring on the
way.
The next place of importance was Petersburg, Va.,
where the train halted quite a long time. We were now
not far from Richmond, Va. After all was ready the
train moved on toward Richmond and Belle Isle,
where we arrived Sept. 30, 1863. Between Augusta
and Richmond we spent three nights in the cars,
which almost tormented the life out of us.
I had now been a prisoner of war ten days, and be-
gan to feel the effects of it seriously, as during the
journey from Atlanta to Belle Isle, which was a period
of six days, we had only a pound and a half of hard-
tack and a small piece of bacon to subsist on. I have
not forgotten how carefully those scanty rations were
guarded by me. I prized them as highly as I would
the same weight in gold, and perhaps they were of
more value to me than gold, for my life depended up-
on the little morsel. Economy was practiced by me
to the utmost degree as I ate only a very small
quantity at a time. Whenever hunger pinched me
hard, I could not keep my hand out of the haversack.
It seemed as though the little morsel was magnetized.
I would take a few bites of my bacon and hardtack
(the bacon I was obliged to eat raw as I had no way
136 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65
of cooking it), and after eating just enough to ag-
gravate me, would be obliged to stop or have none left
for the following two or three days.
During our journey from Atlanta to Belle Isle we
saw many curious crowds, that collected at the sta-
tions where our train halted. They came to see the
" Yanks," and would ask some funny questions in re-
gard to the war. Some would ask, " What did you-
all come down heah to fight we-uns for?" " You-all
were captured this time " ; and many other curious
questions, too numerous to mention.
CHAPTER IX.
Entrance into Belle Island Prison Pen.
On Sept. 30, 1863, we arrived on Belle Island, which
is located in the James River, in front and a little
above Richmond, Va., then the capital of the Southern
Confederacy. The train stopped on the south side of
the river and we were ordered to alight and were con-
ducted down to the bridge and across it to the island.
The Confederate iron works were located on the island,
near the bridge, it was now getting dark and as we
passed them they seemed to be all aglow from the light
of the fires within, and one of the boys remarked in a
joking way : " Here are the iron works, and the next
place will be h 1." I guess the prison pen on the
island, into which we were placed a few moments
later, about filled the bill.
We soon arrived at the place where we were to be
confined, and found it to consist of several acres of
ground, surrounded by a ditch about two feet deep
and three feet wide, with the soil thrown up on the
outside, which formed the dead-line. Outside of this
the guards paced back and forth. Any person step-
138 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l~'6$
ping upon this line would be shot down without a
moment's warning. There were 7,000 or 8,000 prison-
ers confined on this small area of ground. Nearly
one-half of them were without any shelter whatever,
and many had no blankets or overcoats.
We arrived at our new quarters in the evening, and
after partaking of a scanty meal looked about for a
spot large enough to lie down upon to sleep. I found a
place that reminded me of the garden beds we used
to make at home, it being slightly raised, with a path
around it. Probably this had been made by some of
the prisoners, to keep the water off in case of heavy
rains. We now made preparations to retire, which
were very simple. As many as could crowd upon this
small space of ground lay down, in spoon fashion ;
that is, all lying with our faces turned in the same
direction, and fitted together as one would spoons in
packing them away, in order to have sufficient room
and keep as warm as possible. We had nothing under
us except the cold, bare earth, and nothing over us
except a pup tent (a piece of muslin six feet square)
and the blue sky, which was rather light covering.
We had advantages on the island in some respects
that we did not possess at home, we were not obliged
to open the windows to air our beds. My outfit of
clothing consisted of shirt, pants, cavalry jacket, boots
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 139
and hat. I used my hat in place of a nightcap, to
keep my head from coming in contact with the ground.
I generally felt quite chilly during the night, and did
not sleep soundly. Got up in the morning and found
that the surroundings looked very discouraging. Did
not see a soul that I knew, but saw many prisoners,
some of whom had been confined here for months.
These appeared ragged, dirty, and discouraged to the
last degree. Rations were very small, and we were
hungry continually, but had plenty of river water to
drink. From Belle Isle a fairly good view of the city
of Richmond was had. We could plainly see a build-
ing in which Jefferson Davis, the president of the
Southern Confederacy, resided, and also some of the
large brick buildings in which were confined many
Union soldiers. The famous Libby Prison, in which
was a large number of Federal officers, stood very
close to the James River, in plain view from the island.
I remained here six days, and was then transferred
to the city of Richmond. On arriving there I, in
company with other prisoners, entered Libby Prison
through the wide door at the northwest corner of the
building.
We were introduced into Libby for the purpose of
being searched, were formed into line, and then the
search commenced. It was bossed by a man named
140
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
Prison, West Side.
' i
Dick Turner. We were closely searched, and every-
thing of value taken from us and confiscated. I pos-
sessed but very little property at that time. A two
dollar greenback and a one dollar Confederate bill was
all the money in my possession. I had also an old
dilapidated pocketbook, but it was of no value and
therefore was not confiscated. My two dollar green-
back they were unable to find. I bought bread with
it later on. Bread sold at enormous prices, and a man
could easily eat in one day what he could buy for a
dollar greenback.
From Libby we were transferred to and confined in
a large four-story brick building, called the Smith
Prison. It had formerly been used as a tobacco fac-
tory, but was now a prison for Federal soldiers. I
JN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 141
Lihby Prison, Northeast.
was confined on the third floor, with about three hun-
dred other prisoners. This was a large room, but after
lying down at night the floor was about covered
with men. There was scarcely room enough for a
person to walk through between the rows of men.
Here we were well sheltered, but suffered another ex-
treme, being nearly suffocated on account of not hav-
ing proper ventilation ; not even being allowed to open
a window wide enough to admit sufficient fresh air to
supply the number of prisoners within.
One day while I was standing near a window, two
of my comrades stepped upon the window sill and
pulled the window slightly down, to admit some fresh
air; when immediately a shot was fired by the guard
142 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
outside. The ball passed through the window at an
angle of about thirty degrees, fortunately missed the
boys who opened the window, but passed up through
the floor above us, which also contained a large num-
ber of prisoners, and unfortunately the ball passed
through one of them, severely wounding him. He was
carried downstairs, passing through our room, and out-
side, I suppose to some hospital.
There were about three hundred of us confined with-
in this room, for a term of about two months, and
during all that time we were hardly allowed to draw
a breath of fresh air. What I mean by this is, air
that was not contaminated by the foul air of the prison.
This and starvation, together, weakened us to an
alarming degree. Our rations were issued once a day,
and we generally devoured them at one meal, and still
felt hungry. It was really just enough to make one
meal a day. The order to draw rations generally came
in the following manner. The Confederate orderly
would enter the room and cry out : " Sargin ob de
floor, four men and four blankets." This announce-
ment in the southern dialect soon became a proverb
among the boys. The " sargin ob de floor " would
then detail four men and four blankets (blankets were
a scarce article but generally enough were found to
carry the rations) to carry the rations to our room.
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-6$ 143
They would hasten down the stairs, and then those
left behind anxiously crowded around the windows,
pale, hungry, and each one eager to catch the first
glimpse of the returning four men and four blankets
with the morsel of bread, and soup (the soup being
carried in buckets). This was composed of small
beans, some being black and others red, and nearly
every one was hollow and contained several black
bugs enclosed, with hard shells. When the beans were
boiled the bugs separated from them, and became
mixed all through the soup, and while eating it we
were obliged to grind the bugs between our teeth,
which made me think of chewing parched corn or
grinding coffee. The ingredients of the soup except
the beans and bugs were unknown to us. Some de-
clared that there was mule meat in it, judging from the
bones found in the soup. I was almost famished for a
meat diet, but did not care to have it in bug form. The
bread rations consisted of brown bread, which tasted
good to me, but we could not tell of what it was com-
posed. The quantity was so small that it failed to
satisfy our hunger. Part of the time while in this
building we received corn-bread instead of the brown
bread, and occasionally a small piece of meat, the
quantity being too small to be mentioned. The soup
was named by some of the men " bug soup," and it
144 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
was a very appropriate name, as the bugs seemed to
make the biggest show.
Our beds consisted of the bare floor. For covering
I had my indispensable pup tent. We remained in
this building during the months of October and
November, and during that time there was no fire in
the room, but any quantity of foul air, which at times
was so terrible that I believe it was poison to us. The
closet was located at or in one corner of the room.
It was nothing more than a space about six or eight
feet in length and several feet wide, and extended,
down to the basement to the depth of twenty or
twenty-five feet. It was enclosed on three sides, and
the side which opened into our room or prison had
no door. It remained open all the time that we were
confined in this place. I do not know whether there
was sufficient water at the bottom of the closet to
carry away all the refuse or not, but by what we
saw I think not. The condition of the atmosphere
was simply horrible beyond description. At times it
seemed as if we would certainly suffocate. In this
condition about three hundred of us lived, slept, and
dined, for a period of about two months in the room
just mentioned. We usually became quite chilly dur-
ing the night, while lying on the cold floor. Our
clothing was thin, as we were captured during warm
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 145
weather and therefore were not prepared for winter.
While in the Smith Prison I formed an acquaintance
with a number of the boys, with whom many good
talks were enjoyed about our homes and friends so
far away, and those we had left several years before,
perhaps never to see again. My most intimate friend
while there was a " Doc." Davis who belonged I think
to the 55th Indiana Infantry. Davis and I bunked to-
gether, as we called it. Each possessed a pup tent,
which we doubled for a covering at night. Davis was
not feeling well here. He would arise in the morning,
sometimes groaning with pain, caused by lying on the
cold, hard floor all night. He died soon after his re-
turn from prison.
I also formed acquaintance with a man named Scott,
and another named Seaman, both members of the 21st
Wisconsin, and very fine boys they were. Both of
them died in prison. We nightly dreamed of getting
something good to eat, for this idea was uppermost
in our minds, and we were constantly reminded of
it by the gnawing hunger endured. Many times I
dreamed of being at home and eating of the luxuries
to be found there. Oh, what a disappointment on
awaking from such happy dreams, to find myself
in such a wretched condition as we were. Many of
the men soon became weak and disabled, from the
146 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
poisonous atmosphere created by the breathing of the
several hundred men confined here, and the horrid
stench from the closet. The starvation and feeling
of utter despair to which they gave way was also a
factor. They became so emaciated that many were
unable to stand up during roll call. This was usual-
ly called once a day by a spry little man named Ross.
The boys named him " Jack of Clubs." I well re-
member his countenance. Whenever he came in to call
the roll, and any of the boys did not get up quick
enough to suit him, he would go to them and abuse
them in a brutal manner. Those who were sick and
unable to rise he frequently left for days and weeks
before reporting to the hospital. He always came in
accompanied by a large man, carrying an old musket
barrel in his hand. Three or four guards also ac-
companied him. The man with the musket barrel
generally helped to get the boys in line by cuffing
them. Roll call took place early in the day, after
which we would begin " skirmishing for graybacks "
( as we called it) of which we all had a good supply.
This occupation helped us to pass away some of
the long, tedious hours of our confinement. Some
perhaps do not understand what is meant by the word
" grayback," which I will now explain. A grayback
is a small, carnivorous insect or plainly speaking a
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
147
louse which infests the inner garments of a person
who is unable to change his clothing frequently, which
was the case with us in the prisons. In fact we never
changed our garments while in prison. It was not
stylish to do so, and if it had been we could not, as
Skirmishing- for Graybacks.
we possessed only what we had on our backs and they
changed themselves. Some were obliged to wear their
shirts until they literally wore off, or were kicked
to pieces by the graybacks and fell from their backs.
I will now explain what is meant by skirmishing. It
148 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6^
was taking off our shirts, turning them inside out,
and carefully searching for and killing the graybacks,
which were sometimes very numerous, and tormented
us in such a way at night that we were scarcely able
to sleep.
The mode of killing these graybacks was as fol-
lows : As stated before, the garment was turned in-
side out, and then the game was soon found, over-
taken and slain. Our weapons consisted of our
thumb nails. The hands were placed near each other
in about the position that a person would hold them
when knitting with knitting needles, with the upper
part of the thumb nails nearly touching. When in
operation the movement of the hands was about the
same as it would be when knitting. This work might
properly have been called " knitting," because nits
were more numerous than graybacks. In the work
mentioned above the results depended upon the
amount of labor performed ; the faster we worked the
more we accomplished. These pests had become so
numerous that it was all a well man could do to keep
them within a reasonable limit. These miserable tor-
menters were always hungry like ourselves, because
they had poor pasture feeding on our bodies. Some-
times when things in prison were reasonably quiet
many of those insects would venture out on the
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS,, '6l-'65 149
vacant spaces of the floor, and it was amusing to us
boys to watch their maneuvers. A number of us
would sometimes be sitting in a row on the floor, with
our backs to the wall, and suddenly our attention
would be turned to a number of these pests in groups
about the floor. Of course the boys would make re-
marks about their performance. Some would say:
" Hello, the graybacks are going on dress parade."
Others declared they were foraging parties, looking
for provisions, and would call out : " Look out, boys,
they are looking you fellows over to find out which
one of you has any meat left on him, and then they
will go for you." Those men who were weak and
helpless were nearly eaten alive by these millions of
parasites. It did not seem unreasonable when one of
the men declared that he had seen a dead man with
quarts of graybacks upon him. No doubt but that
the days of these poor sick boys were materially
shortened by these insects.
I used my boots for a pillow at night, while trying
to sleep, by placing them together in a way that would
locate the most congenial part of the boots next to and
in contact with my head. I found a contrast between
my pillow and one composed of good goose feathers,
but the boot pillow was a decided improvement over
the hard floor, and it was also the best that could be
150 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
done under the circumstances, as we could get no
rubbish of any kind to place under our heads, and I
did not dare to take off my jacket to use as a pillow,
or I would have chilled. The boot pillow was a severe
test on the phrenological organs of the head. Some
of my comrades feared that we might receive fatal
injuries from the effects of our hard pillows, and
others allowed that it would improve our fighting
qualities by an enlargement of that organ. I was not
the only one who endured the pangs of a hard pillow.
Nearly or quite all suffered the same, in common.
There was no partiality shown in this; the hardships
were as free as water for all, and the hard pillow was
not the only torture, when we tried to sleep in the
Smith Prison. As I stated before, our clothing was
thin, and what meat was left on us also thin. And
when lying on the hard floor'at night, trying to sleep,
it seemed as if our bones were determined to punch
holes through our grayback-eaten hides. Some
thought if we ever got out of prison Uncle Sam would
be obliged to patch us up, like a person would patch
an old torn garment.
My opinion was that there would be but very few
of us left that would be worth patching after the
Southern Confederacy was through with us, and I
think now that I was correct. No person can compre-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65 151
hend the extent of the intense suffering endured by
the men in prison except those who were confined in
them. We suffered a dozen things at the same time,
that made us miserable. They occur to me as fol-
lows: Starvation, cold, bad ventilation, tormented by
graybacks, filthy clothing, no opportunity for bath-
ing, bad sanitation, close confinement, food of poor
quality, soreness caused by sleeping on the bare floor,
the sight of so much misery all about us, and the
thought of being domineered over by a cruel keeper.
I had the pleasure (?) of enjoying (?) with hundreds
of other comrades all the hardships just mentioned,
which was a great combination of torments and as I
thought a severe dose.
Trading with the guards became an extensive busi-
ness considering the amount of capital invested. Capi-
tal with us was very small, on account of our having
been closely searched by the Confederates before en-
tering prison. All money and valuables that could be
found on our persons were confiscated, but they were
unable to find all the greenbacks that the boys had
hidden in their clothing in various ways.
When starvation began to take effect they used
this money to purchase bread from the guards, at
enormous prices. Some of the guards were very
clever fellows, and would do favors for us when the
152 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
officers were not about. Sometimes they furnished
us with the Richmond papers, which was against the
orders of the Confederacy. Thereby we were enabled
to get a little of the outside news.
Sometime in November we received some rations
from Uncle Sam, which were sent through the Con-
federate lines to us. This partly supplied us for about
a week, after which we received no more during our
imprisonment. Some days later I read an order in
a Richmond paper as follows : " No more rations or
clothing shall be allowed to come through the Con-
federate lines to prisoners of war in our possession."
Signed by those in authority in the Confederate gov-
ernment. They claimed that it was a disgrace for
them to allow our government to feed us. The famous
Confederate commander of cavalry, John Morgan,
came into our prison one day in November. He
seemed to be looking for some person or persons, as
he passed through the room, but I never heard
whether he found the one he was searching for. I
well remember his looking us over very closely.
An Ohio boy, whose name I cannot recall, did some
trading with the guards with the intention of procur-
ing a Confederate uniform. The place where the trad-
ing was usually done was at the foot of the lower stair-
way, where a door opened into a reception room, which
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65 153
also had a door opening into the street or on to the
sidewalk. A guard was stationed at the foot of the
stairway, and another at the door which opened from
this room into the street. This constituted a double
guard.
A number of Confederates who were not on duty
would enter this room, bringing with them some arti-
cles of food, and any prisoner who was fortunate enough
to have some greenbacks could purchase, at enormous
prices. This Ohio boy, mentioned, first traded for a
Confederate cap, next a coat, and third, a pair of
pants which were of the grey Confederate uniform.
He did not procure them all the same day. He brought
them upstairs into our room and took off his blue suit
and put on the grey. He then walked down the stair-
way and commenced trading with the Confederates
who were standing about the room. While they were
busy trading he passed the inner guard and into the
reception room unnoticed, and then walked leisurely
about the room, talking to the Confederates, not being
particularly noticed by them, and finally walked past
the outer guard into the street. The guards no doubt
supposed him to be one of their own men on account
of his being dressed in a grey uniform. He walked
leisurely up the street to a bakery, where he purchased
some bread, and then retraced his steps, walking back
154 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
past our prison, which was the last time we saw him
Some time later we learned that he had made his
escape to the Union lines. He certainly was a shrewd
boy.
CHAPTER X.
Our Return to Danville Many Sick with Smallpox
Smallpox Hospital, and Convalescent Camp.
On the morning of Dec. 9, 1863, the order came for
us to go to Danville, Va., located on the North Carolina
line a distance from Richmond of about 150 miles in
a southwesterly direction. We started before daylight
in the morning, going by rail. I remember my sur-
prise as we marched out into the street. My limbs
were very weak, and some pain in my knee joints and
other parts of the body caused me to stagger a little as
I walked. We were escorted to the railroad station
and crowded into freight cars, and arrived at Danville
in the evening of the same day. We were then un-
loaded and confined in a building similar to the one
we had left, received nearly the same kind of food,
and enjoyed about such privileges as we did in Rich-
mond, being continually hungry, filthy, crowded and
chilly, and also irritated by the industrious graybacks,
which seemed determined to keep us company without
being invited, and which caused the most of us to be
rather ill-natured.
The smallpox made its appearance here about Dec.
13, but I was not aware of it until about eight days later,
when I became very sick, and was lying upon the cold,
156 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
bare floor for a number of days without any attention
whatever. On Dec. 24 a doctor came in, looked me
over, and informed me that I had smallpox, but I was
feeling so very sick that this information did not make
much impression on me. I did not seem to care what
I had or what became of me. Late in the afternoon
they came with a two-wheeled dray, upon which I
was loaded and hauled about a mile to the smallpox
hospital, while the wind was blowing almost a gale
from the northwest, and cold for that locality. On
arriving at the hospital, about sunset, I found it to
be quite a comfortable place compared to where I had
been staying. It contained cots for the sick such as
we used in our own hospitals. I was placed upon one
of these, and on either side of me were those who
appeared very sick. The one on my right died the
first night I was there.
This being Christmas eve, my thoughts were of
course of home, and the happy times we always en-
joyed on such occasions. I felt very gloomy when
realizing my condition and the place in which I was
confined, hardly possessing the necessaries of life,
and being a prisoner of war, sick and in the hands of
an enemy. This Christmas eve seemed very long and
tedious. The pustules were then beginning to break
out on me and my head seemed to me as large as a
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 157
bushel basket. There were no pit marks left upon me
from the effects of the smallpox, as I had previously
been dieted, by the kindness of the Southern Confed-
eracy, which was expert at dieting its prisoners of war.
The days and nights wore slowly away, and in a
few days I began to feel better and was able to watch
the proceedings about me in the hospital. Some new
patients were being brought in continually, while
others died and were carried out to the dead-house.
This was a log house near by, where the dead were
stored until ready for burial, and was generally well
occupied, as many died and were buried here.
I had now been hej-e a number of days, andjto my
surprise, one day Doc. Davis, who was my chum in
Richmond, came into the ward in which I was con-
fined, and told me that he had been detailed to be hos-
pital steward of the smallpox hospital. The news of
Doc. Davis' presence cheered me up wonderfully. Of
course he did all he could for us sick boys. The
weather for this latitude was extremely cold during
the latter part of 1863 and the beginning of 1864, but
of course not as severe as in the northern States. Yet
we suffered greatly on account of not being well pre-
pared for it. About two weeks had been spent by me
in the hospital, and my health was greatly improved.
The authorities were talking of putting us in the con-
158 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-6$
valescent camp, which they did about the second week
in January.
This camp was very well located, and was composed
of tents, having chimneys made of mud and sticks,
with a fireplace. We were quite comfortably housed,
and were allowed to have wood for fire if we chopped it,
and those who were able did so. Three of us con-
valescents were quartered in one small tent. Here I
became acquainted with my tentmates, William Her-
rick, of Co. F, 30th Indiana, and Calvin W. Hudson,
of Co. D, 65th Ohio. We soon became quite intimate,
and had many friendly chats together about home and
friends, and laying plans for our escape from prison.
We had bunks fixed up, made of boards, so that our
beds were not on the ground. We had now secured
woolen blankets from Uncle Sam, and had one apiece.
This camp was guarded by North Carolina troops.
Their guard line, on which the guards paced to and
fro, was about ten or fifteen feet from our row of
tents. The cookhouse was located in the southeast
corner of the camp, in which the rations were cooked
for the sick and convalescent. By this time our ap-
petites had become the largest part of us. It seemed to
me that I could eat anything, from a dog to a saw-
horse, which was an indication that my health was
improving.
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 159
One day when outside our tent near the cookhouse
window, I discovered some turnip and potato parings
lying on the ground, which had been thrown out of
the cookhouse window. I gathered them up, and
while doing so also discovered an old beef bone, which
I picked up, and put the bone parings and some water
together in an old tin can. I placed it over the fire
and allowed the morsel to boil for quite a long time.
This formed a sort of soup, with a little grease from
the bone floating on the top. I stirred it well, and as
soon as it was cool enough ate it with great relish,
thinking it the best soup that I had ever tasted. I
was extremely hungry, and could hardly refrain from
tasting it while stirring. I probably acted like some
little child would when there is a prospect for some-
thing good to eat. I ate the soup and eagerly wished
for more, and would have given a small fortune (had
I possessed one) for some more of the same kind. No
man can realize what a torture it is to be starving, un-
less he has had the experience.
The days wore slowly away, and one day Doc. Davis
came to our tent and surprised me by saying: " Eby,
there has been a small box received in camp, addressed
to H. H. Eby, Co. C, 7th Illinois Cavalry." I was so
elated over the news that I could hardly be restrained,
and of course immediately set about to procure my
160 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
box, which contained a loaf of bread, some crackers, a
small quantity of cheese, a few onions, a small piece
of pork, butter, pepper and salt. If I remember rightly
the box was brought to me by Doc. Davis. It was sent
by my brother Moses, who at that time lived near Men-
dota, 111. He died at Freeport, 111., July 10, 1909. My
receiving this box was a mere accident, as thousands
of them were sent to others which never reached their
destination. For a day or two my two comrades in
my tent and myself had quite a feast from the contents
of this box. Oh, what a luxury it was, as since our
confinement we had had very little food that was
palatable.
We now began thinking seriously about making our
escape from prison to our lines, because the food in
the box would furnish us with a few days' provisions
to start with. William Herrick, of Co. F, 30th Indiana,
concluded to start with me. Hudson was too sick to
make the journey with us. Each of us possessed a
haversack, which we filled with some of the eatables
from the box, and now our commissary stores were
ready for the journey. What eatables were left in the
box were given to Hudson, who remained in camp.
A day or two previous to our departure Doc. Davis
came to our tent, and wanted to know if I would
divide some provisions with him, as he was going to
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 161
attempt his escape that night, and I replied in the
affirmative. He returned to his tent, and we learned
the next day that he had made his escape. I never saw
him afterward, but heard after I returned to our lines
that he finally reached the Union lines in safety. Poor
fellow, he was not well, and had a hard time getting
through to his regiment, and lived only a short time
afterward. I sincerely hope that he is receiving his
well-earned reward. The second night after Davis
escaped, Herrick and I passed the guard line and
succeeded as far as getting out of the clutches of the
guards.
CHAPTER XI.
About eight or nine o'clock in the evening of Jan.
22, 1864, our light was extinguished, and Herrick and
I each put on a haversack, well filled, and bade fare-
well to Hudson, who was yet sick. Now came the
critical moment, as the guard line must be passed with-
out being detected. Near our tent was a depression in
the ground, crossing the guard line. We selected this
place through which to make our escape.
The forward movement was now about to begin. We
left the tent, and crawled down through the depression
across the line without being discovered by the guards.
It seems that good luck favored us, as the guards were
passed without being disturbed. We walked quietly
down the gully which farther on merged into quite a
ravine. This was followed on down by us as hastily
as we could, a distance of eighty or one hundred rods
in a southerly direction, where a high rail fence was
reached. Here a brief rest was enjoyed, as we were
nearly exhausted. Our being weakened by sickness,
and the excitement of passing the guards had some
effect upon us, and we were in a very poor condition
for the perilous journey. I put my arms over the top
164 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
rail of the fence and hung on it, to support myself and
rest. This attempt of making our escape was, as we
discussed later on, a foolish undertaking when in such
a debilitated condition, as we were to start out through
an enemy's country in the winter season. But the love
of liberty was strong within us, and we thought it
better to perish in trying to escape than to die in the
filthy prison pens.
The evening of Jan. 22, 1864, I shall never forget.
To our best knowledge in regard to the location of
things we were now over one hundred miles from any
Union troops. This distance was through an enemy's
country, full of rivers and small streams which we
were obliged to cross, as well as hills, mountains and
many other obstacles which must be encountered and
overcome. This had to be accomplished mostly at
night, for fear of being seen and recaptured by the
Confederates. After being rested somewhat, we left
the fence and started in a westerly direction, finally
turning to the northwest, in which direction the Union
lines were located.
We journeyed on slowly during a part of the first
night, through the woods and brush, over rocks and
ravines, crossing small streams of water by placing
sticks across to walk upon, making slow progress until
two or three o'clock in the morning. We then began
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 165
looking about for a place to conceal ourselves during
the following day, and also to rest and sleep. While
passing through a grove we came upon a large white
oak tree, which had been cut down during the summer
or fall while the leaves were on its branches, and on
that account the leaves were still remaining. This
made a good comfortable hiding place for us during
the following day, as the leaves were very dense. We
concluded this would be as good a place as could prob-
ably be found, to conceal ourselves. By crawling un-
der the tree and gathering some leaves a bed was pre-
pared, placing them under us, and Herrick spread his
blanket out upon the leaves. We took off our haver-
sacks, which contained our supply of provisions for
several days, and lay down upon our bed, using my
blanket for a covering. After lying down we found
ourselves extremely tired from our night's journey
of eight or ten miles. I remember being very un-
comfortable after retiring, as it was a cold night and
we were chilly. After becoming a little more comfort-
able we fell into a sound slumber. On awakening the
next day hunger appeared, and we began partaking of
the contents of our haversacks. After eating our
breakfast we felt much revived from our fatigue, and
contented ourselves during the day by talking over
the prospects ahead of us and also the dangers that
166 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
were awaiting us by being overtaken by the prison
guards, as we were now only about eight or ten miles
from prison.
As near as could be ascertained we were now in the
vicinity of the line between North Carolina and Vir-
ginia, probably in North Carolina, as Danville prison
was about on the line. I knew that we were at least
as far south. Another fear now came over us, that
the Confederates would put some of their bloodhounds
on our trail i so we remained in the tree top the greater
part of the day, and about sunset rolled up our blankets
and prepared to move.
We ate our suppers and began to look about to see
what was ahead of us, and as soon as it was thought
safe resumed our journey for the night ; this being the
evening of Jan. 23. As soon as the stars could be dis-
tinguished we looked them over and by them were
guided. Our aim was to go in a northwesterly direc-
tion, but when the Dan River was reached were obliged
to go directly west, and in this direction we journeyed
until sometime during the night when a cedar thicket
was passed on the south bank of the river. The Dan Riv-
er was found to be quite a wide stream, and the problem
now was how to cross it. We followed along the bank
of the stream during the night until we were very tired,
failing to find a way to cross it, and then looked about
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 167
for a hiding place in which to conceal ourselves the
following day.
As we passed along we found the bank of the river
to be mostly covered with cedar thickets, in which we
made our hiding and sleeping place for the latter part
of the night and during the next day. We crawled in-
to a large bunch of cedar brush, and prepared our
sleeping place similar to the night previous, went to
bed and slept until sometime the following day. On
awaking we found the sun shining brightly. This
was Sunday morning, Jan. 24, and I must confess that
I felt homesick. After eating breakfast we made prep-
arations to find a place for crossing the river. We
were unable during the night to find a crossing. There
being no houses in this immediate vicinity that could
be discovered, and the country being heavily timbered,
we considered it safe to some extent to travel during
the day, which we did, in order to enable us to find
some means of crossing the river. We con-
tinued walking westward along the south bank of
the stream for some distance, when open woods
were entered and we discovered a man riding
along in a buggy. I remember we made a num-
ber of remarks about him. Herrick made some
which were rather comical, but we were very uncom-
fortable all this time, for fear we had been seen by the
168 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
man in the buggy, and would be reported. We soon
struck another cedar thicket, and also the river, pass-
ing along the bank still searching for some means by
which to cross. So far we were unsuccessful, and by
this time had become nearly discouraged on account
of not finding a crossing.
It was now nearly the middle of the day, and we
were still passing along the river, when suddenly we
met a colored boy about ten or twelve years of age,
and as they were generally our friends and we could
trust them, we made known to him our wants. I asked
him whether he could tell us where we could cross the
river. He answered by saying : " Just a little ways
down thar is a black man, with a canoe, playing with
it in the river; maybe he will take you across." I
thanked him, and we passed along in the direction
indicated by the boy, and to our great joy saw the
man in the canoe near the shore, and also saw a
house not far away. On arriving at the spot I motioned
to him to come to shore, which he did. I then asked
him if he would take us across the river in his boat.
He answered in the affirmative. I said to him, " I will
pay you if you will hurry and take us across." All
this time we felt very uneasy because we feared that
we might be seen by some one who would report us to
the Confederates and cause our capture. All the money
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 169
that I possessed was a Confederate dollar bill, which
was worth about ten cents in U. S. money; having
used my two dollar greenback to purchase bread. I
drew it from my pocket, opened it out and presented
it to the man, saying: "I will give you this if you
will hurry and take us across the river." He took
the money and said, " All right, jump in."
We got in the boat and he soon landed us on the
north bank of the river in safety. Dan River where we
crossed is about forty or fifty rods wide. As we were
getting out of the boat and looking back across the
river to the place where the boat was entered, we saw
six or eight persons standing on the bank of the river,
looking in our direction. This caused quite an excite-
ment in our camp, and we immediately issued marching
orders and started for the woods, which were a short
distance away. After reaching the cover of the woods
a council of war was held to decide what was best to
do under the circumstances as things appeared to us
rather perilous
It was decided that we must have been seen by the
group of people, who we thought might report us to
the Confederate authorities. It was uncertain whether
the persons we saw were black or white. Now that
the woods had been reached we started on the run,
in order that we might get as far away as possible in
170 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 171
a short time and find a safe place to secrete ourselves
until night. We arrived at a deep ravine, where a
small stream of water was discovered, which appeared
to come from a spring, and we thought this a good hid-
ing place. We sat down to rest, which was badly
needed, as we were weak and exhausted, and proceed-
ed to eat some of the luxuries from our haversacks.
After eating we talked of the prospects before us,
which were not very encouraging. We sat there on
the cold, damp ground, not in a cheerful mood but the
opposite, tired, unnerved, and in a deplorable condi-
tion. Late in the afternoon we began to look about
us in order to ascertain the condition of the surround-
ing country before dark. About sunset we started
out on our night's journey, in a northwesterly direc-
tion as near as we could tell, being guided by the stars
when they were visible. We journeyed on over hills
and dales, rocks, swamps and small streams, keeping
as quiet as possible, speaking only in whispers, some-
times traveling in the road a short distance when it
was thought safe to do so. Then again over fields,
hills and the usual difficulties, being careful to avoid
going near houses, which would arouse the dogs,
which were quite numerous in that rough country.
Sometimes we were very much discouraged, being in
an enemy's country, in the dead of night, in the winter
172 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
season, weakened by sickness and nearly exhausted,
stumbling over stones, rough ground and through
brush and briers, not knowing what the next moment
would bring forth. We might be attacked by a pack
of dogs, and our whereabouts made known to the
enemy, to be found in all parts of this country.
It was now nearing the time of night to begin to
look about us for a place to secrete ourselves, for sleep
and rest. This time, was as stated before, in the latter
part of the night. We found a good place in a thicket
in the woods, where we made our bed, retired as usual,
and slept until sometime the following day, Jan. 25.
After finding some water we made our toilets and
proceeded to eat some breakfast, which was rather
thin, as our commissary stores were getting low. We
had just about enough in our haversacks for breakfast.
This was the last of our provisions which I had re-
ceived from my brother. After eating breakfast the
remainder of the day was spent in resting, talking and
planning for the following night. It was now necessary
to contrive some plan to replenish our stock of pro-
visions. Sometime before dark we started to spy out
the country, cautiously moving along the edge of the
woods, looking for slave cabins, as we were afraid to
approach white people for fear of being captured.
Just as darkness began to appear we saw in the edge
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65 173
of a small field a one-story log cabin, which afterward
proved to be a slave cabin. We stopped at the edge
of the woods to investigate, after which Herrick said
to me : " Eby, if you will go to the cabin I will stay
here and hold the fort until you return." I started,
feeling a little timid as it was not quite dark, and I
feared discovery by some one who might be the cause
of our being taken in.
When arriving at the cabin I was met at the door by
an aged colored man. I told him wjjo^ we were and
that we would like to get something to eat ; would like
to procure enough to supply us for several -days if
convenient. He informed me that they had but very
little cooked or baked as their family was small (only
himself and wife) but if we would wait long enough
they would bake a corn pone for us. I said, "All right,
you will find us at the gate posts," and returned to my
comrade at the edge of the woods where the gate posts
mentioned were in position. But we did not remain
there as I said we would, but hid in the brush a num-
ber of rods away for the purpose of deceiving him in
case it would have been made known to the enemy
that we were hid at the posts. We could easily have
been found, but being hid in the brush we would have
had a chance to escape. We waited several hours for
the return of our colored man and finally heard the
174 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
footsteps of one person walking in the direction of the
gate posts. The noise he made in walking over the
dry leaves enabled us to tell whether there was one
or more persons. When near the posts he stopped.
We were then satisfied that it was our colored friend,
bringing us something to eat. We made our where-
abouts known to him and he soon came to us, bringing
a good supply of food, consisting of one of the largest
corn pones that I ever saw and a quantity of cooked
meat. The nice large pone was yet warm and its odor
was delicious to a hungry man. It appeared to me as
large ars a full moon. The pone and meat supplied
us with food for several days. We were very grateful
to our colored friend and thanked him over and over.
He then returned to his cabin and we proceeded to
refresh ourselves with some food. We broke our fine
large corn pone, and ate our suppers from it, after
which we felt much revived.
The next thing in order was to prepare for our
night's march. We were obliged to break our corn
pone in several pieces in order to get it in our haver-
sacks. After packing up the remains of our victuals
we started on our fourth night's trip, which was quite
exciting. As usual we walked on in the darkness,
feeling our way cautiously and quietly along, not
speaking above a whisper for fear of being heard by
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 175
people or dogs who might get on our trail. As I
stated before, we were guided by the stars when they
were visible. Our aim was to travel in a northwest
direction from the prison because we knew that the
outpost pickets of the Union lines were located in that
direction. We were now walking upon what appeared
to be a wagon road and in a westerly direction.
This part of the country seemed to be a small valley,
and was quite level. "About eight or nine o'clock in
the evening we saw a house ahead of us at some
distance, on the left-hand side of the road. The night
was not very dark so that we were able to see quite a
distance. Before reaching it a small building was dis-
covered, made of logs, on the right-hand side of the
road, perhaps ten or fifteen rods from the house, and
even with the road fence, having a door which opened
into the road. As we afterward discovered, this proved
to be a one-story, log horse-stable. When arriving
within a short distance of it we saw a man enter the
door with a lighted lantern in his hand. After he
passed to the inner part of the stable we could see the
light shining between the logs. I was of the opinion
that the man with the lantern was a colored man, as
he appeared so to me. I said, " Herrick, I am going to
get some information from that darkey." We walked
on, and arriving at the stable I stepped up into the
176 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
doorway and was suddenly surprised by seeing a white
man, dressed in a Confederate uniform, going in be-
tween some horses to feed them, as it appeared to me.
It immediately flashed through my mind that this was
a quartet of Confederate cavalry, in search of escaping
prisoners, who had put up there for the night. I asked
no questions but quietly stepped out of the door,
motioned to Herrick to come on, and we lit out for
other parts as lively as we could. After going a safe
distance from the stable we stopped and congratulated
ourselves upon our narrow escape from being cap-
tured. It was supposed that we had not been seen by
the man in the stable but we were not certain.
After quieting down to a normal condition, and
deciding what course to pursue, our journey for free-
dom was resumed, going in the usual direction. We
left the road again, as it was feared that we might be
overtaken if remaining on it. Therefore we struck out
for the woods and hills where we considered it more
safe. Our progress was slow as I have stated before.
The greater part of our journey was over a rough
country, and we found it discouraging to travel.
We pressed forward through the woods and brush
as rapidly as possible, which I guarantee was not at
a high speed, until nearly tired out, when we were
obliged to rest in order to be able to go on again. After
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 177
being rested sufficiently to be able to move on, we
took fresh courage, thinking that we might as well
perish in trying to make our way to the Union lines
as to be recaptured and taken back to the prisons to
die. We were hungry to see the good old Stars and
Stripes once more, knowing that -if the protection of
" Old Glory " could be reached we would be all right.
Therefore we risked much to gain its friendly cover.
Wherever " Old Glory " floats in air people look for
righteous protection, and therefore every citizen should
assist in keeping it waving.
During the night we became partially lost in the
dense woods, being bewildered in regard to the com-
pass so we could not tell north from south. It seemed
that Fate was against us. Herrick was not very well,
and complained bitterly, which had a tendency to dis-
courage me, but I tried to keep up my spirits, and
trusted in a Higher Power. The woods were dense
and dismal. Nothing could be heard but the barking
of dogs in the distance and the whoo-whoo of some
of those large hoot owls up in the tops of the tall
trees, which made the night seem yet more hideous.
As to the dogs we feared them, because they were
liable to get on our trail.
When I heard the owls I was reminded of a story
which I had heard about an old maid who went out
178 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
into the woods to pray to the Lord to send her a
husband, and while praying one of those large owls
in a tree near by began his whoo-whoo. She, think-
ing this an answer, replied, " Anybody, good Lord."
We could not tell which way to go on account of
having lost the right course, but did not give up in
despair, and concluding to camp for the night, made
our bed in the leaves and were soon asleep, as we
were very sleepy and tired. Jan. 26 we awoke, and
to our surprise found that about an inch of snow had
fallen while we were asleep. We were covered over
with a blanket, face and all, and therefore the snow
did not interfere with our sleep. As usual we looked
about for the purpose of ascertaining in regard to our
safety. Finding ourselves fairly well hid, we pre-
pared for breakfast, which did not require a large
amount of labor. We could not make very elaborate
toilets, as we had no water, and did not think it safe
to venture far away in search of it in the daytime.
On opening our cupboard, or as I should say, haver-
sacks, we found quite a large supply of the provisions
which had been furnished us by the old colored man
a day or so previous, and for which we were extremely
thankful.
Our breakfast was soon prepared and eaten, and
then came a lonesome day for us. We dare not move
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 179
about for fear of being seen, and therefore were obligeu
to sit on the wet ground and shiver with cold until
near night, when we began to look about us in order
to procure information in regard to the surrounding
country. We heard some one chopping in the woods
a short distance from us, and we concluded to crawl
near enough to him to ascertain whether he was white
or black. We found him to be a slave, and very
friendly toward us, and he gave us some information
in regard to the surrounding country. After talking
with him for some time, we returned to our hiding
place. During the day the snow had melted. After
eating our suppers we prepared to move on. It was
now after sunset and we started out, encountering
the usual obstacles on the way. We traveled on for
an hour or two and then came in sight of a number
of lights twinkling in the darkness, and only a short
distance ahead of us. This we afterward learned was
a small town named Henry. We immediately changed
-our course to the right, flanked the town, and passed
it without being discovered. We soon struck a road
leading in the direction we wanted to go, and followed
it for some distance, when we found it quite narrow,
and fenced with an old fashioned worrn rail fence
about eight or ten rails high.
While walking along in this lane for a short distance
180 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
we heard a gunshot, perhaps forty or fifty rods from us.
We stopped and listened, and a few seconds later we
heard a horse galloping toward us apparently as fast
as it could come, and in a second all was excitement
with us. Something had to be done immediately or
there would be trouble. Herrick said, " Let us get
inside the fence as quickly as possible." We scram-
bled over the fence, and dropped down on the ground
as flat as a pancake, and in a second a horse with a
man upon it galloped past within ten or twelve feet
of where we lay. We did not know what it meant,
but supposed the gunshot was a signal among the
Confederate home guards that we had been seen by
some one, who gave the alarm by discharging the gun,
and thought he would catch us in this lane by com-
ing upon us so suddenly that we would be unable to
escape.
After the horseman had gone past us a short distance
he stopped, and we could hear several persons talk-
ing, while Herrick and I were shivering with excite-
ment behind the fence, hugging the earth as we never
did before. If their object was to capture us here
they failed, but if we had remained in the road a few
seconds longer our goose would probably have been
cooked. We lingered inside of the fence for a short
time, and kept very quiet, and again heard some per-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 181
sons talking not very far away. Later in the night,
everything being quiet, we crawled out of our hiding
place and prepared to move on, but were very cau-
tious and struck out for the woods, groping onward
through a strange land, with the usual difficulties. We
journeyed on during the balance of the night with-
out anything of an excitable nature transpiring ex-
cept the barking of dogs, which caused us a little
uneasiness at times.
Just a short time before looking up a place in which
to hide and sleep, we passed down into and through
a small valley and up a steep hill or mountain, on the
opposite side on which we found a good place to hide
and make our bed and sleep during the morning. We
retired and soon were asleep. This was now Jan. 27,
and some time during the forenoon we were awak-
ened by hearing some one talking near by. We got
up and began an investigation. We found ourselves
on the summit of a small mountain, in a good hiding
place, and near a small precipice. I crawled near the
edge of it and looked down into the valley below and
saw a man doing some kind of work with a team. He
was only a short distance away but could not very
well see us. Herrick and myself sat and watched him
for a short time, and having now become quite hungry
proceeded to investigate our store of provisions. We
182 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
found some of the corn pone and ate our breakfast
from it. After completing our meal we found that
our commissary stores were getting low or nearly
exhausted, and before we could eat another meal we
would be obliged to do some foraging. The balance
of the day was spent in our hiding place on the moun-
tain.
Shortly before dark we investigated the surround-
ings, as usual, and prepared to start out on our night's
march, but thought we would like some supper first.
On reflecting we remembered that our haversacks
were about empty. We went without supper for the
same reason that Jack did. The problem now was
how to procure some more provisions. Herrick not
being very well proposed going to a house to get a
warm meal, to which I strenuously objected, fearing
that we would be discovered by the enemy. We final-
ly started out on our night's trip without any supper,
thinking that perhaps we might find some slaves who
would supply us with something to eat. This being
a mountainous country there were but few colored
people to be found, and this fact compelled me finally
to consent to Herrick's plan of going to a house to
procure a warm meal.
We were now moving along through the woods
on a sort of road, and it was about seven or eight
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 183
o'clock in the evening. Hunger began to pinch us
severely, and we had not gone very far when a light
was discovered some distance ahead of us, apparent-
ly in a house. We continued to move on toward the
light, and when near enough began to investigate the
surroundings. We found it to be a one-story log
house, located close to the road and nearly surrounded
by thick woods. It being well lighted, we could see
that it was occupied by white people. We now held
a council of war for the purpose of determining how
to procure something to eat. Herrick proposed hav-
ing a warm meal if they could be persuaded to pre-
pare us one, and to this I finally consented. We then
approached the house, knocked at the door, and the
man of the house came out and our wants were made
known to him. He objected at first to our request,
saying he feared it would become known to the Con-
federate authorities that he had fed us and they would
deal harshly with him. He finally consented to our
request, and his folks prepared a good supper for us.
When the meal was ready he called us in and said,
" Please get through supper as soon as possible. There
is danger of you being seen here by outside parties
who might report you to the Confederate authorities,
and thereby get us and yourselves also into trouble."
We sat down and ate a very hearty meal, thanked
184 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-6$
them kindly, and passed out. The host went out with
us, and accompanied us on our journey quite a dis-
tance, giving us information about the surrounding
country. When he left us we again thanked him,
and journeyed on in the usual direction, being satis-
fied that we had met with a Union man because he
had treated us so kindly. Of course people were
afraid to feed us, because there had been what were
called " bogus Yankees " through that part of the
country. A " bogus Yankee " was a Confederate,
dressed in a Federal uniform, pretending to be an
- escaping Union prisoner of war, and he would come
to these people throughout the country for the pur-
pose of ascertaining whether they would harbor and
feed escaping prisoners, and if they were found guilty
would have them arrested and confined in prison. We
traveled in the road as long as we deemed it safe to
do so, and then struck out through the woods, en-
countering the usual difficulties.
We were very much refreshed by the good meal
we had eaten in the evening, and were able to make
good progress. Nothing transpired during the night
to cause any special excitement only the occasional
barking of dogs. Some of them had a peculiar bark,
which sounded like those large bloodhounds which
were used in the South for the purpose of catching
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65 185
runaway slaves and escaping prisoners of war, and
caused us some uneasiness. We moved on until our
usual hour for retiring, and then found a place which
was deemed secure, where we made our bed and re-
tired as usual.
We awoke some time during the following day,
this being Jan. 28, and wanted to eat our breakfast,
but had none, and dare not venture out in search of
food in daytime for fear of being taken in. We saw
some chestnut trees near by in the woods, and went
to them, hoping to find a few nuts among the leaves
to appease our hunger to some extent, but our search
was in vain. A house was discovered at a distance,
out in the open country, but we were afraid to venture
to it. We remained the balance of the day in our
hiding place, and as early as we thought it safe to
do so started on our night's journey. The weather was
quite clear and pleasant, but things were not so pleas-
ant with us, as we had been without food during the
past twenty-four hours, and had no prospect of pro-
curing any provisions during the evening. Our jour-
ney was through a broken country, where the op-
portunity of procuring food was limited, but we still
moved forward, thinking that we might come across
some colored people who would supply us. It seemed
that luck was against us. We had spent a good part
186 IX BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
of the night, walked a long- distance, and were get-
ting very weak from hunger, and walking became
burdensome for us, especially while passing through
such a maze of tangled underbrush.
The night was now nearly spent and we stopped
to consider what was best to do and concluded as we
were so nearly worn out it was best to select a rest-
ing place and make our bed. We found a place in
the woods beside a large log, and as we supposed a
good hiding place. We prepared our bed and went to
sleep as usual, as we were so extremely tired from
our long journey. We slept very soundly until about
sunrise, when I was awakened by a clattering noise
and some one talking. I carefully raised my head
high enough to enable me to look over the top of the
log, and to my horror saw four Confederate cavalry-
men riding past within six or eight rods of us.
I carefully awakened Herrick and told him what I
had seen. Then he also peeped over the log and saw
the Confederates as they were disappearing. We kept
quiet, though much excited over our situation, and
remained here for a short time.
We had now fasted for about thirty-six or forty
hours, and felt as though we could stand it no longer
without food, and would be obliged to procure some
in some manner. We crawled out of our hiding place
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS,
187
188 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
and cautiously moved through the woods in search
of a house where something to eat might be secured.
After walking a short distance we saw an open field
to the eastward from us, and also a house near the
edge of the woods, which was found to be a two-story
dwelling of fair size. It appeared to us to be occupied
by white people. Starvation will compel a person to
risk almost anything for the purpose of procuring
food. We decided to go to the house and ascertain
the prospect of getting something, as we could not fast
much longer.
CHAPTER XII.
Our Recapture and Return to Prison.
On Jan. 29, 1864, early in the forenoon, we went to
the house described in the former chapter. It was
a bright, sunshiny morning, and walking around to the
east door of the house (which appeared to be the one
most used by the family), I knocked and the pro-
prietor opened the door. I made known to him our
wants, and he replied, saying " We will give you
something to eat," and invited us in. The door opened
to my left as I passed in. I looked in that direction, and'
to my horror saw two Confederate soldiers sitting
in that end of the room, one of whom afterward told
me that he was a captain, and they had their side
arms with them. As soon as we were fairly inside
the room they smiled, and one of them said : " Boys,
I guess you are our prisoners, as it is our duty to
hold you as such."
We failed to return the smile which on our part was
not very polite, but under the circumstances I think
we were excusable. You can imagine the state of our
minds just at that moment. I felt like sinking through
190 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 191
the floor into the earth and out of sight, and of course
poor Herrick felt likewise. After risking our lives
in escaping from the guards, and facing the dangers
of passing through an enemy's country until within
thirty-five miles of the Union lines, and then to fall
into a trap like that, was almost too much to endure.
But what could we do? We were obliged to submit,
and there was no use arguing the case with them.
After the excitement abated, the women folks pre-
pared breakfast for us. As soon as it was ready we
were asked to take seats at the table. Before doing
so the host looked at us and said : " Boys, you look
poorly," seeming to sympathize with us. He handed
us a bottle of peach brandy, saying, " This will be
good medicine for you in your weakened condition."
We each took a few swallows, and it did seem to
stimulate us for the time being. While eating break-
fast we had quite a chat with the men folks, and found
them to be gentlemen, and they used us as well as we
could have been used among our own people. We
were kept here until the arrival of some new guards,
whom they had sent for. When dinner time came we
were invited to take dinner with the family, and
strange to say we did not refuse. During the fore-
noon we men folks went out to the east side of the
house, where it was quite comfortable. The host
192 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
asked whether we would like to crack some walnuts.
I replied in the affirmative (of course we would not
refuse anything that could be masticated, and would
assist in filling us up), and we sat down on a log to-
gether and cracked and ate walnuts. While engaged
in this I happened to be sitting beside the host, the
guards being a short distance away. We became en-
gaged in conversation in regard to secession, during
which he frankly remarked to me that the State of
Virginia did not secede by the voice of the people, but
was forced out by the intrigue of State officials. I
believed him to be a loyal man at heart. He did not
tell me so but his actions and conversation proved it.
The new guard arrived about the middle of the after-
noon and we were soon on our way toward Rocky
Mount, where we were placed behind the bars of a
county jail. We had not traveled very far before night
overtook us, and we lodged at a farmhouse that night,
where they had an immensely large dog which was
supposed to be a bloodhound. They cautioned us in
regard to it, saying, " Do not venture outside the
house after night as you would be in danger of being
attacked by the dog." A bed was prepared for us,
and we retired soon after supper. The guard also
slept in the house. Herrick and myself talked over
the possibilities of making our escape from that place,
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-6$ 193
but finally concluded that it would be futile to at-
tempt it on account of our weakened condition, the
danger of being attacked by the large dog and the
house being secured and locked.
We rested quite well until morning, Jan. 30. We
were given breakfast and the guard was soon ready
to conduct us on our way to Rocky Mount, arriving
there during the day. On our journey toward that
place we stopped at a farmhouse for the purpose of
procuring a drink of water. The man of the house
came out, being a man of perhaps sixty years of age,
and on learning who we were appeared to be terribly
enraged. He called us all sorts of new names not to
be found in a dictionary, and I well remember one
thing he said : " You killed my son and you ought to
be killed." He had a son in the Confederate army who
had been killed in battle, and seemed to blame us for
it. The guard looked at us and smiled, as much as
to say, " The old fool, let him talk." He appeared as
though he would like to give us a good dressing down,
as he shook his fist at us repeatedly, but I was not
alarmed ; we had seen things more dangerous than a
man's fist. We arrived at the jail Jan. 30, and were
placed in a room in company with two deserters from
the rebel army. Apparently we were the only inmates
of the jail except an insane man, who was confined in
194 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
another room. As the saying is, we were now " be-
hind the iron bars."
I had now been a tramp, begging for something to
eat, and also a prisoner behind the bars of a county
jail. This would have been disgraceful if I had been
myself to blame, but under the circumstances I did
not feel guilty. We were confined in this jail four days
and nights, and our treatment here was at least fifty
per cent better than in the military prison pens, and
we therefore voted unanimously in favor of remaining
here, but were counted out.
February 4, in company with the two deserters, we
were conducted to the railroad station some distance
away, and were put on board the cars (cars having
seats), and permitted to sit down during the journey.
We were soon on our way, as they told us, toward the
prisons in Richmond. This news had a very depress-
ing effect upon us. The train moved on in a north-
easterly direction, arriving at Lynchburg, Va., in the
evening, nothing of importance transpiring on the way.
We were placed in the guardhouse, where the night
and the following day were spent. While here we
discovered that the place was infested with some of
our former prison companions, the graybacks, and as a
consequence, during the night our clothing became
inhabited with the insects, which was to us quite a
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 195
torment, as we had been clear of them since entering
the convalescent camp at Danville. We were fed on
very scant rations at this place, on account of coming
under the prison discipline again.
We remained here until the evening of Feb. 5, and
shortly after dark were called out under a strong
guard, when we met a small number of other prisoners
bound for the same place that we were. A line of
guards surrounded us, and as we started for the train
the captain of the guards yelled out : " Guards, shoot
the first man who offers to run." This expression, of
course, was uttered to intimidate us prisoners. We
boarded the train and were soon en route for the city
of Richmond, riding all night and until some time dur-
ing the day of Feb. 6, when we arrived in the city,
and were soon transferred to a prison called the
Pemberton Building. This was a large, four-story
brick building. In it we found confined a large num-
ber of Federal prisoners. The Pemberton Building
was located on the opposite side of the street from
Libby Prison, and about one hundred feet farther to
the southeast. The street between Libby and the
Pemberton Building extended southeast and north-
west. From the windows of our prison we had a good
view of Libby and its surroundings. I remained in
this prison six days. While there, on the night of
196 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
Feb. 9, over one hundred of the officers confined in
Libby made their escape through a long tunnel, which
had previously been made by them.
This extended from the cellar under Libby, through
under a street at the east end of the building; its exit
being under a one-story wooden shed, on a vacant lot
just across the street from our prison. The prisoners
came out of the tunnel under this shed, and made
their escape under cover of the darkness of the night.
The following morning I saw quite a number of Con-
federate officers and guards walking about in the
vicinity of Libby apparently more or less excited. We
could look from our windows and see what was going
on about the streets. The news of the escape of the
Federal officers soon reached our prison, which caused
no little excitement among us. The Confederates still
continued their search about Libby, but did not seem
to discover the whereabouts of the tunnel until late
in the afternoon, when I saw them digging a hole at
the east end of the prison. I supposed they were in
search of the tunnel. Nearly one-half of those who
escaped through the tunnel were recaptured and
brought back to prison the following day. I saw a
number of them as they marched back into Libby.
Poor fellows, they seemed to be downcast, and I
could sympathize with them, having just been through
IN BATTLE. CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 197
a similar experience. We remained in the Pemberton
Building until Feb. 13, when we were transferred to
the prison pen on Belle Island.
198
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
CHAPTER XIII.
My Second Entrance into Belle Island Prison Pen,
Feb. 13, 1864.
The day that I entered the island the second time,
Feb. 13, a Confederate preacher delivered a very long
sermon to us, and tried to convert us to the Southern
Confederacy cause, but with poor success.
We could not be converted to an institution that
tried to freeze us and starve us. He was listened to at-
tentively for a long time when he remarked before
closing that he didn't know as he was doing any good
talking to us, it was like casting pearls before swine,
and he would close his remarks. One of our boys told
him that he might have stopped long ago if he had
wanted to, as we would have had no objections what-
ever.
On entering the prison pen on the island, for the
second time, my spirits sank to zero, for the prospect
before me was certainly a gloomy one. This was a
low and barren island, over which the cold February
winds swept from up and down the James River, mak-
ing it very uncomfortable for us, exposed as we were
to the elements of the weather. I could now see a
200 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
great change in the appearance of the prisoners since
my short stay of six days here, in October, 1863, and
not for the better, but very much worse. Many were
nearly destitute of clothing, and had been so starved
and exposed to the severe weather that they were mere
skeletons, slowly moving about. Some of them were
being fairly eaten alive by graybacks. From lack of
proper means of keeping clean, and only the icy river
water in which to wash, many were nearly as black
as negroes. Some indeed were too weak to keep them-
selves clean, and too discouraged to care. I was in-
formed that there were about 8,000 of us on the island
at this time, and a large number, perhaps several thou-
sand, including Herrick and myself, were without
shelter of any kind, although we were more fortunate
than some of them. During our stay here we received
no fuel for fires. I saw a few sticks of wood, which
were being whittled into splinters and small fires made
with them, around which hovered the poor, shiver-
ing, almost lifeless human forms, sitting upon the
frozen ground. This wood being pitch pine, produced
very black smoke, which blackened the faces of the
poor fellows who tried to warm over the little fires
and caused them to appear still more hideous. Those
of the prisoners who were without shelter contrived
different ways to keep from freezing at night, while
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 201
trying to sleep. I slept in a shallow rounding ditch
in the ground, in which I lay also in the daytime, when
becoming tired of walking about, standing or sitting
on the frozen ground. This protected me to some ex-
tent from the cold, piercing winds which blew over
the island, but it was very uncomfortable during a
rainstorm, of which we experienced several during
our confinement there. During a rainstorm the sand
and ground about me would become saturated with
water, and keep my clothing wet for days, and I would
become so chilled and numbed that I would be scarce-
ly able to get up. One cold night, while trying to
sleep, my toes were frozen so that the skin peeled off
sometime after. While we were here in this condition
the water in the river froze over nearly the whole of
its surface. I saw ice over three inches in thickness.
A day seemed to me as long as a month. Rations
were very small, consisting almost entirely of unsifted
cornmeal, stirred up with water, and often without
salt, as salt was a scarce article with the Confederacy.
This was baked in cakes about the size of a brick, only
about one and one-half inches thick. One-half a cake
of this size was given each man for a day's ration, and
nothing else with it, with the exception that two or
three times while on the island we received beans or
meat. This was generally entirely devoured at once,
202 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, *6l-'65
leaving nothing for the other two meals, and yet we
lemained nearly as hungry as before eating. Our
drink consisted of icy river water, which did not warm
a person very much, thoroughly chilled as we were.
Days and weeks passed slowly on, with nothing to
cheer us, but everything to depress our spirits. Cold,
hungry, and discouraged with the sight of so much
misery all about us, little wonder that some lost their
reason. Our main topic of conversation was the com-
forts of home, and the subject of something to eat,
especially as this was most forcibly impressed upon
our minds. I well remember receiving as a part of
one day's rations some small beans (called here cow
beans). Some were red and others black. I placed
them in my left hand and counted them, and found
that there were just fifteen. These were all the beans
that I received while on the island, and as I had no
means of cooking them I ate them raw.
At another time I received a piece of boiled beef,
about the size of a black walnut, which was all the
meat I had to eat while on the island. After a short
stay in this place I began to fail rapidly. On arising
in the morning I would ache all over, and could scarce-
ly straighten up, and it appeared to me that even the
marrow in my bones was chilled. Occasionally I
would take a walk down to the water's edge, in order
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6^ 203
to start circulation and get a little warmth into my
shivering body, in which I generally failed. In order
to get to the water we were obliged to pass down
through a narrow lane, fenced on each side with a
tight high board fence, and plenty of guards on all
sides. Through this we passed to procure water, and
to wash our hands and faces if we washed at all. We
were not supplied with washbasins, and therefore when
washing would use the river as a basin, which did not
improve the water for drinking purposes, where
several thousand men washed within a space of 30 or
40 feet in length. The closet was also located very
near where we obtained our drinking water. This
was at the lower end of the island where there was no
current to carry away the filthy water.
Our clothes could not be washed because the weather
was too cold. We were in the same predicament as
the man who possessed only one suit and was obliged
to go to bed while his garments were being washed.
But we were not so fortunate as he because we had no
beds to go to and not even what a person would call
a suit.
During some of these walks I saw most horrid
sights as I walked through the camp. I remember one
day of seeing several boys or young men who had be-
come so weakened and emaciated by their treatment
204 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
here that they were unable to stand erect while walk-
ing but were obliged to bend over like old men of
eighty. Their clothing on the outside, under their
arms, was white with graybacks and nits, and as I
stood looking at the poor boys I wondered what must
be the condition on the inside of their garments. But
I was helpless as far as giving them relief. They
were only a sample of hundreds of similar cases. As
I stated in a previous chapter, we who were able would
take off our shirts, turn them insjde out, and kill (be-
tween our only weapons of defense our thumb-nails)
all ttee graybacks we could find. During this opera-
tion we would keep our coats (when we possessed
any) closely buttoned around our shivering bodies.
But many poor fellows had become unable to do even
this much toward their own comfort, and there were
hundreds and thousands in the same wretched con-
dition. At other times, when passing through the
prison, I saw squads of prisoners who were such ob-
jects of pity that I am utterly incapable of describing
them. The memory of them will remain fresh in my
mind as long as I live. Some were mere skeletons,
scarcely able to move, barefooted, pants worn off half-
way to their knees, shirt or coat sleeves worn off nearly
to the elbow, their long matted hair and whiskers
which had not been cut for months hanging over their
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
dirty, emaciated faces. Add to this, in many instances,
perhaps sore and frozen feet. They were objects
calculated to enkindle pity in the heart of a tyrant.
Again, I saw some who were unable to walk, lying on
the ground with no better clothing than those I have
just described, and no other protection from the bit-
ter cold.
To these death soon came as a welcome relief. Near-
ly every morning a number of dead were carried out
to some burial place. All these scenes did not have an
inspiring effect on us. The craving for meat had be-
come so intense that one day as Lieut. Boisseux, com-
mander of the guards, came strolling through the pris-
on pen with his pet dog following him, the dog was
enticed into a tent by some of the prisoners. They
caught him, cut his throat, dressed him and prepared
the meat for cooking, which was soon done, and he
was devoured by the hungry men. I did not see any
of this transaction, but learned of it through other
prisoners. One jday I met one of the prisoners who
possessed a small brass kettle. He showed it to me
and said, " This is the kettle in which we cooked the
dog." I wondered where they could procure fuel
enough to cook a dog, as it was a very scarce article
on the island. The dog was .probably cooked a few
days before my arrival on the island.
206 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
As the days passed on, the suffering from cold and
hunger increased at a rapid rate. I could notice that
I was failing and growing weaker every day, and
would sometimes almost despair of ever getting out of
that place of torment alive, but did not give up the
struggle for dear life. One day as I was strolling
through the prison, to my great surprise and delight
I met two members of my own company, Alonzo Fish
and John Stevenson, who were captured and brought
to Belle Island during my confinement in the Rich-
mond prisons. Of course we were greatly rejoiced,
but sorry to meet under such conditions.
The death rate among the prisoners was becoming
more alarming, as it seemed the stfongest of them
were succumbing to the rigors of the weather and
starvation. The time was now near spring and the
cold was abating somewhat, but yet the suffering was
intense, from different causes. I never have read of
such an amount of intense suffering at any place (ex-
cept at Andersonville, Ga.) as I experienced and saw
here in this dreadful place. The only hope I had was
that the weather would become more mild, and the
suffering in that respect might abate.
It was now about March 10, and they were and had
been transferring prisoners from the island to Ander-
sonville, Ga. Every alternate day they called for 600
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 207
prisoners, marched them out through the gate and
across the bridge near the iron works to the south bank
of the river, and generally across the long bridge to
the city, where they were loaded into cars and sent
south. We could see the trains passing over the long
railroad bridge below the island. One day when they
called as usual for 600, my chum, William Herrick,
who had escaped with me from the Danville prison,
went out with them, and the last time that I saw him
was when they marched along just outside the dead
line, on their way to Andersonville. The poor man
ended his life there, as I afterwards learned.
The majority of us who were confined here were
men who had seen several years' service in the front
of the army, and had often slept on the cold ground
in our rain-soaked clothes, but this place was many
degrees worse. We were helpless to assist our poor
sick and dying comrades, because we could get nothing
to help them with. We could not get as much as a
few leaves or weeds to place between their emaciated
bodies and the cold ground, in their dying hour. The
surface of our prison pen was as bare as though it had
been swept. Not a leaf, straw or anything of the kind
could be found, that might be used in making some
sort of a bed.
Being starved down, by receiving less than one meal
208 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
per day, and that of poor quality, with not a spark of
fire by which to warm our chilled bodies, scarcely able
to straighten up, our garments on the inside infested
with vermin, dirty in the extreme, no change of cloth-
ing and with long matted hair; all this made us feel
indescribably miserable, and made the place a hell upon
earth. Our farmers would build a roof over their hog-
pens to shelter their swine from the rain and snow, and
give them straw for a bed and 'enough to eat, but
we possessed none of these comforts. If a farmer
would treat his stock as we were treated he would
not expect them to live many months. One day while
standing in the midst of the prison, looking over the
mass of thousands of human beings most of them
in a deplorable condition I saw some of them aim-
lessly moving about, seemingly not knowing where
they were going. Of course we were all in suspense
with regard to our future treatment, not knowing
how long our misery would continue to increase or
how or where it would end.
What a contrast between these men in prison and
when they left their homes! There they were patri-
otic and industrious boys and young men youths in
their first flush of manhood and a life of honor to them-
selves and usefulness to the community. Boys pre-
cious in the affections of home, of fathers, mothers,
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
209
sisters, brothers and sweethearts, their minds aglow
with high aspirations of a bright future were sent in-
to this hell, to be sacrificed here for their country. Is
it any wonder that we dreamed every night of our
homes and friends? Scarcely a night passed that I
HE KNOWS ME, THE CHERUB?
Dream of Home and Wife.
did not dream of being at home and getting some-
thing to eat. Then on awakening from such happy
dreams what a disappointment it seemed !
Dear reader, think of it, what it cost to save this
great government from destruction. Many a patri-
210 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-6$
otic young man could have saved his life and health
by going out of prison on parole, and working for
the Confederate government, as they offered us an op-
portunity to do. But the boys refused to do this.
They told them they would rather rot in prison than
work for them. This was genuine patriotism, when
death was staring them in the face. They refused to
do anything to save their own lives which would in the
least reflect upon our flag.
Thus many brave and good boys passed from this
life while in these prisons, in a most wretched condi-
tion. I am at a loss to decide what words to use, in
order to express to the reader in a mild form the sad
scenes witnessed* in some of our comrades' dying
hours, in the prisons, during the winter of 1863 and
1864. The condition of our sick and helpless comrades
I partly described in former pages, and here I will
merely describe a scene in my unvarnished language,
which will probably cover hundreds of cases. One
day while I was walking through a crowded part of
the prison pen I saw a fellow-prisoner apparently a
young man lying on the ground. He appeared to me
as if he were in a helpless condition. His face was
pale where it was not black from prison filth, hair
long and matted, clothing thin and torn, arms bare
nearly to the elbows, and other parts of the body ex-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, r 6l-'65 211
posed, caused by worn-out clothing. He 'looked more
like a skeleton than a living man. He was lying upon
the bare ground, which was perhaps slightly frozen.
As I stated before, the prison pen was entirely desti-
tute of anything which could be placed between his
poor, chilled body and the ground. We were all help-
less, as far as making him comfortable. This boy was
undoubtedly of the class mentioned in former lines,
honest, patriotic, and loved by his home relatives and
friends. He was now in a destitute and dying con-
dition, with no mother, father, sister or brother to
comfort him, to soothe his fevered brow, and to whom
he could communicate his last dying words. In some
instances similar to this case the last feeble words of
the dying man to a comrade would be : " Tell my folks
that I died for my country " ; and in a feeble voice
give the last good-bye.
Who was responsible for the intense sufferings and
destruction of Union soldiers confined in southern
military prisons during the War of the Rebellion from
1861 to 1865? is a question sometimes asked. I am not
able to answer that question fully, but can give only
my opinion in some respects, and certify to what I
saw and know in regard to it. I believe that a large
majority of the people of the South would not have
permitted the cruel treatment of our soldiers in their
212 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
prisons, if they could have prevented it, but they
were powerless. The men in authority in the Con-
federacy were many of them responsible for our cruel
treatment.
Of course the South was nearly destitute of some
things for which we suffered during our confinement
in their prisons. But they possessed plenty of fresh
air, fuel (in coal and wood), good clean water, and
material with which we could have built shelters for
ourselves. If they would have supplied us with the
above mentioned four articles, our sufferings would
not have been one-half as great as they were.
Some people censured the United States govern-
ment for leaving us in prison so long a time, claim-
ing that the government would not consent to an ex-
change of prisoners, because the Confederates in our
prisons in the North, if exchanged, would have been
able to enter their army as soon as exchanged. But
our men from southern prisons would not, on ac-
count of being disabled for service. I know we were
disabled nearly all of us for a lifetime.
Our faithful endurance in southern prisons was a
very large factor in bringing the war to a successful
close, but it was a barbarous and cruel manner to use
soldiers. If it is true that the United States govern-
ment would not exchange, it does not excuse the men
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 213
in authority in the Confederacy, who were responsible
for the most of our sufferings while we were confined
in southern military prisons.
The truth of our cruel treatment was corroborated
by many southern people at the time of our confine-
ment in their prisons, and they petitioned the Con-
federate authorities, praying for the betterment of
our treatment. But the Confederate authorities turned
a deaf ear, and would do nothing to relieve our suf-
ferings.
It was now near the middle of the month of March.
The weather was beginning to grow mild. The frost
seemingly was nearly all out of the ground, and there
were small patches of green grass springing up out-
side the dead-line. One day while going down to the
river after a drink I espied a small patch of green
grass outside the line. I stood and looked at it, and
longed to have some of it to eat, as my appetite seemed
to crave some vegetable or something green.
The transfer of prisoners from the island to Ander-
sonville still continued. Every alternate day they
called for 600, who were taken to the city, put on
board the cars, and shipped south. By this time the
crowd on the island had been considerably reduced.
On Saturday, March 12, the usual call was made for
600. Sunday morning, March 13, broke over us with
214 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6^
a bright and beautiful sky. Soon after sunrise the
officers in command of the prison called for 400 men, to
go out and over to the city of Richmond. As this
was a different number from their previous calls, and
made on an odd day (as the former calls were made
every alternate day), this caused me to believe that
they were going to a different place than Anderson-
ville. I was standing by a comrade of my company,
Alonzo Fish, and we were looking out over the dead-
line toward the cookhouse, which was located just a
few rods from the dead-line. We saw some of our
boys who were doing the baking of the corn-bread,
and who had blankets, were rolling them up and
seemed to be preparing to leave. I said to Fish, " Let
us try and go out with this squad, I believe they are
going to our lines, as the indications appear that way
to me." The gate soon opened, and the commander
of the prison stood beside it and counted the men as
they passed through. Fish and myself were soon
ready, as all we had to do was take our places in line,
and we marched out with the 400. As soon as the
count was finished the gate was closed, and we were
now really outside the prison pen, but yet under
guard. As a consequence we were considerably ex-
cited over the prospect before us. We marched to
the bridge leading from the island to the south bank
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 215
of the James, and across it, and then down to the big
bridge spanning the river and leading to the city.
We were soon across the river, and marched down
the street past old Libby Prison and into a large brick
building. All this time I felt a little nervous on ac-
count of the uncertainty of our destination, as I.
thought our lives depended on whether we were ex-
changed or sent to some other prison.
We were now inside the large building, discussing
the prospects before us. Some time during the day
some Confederates came in with paper, ink and pen,
and told us we were going to be paroled, and asked
us to sign our names on a large sheet of paper, telling
us that it was a parole. This caused an intense anxiety
among our men. We all signed it without any urging,
and you may believe there was a great change in our
spirits. Oh, what a happy hour was that, to think
that we would once more see the glorious Stars and
Stripes.
" The hollow eyes grew bright,
And the poor heart almost gay,
As we thought of seeing home
And friends once more."
But yet it was almost too good to believe, as we
had on several occasions been told by the Confederates
that we would be paroled and sent to our lines, but
216 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
were merely transferred from one prison to another,
and sadly disappointed. Thus far we had signed a
parole but were yet uncertain as to our fate.
We spent the night of March 13 in the building
mentioned, and I well remember that many of us were
so elated that we slept but little during the night, but
spent the time in talking about what we would do
when reaching our lines, and if we finally got home.
The morning of March 14 came at last. There was
no change in the news about going to our homes.
During the day we heard that there was a Confederate
steamer coming up the river, to take us to a place
where the United States flag of truce boat would meet
us. From the windows of our prison we could see
down to the boat-landing on the river, the distance
being fifteen or twenty rods. We could see that the
boat had not yet arrived, but were anxiously watch-
ing all day for its arrival. About the middle of the
afternoon the little steamer hove in sight, and soon
made a landing at the wharf, and you can imagine the
excitement ran high.
We immediately marched out and down to the land-
ing, and were soon on board the boat. In a short time
it pulled out and steamed down the river in a south-
easterly direction. We were yet uneasy as to our
destination. The boat steamed slowly down the James,
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 217
and somehow news was received that we were destined
for a place called City Point, where we would meet
a United States steamship to receive us, but were
yet unbelievers, like doubting Thomas. We said,
" Until Old Glory is seen floating above our heads we
will not believe."
As we floated down the river nothing of great in-
terest was seen as we passed along. Our conversation
was mostly on the subject of our exchange. Night
was coming on, many of us were lying on the upper
deck of the steamer, and after dark I think the ma-
jority of us fell asleep, at least I did. Some time dur-
ing the night the boat reached City Point, and ran
in beside the United States steamship. I was asleep
at the time, and of course was not aware that the boat
had stopped, and was in the presence of the United
States boat. I awoke during the latter part of the
night and discovered that the boat was lying quiet.
I investigated the surroundings, and saw something
beside our boat. On close examination I found it to
be a steamship, with tall masts reaching to quite a
height above the boat. Everything was quiet, no one
seemed to be moving, and it being yet dark I lay down
and went to sleep. Ere long daylight began to appear,
and as soon as we could see plainly enough to dis-
tinguish the old flag, it seemed nearly all the prisoners
218 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65
awoke like magic, and all that could began cheering
for " Old Glory," which was floating from the head
of the United States ship ; and, dear reader, you can
imagine what the sight of the old flag brought forth.
Continuous cheering came from all those who were
able, but some, alas, were not, having been carried
on board the boat by their comrades, and these could
express their intense love for the Stars and Stripes
only by extending their naked bony arms in its direc-
tion, and many were so overjoyed that they shed
tears.
One of our number died on the way down the river.
I never had been so elated in my life before as now,
by the knowledge that we were released from a death
sentence. We found ourselves under the protection
01 the old flag at last, and it appeared to me better, ten
times more beautiful, with brighter colors and stars
than it had ever appeared before, and I was overcome
by an inspiring sensation which made me feel like
singing the good old song : " Oh, wrap the flag around
me boys."
I suppose many of the boys felt as I did and wanted
to sing, but did not have vitality enough to sing a
song. We were then believers, because we saw " Old
Glory " floating above us.
Our release from prison may well be compared to
IN 1SATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
S
220 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
the release of a person from a death sentence. Many
of our number wept like children. The next thing
we saw was some Confederates on board the United
States ship. I walked up near enough to enter into
conversation with one of them, and asked him how
they had been treated in the North. He replied,
" Very well." I said, " Did you receive enough to
eat? " (This thought appeared to be uppermost in our
minds.) He said they did, and I was satisfied from
their appearance that they had received good usage
while they were held as prisoners of war in Uncle
Sam's hands. They appeared healthy, and some of
them had received new clothing during their im-
prisonment, and as far as I could see were well clothed.
But yet they had undoubtedly suffered great hard-
ships, as that is a consequence in military prison life,
which is torture at its best. Some of the Confederates
who were confined in northern prisons complained of
hardships, and I have no doubt but that it was hard
to endure, but it was no comparison to our sufferings
in southern prisons.
CHAPTER XIV.
Under the Protection of " Old Glory " Once More.
During the forenoon we were transferred from the
Confederate steamer to Uncle Sam's boat, and the Con-
federates were taken to the Confederate steamer. Now,
as the boys termed it, we were once more in " God's
country." Soon after our arrival on board the boat
coffee was prepared for us. It was made in a large
barrel, by steam. Oh, but that sweet odor from the cof-
fee was delicious. It testified that we had passed from a
land of starvation to a land of plenty. We had not
smelled coffee for about six months until now, and were
receiving our first meal from Uncle Sam since our ex-
change. It consisted of a tin-cup of good coffee, a
slice of bread about as large as my hand, a slice of
boiled pork about the size of one finger, a piece of
onion, and two apples. We had fasted so long that in
our debilitated condition the consequence would have
been serious if we had been given a full meal. We
were now safely on board of Uncle Sam's ship, and
were soon to move out of the harbor.
Late in the afternoon the boat started in the direc-
222 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
tion of Fortress Monroe. On the way down we passed
a monitor. I was informed by one of the boat crew
that it was the one that had defeated the Merrimac.
We also passed a very large man-of-war which looked
like a great fort, and I thought it was until informed
differently. When we arrived near Fortress Monroe
the boat halted for a short time, and then passed near
the Fortress and out into Chesapeake Bay, and started
on our journey toward Annapolis, Md.
Darkness soon came on, and also a tremendous gale
began blowing from the northeast, which made things
lively on the boat. In a short time it began to rock
violently, and for some time the storm seemed to in-
crease in fury. This made the ship rock to and fro so
that we were unable to stand up. About four hundred
of us paroled prisoners were lying on the floor of the
ship. I made several attempts to stand up but could
not, and then decided to remain down and keep quiet,
but also failed in that. Then many buckets were placed
on the floor in different parts of the boat. I was
curious to learn why that was done, but had not long to
wait until I learned more about it than I had any
desire to know. The reader can guess the rest.
The night wore on slowly, the storm beating against
the boat and tossing it first one way and then the other,
and it seemed to move in a half dozen directions at
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 223
once, which made things interesting. -At one time
the boat tipped to one side so much that I thought it
would not straighten up again. The captain of the
boat called for the deck hands, and they were soon at
their posts of duty, and began turning a windlass
which was attached to the side of the boat, to
which was fastened one end of a large rope and the
other end to a small iron car, which stood on a track
extending crosswise of the boat. By this means they
drew the heavy car to the high side, by winding the
rope around the windlass. They also rolled barrels
of sand from the lower to the high side. By these the
ship was balanced again, and saved from overturning.
Occasionally a wave would strike the side of the boat,
causing a very loud report, and making the ship fairly
tremble. At one time during the night I thought to
myself, perhaps now we will be shipwrecked and
drowned, after passing through all our hardships and
troubles, when within a few hours' ride of our destina-
tion.
But, thank the Lord, we landed at Annapolis the
following day. The storm ceased some time during the
morning, and we soon came in sight of the place of
landing. They were now beginning to get us ready to
be transferred from the boat to the shore, at Annapolis,
Md., where we arrived March 16, 1864. All those who
224 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
were able to do so got up and walked out on shore.
After landing I stepped to one side of our group, and
turning toward it I beheld the most sorrowful picture
of human beings that I had ever seen, except when on
the island. Those scenes seem to be permanently
stamped upon my memory.
I again joined the group or crowd, as there were
almost too many of us to be called a group. We were
certainly awful-looking objects of humanity. We had
not been barbered for six months, and some of the
group for eight or ten months. Our faces were dirty
and disfigured with prison grime, shaggy whiskers,
shrunken cheeks and lips, long, matted hair on
our heads, stooped shoulders, and long, bony hands
and fingers, which made us appear like a lot of apes
and monkeys. I am certain if Mr. Barnum, the noted
showman, had caught sight of us, Uncle Sam would
have been minus a few so-called soldiers, because we
would undoubtedly have been corralled for his shows.
The buzzard that feeds on carrion would have blushed
and been offended, if we had been offered to him for
food.
But many of us thanked Providence for our mi-
raculous deliverance from almost certain death. From
the best information that I could procure during recent
years, I learned that our squad of 400 was the last one
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-6$ 225
that was paroled during the spring and summer of
1864, and therefore if we had not been permitted to
go. out with these 400 the majority of us would now
be numbered with the dead at the prison pen. I heard
of a number of ex-prisoners returning to their homes
so changed in appearance that their own parents were
unable to recognize them. We were asked to get in
line and march over to a large building, which was
new and apparently constructed for the purpose for
which it was used. It was divided into three large
compartments.
In the first room we passed into they clipped our
hair and whiskers closely. We were then ordered to
strip off every rag from our bodies. If I remember
rightly they handled our filthy, lousy garments with
pitchforks, after taking them off, and I considered it
an insult to the forks. We were then told to pass on
into another very large room, in which were twenty or
thirty bathtubs, containing plenty of warm water.
Then each received a piece of soap and a towel, and
was told to take a good bath, which we did and greatly
enjoyed. Those who were not able to do so were
bathed by assistants.
After being purified in this manner we were shown
into a third large room, and given a new outfit of
clothing, consisting of shirt, drawers, pants, socks,
226 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
shoes, coat, hat and blanket. Imagine the change in
our appearance, and also in our feelings. I did not
weigh very heavy when we landed, but I imagined that
I weighed several pounds less after taking my bath.
Some of the boys intimated that Uncle Sam could sell
fertilizer after we had all finished bathing.
After being dressed in our new suits we were trans-
ferred over to the new barracks, which were found to
be very nice and clean. The day was now about gone,
and a supper was prepared for us. After eating we
retired to our bunks, and I am utterly unable to de-
scribe how well my rest was enjoyed that night. Oh,
such a sweet rest as it was; knowing that we were
once more clean, and that our clothing was not infested
with graybacks who would dance about on our bodies
and torment us during the night. To think that we
were no longer under control of a cruel prison-keeper,
and that those hideous prison days were a thing of
the past was a blessed relief. Our transfer from the
prison pens to the new and clean barracks, may well
be compared to a release from the infernal regions, and
a transfer to the land of everlasting bliss.
But yet we were reminded of our comrades left in
prison, who were yet suffering and did not know how
much longer they would remain there. We tarried in
Annapolis about ten days. While there we were well
IX BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-6$ 227
cared for by Uncle Sam. There was such a contrast
between this treatment and our treatment in prison
that I kept thinking that it was too good to continue.
Some of the boys remarked as follows : " How long is
this thing going to last?" We had been tormented
during such a long time that we could not make our-
selves believe that we would henceforward have
enough to eat, and that we were in a land of plenty.
And it really seemed to us a strange thing to have
humane treatment.
March 26 we received orders to go to St. Louis,
Mo. We went by steamer from Annapolis to Balti-
more. All the western boys were there transferred to
the cars on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and left
Baltimore March 27, 1864, passing through Harper's
Ferry, the scene of John Brown's insurrection. On
this road we were taken as far as Cincinnati, Ohio,
where we rested one day, and on March 30 were trans-
ferred to the cars of the Ohio and Mississippi railroad
on which we were taken to St. Louis, Mo., arriving
there on March 31. Nothing of any consequence tran-
spired on the way, except that I was sick during the
latter part of the journey. When our train crossed
the Illinois Central railroad in southern Illinois, it
was nighttime and the train halted for some time. It
was not very dark, and I was able to look out and see
228 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
some of the Illinois prairies, which made me feel home-
sick. I felt as though I wanted to get on the Illinois
Central and go north to my home at Mendota, a dis-
tance of several hundred miles. But according to army
regulations I was not allowed to go. I never received
a furlough during my service of three years and four
months. Our train rolled on toward St. Louis, arriving
there, as stated before. We got off and were soon in
our temporary home, the convalescent camp at Ben-
ton Barracks.
I among many others was placed under the doctor's
care for the treatment of scurvy and general disability.
Our lodging place was in the barracks, and we reported
to the doctor every morning. At times I felt quite
sick and was under treatment several months. At
the end of this time I had gained considerable strength,
and was much better but not entirely well.
In the latter part of May we were transferred from
here to Memphis, Tenn. We went by boat, steamed
out from the landing, and started down the Mississippi.
A short time after leaving the landing quite an exciting
incident occurred. There were several hundred of us
ex-prisoners of war on board. We had taken our
places in a comfortable part of the boat. The lower
part of it, where the boilers were located, was partly
occupied by fat cattle en route for the army. A captain
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 229
with a number of guards had charge of us, and was to
conduct us to Memphis. The captain came to us and
said, " Boys, you must go down to the next floor." We
refused to go, as we were more comfortable on the
upper floor, and told him that we would like to remain
above ; that we had been dogged about long enough.
He insisted on our going down, seemed to be of the
aristocratic style, and finally drew his sabre and at-
tempted to strike one of our number who stood at
the stairway leading below, at the same time ordering
him to go down, which he refused to do. He being
a tall, active fellow, struck the captain with his fist,
and sent him sprawling on the floor, his sabre flying
out of his hand. He got up and called to his guards
to come and assist him, which they did not do, as there
were only five or six of them, and seeing fire in our
eyes they concluded it was best not to interfere. The
captain was very angry, and went to the captain of
the boat and ordered him to land us on the Missouri
side of the river. We disembarked and waited quite a
long time, and finally another boat came along and
took us on board, and we were soon again on our way
down the river.
If it had been necessary for us to go down to the
lower part of the boat we would have gone. But there
was plenty of room on the second floor, where wo
230 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
could be comfortable, and we knew that ; therefore we
did not propose to be imposed upon by an aristocratic
captain. Nothing of interest transpired during the re-
mainder of the trip, and we landed at Memphis, Tenn.,
the following day, where the crowd was divided, some
going to their company and regiment, and others again
to some convalescent camp. I was transferred to a
convalescent camp situated on a bluff of the Miss-
issippi, not far from it. When I entered the place the
weather was very hot, and the wind blowing almost a
gale, which filled the air with dust and fine dry sand,
covering the bunks and everything about us with it.
This made it very unpleasant. I did not feel very well
at this time, and the effects of the unpleasant sur-
roundings did not improve my feelings any. Learning
of the whereabouts of my company and regiment, the
7th Illinois Cavalry, I decided to make my way to it
if possible. No one was allowed to leave this camp
without a pass from the one in charge. It was en-
closed by a tight board fence. After being confined
here several days, I concluded that as long as I re-
mained here my health would not improve, so I
issued orders to the effect that Eby might return to
his company and regiment, and made preparations to
leave the place immediately. They would not give me
a pass, but I looked about, and finally made my escape
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 231
by a means which did not conform with military rules.
After being outside of the camp I immediately
started in search of my regiment, which I learned was
encamped only a few miles distant from the city. I
made inquiries occasionally as I moved along in re-
gard to the location of the regiment, which assisted
me in finding it. I accomplished my task on the same
day of starting out. I did not think it proper to re-
main in convalescent camp at Uncle Sam's expense,
when I could just as well be with the regiment and do
a little service and get well.
CHAPTER XV.
My Return to My Company and Regiment on May
25, 1864.
I found the boys of my company, and a happy meet-
ing it was. They surrounded me and treated me
royally, asking many questions in regard to my capture
and prison life. Oh, how glad I was to get back among
them once more ! But alas ! some of the number were
missing, never to return. Some had died, others been
killed in battle since I had last been with them. Our
camp was located in a pleasant grove of tall trees, with
a well of good water near by. Our captain thought I
was not yet well enough to do duty, and therefore did
not issue any firearms to me.
A few days later part of the company was sent out
to reconnoiter, and I concluded to go with them for
recreation, and thought it would be of more benefit
to me than medicine. I procured a sabre and carbine
from one of the boys who was not able to go with us.
We went out quite a distance from camp, to see what
we could ascertain in regard to the enemy, but failed
to find any. We stopped at a farmhouse where we
234 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65
bought some milk and a few biscuits, which tasted
delicious.
We returned to camp without any special excite-
ment, and I felt quite refreshed. It was now the early
part of July, 1864, and time passed away as usual,
with the ordinary guard and picket duties, and
occasionally going outside the lines on scouting ex-
peditions. My health still continued to improve slow-
ly. Nothing special occurred to create any great ex-
citement until Aug. 21, 1864, when in the morning,
about three o'clock, we heard firing on the picket line,
which was more than ordinary skirmishing. The firing
awoke some of us immediately, and in about a minute
all was alive and bustle in our camp. The regimental
bugle sounded " boots and saddles," which meant get
your boots on and saddle your horses. And then an-
other call came to mount and fall in, which meant get
in line, ready to march, and we proceeded to do this
as quickly as possible. Before we were able to form
in line we heard the enemy galloping toward the city
on the main road, within thirty or forty rods of our
camp. As it was not yet daylight we were unable to
see them. They proved to be quite a large force of
Gen. Forrest's cavalry. They came to the picket line,
fired a few volleys, and broke right through with their
main column, and fired into a regiment of -infantry
IN BATTLE, CAMP .AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 235
which was camped a short distance inside the picket
line, killing several of their number. As there were
not many troops camped inside the city, the Confeder-
ate cavalry had almost a clear road to the center of the
city. Their object was to capture the General in com-
mand, rob the postoffice, and any other mischief they
could do. They nearly accomplished their object. The
General in command of our troops here had his head-
quarters in a house, and the Confederates came to the
front door so suddenly that he had only time to get
out of bed, grab his clothes, and escape through a back
door.
Some of the enemy got upon the steps of the post-
office, but were driven away by a squad of infantry
who fired on them from across the street. While this
was going on in the city, twenty-five of Co. C, I being
of that number, were detailed to move out toward the
picket line to ascertain what was there, and whether or
not there was any considerable force of Confederates.
Before reaching the place where the picket line was
usually located, we discovered a long line of cavalry
standing quietly, and at first were unable to tell
whether they were friend or foe, on account of its not
being quite light enough. We moved up within a short
distance of them, and found them to be Confederate
cavalry, which had been left there as a reserve, as we
236 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
learned later. They did not fire upon us, as they no
doubt supposed that we were some of their own men
returning from the city. We immediately faced about
and moved toward the city and our camp, and soon
found ourselves in a bad predicament, with a long line
of the enemy in front and another in our rear. As I
stated before it was scarcely light enough to distin-
guish objects at a long distance, and we were within
four or five rods of the enemy's line, which was just
returning from the city, before the discovery was made
that we were enemies to each other. Then firing com-
menced and we immediately saw our dangerous posi-
tion, being threatened in front and rear with a force of
the enemy more than ten times our number, and we
knew what our fate would be if we remained there a
moment longer -that we would be made prisoners.
Our only means of escape were some small spaces
open on the flanks. We struck out for these, every
man as fast as horse power could take him. In this
little skirmish our force of twenty-five was nearly
annihilated ; one being killed, several made prisoners,
some slightly wounded, and a number injured by their
horses falling into washouts, which were plentiful in
this section. The balance were scattered in different
directions in order to make their escape. I escaped
without injury, receiving only bullet-holes through my
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 237
right trousers leg, but they did not cause me any
pain. Two of the horses belonging to our party be-
came unmanageable. The rider of one, William Orris,
was carried through between two Confederates, who
had their guns in position to shoot when they saw
him approaching them. They both fired, just as he
was within a few feet of them, and both missed him,
but one fired so close to his head that his hair was
singed. He was carried safely through the lines to our
forces. The other one, Elmer Hunt, was carried by his
horse through the Confederate forces, and also arrived
in our lines in safety. The balance of our number that
were left got through, some one way and some another.
When the Confederates saw that we were determined
to get away they started to follow us, and as I was
riding up a hill along a fence I heard them coming to-
ward me, shooting and yelling, " Halt, halt, you Yank !"
but Yank wouldn't halt worth a cent. I had other
business just over the fence in a cottonfield. It seemed
to me that I never was in such a big hurry to go some-
where in my life, as I was when riding up that hill,
and I did not heed the Johnnies' advice, who were try-
ing so hard to persuade me to stop. As the saying is,
a person could have played checkers on my coat tail
if I had possessed one, but I had on a cavalry jacket.
I was riding an extremely tall horse of several colors,
238 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
an Arabian, spotted something like a giraffe. He was
owned by Uncle Sam, and when riding up that hill he
appeared to be about seventy-five hands high, espe-
cially when I fell off at the cottonfield. I must have
presented a comical spectacle when going up that hill.
I don't wonder that the Confederates followed me so
industriously.
When I reached the cottonfield my horse made a
short turn at a fence corner, and the saddle girth being
quite loose allowed the saddle to turn and I found my-
self on the ground, in a second, badly scared. As the
saying is, " I might as well have been shot as to have
been scared to death." I was determined that they
should not again make me a prisoner. So I jumped
up, and as quickly as possible ran through under the
fence into the cottonfield, and up between two rows
of cotton, which were about four feet in height and
quite bushy, and by stooping down I was enabled to
keep out of sight. After running some distance I lay
down in the row and remained there, awaiting results.
The enemy did not follow me into the cottonfield, but
after remaining there perhaps fifteen or twenty minutes
I heard horsemen coming up through the field, and in
a few moments a large number of the Confederate
cavalry rode past me, in the second or third row from
where I was lying and expected every moment that
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 239
they would call me to get up, and I would be their
prisoner. But they passed by without discovering me.
If they had but stopped and listened, they might have
heard my. heart beat, but they would undoubtedly have
mistaken it for a bass drum. All sorts of visions of
the horrid prison pens passed through my mind in
these few moments. Soon after the Confederates passed
out of my hearing I quietly arose to see what could
be discovered. The enemy had now all disappeared,
and I looked around and saw one of my squad, Giles
Hodge, who was in a similar predicament as myself,
and had just risen out of the cotton about twenty-five
or thirty feet from me. We looked at each other and
exchanged congratulations on our good fortune in
escaping capture by the enemy.
It was at once discovered that the Confederates had
all passed out of our immediate vicinity and that our
troops were preparing to follow. Hodge and myself
then walked back to camp, where we found our horses,
to our surprise and joy. Comrade Hodge is now living
in Lee Center, 111., and Comrade Orris in Triumph,
111. Comrade Hunt I believe lives in Davenport, Iowa.
During the morning engagement, James Coss, of
Co. C, who remained with the main portion of the 7th,
chased and captured a Confederate lieutenant. During
the chase Jim's hat fell to the ground, which he could
240 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS. '6l-'6$
not pick up, as he was obliged to keep his eyes upon
his prisoner, and therefore escorted his captive nearly
two miles, to the General's headquarters, bareheaded.
The General congratulated Jim and presented him with
a hat.
After procuring our horses, we readjusted the sad-
dles, mounted, and also went in pursuit of Gen. For-
rest's forces. After catching up with our company
and regiment the boys began laughing at us, on ac-
count of our peculiar way of making our escape.
While Hodge and I were lying in the cottonfield the
ground appeared to be as attractive as a magnet, and
we were about as flat as a hardtack. And about the
time that the Confederate cavalry was passing by us
I imagined that the old Confederate prisons were al-
most in sight. It did seem as though I thought of a
thousand things in one moment of time. I was almost
certain that if I was captured then and taken back to
prison it would end my days, as I was yet in rather
a poor condition of health from the effects of my
former imprisonment.
We followed the Confederates some time, when we
met Gen. Forrest with several of his command carry-
ing a flag of truce, and of course, according to the
rules of war, we were obliged to halt until the party
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 241
returned to its command. I never learned the object
of the truce party, but I had a good view of Gen.
Forrest on this occasion, and well remember his form.
He was a large man, and wore a broad-brimmed hat,
but I did not see his face. After their return we
again resumed the pursuit, and continued until late
in the day, and then returned to camp. Everything
remained quiet about the camp until I think some
time in August, or the early part of September, when
we received orders to move our camp a short distance
east of Memphis to a place called White Station, lo-
cated on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.
While camped there I had a slight experience with
bushwhackers, while on outpost picket duty. On a
bright moonlight night in September, as I was sitting
on my horse in the shade of a large forest tree, in
the woods and close to the road, keeping watch of
things in front, my attention was suddenly attracted
by something glistening in the moonlight, a short
distance beyond a patch of underbrush and apparently
very near the road. I kept my eye peeled, as the say-
ing is, and soon saw some object quietly and slowly
moving about in the vicinity where the glistening ob-
ject had been seen. I immediately held a consulta-
tion with myself and very soon rendered a decision,
242 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
as follows : I decided that if what I saw was a person
or a number of persons with good intent, who wanted
to come into camp, they would come along the road
without hesitation or trying to keep so quiet, nor
would they be prowling about in the brush so near the
picket post. And I further decided that what I saw
was one or more bushwhackers, trying to discover
the man on outpost and shoot him, as they did some-
times when opportunity afforded. But they did not
see me because I was hid behind and in the shade oi
a large tree. I finally fired at what I supposed to be
bushwhackers, and the report of my gun brought the
men composing the reserve picket out to ascertain
the trouble. They rode outside the picket line some
distance, but could find no bushwhackers, but found
fresh tracks of three men in the dusty road in the
vicinity of where the moving object had been seen.
In a short time all was quiet again and I resumed mv
watch.
We remained at White Station until some time in
October, when a number of us whose three years'
service had expired were sent to Springfield to re-
ceive our discharge, which we received Oct. 15, 1864,
and were now free citizens, and immediately returned
to our homes. I had now served Uncle Sam three
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$ 243
years and four months. The war was fast drawing
to a close. When I arrived at home the majority of
my boy companions were yet in the army, many of
them never to return, having been killed in battle or
died in hospital or prison.
CHAPTER XVI.
Reminiscences of George W. Westgate.
In the fall of 1862, while camped at Nashville, Tenn.,
Company C went out on a scouting expedition, with
Lieut. Shaw in command. John Houston, Giles
Hodge, Frank Fuller, and George W. Westgate were
advance guard. They were traveling on a piked road,
covered with a gray dust, and their uniforms became
covered with it. So much so, that on approaching two
Confederates, who were on outpost picket, they al-
lowed our boys to ride very near to them, thinking
they were their own men ; and the two Confederates
were made prisoners, and were left with the company.
The boys again advanced, across to another pike
which led back toward Nashville. They saw ten Con-
federates in front of them, pursued them and captured
one, and left him in charge of Houston. They fol-
lowed the other nine men until they were cornered
in a pasture, surrounded by a high board fence. Hodge
was left at the gate, while Fuller and Westgate with
excited horses, uncontrollable, advanced into the
pasture in close proximity to the Confederates, who
were busily engaged in tearing down the fence, in
246 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
order to make their escape. Westgate was unable to
stop or guide his horse, which was carrying him in
the direction of the enemy. To save himself from be-
coming a prisoner or being killed, he jumped from his
horse, throwing all his weight on the left rein, which
caused the horse to whirl half way around. Just at
that moment one of the enemy fired at Westgate, two
buckshot striking him in the hip. His horse ran to
the gate, where Hodge caught it. In the meantime
Fuller opened fire with his carbine. It seems that the
buckshot riled Westgate's temper; because, after his
horse left him he retreated backwards, loading and
firing his carbine as fast as possible at the enemy, un-
til they got the fence down and escaped. What un-
doubtedly saved the boys from capture was that the
Confederates momentarily expected Westgate, Fuller,
and Hodge to be reinforced by -the company.
When camped near Memphis, Tenn., in 1864, a por-
tion of our regiment went out on a scouting expedition
and was out all night. In the morning, Albert Scud-
der, Rube Lewis, Daniel Towner, and George W.
Westgate, received permission to take a little scout
of their own to get a square meal. They were only
partly successful. Each got a ham and decided to go
back to camp. As they were riding on a pike across
some bottom land, at the edge of which was a large
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 247
bridge between them and camp, Scudder and Lewis
being about ten rods in advance of Westgate and
Towner, without warning eight or ten Confederates
rose up out of the brush with their guns pointed at
Scudder and Lewis, and within a few yards of them,
demanding their surrender, to which they reluctantly
assented. Westgate and Towner immediately realized
their critical situation and started for the bridge; but
when nearing the Confeds, and seeing almost certain
death staring them in the face, they wheeled so quick-
ly that they imagined they could hear their horses'
tails snap like a whip, and retreated with such tre-
mendous speed, that they were almost unable to dis-
tinguish objects along the wayside. They were
obliged to retreat through a country infested with
bushwhackers, encountering several squads of them
before reaching camp. They finally reached camp,
themselves and horses thoroughly exhausted, and I
believe that the report came that the boys through
all their narrow escapes, clung to the hams which
they had purchased, until they arrived safely in camp.
It was also reported that they intimated their willing-
ness to avoid looking after square meals in the
enemy's country for some time to come. Scudder and
Lewis were taken to the prison pen, poor fellows.
Scudder returned from prison with health ruined, did
248 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6$
not enjoy a day's good health afterward, and died in
the winter of 1905. Lewis returned with broken
health also.
At the Battle of Stone River.
On the morning of Dec. 31, 1862, Lieut. Simmons, of
Gen. Palmer's staff, and George W. Westgate, of Com-
pany C, were sent on an errand by the General, and
when they returned and reported, the enemy's sharp-
shooters opened on them, and Westgate was shot
through the right arm, which laid him up during sev-
eral months. He was ordered to the hospital. Soon
after this Lieut. Simmons was wounded by a piece of
shell, breaking several of his ribs. A fews days later
Simmons and Westgate received permission to go to
their homes in Illinois. They started down the Cum-
berland River on a steamer, and after passing some
distance down stream, the boat was captured by the
Confederate General Wheeler's cavalry. Simmons
and Westgate, with others, were ordered by the Con-
federates to leave the boat and it was destroyed by
fire. The wounded, including Simmons and Westgate,
were then transferred to another boat loaded with
wounded on their way north. Westgate remained at
home until his wound healed, then returned to his
company, which was escort for Gen. Palmer. West-
gate afterward participated with us in the battle of
Chickamauga, and other engagements.
CHAPTER XV11.
The following is a letter written by the Ohio boy
who occupied a small tent with William Herrick, and
the author of this narrative, in the convalescent camp
at Danville Prison:
Columbus, Ohio, August 26, 1864.
My Friend Eby:
I was very glad to receive a letter from you, for
I had come to the conclusion that you must be in reb-
eldom yet, as I could hear nothing from you, but
here it is at last. As I know how liberty feels by this
time, I can heartily congratulate you upon your re-
lief from rebel tyranny.
Since you request me to give a history of my escape,
I am obliged to use a foolscap sheet, and after it is
full the half is not told. I was sick for two or three
weeks after you left ; recovering very slowly, and was
quite weak when I attempted to execute your plan
of informal exchange. I started in company with an-
other Ohio boy, with whom I became acquainted
while convalescent together, from Danville smallpox
hospital, on the night of the 15th of February, for the
Yankee lines. We received five days' rations from the
steward, and consequently had plenty to eat without
calling on rebs, until we had got quite out of reach of
250 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65
Danville guards. We traveled southward, toward
Newburn, N. C, thinking that route more unguarded
than the course you took. We passed within five
miles of Raleigh ; flanked Goldsboro and Kingston,
and succeeded in getting down within six miles of our
lines at Newburn, when we were captured by rebel
cavalry pickets while trying to get something to eat-
at a darky hut.
We doubtless would have got through, if we had
not unfortunately gone inside a terrible swamp, to
get outside of which we were compelled to beat a re-
treat. We were in the swamp two days and one night,
and came near starving. We afterward learned that
it was ten miles wide, by twenty long, and was
a rendezvous for wild beasts. We were treated very
kindly by the guards, but unmercifully by the of-
ficers. We were sent to Wilmington, N. C., where we
were ensconced in an old speculator's slave dungeon
two days, and were then sent to Salisbury, N. C.,
and thrown into a prison where were about a thousand
men, consisting of rebel conscripts who would not
fight, Yankee hostages, and Union citizens who had
been taken by Lee in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
While at Salisbury I became acquainted with two
young men, belonging to the Potomac army, who had
also endeavored to make their escape, but were re-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-6$ 251
captured after a tedious march of 150 miles somewhere
in the region of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We
hitched teams at once, and commenced digging tun-
nels, but all to no purpose for after digging three
tunnels from eight to twenty rods in length, we were
obliged to abandon the idea of ever getting out in
that way, as they began to make daily searches for
tunnels.
We had been at Salisbury about two months when
they notified the regular prisoners of war that they
must be ready for transportation to Georgia at any
moment. We immediately provided ourselves with
a caseknife, filed teeth in the back of it, and prepared
to make our escape while en route for Georgia. We
were put on the train about 6 o'clock, the 27th of
May, in box or freight cars as usual, with four guards
in each car. The car we were in luckily had windows,
or holes for them, near the ends, and so saved us the
trouble of sawing out. We jumped out of the window
in quick succession as soon as it was cleverly dark,
not far from Charlotte, without either of us receiving
any serious injury. The cars were running at the
rate of about twenty miles an hour in fact that was
about the only time we could jump without being
seen by the guards. I jumped last, and the cars were
running on a grade of twelve or fifteen feet in height
252 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'6^
which caused me to make several revolutions before
I came to solid earth. I soon gathered up my loose
property, comprising blanket, haversack, and walking
stick, but the other two boys were on hand and after
a jolly laugh over the whole affair, and a consultation
as to the route to take, we set out for the land of the
living again resolved to fight to the bitter end, rather
than be captured again. We traveled by starlight al-
together, and slept by sunlight. We usually called
at a house between dark and bedtime for something
to eat. We succeeded very well in imposing upon the
credulity of secesh, and passed for rebel prisoners who
had been in the Yankee lines so long that they had
given us clothes to cover our nudity.. We stole some,
begged some, and traded everything away for eatables,
and finally came into our lines at Strawberry Plains,
Tenn., after traveling in eighteen days over 320 miles.
I tell you, Henry, it was an eventful era to us, replete
with amusing incidents, hairbreadth escapes, and
dangerous expedients. I should like to see you and
give you a verbal relation of some funny things. We
were all very much worn out when we came into our
lines but we found a home and thanked Providence
for his goodness.
The boys were from the State of Michigan and one
of them found his brother in the 10th Michigan Cav-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65 253
airy, then at that place. We of course stopped to visit
with him. The other, and myself, reported at Knox-
ville, and were sent to Chattanooga, where I received
a furlough from Gen. Thomas and came home, he
getting transportation for Detroit City. I have had
a good time at home since I got able to enjoy myself.
After my furlough expired I reported at this hospital,
where I am on duty in the dispensary. I do not know
whether I shall go to the regiment or not, probably
not. My health is good, and I am fat. This is not
rebel treatment Oh, Henry, I am obliged to you for
those eatables you left me. I think I should not have
recovered so soon without them. You have the thanks
of our whole family. If you should hear from Dr.
Davis, please let me know, and give me his address,
and give him my regards. I had a gay time with the
girls, as you may suppose. "(Aside) I came very near
being eat up. I have just read a memorial from the
prisoners, to the President, setting forth their suf-
ferings. They are analogous to those we endured at
Richmond, etc. Please favor me with another letter,
and oblige, Yours respectfully,
Calvin W. Hudson, Co. D, 65th Ohio.
Address Seminary Hospital, Ward 4, Columbus,
Ohio.
H. H. Eby, Esq.
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Illinois Monument on Orchard Knob.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The author, having set forth in the preceding pages
of this narrative, by many incidents of the war, some
of the cruelties which war imposes upon people of a
nation involved in it, will now proceed to narrate some
of the consequences of war, which he has seen and
experienced. It is hoped that the suggestions in the
following pages may be seeds from which will spring
good and lasting results in regard to the mode of ad-
justing disputes between nations and people, and
thereby prevent cruel and destructive wars.
War is cruel at its best, and a calamity to any na-
tion engaged in it. It is as General Sherman termed
it, " Hell."
War should be avoided whenever it can be by honor-
able means, but when good and noble principles, peace-
ful and honest people, are assailed and are in jeopardy,
there being no hope of adjusting trouble by peaceable
means, then the aggressor should be crushed as
speedily as possible by the employment of all proper
methods and enginery that can be secured. All the
noble principles that " Old Glory " represents should
be sustained at all hazards. Every citizen should ral-
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ly in some manner for the purpose of defending those
principles.
War is often a destroyer of beautiful and prosperous
countries. It takes from their homes men of robust
constitutions, ruins their health, and many are maimed
for life ; also many die and never return.
War takes men from their business, and many from
their families, who are often neglected and suffer on
account of not having the necessaries of life. It de-
moralizes the finances of a government, which in turn
destroys industries and business in general. Many
million dollars of war debts accumulate, which is
often a very heavy burden upon a people and requires
many years to extinguish it. It has been estimated
that less than one-third of the amount expended by
the United States Government for the purpose of
crushing the great rebellion from 1861 to 1865 would
have been sufficient to pay for the macadamizing of
all the public country roads in the United States. The
statement of the Secretary of the Treasury of the
United States of the amount of money expended for
all purposes necessarily growing out of the War of
the Rebellion, from 1861 to 1865, brought down to
Jan. 1, 1880, amounts to the enormous sum of
$6,189,929,908, an amount almost beyond belief; but
yet it should not be discredited, as it was computed
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from a copy of an itemized statement of the Secretary
of the Treasury of the United States. In addition to
the $6,189,929,908, about $3,000,000,000, paid to soldiers
as pensions from 1880 to 1909, brings the entire cost
of the war up to the immense sum of $9,189,929,908.
The following figures give the number of lives lost
in the Union armies of the United States during the
war from 1861 to 1865 :
Killed in battle, 67,058
Died of wounds, 43,012
Died of disease, 199,105
Died in prisons, 30,156
Total, 339,331
War is expensive, and should be avoided whenever
it can be without relinquishing noble principles. The
country traversed by large armies, both friend and foe,
in time of war, is a great sufferer on account of the
destruction of property, not maliciously, but as a
natural consequence of war. When an army has been
defeated by another it will retreat and destroy every-
thing in its rear that would be of any use to the enemy
pursuing it. Roads and railroads are destroyed for
the purpose of delaying the pursuing enemy. Stock,
provisions and anything needed to supply an army
are generally appropriated for its use, if regular sup-
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plies can not be furnished by transportation. Fences
are used for fuel by the soldiers when on the march
and at the close of a day's journey ordered to go into
camp by the roadside. Fuel must be secured from
some quarter, and generally fences are the only sup-
ply, and as a consequence large tracts of country are
laid waste.
Citizens of a country where war is in progress are
generally in a perilous situation as can be learned by
the following pages. A country frequented by oppos-
ing armies is generally infested by scouting parties
from both armies, who are continually passing over
the country, and frequently meet unexpectedly in
close proximity to a dwelling in which people reside,
and firing begins, which occasionally results in the
passing of a stray rifle ball or cannon shot through
the house. Of such incidents the author of this nar-
rative was an eyewitness on several occasions.
Enough has been said in former pages of this nar-
rative, in regard to the cruelties of war and their con-
sequences, so that people who are willing to inform
themselves on this subject, and are not prejudiced,
may readily comprehend the enormous blessings that
would be bestowed upon humanity if nations would
come to an agreement, abolish war from the earth,
and establish a new era of affairs. The question now
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 259
confronting us is how can war be abolished by the na-
tions of the earth, and this new era be brought about?
Like other great reforms a beginning would be neces-
sary on a sound basis, and perhaps also on a small
basis, which would probably grow and become a large
international arbitration court, by which many cruel
and destructive wars could be prevented. We suggest
for a beginning of an international organization, that
Uncle Sam issue a call to each civilized nation and
urge each to furnish and send two representatives, in-
cluding two from the United States, to some point
where they would convene and organize a temporary
international court, in addition to that already formed,
for the purpose of organizing a permanent interna-
tional arbitration court, which would be endowed
with power to adjust and settle difficulties between
nations represented by such court. The international
arbitration court mentioned would of course be only
in its infancy for some time after its organization, as
it would require much time and labor to complete and
make it capable for its task, after which great good
could be accomplished by it by way of arbitration,
and enlightening people of the different nations in re-
gard to the ballot box, its importance in many ways,
its sacredness, and the important duty of every person
to honestly abide by its decisions.
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The ballot box should be considered to be the ark
of our national covenant and safety. It is certainly
the ark of safety when its decisions are obeyed, and
they always should be. The great War of the Re-
bellion from 1861 to 1865 was caused by the dis-
obedience of a portion of the people of the United
States to the decision of the ballot box in 1860, which
elected Mr. Lincoln to the presidency of the United
States. Some decisions by ballot may not agree with
our views, but nevertheless we should obey them, as
it is an evident fact that it is dangerous to disobey
them.
Many people will undoubtedly hoot at the idea of
abolishing war from the nations. They will argue
that there always have been wars between nations
and of course there always will be. But arguments
do not prove that war cannot be abolished. Diffi-
culties between nations have been satisfactorily ad-
justed in recent years, by arbitration and the giving
of good advice, which proves beyond doubt that dis-
putes can be settled without war. Perhaps a settle-
ment of difficulties between nations by arbitration
would not be entirely satisfactory in every case, but
it would be a great blessing to humanity in general,
and more satisfactory than a settlement by war. Con-
siderable time would be required in arbitrating diffi-
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cult cases, but on that account much good could re-
sult, as during the period of delay the anger of the
disputants would undoubtedly abate, and with the ad-
dition of good advice from the arbitration court, point-
ing out the errors of the disputants, a satisfactory set-
tlement would probably be the consequence. We
imagine that some people will call the foregoing fool-
ish and silly talk. It may appear to some people as
such. Perhaps the pessimist will say that there is no
use in trying to reform the people of the nations, be-
cause everything is growing worse, and he has no
faith in progress. We have great faith in the work of
reforming the nations of the earth in regard to war-
fare. Some people may say that nations cannot suc-
ceed without war, but we say they could prosper much
better without it. We have faith in reformation, we
being to some extent optimistic, believing in progress
and advancing toward better things. We have con-
fidence in the work of trying to abolish wars from the
nations, which has already begun, and will as we think
succeed, because people are rapidly becoming edu-
cated to new ideas, and in many lands becoming more
Christianized by missionary work. Men and women
in their moral characters are the real world powers.
A few years ago Turkey, a powerful nation, declared
war against Greece, a nation much inferior in strength,
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had entered Greece with a powerful army, and was
ready to crush the little army of Grecians, when just
in the nick of time several nations combined, forming
a substitute for an arbitration court, and requested
Turkey to stop. The request was obeyed, and the
beautiful little country of Greece was rescued, the
difficulty adjusted, and peace again smiled upon the
once combatants. In this instance, with only several
governments combined to interfere, a nation was
saved from ruin.
Other instances could be cited where in the past
very great good has been accomplished by arbitration.
It is sincerely hoped that the good work will progress
rapidly.
CHAPTER XIX.
A Chapter to the Boys and Girls.
To the boys and girls, especially to the boys, and
probably it would not be injurious to men and women
of all ages if read by them. Millions of girls and boys
are wanted, and needed, possessing the following men-
tioned good qualities: Honesty, industry, frugality,
temperate habits, and everything that assists in up-
building a good and noble character.
Character is like an inward and spiritual grace, of
which reputation is or should be the outward and
visible sign. Millions of boys and girls are needed to
become noble men and women, for the purpose of
perpetuating the noble principles represented by the
United States flag the flag that was sustained in by-
gone years by the sacrifice of several hundred thou-
sand lives, and the expenditure of an immense treas-
ure; and the flag that cheered us and gave us new
life when we saw its friendly folds waving over us
on our return from southern military prisons. If
there are any of our boys and girls or others who do
not possess the good qualities spoken of in former
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lines, they would be much benefited by acquiring them,
which would be the means of forming good and sub-
stantial characters, worth more than gold. By the
possession of a good and noble character you can be
happy, and enjoy life, and you will be needed and
wanted to fill offices of many kinds, from President of
the United States down to school director.
Boys, each one of you has an opportunity of be-
coming President of the United States or filling any
office from that of President down to the lowest.
Dear boys and girls, work hard for the attainment of
the highest character, as millions of such are wanted
and needed, and they will always be in great demand
to fill good positions. Millions are also needed as
good citizens of the United States. If all our citizens
were of the first class our country would be a very
pleasant place in which to live. Some of you may say
or think that you cannot cultivate your habits in
order to build a good character, that you do not know
how. If you will try and persist, you can succeed.
Study the Bible intelligently, and it will enlighten you
on the subject. Leave off bad habits and practice
good ones, and then you will soon enjoy success.
There will always be a good demand for your serv-
ices. You will be wanted as ministers of the Gospel,
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school teachers and other officials by the hundred
thousand.
Uncle Sam also needs thousands of young men of
the good qualities spoken of for the mail service, and
other occupations too numerous to mention. None
need apply unless they are of the best habits.
Last, but not least, millions of boys and girls of
unblemished characters are needed to become noble
men and women, as good citizens of the United States.
A nation's destinies are determined ultimately by the
ideals of its people. The good and righteous men and
women influence our whole people, and the rulers of
our government. Men and women of pure and noble
character in a community may be compared to beds
of beautiful roses in a lawn. People love to congre-
gate about them, and enjoy their sweet and pleasant
countenances, that speak for the soul, which like the
beauty and fragrance of the rose permeates soul and
body.
Dear boys and girls, and all : We have a most
cheering consolation in the fact that we are living
under the protection of a banner (" Old Glory ")
which guarantees equal rights to all. The humblest
child has an equal opportunity with the one in a high
station of society, for education and the attainment of
the highest position in our government. It is true
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that many of our best government officials, from the
President down, were men who attained their official
positions by their own hard labor and study, who
when boys were poor and in humble station of life,
but were honest, industrious, frugal, and were work-
ers for good attainments. Some of them, while at-
tending school, by strenuous efforts, earned enough
money by doing odd jobs to complete a moderate edu-
cation. Boys and girls, be true to yourselves and
every person you meet. Be honest, temperate, in-
dustrious, and frugal and become noble citizens of
our land. Do not waste precious time in idleness
while you are young and able to do something, for
the time may come when you will not be able to work.
What you learn in your childhood days will not de-
part from you. Do nothing that would be detrimental
to your character while you are boys and girls, with
the intention of reforming after you have become men
and women, because habits that are formed when you
are young are hard to reform. Build good characters
while you are young, and do not allow them to decay ;
then good will follow.
Of course these exhortations do not signify that you
should not take any time to play. A certain amount
of play is necessary, but it should be in moderation.
People strive for enjoyment in this life, and some peo-
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 267
pie employ a dishonest method which they imagine
will bring them enjoyment, but instead brings sorrow.
For example : A young man who held a good position
in a bank imagined that if he could come in possession
of a large amount of money it would give him great
enjoyment during his lifetime. He escaped with a
large amount of money belonging to the banking
house of which he was an employee. He went to a
foreign country, and there used a small portion of
his dishonest gain, which he did not enjoy, as he sub-
sequently confessed. He was captured and brought
back to face his acquaintances, and was sentenced to
the penitentiary, which is a very common consequence
in such cases. If this young man had obeyed the ex-
hortations of the Scriptures, he could have had enjoy-
ment, but by his one dishonest act he committed a
great sin, which ruined his character and enjoyment.
He could reform, but the faint marks of his dishonest
act would remain.
The work of reformation is child's play to that of
making your friends believe that you have reformed.
Boys and girls, resent every temptation to commit a
disreputable act. If you want to enjoy life fully, take
the Bible for your guide, then you can enjoy this life
and the life to come. Be kind to the poor and un-
fortunate, especially those who are mentally not your
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equal. The most cowardly and mean act that any one
can commit is to impose upon a person who is de-
ficient mentally, who needs our kindness instead of
imposition. A person guilty of such a crime should
be punished.
Educate yourselves in a way that will make you
capable of dealing honestly with your fellow men.
"Love thy neighbor as thyself." (Luke 10: 25-37.)
Who is my neighbor? some person may ask. ,Our
neighbor includes any one of the human race with
, whom we may come in contact, without regard to
placeaof residence; whether he or she resides in the
vicinity of our home or far from us. Generally speak-
ing of those people who reside near our homes, we
speak of them as neighbors because we meet them
frequently, and generally treat each other like the
Good Samaritan treated the man who fell among
thieves, which makes us neighborly. How can I love
my neighbor as myself? may be asked. The answer
is, by having the love of God in your heart. When
you have that you will be in a mood to treat your
neighbors as you wish them to treat you, and will
love to see them prosper as well as you desire to pros-
per yourself, and will cultivate your disposition in a
way that will cause you to have a desire or inclina-
tion to assist those who are in distress, and jeopardize
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your own life for the sake of saving your neighbor's,
For example: You see a fellow man standing upon
the railroad track near you, and a fast approaching
train is about to strike him, you would at the risk of
your life try to pull him off the track and save his
life. A person doing the foregoing mentioned good
deeds in the right spirit, is obeying the command,
" Love thy neighbor as thyself." And you will also be
in a mood to pay your debts ; a duty that is sadly neg-
lected by some people. . Romans 13: 8: " Owe no man
anything."
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Larg-e Section of National Cemetery.
CHAPTER XX.
Birth of "OLD GLORY."
" OLD GLORY," the stars and stripes, was born
on the 14th of June, 1777, on which day Congress patri-
otically resolved : " That the flag of the United States
be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white ; the union
be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a
new constellation." It has never been known to what
influence we were indebted for the selection of the
stars and stripes in our flag. Some have thought that
the stripes were of Dutch origin, for they occur in
Dutch armorial bearings, while others suspect that
they were introduced as a compliment to Washington,
on whose coat-of-arms both the stripes and stars ap-
pear; but there is no tangible evidence that either sup-
position is correct.
The Father of his Country, nevertheless, had much
to do with designing the first stars and stripes. It
was he, assisted by a committee appointed by Con-
gress, who directed the preparation of the first design.
They called upon Mrs. Elizabeth Ross, in Phila-
delphia, some time between May 23 and June 7, 1777,
272 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65
with the request that she should prepare the flag.
Her house, 239 Arch Street, is, we believe, still stand-
ing at this writing. Washington had a rough draft, in
which the stars were six-pointed. Mrs. Ross proved
that five-pointed ones would look better, and her sug-
gestion was adopted. She had the flag finished by
the next day, and it was received with great admira-
tion wherever displayed. She was manufacturer of
flags for the government for many years, her children
afterwards succeeding to the business.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Consequences of Secession.
Henry Clay, Senate Chamber, 1842.
Mr. President: I must take occasion here to say
that in my opinion, there is no right on the part of
any one or more of the States to secede from the
Union. War and dissolution of the Union are identical
and inevitable, in my opinion. There can be a dissolu-
tion of the Union only by consent or by war. Con-
sent no one can anticipate, from any existing state
of things, is likely to be given, and war is the only
alternative by which a dissolution could be accom-
plished. If consent were given if it were possible
that we were to be separated by one great line in
less than sixty days after such consent was given war
would break out between the slaveholding and non-
slaveholding portions of this Union between the two
independent parts into which it would be erected in
virtue of the act of separation. In less than sixty days,
I believe, our slaves from Kentucky, flocking over in
numbers to the other side of the river, would be pur-
sued by their owners. Our hot and ardent spirits
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would be restrained by no sense of the right which
appertains to the independence of the other side of
the river, should that be in the line of separation.
They would pursue their slaves into the adjacent free
States ; they would be repelled, and the consequence
would be that, in less than sixty days, war would be
blazing in every part of this now peaceful and happy
land.
And, sir, how are you going to separate the States
of this Confederacy? In my humble opinion, Mr.
President, we should begin with at least three separate
Confederacies. There would be a Confederacy of the
North, a Confederacy of the Valley of the Mississippi.
My life upon it, that the vast population which has
already concentrated and will concentrate on the
head waters and the tributaries of the Mississippi will
never give their consent that the mouth of the river
shall be held subject to the power of any foreign state
or community whatever. Such, I believe, would be
the consequence of a dissolution of the Union, im-
mediately ensuing; but other Confederacies would
spring up from time to time as dissatisfaction and dis-
content were disseminated throughout the country
the Confederacy of the Lakes, perhaps the Con-
federacy of New England, or of the Middle States.
Ah, sir, the veil which covers these sad and disastrous
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events that lie beyond it is too thick to be penetrated
or lifted by any mortal eye or hand.
Mr. President, I am directly opposed to any pur-
pose of secession or separation. I am for staying with-
in the Union, and defying any portion of this Con-
federacy to expel me or drive me out of the Union.
I am for staying within the Union and fighting for my
rights, if necessary, with the sword, within the bounds
and under the safeguard of the Union. I am for vindi-
cating those rights, not by being driven out of the
Union harshly and unceremoniously by any portion
of this Confederacy. Here I am within it, and here I
mean to stand and die, as far as my individual wishes
or purposes can go within it to protect my property
and defend myself, defying all the power on earth
to expel me or drive me from the situation in which
I am placed. And would there not be more safety
in fighting within the Union than out of it? Suppose
your rights to be violated, suppose wrong to be done
to you, aggressions to be perpetrated upon you, can
you not better vindicate them if you have occasion
to resort to the last necessity, the sword, for a restora-
tion of those rights within, and with the sympathies
of a large portion of the population of the Union, than
by being without the Union, when a large portion of
the population have sympathies adverse to your own ?
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You can vindicate your rights within the Union bet-
ter than if expelled from the Union, and driven from
it without ceremony and without authority.
Sir, I have said that I thought there was no right
on the part of one or more States to secede from the
Union. I think so. The Constitution of the United
States was made, not merely for the generation that
then existed, but for posterity unlimited, undefined,
endless, perpetual posterity. And every State that
then came into the Union, and every State that has
since come into the Union, came into it binding itself
by indissoluble bonds, to remain within the Union
itself, and to remain within it by its posterity, for-
ever. Like another of the sacred connections in
private life, it is a marriage which no human authority
can dissolve or divorce the parties from. And if I
may be allowed to refer to some examples in private
life, let me say to the North and to the South, what
husband and wife say to each other : We have mutual
faults ; neither of us is perfect ; nothing in the form of
humanity is perfect ; let us, then, be kind to each other
forbearing, forgiving each other's faults and above
all, let us live in peace and happiness together.
Mr. President, I have said, what I solemnly be-
lieve, that dissolution of the Union and war are identi-
cal and inevitable; that they are convertible terms;
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 277
and such a war as would be following a dissolution of
the Union ! Sir, we may search the pages of history,
and none so ferocious, so bloody, so implacable, so
exterminating not even the wars of Greece, includ-
ing those of the Commoners of England and the
revolutions of France none, none of them all would
rage with such violence, or be characterized with such
bloodshed and enormities as would the war which must
succeed, if that event ever happens, the dissolution
of the Union. And what would be its termination?
Standing armies and navies to an extent stretching
the revenue of each portion of the dissevered members,
would take place. An exterminating war would follow,
not, sir, a war of two or three years' duration, but a
war of interminable duration and exterminating wars
would ensue until, after the struggles and exhaustion
of both parties, some Philip or Alexander, some Caesar
or Napoleon, would arise and cut the Gordian knot,
and solve the problem of the capacity of man for self-
government, and crush the liberties of both the severed
portions of this common empire. Can you doubt it?
Look at all history consult her pages, ancient or
modern look at human nature ; look at the contest
in which you would be engaged in the supposition of
war following upon the dissolution of the Union, such
as I have suggested ; and I ask you if it is possible
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for you to doubt that the final disposition of the whole
would be some despot treading down the liberties of
the people the final result would be the extinction
of this last and glorious light which is leading all man-
kind, who are gazing upon it, in the hope and anxious
expectation that the liberty which prevails here will
sooner or later be diffused throughout the whole of
the civilized world. Sir, can you lightly contemplate
these consequences? Can you yield yourself to the
tyranny of passion, amid dangers which I have de-
picted in colors far too tame of what the result would
be if that direful event to which I have referred should
ever occur? Sir, I implore you, gentlemen, I adjure
them, whether from the South or the North, by all
that they hold dear in this world by all their love
of liberty by all their veneration for their ancestors
by all their love of liberty by all their regard for
posterity by all their gratitude to Him who has be-
stowed on them such unnumbered and countless bless-
ings by all the duties which they owe to mankind
and by all the duties which they owe to themselves,
to pause, solemnly to pause at the edge of the preci-
pice, before the fearful and dangerous leap is taken
into the yawning abyss below, from which none who
ever take it shall return in safety.
Finally, I implore, as the best blessing which Heaven
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can bestow upon me upon earth, that if the direful
event of the dissolution of this Union is to happen,
I shall not survive to behold the sad and heartrend-
ing spectacle.
CHAPTER XXII.
Comrades: After reading the foregoing patriotic
speech made by Henry Clay in the Senate chamber
in 1842, we feel inspired by the thought that the
Union is not dissolved, but was restored by the great
and glorious things that were accomplished by the
Union armies during the war from 1861 to 1865. Soon
after our return home from the war some of us began at
times to ask ourselves the following question: What
has been accomplished by our three or four years of
hardships in the army? And sometimes we would al-
most arrive at the conclusion that our work had been in
vain. But as years have passed we were cheered by
the brightening of the skies. The war debt was being
rapidly paid off, and many of our former enemies were
becoming convinced that it was a very great bless-
ing for all the people, North as well as South, that the
Union army was successful and the Union restored.
A few years ago, while I was in conversation with a
gentleman from the South in regard to National af-
fairs, he frankly remarked as follows : " The southern
people should thank the Grand Army men for the
great and good work which they accomplished by re-
storing the union of all the States." Within the last
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ten or twelve years the author of this narrative has
been encouraged in regard to our National affairs,
because of the fact that the hard work which we did
during the war has been manifested in recent years
by good results.
Comrades, we can now see some of the fruits of
our labor. Our government is on a sound basis, and
is one of the most prosperous on the globe. It is the
government which was sustained by the faithful
soldiers of the war from 1861 to 1865, guided by the
hand of Providence. And it is a government endowed
with the best and most humane laws in existence. It
is a government that has been and is merciful, and
since it has become of sufficient strength has removed
the yoke of oppression from the people of some of
the islands of the sea, and diffused among them liberty
and freedom. It is also a government that is taking
the lead in the good work of adjusting troubles be-
tween nations by arbitration.
During the war from 1861 to 1865 rulers and people
of foreign nations looked upon the probability of our
success with suspicion, because they believed and said
that a government by the people, or a republican form
of government could not survive a great war like the
Rebellion. But they were surprised and taught the
lesson that a free people fighting for such principles
IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6l-'65 283
as " Old Glory " represents, are capable of surviving
almost anything. By the success of our faithful
soldiers Uncle Sam has been enabled to grow up to
a good-sized boy, or we had better say a man, and
we think that he is good and kind, understands his
business and attends to it.
The good principles which were sustained by many
hard fought battles from 1861 to 1865, and are repre-
sented by our good old banner, are being diffused not
only among the people of our own country but to
some extent among the people of almost every nation
on the globe.
We sincerely hope that the good work will continue
to go forward. But what would be the condition of
our country and ourselves if the Southern Confederacy
had been successful? The consequence would un-
doubtedly have been as Henry Clay said in his speech.
It would have been the extinction of this last and
glorious light, represented by " Old Glory," which is
leading all mankind, who are gazing upon it in the
hope and anxious expectation that the liberty which
prevails here, sooner or later will be diffused through-
out the whole of the civilized world. Comrades, we
have the consolation of knowing that our work was
not in vain. It resulted in the diffusing of more good
to mankind than all nations ever before accomplished.
284 IN BATTLE, CAMP AND PRISONS, '6 1 -'65
No proposition is better supported by history, than
that " righteousness exalteth a nation," " but the
wages of sin is death " to a nation.
Dear comrades, many of us were permitted to re-
turn from the war to our homes with our lives, but
many with broken health, caused by the fatigues of
the march, the wearisome camp, the heat of summer,
the frosts of winter, and the awful ecstacy of battle.
We now love to meet each other at the post meeting,
at the campfire, and above all, at our reunions. But
while we thus enjoy ourselves to some extent we are
thinking of the fallen. With a soldier's generosity
we wish they could be here to share in our hard-
earned pleasures. Possibly they are here, from many
a grave in which we laid them. Many of them died
in the darkest hours of the Republic, others in the
early dawn of peace while the morning stars were
singing together. We should meet at every reunion
possible. I trust that we will meet in a reunion where
there will be no parting. Farewell. From the author.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA
7 B\E 7 RVATIONS OF AN ILLINOIS BOY IN BATTL
