Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-05-15

They urged ~ faster. and seemed nor
savage and brutal, If possible. than be
fore. l.T = $ t'i15 a -Ir-rr eerl.;ie
. They were expecting an attack fron
/ Col. Piatt's ZSuases. aud the came
roaring 10 their rear made them bFula
in the speed with rhich they urged q
on. Finding it was impossible for tn
men to stand Il much longer az rspit
rate they we're going, they ed n
about Eve minutes before enttf'7g Bar
boursville. in phich time they united u,
and mounted each one on horse be
hind one-of ihsir own men. We wen
like mod into Barboursvii's. where v,
again halted ehopt ave mjSef{sf tc
! 1s-.A-T -si5e 7psssoneps tney md fitkcI
on the way down. We were forced tc
ride in that unpleasant way, about q,
fast as their horses could go. for about
three or four miles, when we were dis
mounted and ordered to take it on foot;
and must say, l suffered more from
that ride than from all the balance Of
the trip. 1t was with the greatest ef-
fort that ! could walk, and nothing but
stoical determination not TO let them
know / was suffering kept me from
sinking by the way.
After we had gone about Is miles, a
messenger from Guysn came up with
us, IA German, l believe. by the name
of Beekman, and informed the Colonel
that "the Yankees had come to Guyan,
and burned the town entirely, and were
numbering the citizens in the streets.
regardless Of age or sex" This added
fury to their rage, and many Of them
swore vengeance upon us; but as good
luck had it, another messenger arrived
about the middle Of the afternoon, who
gave a very correct account of the thing
as it occurred.
About 4 O'Clock in the afternoon, we
passed little log house on the hillside,
about fifteen steps from the road; and
all that looked like sustaining life was
turnip patch. and many of the poor
hungry prisoners will remember it. and
its owner, as long as they live: for never
did man pull apd throw turnips faster;
and notwithstanding curse upon curse
was heaped upon him, for throwing his
turnips to the d-d Yankees, vet be
needed it not. but called to his assist
ance little boy and girl. who seemed
anxious that each prisoner should get a
turnip or two as we were hurriedly
marching past.
We put up that night about half-past
9 O'Clock, and having marched forty
six miles through mud and rain. with
out anything to eat. save the turnips
that some got, and not even being per-
milted to quench their thirst from the
cooling streams BY and through which
we passed. 1t is impossible for me to
describe our condition that night; suf-
fee it to say il was wretched in the ex-
treme, for we could neither sit nor lie
down. Cold. wet and muddy, we were
obliged to stand up the live-long night,
suffering the extremes Of hunger and
thirst, and it was with the greatest diff
fculty that we could get out TO attend
to the calls of nature. Many Of our
men were taken from their beds in the
hospital, and forced to undergo the hard
laborious march, exposed to wet and
cold, and it will be rtcollected that we
were robbed Of everything but the thin
garb that covered our person. How
the sick and wounded stood it, is more
than / can tell; but it seems to me that
special Providence must have sup
ported them. The night at length
passed away, and the dawn was well
coined with daylight, for we felt that
weary marching was pleasure, COM
pared TO the crowded condition in which
we spent the night For breakfast, we
received small piece Of meat. the first
we had to eat. except the turnips that
some got, since Sunday night. Here
they released two prisoners-s Mr..
Lawson and his comrade, who were in
Guyandotte, at the time Of the battle,
buying wheat for VIM. II. Langley, of
Gsllipolis.
Major Whaley and myself were here
put on what they called an easy parole,
and it was the first time ! bad seen the
Major since our capture. He taken
in charge by Captain Witcher, and l
by Captain Poage. Of the Valley Ran
gers. l was then permitted to ride,
and Jared very well during that day
and night, except that got nothing 10
eat until the following morning, which
was Wednesday The balance Of the
prisoners bad very hard days mapch,
being forced distance Of thirty-two
miles. having nothing to eat until about
haIfpast 9 O'Clock on Wednesday. A.
NJ. f.. s. ..
We fell in with the main body Of
cavalry at Chapmansville. about l5
miles from Logan Court House, where
the prisoners had been halted for the
night. Here it was rumored that Ma
jor Whaley had made bis escape, and
that Witcher's company was in hot pur-
suit, and would doubtless recapture and
shoot him. For some time, the whole
thing was uncertsin; but at length Col.
Clarkson came up and confirmed the
report. and ordered my parole taken
from me. | Was then told to dismouDt
and put under guard. They were here
expecting an attack BY our forces cross |
ing from Charleston; their pickets came |
in and reported 5000 Yankees within
Is miles. We were hurried on, good
part of the time on double quick. until
70 rsaebed Logan Court House. II