Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-10-24

tuusllucl rs the INtOci AOhSlIo7 NJ
to publish "Sfdienent Of Jdots" q ti7hci
hes those facts triH 5s!0 Of the outrages OF
the Union Government and troops. | have
thought it a proper time to publish the record
of our sufierings as set down in my daily
Journal, privately kept, and now being
brought to light to show the world that they
lie who say The devil is not 50 bad as his
picture"
j. I. DRgw,
late Capt. Go. G, ID Vt.
CHAPTER I.
From, the march 10 tie field 10 our unprison-
prent in Beauregard'S Barn.
At2 O'Clock on the morning of the Dist OF
July, 1861, the long roll reused up the slum-
Lerins hosts Of the Union army, and the
march to Manassas commenced.
Five MINUTES from the first sound oi the
drum our regiment was in line and fled
out into the road and marched about two
miles, then halted on the high ridge OF hills
TO the lett Of CentervIlle. there to wait until
the divisions IN advance had moved farther on.
As the sun arOse we could see long lines OF
glittering blyOnets-dense masses of infantry
and swiltly-mOving battaliOns OF cavalry!
heavy rolling artillery and dust-raising bag
gage tralns-ail mo7ing along through the
quiet PLAN below. IL was grand sight and
one that gave strength and Confidence to our
men.
Soon we were on the march again, and not
long after began to feel the intOlerable heat
Of the sun and the choking sensation from
dust and thirst. The men began to throw
away blankets, c0AIs. some even shirts, so
sufJcating was the air.
There was no one cause that contributed
30 much u the rebel success that day, as the
heat OF the sun. Most OF our regiments were
composed of Jung men, who had come from
cool, bracing and genial clImes Here they
found themselves under the scOrching heat OF
4 Virginia sun, without water, food or slim
illus Of any kind. with the dust from thou
sands Of trampIng feet making more SUD Ca
ing their uresone march. Hundreds tell
out-many never TO Use again.
But It L. not nv object 10 give history
If the fght but have mentioned this much
70 sh W YOU the kind Of men who were made
pr=oners. think we may safely say that
every one who could rlR, after the retreat
WAS ordered, GId run, and mJst Ol them got
away. Tue prlsoners were wounded Ur ex-
haustsi men, unable to escape from the fell.
Nv own capture was owing 10 exhaustion
by sickness and fatigue. | had been sick
with bilious fever FOX three days and went u
tue fed with hardly strength enough TO
walk. After marching Us long az | couli
alone, nv old friend, Capt. Eaton, who
seemed never TO grow tired or iatgued. help
I'd ne On until we began 10 fall behind, aud
then the Major Of the 9Th Maine Regiment
gave me his horse. rode this until no long
er able 70 ride. and was then carried On the
field 10 an ambulance. Lett at Sudloy
Church 10 rest for a while, soon made uy
way up on the battle ground, but ouly 10
fui the troops all falling back. | sat down
again until some of the Vermont boys came
along aud helped me Of a short way, and
then one Of Gen WI ambulanOee pick
ci me Up.
Ten minutes after, not one mile from the
Geld. | was taken by S-ewart's Cavalry.
Ihev bred into the ambulance and killed the
mln by nv side after the driver had surren-
dere all because fired my revolver at them
and killed a horse. Ny swo-d | broke IN
the wheels and my revolver | threw IN the
mud as soon Us had fired, and 80 they got
. .rrns from me. The f st words slid
G, me were these ." You Id Yantse, ]
helped hang JOHN BrOr4.' | told him that
he mad the 10 Is OF a hgHgHgaR, and would,
doubtless, crown has glory 10y numbering IN
armed prisoners ' No. said he, " IN keep
YOU Tor the Gllows.'
Within half an hour from thc time our
army rctre4ted, the rebels were falling back
| on taeir old WORKS at Manassas, and only a
7 lew regiments were moving alter our men
I The Black Horse Cavalry was securing the
fields picking up exhausted and wounded
men. / saw them blow out the brains Of
several of our IN 20 after I'll. : had surrendered.
/ saw wounded ohcer OF the 18th shot
/ by q y Orleans Tiger, and then robbed.
] "A over tue held, might be sen the -;rls
/ sler- ot the rebel army, rushing here ana
.uere, yelling Ike sISag-s and plunderins
the dead
Il was a sickening sight, as | was taken
| over the q Id, 10 see the dead and dying le
/ IN bio dy heaps or scattered among the corn
| and grass. and bowling over them these
! rebel wolves and southern Yulturts. II any
one who was wounded az that battle, and
was lett on the field by our troops, now lives
should Ike 70 know IL . for al OF the pris-
oners are OF the opinion that, save those who
were collected into the hospitals by our OWL
troops, not one escaped the murdereIs
search The rebel soldiers boast, 10 this day
that they went over that field 'eiteTBIHGtlng
Yankees" alter our army had retreated
It Is significant fact that a rebel generalwul
heard u say: " IL Is no matter. We hay,
more uuded than we can care Tor f.; it putt
The poor tel oWs out OF suffering we cannot
l sion 10 mex them up. ~
Ga our way TO Manassas we found every
house was filled with Tebcl WOUNDED. Col
West. OF rynu., tod NE their loss must hay,
b-en immense, as they had over 5000 wound
ID.
on our way down We We. c lett iOr Will
IN charge Of some privsies. who at once rob
bed US vi watches und money. And 60 with
oar money and watches stolen, our MOUTH
p4rohed with thirst and gloom in our hearts
we were placed in Gen. B,duregOTd', Barn
to lie on the dirty door and think OF tina
bloody day and all Its horrors. or sleep an
dream them over again.
ITO be continued