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

lcould have seen him, he would neyei
have run sway; snd ! am convinced
that it was q most fortunate escape. for
he would never have lived to travel "a
miles further; q mob would have hung
@him. ttir re
We we're here confined In the Court
House. Cold, tired and hungry, some
of our men were ealing raw corn;
Others lay themselves on the benches
and floor, overcome with fatigue: for
my own part, felt some anxiety, for I
saw there was something more than
usual In the actions Of the Cavalry. I
lues.Dol- Inv fha add IN
b there was . broken psne Of glass,
essd Captain Pate sending some
man on scout; he told him to "bring
in word by IL o'clock, il be killed eli
the horses between here and there. -
/ did not know what place he alluded
to, but supposed it was Chapmansville,
which learned afterward was the fact.
l communicated my suspicious which
we're that they were expecting an at
tack, to some Of my fellow prisoners,
and Thos. Ross and kept silent watch
until the messenger returned, which
was few minutes before l2. He re-
ported our men between ChapmansYille
and Logan Court House, 10 miles dis
tant, which was the last we ever heard
Of them.
We were then called out, ard formed
in marching order, and Travelled about
10 miles, when we were sgain halted
until about o'clock. Here we got
bite Of bread and meat. While the
scantY meal was being prepared we
were forced into little old ricksty grist
mill, projecting over the rapid waters Of
Guysn river. We were pretty well
jammed in, when the old frame began
to weave about and some parts TO give
way. We all made rush for the door,
but were soon checked BY guns and
bsyonets presented in front; and here
we were forced to remain for four long
hours in the horrid expectation oil every
moment being plunged into the angry
gulf beneath us. We balanced our.
selves. however, to the best advantage,
and to our great JOY it fell not.
When daylight came, saw Mrs.
Jacob Cumpston standing in the door
Of little old half-frame, half-log house:
and presently Jacob came and asked me
if l wanted anything. l told him I
would like 10 wash, il could only
have the privilege of going down to
the water, which was only about fifteen
feet from me. had not been permit
ted heretofore even to wash the blood
off my hands, which by this time had
begun to emit foul stencil. He went
back to the house. and brought down
washbasin, water, soap and towel. and
/ took a good wash, which was the
most refreshing thing ! had had since
my captivity.
When we started from this place, l
again became separated from my fel-
low prisoners, and saw them no more
until the following day about o'clock.
during which time I was again in
charge Of Capt. Poage's company
When again Joined the rest of the
prisoners, l saw that hunger, fatigue
and exposure was telling sadly upon
them. During the day, we crossed one
stream SO times. nearly all having to
wade il every time; it was about 80
yards wide, and from knee to waist
deep; very rapid and cold. l now
learned that shortly after 1 LEFT the rest
Of the prisoners, on the day previous.
Clarksou came up and ordered one Of
the prisoners-s man by the name OF
John Ross-to be hung, and gave him
FIVE minutes to say his prayers. He
begged them to spare his life; and ind
ing that it was unavailing, he started to
run down the hill; they fred at him
and broke one of his arms; he then
turned to come back, pleading for them
to spare his life, but they fred about 20
shots at him, and he fell dead BY the
road side, and was there left. They
gave, as a reason, that he had killed
some man in a drunken spree, some
time before.
At night we were again crowded in
to a small log house, in which it was
impossible to move without stepping
on, or crowding some one out Of his
place. We would sit against one
another and sleep, and laid one upon
the other; but it was impossible for
more than two-tbirds or three-fourths
to get down at the same time. / had
always supposed that under such try
ing circumstances as we were passing
through, men would exercise q patient,
forbearing and sympathetic disposition
towards one another; but here found
it quite the opposite. Many OF the
prisoners we're fretful. quarrelsone' and
actually ready to fight one another; and
in several instances had TO select two
or three of the more rational men, and
most ourselves in such 9 position - To
keen them from running over and
trampling upon the sick and wounded.
Self seemed TO be the ruling passion.
and I have no doubt that hunger, IA
.igus and exposure were the exciting
,auses that tended to the developmsnt
,f this intolerant and selfish disposi.
ion.
have now somewhat in detail
passed over Eve days Of our weary
march Of 27e miles, which Is but type
of the whole. The days. whether wet
DR. dry, were occupied BY weary marches
4 g.. oo a. AZ rn;les Our niohta