The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-05-20
X O X u K:
A prisoners Experience I'm Dixie.
PAROLE CAMP, NEAR AsSAroLIs, MD. l
May Ii, 1868.

MFR. J. B. HowELL-Dear Ssr: Your
old correspondent has lately been on ar
unwilling pilgrimage, and supposing .
few particulars of my journey nigh
amuse and edify some of your many
readers, l shall try and give only portion
of my experience and observations.
was out on prospecting tour in Wes
Tennessee, meaning in the end to visi
some OF my relations, but after ascertain.
ing that corn is quite plenty yet in Hen
ry and Benton counties, West Tennessee,
| unfortunately wandered into close prox-
unity to some certain ferry boats where
cmscripts are crossed over from West
Tennessee to recruit Bragg's army, and
falling under the suspicion of conscrlpt
agent, was arrested and sent on foar
ef observation.
| crossed Tennessee River about %
miles above Fort Henry, with an armed
escort. We travelled on the same day
about IS miles, crossing Duck river and
Buffalo river, to the guerrilla camp above
the mouth of Buffalo The country gen
orally YVES very billy and soil poor. The
position of the camp was well chosen
where il would have been impossible for
our cavalry to have surprised them.
Those guerrillas treated me kindly. We
sopped our corn bread in the same frying
pan and Jared all alike; talked of our
fights and adventures freely-I rather
liked some of those dare devils. But
during the evening several Of them seem.
cd disposed 10 become quite confidential,
and asked me thousand and one ques-
tions, pretending to be tired of sucha war,
and ques; Toned and cross questioned me;
but | had heard men cross-questioned 50
or 40 years ago, and had been to mill
and to meeting before going on this
trip.
At last the orderly came to me. He
was Methodist preacher. He examined
me for papers closely, but if / had ever
had any papers ] would have been fool
to have had them then. They did rob
me Of few dollars in green-bscks that
were in my pocket wallet, but then l had
cut the lining Of my pants and had a lit
tie green-back that they did not ind
The camp was broken up next morning.
We all took up the line of March in squads
for Linden, Tenn, As or so miles distant,
and made it in about day and half
Here at Linden | was taken before the
commander Of the post. questioned and
cross. questioned again, and finally ordered
to the guard-house with three soldiers
that had been at home few days with
out leave. The next day thirty conscripts
arrived from near Savannah, Tenn. Most
of them were genuine Union men that
had given the rebel cavalry great deal
OF trouble to catch. i wrote number
of letters for these conscripts; had many
confidential chats with them and if the
leaves on the bushes had been ou. large
enough the gaard-house would have been
empned OF all excepting myself. As for
my own part, | had already made up my
mind to visit Tullahoma, and perhaps
Murfreesboro.
staid at Linden four days. We had
our / ib. of corn meal and i ID. Of bacon
per day, and nothing else. We hired our
corn bread baked and broiled our meat on
sticks, sang songs, and enjoyed life tole.
rably well
We then started for Columbia, Tennes-
see, 65 miles distant. Again we ferried
Buffalo river, and travelled over remark
ably poor and broken country Of high
hills and narrow. rocky creek bottoms.
We had to cross small creeks every few
rods Fortunately they were not very
highr The water was pure and cool, the
weather fine, but 10 order to avoid wet
feet We frequently clambered for a con-
siderable distance along steep hill sides.
This was fatiguing. but still We made
about 20 miles the first day, and went
some males off from the main road in
ORDER to get something to eat. The leaves
on the ground had become dry, and l
was the first to gather two or three loads
and make bed. Others followed nv
example, and the result was we rested
pretty comfortably that night.
The next morning We were on the
march early. The country was still Door
and broken. AT night we lay near the
little village of Hampshire. Just here
the country begins TO look better. The
land becomes more level. Large hills
seem to lie around. resembling isolated
mountains. Vegetation seems severa,
Gays more forward, owing to the soil be-.
ing much richer and warmer. The conn.
try rs becoming hourly more rich and
handsome. The farms are mostly on.
closed with good stone walls. The build
.hss are generally good. l had told the
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