The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-24
NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MARCH "a, 1854.

NEW YOkk, THUHSD.
complained sbas Asy sd "a 81 enough 70 co. ono
suffered from huager We used 70 purchase sweet posa
toes whenever W could got them and 10 order 70 get
money that purpose the soldiers sold tho brass but
tons on their COATS and sold exchanged many articles
or clothing ina rebels would pay q dollar pece for
brass buttons The rage tho rebels for brass buttons
was IKE Of the South Sea- Islanders for various Kinds
Of trpkets. Some Of us remained several months 10
Camp Ford. The time hung heavy our hands for we
had little 10 do but watch tho passing Of the summer
days and tho falling Of the autumn leaves.
cRURL MARCH. A&S
Al length, in November last, Major shaumburs, In
spector General or General Kirby Smiths department,
paroled the commissioned officers, privatcs and
civilians. He said he going 70 take us straight
throuGb 10 vcksburg, where would DO delivered over
10 our own authorities. On November 20 we started
from Camp Ford We had 10 leave the officers behind us,
doomed 10 many months Of monotonous imprisop-
ment. Their names have been already published IL
touching scene when we babe them all farewell,
and marched out OF tho stockade by which The camp
grounds surrounded Our Time for making the march
to Shreveport was limited MAJOR shaumbnrg gave
positive the guards not TO allow any Of the
prisoners to fall out n the ranks. We had TO march
about twenty-five miles day. At Uight We received
rations Of corn meal occasionally fresh meat but
the rebels gave nothing whatever TO cook them In
Most Of us compelled mix the meal with water
piece board bark and then place near the hre
and hold meat the flames on stick TIL IL was
cooked. Most Of were thlDy clad, and many were
entirely barefooted. We made the march OF over one
hundred miles ID four days but when We reached the
springs Shreveport there was scarcely man out Of
all our number who did not have SWOLLEN limbs and
pa,eS na
have ever heard Of All along the passed
conveying cotton from louisiana into Texas.
IN CAMP NEAR SHREVEPORT.
Instead Of going to vcKsburg however. were taken
to rebel camp Of instruction, ten miles from shreve
port We informed that our authorities had 70
fused 10 receive at vcksburg ln accordance With
military usages paroles were Withdrawn, and We
were placed under guard In another portion Of the same
camp there were Of rebel soldiers captured a.
vicksburg, who, having been paroled, wero awaiting
their exchange. The Union prisoners were some OF the
troops who captured those rebel soldiers The meeting
was very interesting. The soldiers from both begerent
armies crowded about the guard lines and converted
with great freedom and frankness The rebels brought
bread and meat and gladly gave them 70 our soldiers,
stating they could forget the kindness with
which they bad been treated by officers and men
after the Of vicksburg About The LIST Of January
number augmented 70 over eight hundred, by the
nearly four hundred other Union prisoners from
Camp Groce, near Hampstead, Texas. They consisted
principally Of the soldiers sailors captured the gun
boats Sachem and Clifton al Sabine Pass tho coast OF
Texas. Their commissioned officers had been left ~
Camp Ford but the men were brought TO the camp or
instruction. on their way 10 be exchanged That march
Of several hundred miles, from Hampstead 10 shreveport
was terrible one and some Of their number died op
the way After the lapse Of few days the eoldeS and
sailors were released from guard and allowed limited
paroles; but the citizens Kept in close custody
We were put diapidated she'd separate from the
other prisoners, under special guard. and allowed 70
bold 90 communication whatever with any one. We we're
told that the soldiers and sailors would be sent within
arrangements for sending them could
be made, but that would stNi be kept IN custody
HomEwARD BOUND.
We were therefore very agreeably surprised one
morning, about the middle OF January, when we
received orders from Colonel Tneard, command
ing the camp 10 get ready 20 leave immediately. - W
were about be released. We walked 10 Shreveport.
where we waited nearly week for transportation. The
steamboat strea conveyed us down tho Red river 10
Alexandra. Thence conducted by water and BY
land 10 RED river landing, the Mississippi river
where we we're delivered under Gag Of truce Cnp Ram
say who commands The division Of gunboats In that
portion Of the river So left tho soldiers aud sailors
behind us, Shreveport, louisiana and the commits
sioped officers near Tyler, Texas There were about
dozen Of us, including Mr.. Lionel B. Joseph, mer
chant OF New York Mr.. Stratton, Of New Orleans, and
Mr. Clement, the railroad engineer One or our number,
MI J. D. Fry from interior OF this state, We we're
compelled leave behind Alexandria, because he
Was too sick to undertake the journey.
RECRUITING REBEL SOLDIERS.
While waiting in shreveport for the steamboat we
were put the rebel guardhouse. IL 10 the same
guardbouso which lhreo OF officers spent several
weeks more than q month before Az that time II was
almost continually full OF rebel conscrpts desertcrs and
other persons who ignorant Of any charges against
them, and innocent OF offences. There many
as one hundred and thirty crowded into that guard
house at one time. Among them we're old men and
young men, sickly and decrepitleraiy the lame, the
han ard the blind. Many Of them bad no knowledge
whatever Of why they bad been arrested At the same
they inmidated by being loId that they would
be hung shot, the might be, which requcn ily
bad the desired effect Of making them Immediately join
the army. regiment Of Louisiana cavalry was being
recruited 10 the vicinity Of Shreveport on several
OF the officers Of regiment visited the
euardbouse TO obtain recruits Here few Of the
many instances Of rebel recruiting witnessed that
guardbouse rebel officer entering the room went mp
70 an old man who vas lame, and able 20 walk only With
lne stance OF cane. rue officer said 10 him. "hIs,sr,
you 10 gel out Of this scrape and join good
cavalry regiment p The old replied, "No. amt
~ for service; can't ride horse aud don't know
what they've Put me 10 here for" 'swell,"
replied the officer, "s'ii give you o good show.
ing, and III pol you In the artillery that's
forming IN regiment. What's your name r'
The man told his name, and the officer wrote il down.
remafKne, I' call for you day or two" OF course
The man was forced the cavalry for there was no
artillery forming 10 the regiment
The officer then went 10 another and repeated the
question: hser. don't you want get out Of this scrspe
and join o good cavalry regmen,i" This man also said
be could serve and TO him showed The OH
Ger his broken leg with the fractured bono prorudug
through the skin "on, that's matter !" said the on
GER "you ride borses' and down went tie other