Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-03-10


The Assembly Hall was crowded as it never
was before, last evening" on the occasion OF
the reception and address Of Col HARRISON
C. HOBART, of the 2Ist Wisconsin, recently es-
capped from Libby Prison, Richmond. The
Hobbies and gallery, as well as the floor of the
Hall were densely packed. Hon. LEVI HUB
BELL, of Milwaukee, presided. When Col.
HOBART appeared in the Speakers desk, he
was greeted with long and loud applause
Judge HUBBEL said he had very great
pleasure in introducing, on this occasion, a
gentleman known to very many present.
known honorably in the civic history of this
State-one who, at an early day in the pres
ent struggle, volunteered III the ranks; who,
as a Captain in the 4th Wisconsin, participa-
ted in the capture of New Orleans, and who
had risen, by his own merit, to the second in
command of another regiment. In the great
and terrible battle of Chickamauga he had the
misfortune to be taken prisoner, and was
thrown into loathsOme dungeon at Rich
mond. BY the providence Of God he had es-
capped from that dungeon and returned to his
own State, among his friends. ANY man who
had suffered and endured so much in behalf
of the country, was entitled to be received
with honor. But the speaker said the audi
ence were already aware of these things, and
in regard to his experiences in the South, the
gentleman, like st. Paul, was able to speak
for himself. Applause.
Col. HOBART, after the applause had sub
sided said He had had an opportunity of
seeing the enemies of the country since the
war commenced, but he did no know that he
had ever been more abashed than at the pres
ent time. He thanked the gentlemen of the
two Houses of the Legislature for the kind
manner they had referred to him, and said he
knew that those expressions were not for him
personally but for the soldiers of our army.
He should endeaVor, by giving in brief the
story of his own experiences, to illustrate in
some degree the treatment which our soldiers
experience when prisoners in the hands of
the enemy. Last September, on the 10th Of
the month, he was on the Tennessee river in
command of his regiment. An order came
to cross the mountains and proceed to the
rear of Chattanooga, in order to get in pos
session of that important point. One of the
first men to cross the river was that gallant
gentleman, Col Heg. Applause.
Col. Hobart then went on to give a sketch
Of the movements just antecedent to the bat
tie of Chickamauga with graphic account
of the engagement He described the build
ing of low breastwOrks of logs on the Satur-
day night before the terrible Sunday battle,
and the attempt of the rebels to carry them
on the following day. Our soldiers were vet
Grams. The rebels came on in vastly superior
numbers. Again and again they were repuls-
ed The sharp orders OF rebel officers could
be heard: Carry those ankee breastworks.
You must take them! Forward F." and again
they would charge, to be again repulsed with
terrible loss 1t was not till near sunset that
~, IN, 40, h.,
A part of the regiment were cut off and sur
rounded. He stepped into a thicEzet of fir
trees to avoid a cavalry charge and found
himself confronted by an advancing line of
rebel infantry He saw at once that his use
tulness to country was for the time at an end.
A rebel officer advanced and took him by the
hand, giving him an invitation to go and see
Gen. Claiborne, which under the circumstance
es he did not feel ike declining. QLaughter.)
He was taken soon after to the tent of the
General in question and introduced to him.
The General asked ''Where were you fight
ing?" "Ri ght there r." Col. II. replied
Claiborne answered: /" Your men have fought
like brave men, sir-that line has given us
the main trouble of the day"
Col H., as he was taken to the rear saw
the rebel dead, and learned that they had
suffered terribly, and that their troops were
ceeded in defeating us. The conduct of Gen.
Thomas and his troops that day deserved the
high Communications bestowed on them. But
it was his impression that it was not Gen.
Thomas alone that saved our army. 1t was
Gen Thomas and shutdown together.
Col Hobart and his companions were that
night taken ten miles to the rear, without
food. The prisoners had no clothes except
those worn when they were captured In
the morning about 1900 of the prisoners
were gathered together, of whom several
hundred were officers. The next day they
were marched twenty-five miles to Tunnel
Hill. There they were given little raw In
dian meal and very little meat. From
thence they were taken in cattle cars, via
Atlanta, to Richmond In passing through
Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia, he kept
his ewes and ears open. The country was
one wide scene of desolation-far greater
than he suspected. The farms were uncu]ti-
waited. Where men were engaged in labor,
it was in come ction with the military opera
tons of the country. All other business was
suspended. The whole country had given all
its energies to the war. You may ask If
saw any evidences of Union sentiment? He
saw many such evidences. He talked with
many of the soldiers, and took every occa-
portunities of speaking with them when no
officers were present They told him-most
of thcm-that they had been in the army a
long time, and that they had an impression
that we wanted to take away their southern
rights. But most of them had only a vague
impression of what they meant by the phrase,
as very few of them have any slaves. They
said they wanted the war to end, as they
wished to go home. Many of them had not
been home since the beginning of the war,
and were anxious about their fanilies. The
officers are mostly from wealthy fanilies.-
They feel differently. They are defiant, and
declare that to sustain the institution of
slavery they must fight to the bitter end. If
unsuccessful, they know that slavery is dead.
They will fight as long as there Is hope OF
success. But the private soldiers did not
share in these feelings.
The minor officers taken prisoners were
treated well till they reached Richmond, but
the private soldiers had indignities heaped
upon them that he had never heard of being
practised on our prisoners. At Tunnel Hill
they had their rubber blankets taken from
them. At Atlanta they were put in an en-
closure and their other blankets and over
coats were taken from them, (cries of shame J
That night, which was cold, the men slept on
the naked ground, wiGh nothing to
protect them from the inclemency Of the
elements. onreaching Richmond the officers
Were put in Libby prison; LOO officers were
confined in six rooms. These rooms were
low and dingy, and 100 feet by 50, in dimen-
sions. Thus nearly 80 men were shut up il
each room. They were not allowed to sc
out, they slept on the floor, No cots were
allowed. Scarcely man had a blanket tt
lie on. He shared a ragged old horse blanke
with DIR. Dixon of this state. The nth wa:
indescribable The audience would spare