The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-07-28
In Dixie.

o. interesting 10 Wauy VI ous Iesuers:
Carr NEAa K,xosroH, Ga. July 7, 1864.
Dear UscI1:-I heard that oil my rel.
atives we're very much rcjoiced over my
escape from the rebels and rebeldom, and
a. they have taken 90 much interest in
my welfare, will give them, thro' you,
an account of my trip through Dixie un.
der guard, and also Of my escape. did
not keep diary, for it was my intention
/ to escnpe, and it would be dangerous to
carry it while making our lines, couse.
quent'y cannot give the exact date of each
incident or Of my arrival at certain pla.
ces I shall mention. hope you will pre-.
serve this aud let mother and the girls
read it, for am 20 unwell that will not
be able to write % full an account as this
will be for some time.
90 the 10th Of May myself and ten
others went from Huntsville to Madison
Station, and expected that on the next
dsy the regiment would come from Deca.
tur and relieve the regiment stationed
there to protect the r. Il. 1t was the
18th Illinois; their time had expired aud
we're going home as soon as relieved by
our regiment. In the morning about s
o'clock, took q short stroll from camp;
when short way off l heard several
shots fred on the picket line. hasten.
ed back TO ascertain the cause, and was
told that some of the men were killing
beeves. This satisfied me, but it was not
ten seconds until the rebels commenced
Smelling the camp and stockade. l took
my vslice and went iu.o the stockade
with Nicholas Rodgers, Of Co. ca" 9th
Iowa. BY this time nearly two compa.
MES of the 18th Ills. were in it, had
no gun. The rebels were in plain sight.
Not one third of the men in the stockadc
had a cartridge. l asked an officer if he
had any extra guns lie said no. The
same officer was calling for volunteers to
90 after ammunition. Not man volun.
teercd to 90. Nick K. came to me and
asked me if I did not think We had better
bring the Colonel's desk in. told him
l thought the most appropriate thing that
could be brought into the stockade was
ammunition, and that l was going after
some as soon as man could be found who
would 90 and show me where it was
Just then orders were given to fall GU. Of
the stockade into the rife pits. As soon
as the men got outside of the stockade
every one broke for himself across the
fields and through the brush. The only
WY for me was to follow suit. l never
run with such good will as then. think
1 nnOIo hnt tsmn than E1ora Tar,
pie ever did. / was not fast enough; the
rebels overlook me, pointed their revol
vers st my head aud repeated 10 quick
succession, 'Grcenbacks, hat COMBS
knife, etc. understood their meaning
perfectly, and began to disycrye my peck
ets. l was double quicked back to the
station, about mile, put into q wagon
and started for Dixie. Had the Colonel
Of the 18th His. done his duty. that dis.
graceful affair would not havo happened.
The men were not to blame for running,
when they had not ammunition. We
crossed the Tennessee River that night.
There we're about seventy Eve Of us.
The next morning We were started for
we knew not where. I triel to escape
that night, but the guards were too vigi-
laot. l was determined to get away the
FIRST opportunity. On the 18th We were
marched thirty four miles without any.
thing to eat, neither had our guards
We we're kept for two or three days at
Antioch Church. l talked much with
the rebel soldiers and found scores of
good Union men among them. They
were conscripted into the army and fore.
ed to remain. Rhoddey's meo sre set
OF half.starved, half clothed, hslf:civiliz.
ed, halt. Union individuals, not very dan
gerous, and not capable of doing much
damage. A great many desert, and .
great many moro will do the same thing.
The rebs would buy our brass buttons aud
give 81 90 q piece; il they were rubbed
up bright they would bring $500, Con.
federate money, of course. l had none
to sell. l was going to hang on to mino
until the price Of buttons raised. Ru.
mors were rife of an exchange. did
not credit any of them. In . few days
we were started for Rienzi, Miss.-two
hupdred miles. We had a strong guard
" Auouuey Uess auu Uost tfusty men
Escape was impossible. We reached Ri.
emf in about eight days, as tired, weary
and hungry a set of men as ever wish
to see. We had no provisions but that
which was begged from the citizens along
the road-never more than halt enough,
never often enough, and nothing but corn
bread, and some times little bacon. 10
that time had as much as l wished to
eat once. l will tell you how I got it
We stopped one night on a plantation
near Dixon Station. Last fall when our
forces marched through there, General
Smith had his headquarters on the same
plantation. l was clerking ct Gen. s. .
headquarters At the same time, and wen,
TO the house occasionally after water.
Ouce when was there some boys come
snd commenced killing the chickens, dig.
eing potatoes, and / told the boys that
they ought to be ashamed Of themselves
to steal from an old woman, &c. won
the everlasting gratitude Of the two oc-
cupsnts Of the mansion-it was one of
the most beautiful have ever seen-the
i H. l.