Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-12-30

and fellow citizen, james n. Bowling, atriv.
ed home last evening, after IN experience Of
Eve long and dreary months in the rebel
prison pens Of the South. He VAS captur-
ed among others Of the 10th on the memo.
rabls 22d Of July last, at the gallant and al
most DESPERATE charge before Atlanta. He
was marched with the rest Of the prisoners
to Griffin, Ga, thence by rail in hog cars
to the fearful prison pen 1t Andersonville-
. place Of most exquisite torture, and one
ever to be remembered by thirty five thous-
and Federal prisoners, who together suffer
ed the inhospitalities of that accursed
place. We have too frequently revealed
the horrors of that place to recount them
here. Suffice it to say, that the experience
Of our young soldier friend was equal to the
worst accounts that have been given. He
was there two and half months-his ra-
tions being . pint of corn meal per day,
without salt, which was sometimes changed
for pint Of beans, and once in a while
they were permitted to enjoy the change to
two tablespoons full Of corn meal and like
amount Of beans per day On this miserable
fare they were obliged to live or die. Sher-
mans successes giving alarm to to the reb.
els, young Bowling, among others, sas put
aboard Of a trainaud started otto Savannah.
Here they were put under guard in an open
field, which was an improvement upon An
Jacksonville, for twelve days. The rations
were about the same IS at Andersonville,
though little better. The citizens of Sa-
vannah furnished them with some extras in
the shape of corn bread, which was most
gratefully received. Fears Of the approach
Of Sherman caused their removal from this
point. They next went to Charleston,
where their stay was very short only
about three hours. While there the women
Of Charleston provided them with good
meal Of bread and soup-the best meal they
had enjoyed for many long day. Thence
they were hurried off to Richmond via
Florence, S. c., and after few hours stay
were sent back to Florence, where they
staid until the 7th of December. At this
place they were with about II 900 prison.
ers, sometimes in an open field and some
times in stockade. The rations were the
same as at Andersonville, and by that time
their clothing had become most miserable,
next to none in quantity, and barely neces-
sary to keep them from freezing to death.
Young Bowling relates that the men have
had to sleep upon the bare earth this fall
with no other clothing than pair of draw.
ers and shirt-very thin and ragged at
that, when the ice upon the water about
them froze as thick as half dollar! Each
one was dealt out single stick of wood
about the size Of a boys arm, and this was
oil they had for the day and night to cook
their pint Of meal and keep them warm
No cooking utensils were allowed them, but
some had camp kettle others knife or
= fork, and SO they swapped around and
to live. Some dug holes in the
ground, in which to lie down to keep off the
wind, AMI often would the cold rain and
sleet make those untenable, and they hal
co keep soul and body together the bes;
way they could, which was bad enough, in
deed. The principal amusement the boys
found in any Of the camps was the daily
hunt for graybacks." So plenty was Ahis
species Of game, that the hunt became a nc.
cessity in order to secure any degree of
comfort while waking or sleeping Putting
of ones last shirt or drawers in raw fall |
day, to hunt down that style of vermin is !
lesson Of adversely that most people would |
rather not learn.
On the 7th Of this month yo,il g Bowling
succeeded in getting paroled as one of the |
invalid list He counts himself extremely |
lucky, as there were many Of his worn out,
sick, and wofully emaciated comrades who |
were much lower in health than he was,
whom he left behind, and who would very
likely pass the dead line'' ere many days,
and never again taste the sweets of liberty.
Or gladden. the hearts of dear parents and |
kindred at home.
Being parolcd, the boys were sent by rail |
to Charleston, where, after delay of sever.
i days to get papers made out, they EN-.
barked on the U. 8. transport United
States on the 10th. Never were hearts
more overjoyed or intensely gladdened than
theirs. The scene Of overfowing joy At the |
sight offriends and the promise Of speedy
and safe journey home, can better be imag-
ined then described. They threw away
their old rags, underwent . thorough pro-
cess Of bathing and cleasing, and each re-
ceived new suit Of clothing throughout,
and then sat down to good wholesome
meal-the first they had enjoyed for many
long, lonesome months. There they got the
first meat rations, with but few solitary
that they had tasted since their
capture. They arrived at Annapolis on the
18th. and staid there until the Goth, Christ
mas day, whom they started for their homes.
Unexpectedly to his parents, young Bowl.
ing dropped in upon them last evening,
creating deeply interesting sensation in
the hearts Of his aged parents and devoted
sisters-as may be imagined, This young |
veteran Is now about ls years old, and has
already experienced more hardships and
privatcns than most psopls svse undsrgo
in . whels long lifetime, and now awaits
An aYNhaN~n - aSp>So A.I~ A. az