The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-03-12
TFor the Register.
Life in d Rebel Prison-Narrative of
the Adventures and Escape ofn
Vermont Officer.

The following narrative oil the impris-
onment and escape of HENRY CARROLL,
81 Lieut.. Of Co. "K," I'd Vt. Vols.
given in his own words as nearly as pos
siblc, will be interesting to our readers,
as showing the fardships and dangers
endured by our brave soldiers who sac
rifced so much for their country, and
will serve to illustrate some traits in the
character of those who are now clamor-
ously demanding restoration TO participa
tion in the administration Of the govern
mcnt -
There is an adage, ''lruth is stranger
than fiction" SO it proved itself many
times during the late war with the South.
| have often wondered that so many of
our officers and men escaped death in the
rebel prisons. The traitors were moved
by as black hate rs ever inspired the
beast in the dark ages
They laid aside the cotnpacts of civil
lied nations, and performed crucltes that
would have made Satan blush. While
the great heart of the nation was throb-
bing with anxiety as the sword of Grant
was cleaning through the Wilderness,
and the blood of thousands Of our bravest
aud best, was flowing, in order that the
wings Of our sundered household might be
reunited /, with many others was cap
tured and taken 10 the rebel rear, there
to suffer a long imprisonment.
was taken first 10 Orange Court
House, t ence to Gordonsville, and then to
Lynchburg, where we were kept in the
lock up nearly week. Here one lieu
tenant made his escape.
The day before we left, the rebels told
us that they had gained great victory
over Grant, and that Butler had been
driven back with the loss OF twenty pieces
Of artillery Left Lynehburg the l7th
and arrived at Dcrsville the 10Th. Here
we learned lhat we were to be sent to
Georgia. Arrived at Charlotte the 20ih.
The lieutenant in charge was a very kind
man-so humane was he that the Colonel
in command came near placing him under
arrest While on the way to Columbia
two cars were thrown Fl ON the track but
none of the prisoners were injured.
Reached Macon the 23d of May after
seventeen days. Here we we're placed in
yard prepared on purpose for the Off.
GERS. We were not long here before the
rebels found II tunnel that we wore dig
ging, in order to escape, which So eNns
porated them that they issncd an order at
once to coniiscate all blankets or coats
that might be found on the ground, as
they were used to cover such places
during the day.
AT one tihie they found ms many as five
Of these tunnels in progress. One of the
officers trying TO escape led to the dis
covery; he was shot at by the guard bu'
managed to get away from them.
We had preaching each Sabbath, as
there 2as a chaplain among our number
Officers were brought in nearly every
day from Grants and Sherman's armies
A lieutenant belonging to the 45th r.
Y. regiment was shot by the guard the
night of the 10th of June, and died the
next day. At this time there was about
1850 officers present at Macon as prison
era All manner of reports were rife in
regard to the state of affairs but the
rebels always tried to put as good face
on TO their side of the question as possible
Yet they could not keep the truth from
us as prisoners were coming in almost
daily from the seat of war.
During the Summer | had quite q
severe sickness, which troubled me al
intervals for long time. Left Macon
for Savannah july 18th while there -
of our men made their escape in one
night.
A few days later fifty officers were
exchanged at Charleston +; among tho
number were Gems. Shaler and Seymour.
One thousand five hundred of US wcr.
under fire here six weeks, and LdaS Dec
not man of us was injured by the falling
she'll We were kept on rather short
rations most of the time while in prison.
| managed to get out about the middle ol
October, but was recaptured within an
hour and was placed in close confinement
forty-eight hours. Nothing of much i'm
portance transpired until | was returned
to Columbia, 5, c., where on the night
of of the lst of November, 1864, myself
in company with fifteen other officer,
made our escape little after ] o'clock.
We gave the guard silver watch to let
us 60. After passing out we crept about
eighty rods on our hands and knees we
ran into swamp where we wandered
about in the water some three hours be-
fore we could get out At daylight we
divided into squads of four each With
Inc were Captains Walpole and Gear OF
the l22d n. Y, and Capt. Benson of the
lst District Columbia Cavalry. We
marched nights from 9 until in the
morning, and hid in the daytime. We
always went in single file, and about
twenty feet apart, 80 that if one ran into
the enemy the others could get away.
We took turns in going ahead. The
second night we came upon the rebel
picket line, and so near to them did we
pass that we could hear them talk and
understand what they said We had
nothing to eat the first nine days but raw
corn, as we dare not build fire to cook
| "a for caar Of d;aco,a.,,