Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-03-27
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
Prison Life.
BY Il T. POWELL.

Everything was started--wag0n train,
prisoners, i'll fact all they had captured
for Richmond. Some portions of the train
had sutler goods, and each rebel was trying
to get the most valuable article he could,
as the grab only lasted a few moments I'M
til all was gone One fellow appeared very
much afraid that some of his comrades
would get something more valuable than
he He throwed boots and clothes aside
when he spied quite large package nicely
done IN. He ran with it under Il tree by
himself to open it. Greatly to his surprise,
1t was chaplains package of books and
tracts He sworc considerably, and the
rest, quite amused at his defeat as they
struttcd around him with their big calfskin
boots and new hats on. The remainder Of
the prisoners were gone. was summoned
into the presence of Gen. Rosser, as the re-
maindcr of my Company was still in the
block house, and lie was going to send
troops up to capture them He wanted
me to tell him how many men We're in the
block house hcsitated at first. He
threatened to hang me if did not tell him
Immediately. l told Il tale to suit myself;
at any rate they sent and captured them.
The guard was ordered to take me on with
the other prisoners. | was placed on a
beautiful horse that lad been captured.
The guard, having q very poor animal,
when he got me over in the woods, being
alone, he says Sonny, think we will
trade horses" l knew he was not acting
according to orders said you are going
to cheat me-" He replied che could not
help it, The exchange was made. We
soon caught up with the wagons and plis-
oncrs l rode this way probably three OF
four hours, guarded by two different men.
The last one asked me if could sing"
l replied 'nc.' He asked me could
whistler l replied no" He then said
''you little rascal, if the Yankees were to
charge on us here and kill NE and recap
ture you. Then you would whistle and
singr' Orders soon came for all the pris-
oncrs to get in the wagons | began to
look for something new. They were OK
pccting the Ringgold to attack them at
Moorcfield. Such was not the case {; we
went on unmoested. | remember well
there were seven of us in the wagon | was
in. They were mostly large men. We
were very much crowded. | was not
shown much mercy. Being small | was
allowed small amount of room. / at
tempted once to straighten out my legs
little in order to keep them from getting
crampcd, but there was a GROWER or two
laying there lnmcnting their fate. They
soon helped my legs back to their old posi-
ton. We went on this way until about
two o'clock next morning, when we stopp-
cd. built up rail fires, and waited for day
light. Robert Morrison's body was still
with us. They had intended leaving it at
had brought it on. 1t was taken and laid
on the side of the road. An old man and
two little boys who came along were in
structcd to bury it. The old man refused
and was told by prisoners that came along
that evening that the body was still lying
there. 1t was a lonely place. We travelled
through very rough country and it was
very cold weather. Our guards were good
to us. Occasionally one of them would
take notion fer better hat, and try to
grab one of the boys hats. They woull
hcll on to them tightly. Ifthcy could not
get them by little slcight of hand work
they would no. 'le them by force.
TO BE CONTINUED.