The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1876-04-13
Written for the News.
Experience of an Anderson
Vile Prisoner in Dixie,

cOInpduy VI PlofOSt SuaTuS. Ino
came running out like school boy.
each one saying, "Where's my pet {?
1 noticed they were a different styl
of soldiers from those that had bee
guarding us. They were more neatl
dressed, and had a refined and pol
ished appearance, and impressed M
very favorably at first. I thought
then, that while We were passin.
through Dixie we would receive tn
best of treatment that hospitalit,
was characteristic of be South, ant
that they carried the principle will
them in war as well as peace. How
delusive as you will soon see.
Each guard selected his man for {
"pet," pretty much as a cat woulc
select mouse to play with, and de
YOUR it after the fun had all beer
knocked out of it. l fell to the lot
of Walter Graham and Wesley
Evans, as there were not sufficient
number of us to go round. Both
these men were ge,.tlenaem-the only
two who had any right to the name.
After the selections were all made,
to the satisfaction of our new mas
ters, we we're marched up stairs over
store-rocm, on the corner of the
two main streets, and handed over to
some guards already on duty. They
we're guarding q couple of sickly,
dirty, greasy boys. Their clothes
were very old and ragged, and of
the Confederate gray, with the ex-
ception of a Government blouse each
wore. They were bare-footed, and
had the appearance of the regular
'' tramp" On inquiry we learned
they were Union soldiers who had
been captured about one month be-
fore from General Sherman's COM
nand, when he had made his famous
trip from Vicksburg to Meridian.
Before we had time to learn the
of our guards, we were
ordered into line, and examined by
IN officer to see if we were carrying
my concealed weapons or anything
of war. There was moth
ng found on us, and the officer re-
;ired and we were ordered into line
again by sergeant As soon as we
;ook our places we were informed
hat we must be searched again.
This time there was a guard for
'very prisoner, and few extra ones
With drawn revolvers. About as
luick as clap of thunder it dawned
IN our minds that we were to be rob
bed. Great heavens were we to
ose all our money, our watches and
ewelry? Yes, for already scoun-
lrel was going through my pockets.
All my money, pocket-knife, combs,
ooth.pick, a very fine ivory one, and
everything movable about me went,
'to carry on the war" Some of the
boys objected, but revolver leveled
n steady hand, with fearful eye
It the other end of it, convinced
hem that it was best to make the
ransfer quietly. The robbers realiz-
ID about four hundred dollars, and
We were dismissed for that time,
While they divided the booty. Please
'ardon me for calling them robbers
Perhaps I shonlai ave said, "tLose
ugh toned, Southern blooded aris,
ocracy"-for they claimed to be of
he ''frst families" of the South.
My two friends were not to be
cen. They were not present, and
ook no part in the robbery. They
old me afterwards that they didn't
pprove oft, and never took share
f the spoils, but were powerless to
revent such conduct.
After the boys had got over their
and surprise, they took
n inventory of their effects unmo-
ssted. They were but few-one or
wo finger rings, and some little
honey. I had one half dollar in
liver in my fob pocket that had es-
aped notice. That..was ALL Itlook-
d as large as wagon wheel, and 1
ad my doubts whether I could con-
cal it from ''high-toned, aristocratic"
yes or not.
The two poor fellows we had met
nere from Sherman's army, had been
through the flint mill, and they
Did US we were not half through yet
that our clothes, boots, shoes, &c.
-ould share the same fate that our
ocket- books had-that when they
anne there four weeks before they
ad good clothes, boots, caps, and
ONE money, but it had all gone ''to
AIRY on the war!" I took a look at
~ two-story beaver, and thought,
must 1 part with you so soon?"
Next day ten Wisconsin cavalry
yere brought in prisoners, and we
,ere ordered on one side of the room
nd they on the other, and then the
ohnnies went through them in good
tyle. They got about $500 in
honey, watches, &c. My readers
ill please notice one thing-that all
ur prisoners coming into Canton
ad been captured some time, but