Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-09-19
LIFE In REBEL PRISONS.
BY VIM. +. eRIERsoN, co. h, 33D o. v. NJ
NUMBER FIVE.
Further disappo Transferred from
Andersonville to Florence Escape an
Capture of Three Prisoners with Blood
hounds.


We were again loaxcd by the officers on
the 2Gth Of September, 1864, with another
bundle Of lies about an immediate ex-
change. Five or six thousand men were
taken out of Andersonville, to return no
more, but not SO buoyant with hope Of go
ing to our own lines as when we left Dam
vile, Va, in the Spring. We had become
accustomed to their lies, yet we were very
anxious to believe that may be II was true
this time, for drowning man will cling to
a straw. We were put into the cars on the
night of the 25lh, and remained there un-
I'll the next morning, when we were taken
to Augusta. There we were taken from
the cars and marched into graveyard to
spend the night, and let me tell you that it
was lonely night among the dead, al
though there were six thousand Of us there
| spent the night leaning against tomb.
stone with my thoughts flying like electric
ity from that graveyard to my fathers cot
tage in Southern Ohio, until l was wern
out and fell into troubled sleep, from
which WAS awakened by the guards shout
ing " fall into ranks and march TO the cars
again" We marched to the train and
started, we knew not where, but landed in
the city of Charleston, South Carolina.
must say that while in Charleston we met
with the best treatment from the citizens
that we had anywhere else in the Conled-
eracy. Bnt the guards aud officers were
very mean and prevented all communica
| tion between the prisoners and citizens. Al
! first we we're marched TO the uavy-ydrd
| and remained there three days, after which
we were marched out OF town to the race
! track, where we remained until the 7th day
of November; when we were again loaded
! like swine on train OF cars, and sent TO II
place by the name of Florence, near the
| line between the two Carolinas. Here we
were put into another stOckade very like
| Andersonville in appearance. Its form was
q long square, being longest IRON north to
south, a slough running across from west to
east and very near the middle OF the pris-
on. As we we're the first prisoners that
had occupied it, we had plenty Of brush
and logs to make tents and also Tor fuel.
This we used with all economy possible.
In Il lew days there was rot brush, or
stick left scattered on the ground, all was
]
TO protect US from the rain and cold winds
OF November. Here again the swamp fe-
yer broke out. We were nearly all without
clothing, and the sick suffered dreadfully
from the chilly winds. While in Florence
we were under charge of Colonel lverson,
who was in command OF the Fifth Georgia
regiment. lie was very different man
from Wirz or Motif, but a lieutenant that
was on his staff was as cruel as he knew
how how to be. His name was Barrett.
He wonld infict the most barbarous pun
shment for the slightest offence. While
here | was detailed to carry the medicine
from the dispensary, (Which was outside
Of the stockade) to the hospital, and give ii
to the sick, hence | was paroled so as to be
allowed to pass out at the gate. This gave
me fine opportunity to plan and try an
other escape for We had by this time given
up all hope OF ever being exchanged.
soon became acquainted with several oi
the guards and found some of them to be
wholesouled fellows, while others were
naughty and overbearing.
Escape seemed almost impossible, fol
every man, woman and dog in the southern
states were on the lockout for us, and ther
they kept lot OF well trained bloodhound
at the gate. These animals went the grant
rounds every morning on the outside o
the stockade, and il man had passed out
the hounds would follow his track, ant
they were almost sure OF their victim
There were two boys from New York reg
iment and one from the 9SLh Illinois, VIII
got out by means OF tunnel that they dnl
through the stockade. They were chase,
by the Lloodhounds the next day, and over
taken IN open field, and before the officer
came mp to them the hounds had torn tw,
Of the boys so badly that they died in
few days. One OF them had his cheek al
most torn off. The man that was leas
hurt soon recovered, but said that he ha,
no notion of trying 10 devise some plan t
leave the Southern Conlederacy. Although
| never knew one to escape; yet, if an OF
portunily presented itself, some were sur
TO try.