The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-11-22
GEN. HOBART.
His Capture at Chicamauga, Imprisonment ant
Escape from Libby Prison.
GIN. HoBART's NARRATIVE.

through the battles of Saturday and Sunday
At the close of the second day, Thomas's corps
still maintained its position, and presented an
unbroken front to the enemy, but the right OF
our army having fallen back, the tide OF battle
was turned against us.
To avoid flank movement our brigade was
ordered TO leave the breastworks which they
had held against the severest fire OF the enemy
during the day, and fall back to a second po-
stion. Here only portion of the men, with
three regimental standards, were rallied A
rebel battery was instantly placed in position
on our right, and rebel cavalry swept between
us and the rereating army.
Being the ranking officer of those who raj
lied, directed the men to
CUT THEIR WAY THROUGH
to our retrcating line was on the left Of this
movement, to the rear, and, to avoid the APP.
proaCh of horsemen, rapidly passed to the left
through dense cluster Of small pines, and in
stantly found myself IN the immediate front of
a rebel line of infantry. | halted, being dis
mounted and an officer advanced and offered
his hand, saying he was glad to see me, and
proposed to introduce me to his commander,
Gen, Cleburne. | replied that was not par
ticularly pleased to see him, but, under the
circumstances, should not decline his invita-
ton.
being cheereu by his men, and surrendered to
him my sword. He inquired where had been
fighting. | said, Right there" pointing to
the line of Thomass corps. He replied, This
line has given us our chief trouble, sir; your
soldiers have fought like brave men; come
with me and will see that no one insults or
nterferes with YOU"
1t was now after shutdown, and the last guns
Of the terrible battle of Chicamauga were dy-
ing away along the hIllsidcs of Mission Ridge.
A large number Of prisoners of war were soon
gathered and marched to the cncmy's rear
across the Chicamauga Here we witnessed
the fearful results of the battle. The ground
strewed with the dead and wounded, the shat
tered fragments of transportation, and gener-
al decentralization among the forces, told the
fearful price which the enemy had paid for
their victory More than fifteen hundred sol
diers, prisoners of war, camped by a large
spring to pass the remainder of a cold night
some without blankets or overcoats, and
ALL WITHOUT PROVISIONS.
The next day we were marched about thirty
miles 10 Tunnel Hill, where we received our
first rations from the enemy. On tins march,
the only food we obtained was from field OF
green sorghum. Here we were placed in box
cars and taken TO Atlanta On arriving at this
place, we were first marched to IN open field
outside OF the city, near fountain of water
and surrounded by "a guard. Kind hearted PEG
pie came out of the city, bringing bread with
them, which they threw to US across the guard
line, Immediately a second line was establish
ed distant several rods outside Of the first, to
prevent them from giving us food.
From this place we were marched to the old
slave-pcn, and every man, as he entered the
narrow gate, was compelled to give up his ov-
ercoat and blanket. | demonstrated with the
officers for stripping the soldiers Of their neCcs
sary clothing as an act in violation Of civil
zed warfare and inhuman. The men who were
executing this infamous duty, did not deny
these charges, hut excused themselves on the
ground that they were simply obcyng an or
der Of Gen. Bragg from the front That night
! saw seventeen hundred Union soldiers lie
down upon the ground, without an overcoat or
blanket to protect them from the cold earth |
or shield them from the heavy southern dew
The next morning we were ordered to taxi
the cars, and proceed on our way to Richmond
These men arose from the ground cold and
wet with dew, and under my command organ
lied and formed in column by companies, and
marched to the depot through one of the main
streets OF Atlanta, singing in full chorus the
Star Spangled Banner Crowds gathered
around us as we entered the cars. \ guard
with muskets accompanied the train.
| will here relate an incident which occur
red on our way. We overlook train of open
ears filled with confederate wounded from the |
baltle-neld. The two trains stopped for some
time alongside in close proximity. Ii was n
spectacle TO see the men of the two armies in
tently observe each other. On the one side was
the calm, pale face Of the wounded: on the
other, the earnest, deep sympathy Of the cap.
i've. NO unklnd look or word ever passed
between them. OF the seventeen hundred
fltlr. tsH..u
have given his coat or reached for his last cent
to help his wounded brother
On the last day OF September, after travel
ing more than 500 miles from the battle field
OF Chlcamauga we arrived at Richmond. and
the officers Of the Cumberland Army, to the
number of about two hundred and fny. were
marched to Libby Prison.
ms building has Il front of about one hun
dred ana forty feet with depth of about one
huhureu anu hyc. There are nine rooms each
one hundred and two feet long by fOrty.6ye
wide. The height OF ceilings from the floor
Is about seven feet The building Is also divid
Ell into three apartments by brick walls, and
there Is "A basement below.
On entering the prison we were seyerally
searched, and everything Of value taken from
us. Some OF Us saved our money bv putting
II INTO the seams of our garments, before we
arrived at Richmond. The officers of the Ar
my ol the Cumberland were assigned To the
middle rooms of the second and third stories
Tue lower middle room was used as general
Kitchen, anr the basement Immediately below
was hlted up with cells for the confinement
and punishment of offenders. These rooms
received the sObnquet Of Chicamauga.
The whole number Of officers OF lie army
and navy IN prison at this time was about
eleven hundred-all having access to each 9th
er, except those in the hospital There were
no beds or chairs, and all slepton the floor. /
shared horse blanket with Surgeon Dixon.
of Wisconsin, which was the only bedding we
had for some time. Our bread was made of
unbolted corn, and was cold and clammy We
were sometimes furnished with fresh beef, corn