The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-07-10
A STORY OF THE WAR
TEN DAYS IN THE REBEL ARMY.

as much III years as did in the ten days
and ten nights | was under the stars and
bars
The way of it was this: had been a
resident of the South nearly year. Seven
months of this time had spent at the
capital of Virginia, where the Confeder-
ate Congress was sitting. | was not in
Congress, however, but in Libby Prison.
Once Kilpatrick's cavalry came very
close to Richmond. The rebels became
frightened and removed us all, about six
or seven hundred officers whom they had
had cooped up in Libby for months. to
Macon, in Georgia. Here we were put
in big stockade, or pen, and left in the
broiling sun. and it was here that deter
mined to become volunteer in the rebel
army.
The stockade in which we were kept
was twelve feet high, with platform
near the top, on which the guards paced
constantly. Ten feet inside the stock
ade was the dead-line. indicated only by
q little stake here and there. To cross
this, to approach it even. was sufficient
to insure being instantly shot. There
was but one gate, OF door, and it was
kept constantly closed and guarded by
a sentinel, who stood, gun in hand, i'm
above it, while corporal stood
watch below. Once 4 day, a few guards
and officers entered this door, closed it
behind them, and formed us into lines
for counting. had studied small map
of the country for days, and by dint of
trading tobacco, etc, with an occasional
guard who was dying for the weed, l
acquired piece by piece pretty decent
rebel uniform, which had kept buried
i'll the sand where [ slept. July 10, 1864,
came round. My terms of enlistment
expired that day. l had been in the
Union army three years; was it not a
good time to give the rebels trial /?
There were few old sheds not far from
the gate, and in one of these | waited
with friend one morning, about nine
o clock, and saw the sergeants and the
guards come in to count the prisoners
| had resurrected my rebel uniform, and
had quietly slipped it on. 1t fitted amaz-
ingly. My friend was lingering there
simply to see what would become of me-
He has often declared since then that he
expected me to be shot the moment
should approach the dead-line. The pris-
oners were some way off, in rows, being
counted, as | stepped from under cover
and quickly walked up to and over the
dead-line by the gate. The guard above
brought his gun from his shoulder, halt
ed, and looked at me. paid no atten-
ton, but knocked, when the door opened.
and the corporal stepped in the opening
and asked what | wanted. THE lieu
tenant misses 4 roll-list, and | must run
out and bring it from headquarters"
answered, pushing by him hurriedly.
There was no time for questions, and the
corporal, before getting over his surprise.
had passed me out as Il rebel sergeant.
| quickly turned the corner, passed a
number of Johnnies sitting on the grass
drinking coffee. and went straight up to
the commandment tent, near the edge of
the wood, but did not go in. had not
looked behind me once, but expected
every moment to hear a bullet whizzing
after me. | passed behind the tent,
walked slowly into the wood, and then
ran my best for an hour.
| was outside of prison. How free.
how green, how beautiful all things
seemed. | had the joy of years i'll 4 few
OF course / was missed at the
directly, and the blood hounds
were soon upon my track. avoided
them, however, by different manuuvres.
| changed my course shortly. passed the
prison pen on the opposite side, and went
back and up into the city of Macon.
After wandering through its streets for
an hour, | again took to the woods
That night | slept in swamp of the
Ocmulgee river. What bed-fellows |
had.-frogs. lizards, bats, and alligators.
But it was better than the inside of Il
Southern prison. All the next day | lay
in a blackberry patch, fearing to move,
but feasting on the luscious ripe berries
What a contrast it was to my previous
starving. Never in this world shall +
enjoy food so again.
Near to me was watering station for
the railway to Atlanta. AS | lay in the
bushes, | heard trains hating all the
day. With night came a glorious moon.
Such a flood of heaven own light | had
never seen before. BY ten at night a
long. empty train halted, and in two min
utes had sprung from the bushes and
was inside of an empty freight car. In
ten minutes more | stood in the door of
the car watching the fair farms and the
hamlcts Of Georgia sleeping under the
glorious moonlight, while | was being
hurled along heaven knows where.
That was the strangest ride of my life
The conductor came along when We were
near Atlanta, swinging his lantern into
the cars, and found 4 strange passenger.
He threatened all sorts of things if my
fare were not paid (of course had no
7 Il
told him | was 4 convalescent soldier
coming back from furlough, and dared
him or any other civilian to put me off
the train. That ended the colloquy, and
just before daylight the whistle screamed
for Atlanta, and | was inside the lines of
Hoods army.
left the train, and in Il few moments
was tucked away in the hay-mow of a
barn near the station. SO far, good; but
daylight brought a squad of rebel cav
airy into the barn, who, to my dismay,
soon commenced climbing up to the NOW
for hay for their horses. My presence of
mind was about leaving me utterly, when
| happened to notice an empty sugar
hogshead in the corner of the NOW
Before the rebels were up was in it, and
there | sat and perspired for six mortal
hours. Those hours were days, every
one of Them All of this time Sherman $
army, then besieging Atlanta, was throw
ing shells into our neighborhoOd. At
last, at last, the rebels saddled their
horses and rode out of the barn yard.
| was not long in changing my head