The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1882-09-07

ianj will knock hell out OF him"
never know an inatsnco, how
ever, where sergeant required Of a
black man, any service not usually
allotted to others.
Understanding that thore was n
major of colored troops in prison, l
hunted him up, aud found Major
Archibold Boyle, who was formerly,
l believe, Lieutennnt in tho 18th
Mass, infantry. JIo was captured at
Olustee, after being severely wound
ed in several places. He informed
mo that he formerly lived in Melrosc
Wass Since he came into tho rebel
pen, ho bad boon refused all medical
aud surgical treatment, though tho
prisoners detailed as hospital
Stewards had covertly afforded him
aid, and dressed bis wounds. uo
wore his uniform, aud freely 'declar-
ed himself an officer OF nogro troops
"a fact which oil officers of negroes
were not willing to own, by reason
Of tho hard treatment received
therefore from the rebels.
His was an instance OF the fact,
that true gentleman romans tho
some amidst the most stsqualid misery
and accumulated misfortuues. Ills
intercourse with others was digniiied,
courteous, aud urbane, rs if in COM
mand of his regiment, there were
many in prison, as there always has
been in our army, who professed to
despise negro troops, and have n
contempt for their officers. Major
Boyle was, at one time, | was inform
cd, compelled to mess with his ne-
groes yet he always maintained
his gentlemanly toaring and self
respect, and commanded the respect
of others amid all tho accumulated
misery Of the 'prison pom" Such
were my impressions OF Major Bo~
gle.
Many loose statements havo been
made in print indicating that officers
were as common among prisoners at
Anderson Vile as eplisted men. With
the exception Of Major Boyle, there
were no commissioned officers in-
tentionally placed in Andersonvillo
prison. Others wore there by their
own acts but the prison was inten.
ded for enlisted men only.
At any time an officer of white
troops could DO sent to Macon, or
some other officers prison,by merely
making plain statement of facts,
which looked plausible to the rebs.
So much is required to be said. as
there seems TO be great misunder-
standing in relation to this matter :,
and it is my desire to writo such a.
history, md give such descriptions
Of the different prisons, that those
who wero prisoners at the time with
myself will be tho ones most ready
to testify to the truth of these pic
lures, crudely drawn with pen and
ink.
Major Boyle, at one time, was on
gagged in tunnelling operation, in
which plotted to release oil the
prisoners in tho stookade. 1t failed
through the treason of some one in
the secret, though it como mighty
near being q success.
1bout the time became acquainted
with him, an extensive plot was
formed to break the stockade. Over
two thousand men were pledged to
risk their lives upon au effort to res
lease the prisoners of the stockade.
Hero seemed the choice before us, to
die without an effort, amid oil the
misery of the prison pen, or to die
with our hands uplifted to strike
one blow OF our enemies, before
death, in au attempt to liberate our
selves and starving comrades. To
no reasonable man did this appear
at that time to be any hope for life
but in that way. l went into the
project. am willing to confess at
this day, having full confidence in
our ability to achieve the desired
result, aud with feeling that it was
better to dio in such an attempt
than to die q miserable, loathsome
death by gradual starvation. Act
ing in concert, wo set ourselves at
work, aud dug tunnels up to the
Stockade then the tunnel branchod
off at right angles, running parallel
with the stockado, shoulder OF
earth being left as q temporary sup