The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-31
LEFT ON THE FIELD.
The Exciting Adventures of Wounded
Ex-AnderSOnVille Prisoner.
A Wounded Prisoners Story.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

seriously as General Sherman desired were a sue
cess in accomplishing the object blocked out for
them-the breaking of railroad lines reaching the
Confederate forces. The force was exceedingly
small considering the magnitude of the purpose.
General McCook's command consisted of the
Fourth Kentucky, commanded by Colonel Crox-
ton; the Eighth Iowa, by Colonel Dorr and the
First Tennessee, by Colonel Jim Brownlow. We
found some running target practice the first day of
the raid, and were pecSed at from the hills and
woods all along the route. Striking the first line
OF railway at about o'clock in the afternoon, we
were placed in line, destroying it far the line
extended. On the march that night we captured
train of wagons and burned them, paroling
about two hundred prisoners. Our next point
was Lovejoy Station, where again destroyed
tho railroad and laid for south bound train of
cars, which, when it came in sight, scented the
danger and ran back.
We could now hear the guns of Stoneman's men
pounding away, but made no effort to reach him,
but commenced feeling way back our line
of retreat and soon felt strong line. The
Fourth Kentucky dismounted, and they
pressed back the enemys front line The Eighth
Iowa followed this move with headlong charge
mounted. They suffered greatly, among the dis
asters being the wounding of Colonel Dorr and the
killing of Lieutenant James Horton, of company
K. The charge was grand success, however, for
there was no more organized opposition until
Newman, Ga, was reached although progress
was one continued skIrmish. Colonel Brownlow,
with his First Tennessee and some volunteers from
the brigade among whom was numbered charged
through Newman and spread CONSERVATION through
some Georgia militia Our progress was still smooth
until about eight miles from Newman, when the
entertainment became lively. Wewere in open
OF u.s. The only two pieces of artillery with us
were placed in position and opened on the woods,
where the rebels were massing. The result was
soon apparent We were completely surrounded.
Major Root at o'clock D. m. took his battalion of
the Eighth Iowa. and by headlong column charge
attempted to cut an avenue of escape through the
opposing ranks. / went into that charge hot
headed youth of seventeen. That field crushed
the hopes of developing manhood. lam physical
wreck at thirty-six. The enemy gave way before
our charge. Massng again behind an almost i'm
penetrapie thIcket IN common with our entire
force, found myself in this dense woods with
neither enemy nor comrade in sight. On moving
to my right rear for more open woods found a
comrades horse, riderless and grazing As was
untying the provision rack from his saddle and
placing it on my own, / looked around and dis
covered two dsmounted Confederates, about fifty
feet to my right, covering me with their guns and
seeming to take a cool and quiet interest in my
effort to collect 'eommssaries. One of them, in
language more forcible than polite, called to
surrender. L promptly answered yes but my
intention was not to surrender unless they showed
astronger line than was in sight. hoped to gain
time for council of war. Il had previously ex-
perienced all manner of surprises attacks counter
attacks and charges supported by tried and trrsty
comrades, under gallant and competent leaders,
but this was my first engagement wherein was
commander, skirmsh line and reserve force all in
one. Against double my number, with the drop
on me, my pistols in their holsters and bareback
in my hands, soon decided they were like myself
q command of their own for that particular occa-
sion, and determined not to surrender. Their
second order was Git off that crtter.f / made
the first motion of dismounting, drew my revolver
fired at them and replied: g Not vet gentlemen"
They had never taken their guns off of
would have escaped. | planted both spurs and
made wheel. Their first shot went through my
pistol-arm and right side the second shot through
my left leg and killed my horse. Although made
| failure asa commander, have always been proud
OF that move. l delayed one mans fire with my
shot and got turned that he hit me in the left
side, and if the first shot that hit my right
side had not disabled my pstol-arm the second shot
would not have been fired. If it had not killed my
horse, would have got away anyhow The two
who shot me did not approach but withdrew. The
evening was very warm and lay for hour
bleeding at every wound and perishing for water
DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE
squad of Confederates passed by took look at
me, and remarked that, as all dead Yankees went
to heaven would soon join the angels. l did
not reply. more humane rebel soon after passed
me and remarked that was probably done for
but lifted me to more comfortable position and
got me canteen of fresh water. have patriots
loyalty to my country and commanders, a COM
rade's tender affection for my companions in
arms but the warmest spot in my heart to-day is
water. Later in the evening | noticed wounded
horse grazing towards me; painfully and slowly
crawled to my dead horse and secured my feed
bag, in which there was little My slow pro-
gress eventually brought near the grazing
horse, which proved to be belonging TO my own
company. poured the corn on the ground. The
horse took the bait and, while eating made the
most difficult mount of my life. do not recall the
! minute details of mounting, but remember almost
giving up the struggle, but finally securing seat
ing in the saddle, and realizing that faced in
the wrong direction. Entirely exhausted and
| fearing would faint reached the horses head
with my sound arm and turned him in the direc-
ton of the artillery firing urging him forward with
my sound foot When reached the open field
could see the enemy in strong force along my left
and line in front. The horse was bear
ing right so let him go. When about half way
across that field, the enemy fired strong volley
at us, but neitherwas touched. After this reached
our battery in safety My lieutenant j. T. Haight
took off the horse, carried me into a cabin and
laid me out on a bench in the corner. have since
learned that Captain John Dance, of company X,
Eighth Iowa cavalry, and eighteen others of the
regiment, succeeded in cutting their way out
and have been told of the formal surrender,
of the spiking of the cannon, and the narrow
escape of many of our boys but the last hours
of McCook's raid were blank to me. When
finally aroused that night it to find myself in
cart, with two other wounded men, jolting
rough road, and the light of day showed me
wounded Federals and Confederates mixed pro-
mlscuotsiy In the second story OF closely guarded
building IN Newman Ga. The only medical atten-
ton my wounds received was given by myself and
consisted in steadily bathing them with water. /
figured on the situation and knew WAS nearer
Sherman than would be if they removed us, and
If l could have ever got my game leg to work
would have got out, found horse, and tried for
home but my leg refused to carry me. About the
last of August was forwarded rapidly to Ander-
sonyile and placed in that breeding farm of vermin
called the hospital was placed in the third ward,
and here my wounds for the first time looked
at by physician, who investigated them far
enough TO pronounce 'gangrene in the Leg and
said il would have to come off. said no. and
would have fought for il long as | could have
scratched or bit, but they let me keep and
sonvie pen, but III the hospital the light-det sys-
TEN of physicians was strictly followed. at 10
o'clock, a. m we got small piece of corn bread
and a scant half pint of rice soup. / recall how
anXiously waited for supper my first day hop
ing for better bill OF fare. Supper reached
us; the rationS above mentioned all
received per diem. The familiar scenes of death,
naked corpses and the burial wagon with the
sullen despair that settles upon poorlyfed prisoners
developed indifference we all now blush to
acknowledge. 1 do not recall that those who could
walk ever looked or expressed sympathy for me as
i crawled to the creek for water; and later on
when, with erutch, could propel myself in an
upright position, l passed without thought or
notice my crawling companions of earlier days.
gushes the prisoners incessant longings
for home and dear ones and their delusve dreams
of deliverance. He who entered Andersonville
either wounded or in health soon read the hand
writing on the wall and knew that he had left
hope behind. Whatever the degree of humanity
he had previously possessed, il suppressed
by his impoverished condition and he sank to the
soning his entire action being governed by that
animal Misunderstanding to eat
In January was given crutch and placed In
the sixth ward Henry Buffin, of the One Hun
dredth New York was in quarters with me. His
decline after the weather became bad was rapid,
and death approached he gave his jack
knife, a blanket and pair of socks. l buried the
knife in the sand few moments before those in
fernal Williams called Andersonville nurses in
and took the blanket and socks away from me,
and | continued my daily shivering around the
bake-oven in thin and tattered clothing. During
my entire stay in Andersonville l was my own
surgeon and cold water, steadily applied to my
three wounds, was my only remedy.
BARGAINING FOR GOOD SQUARE MEAL.