davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1883-09-06
PRISON DAYS.
The Difference Between Aadersonyilie and Fior
enee--VotiRg for President.

The Difference Between Aadersonylle and Fi0r-
eRee--F0tiRg for President.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Allow me to corroborate, through your col
umns comrade Black statements about An
dersonviile and Florence. He tells the truth
clearly and forcibly, for | was in those prisons
myself and saw and realized all that he says.
] arrived from Belle Isle at Andersouyille at
midnight on the 21st of March, 1864, and re-
mained there until about the Sth of September,
when was transferred to Florence via Savannah
and Charleston. Andersonville was " death
and despair" but Florence was "premeditated
crneltyn My cave at Florence was so like
comIade Blacks that his description will suffice
for both. Ny partners were little Jim Strange,
Of the Tweaty-iourth Kentucky (God bless
him love him living or dead); one Murphy,
of Michigan, and John r. Weed, of my own
company and regiment. About the 10th of
December, 1864, the rebel doctors considered
me fit subject for exchange-or the grave, |
don't know which-and showed me outside the
stockade to be sent to Charleston for exchange.
/ was not allowed to turn my head to bid my
dying comrades goodbye, but was thrust out
through the big gate at the point of two bayo-
nets. The last sound that heard from that
pen of starvation and death was the voice of
Comrade Ashmead, of Princeton, Indiana, call
ing ont in pitiful tones: Tell them something
at home" Poor fellow! He only lived few
days longer. As comrade Black says, what Wirz
did was done while he was in passion but at
Florence the cruelty was cool and premeditated
For instance, they would place file of soldiers
on either side of the big gate, and then throw
it wide open and invite us to march out and
Join the Southern Confederacy! At another
time they desired to find out our feelings about
the Presidential election contest between Nc
Clellan ami Lincoln; so they hung two sacks
up near the big gate-one for Lincoln and
one for Mcclellan. The Lincoln ballots were
to be black beans, and McClellan's very white
beans. They quickly found out who we We're
| willing to die for if need be, for Mr. Lincolns
sack was soon running over full of black beans,
while McClellan's sack was comparatively
empty.
/ notice that comrade wishes THE TRIBUNE
could be printed on sheet-iron. For my part,
wish it were printed in letters Of shining
| gold aud hung so high in the heavens that all
the nations of the earth might read it.
ELI J. WAMsLEY,
| Co. E, 65th Ind. Vol. Inf'y
| EVANSVILLE, IND.
The National tribune., 1883-09-06
A Chance far 0hlicinr Comrndes.

Thomas Gilmore, Harrison. H., writes Wont
some of your subscribers who were members Of the
Second brigade, First division, Twentieth Army
Corps, give description of the battle of New Hope
Church. Our brigade was composed of the Third
Wisconsin, Second Massachusetts Thirteenth New
Jersey, Twenty seventh Indiana, and One Hun
dred and Seventh New Jersey. Ny own regiment,
the One Hun6red and Seventh New Jersey, was N
Antietam, Charlottesville, Get yssC-g, ReSGca,
and some engagements of lesser note before that,
but we lost more men at New Hope Church In the
same length of time than IN any other battle. /
think that battle has been fully described in
history.
II. II. Lucas Canaan VT, wishes some one
would give account of the part that the Second
division, Third Army Corps, took at the battle of
Gettysburg.
Peter Ritter, Youngstown. Ohio, wants to hear
from of the old comrades of the Eighty fourth
and Fifty-seyenth Ohio.
L. Weidenhamer Mulvane, Kan. wants ready
writer of the One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois
to portray the exploits of that regiment during the
Henry F. Brooks. Cedarville, Ark, wants to
know ii all of Colonel St-eight's command were
sent TO Libby Prison after their capture. lie would
like to hear from any comraie Of the First Tennes
see cavalry.
was private in company l. Fifteenth Indiana
volunteers, and served for three years, and would
now like very much to hear from SOME member Of
my old command. ALLEN SACRA,
QUINCY ILL. Co. /, 18th Ind. V. /.
The National tribune., 1883-09-06

vile turnpike after The rebel cavalry, who had
attacked our wagon train and destroyed part
of il. Before we reached the train, however,
they had left. and we were double-quicked back
again. Finding that we could not catch tho
cavalry, aud having by this time plenty of in
fantry to fight. our brigade, about 10 O'Clock or
half past, was brought forward and ordered to
charge the rebels in the cedar woods and hold
them until Rosecrans would get his line re-
formed and Loomis' and GunIher's batteries
posted on the line Of battle. In executing this
order we marched over line of troops lying
Eat on the ground, probably 80 yards in front
of the cedar woods. What troops they were
do not know, bat they very kindly allowed us
TO pass over them, cheering us, and balloing
Go in, Regulars !" We kept on the donble-
quick until we got in the eedaTs, about fifty
yards or more, and then halted and commenced
firing and loading at VIII. until ordered to
Withdraw, which we did, but not in very good
order the rebels following us up out of the cedar
woods, yelling like demons, but only again 10 be
driven back into the eedars By our infantry and
Loomis' and Gunther's batteries, which poured
grape and canister into them. In this charge
our brigade lost twenty-six officers and Gil
enlisted men out of l,556 electives. fSee his
tory of the Army of the Cumberland.) Com
rany c, Third battalion, to which / belonged,
had when 1t went into battle thirty-one men,
out Of which nineteen were killed or wounded.
As 80 the coInrade who claimed that his regl-
ment saved tie day at the battle of Stone River:
l do not dispute that. 1t may be so. There
was a short time, about IL O'Clock, after
McC0olzs command had been routed and
driven back to the rear Of Thomas, that the
enemy charged in heavy masses, right and left,
on the center, and every regiment of ours that
was there then was needed, for there was no
time TO bring them from the left, even if there
had been any TO spare there. l know that it
was said in camp, after the battle, that our
brigade saved the day.
ComTade Coffee, Of First Kentucky infantry,
is wrong when he says the Fourth Regular
infantry helped them 10 let CO." Our brigade
was the only Regular infantry in the Army of
the Cumberland. He also says the First Ken
tucl1y made the best charge of the day and left
their dead closer to the enemy's line than any
other regiment In our army. VIII my Com
rade Coffee allow RE to say that ours beat that?
IL left its dead and some of the wounded
beyond the rebel line.
If some Of my comrades should happen to see
this they viii perhaps recollect me better if
say that after the battle Of Stone River the
Third battalion was broken up and the men
distributed among the Fist and Second battal-
ions when l was assigned TO Co. e. Second bat
talon, Eighteenth U. s. infantry.
EDMUND RUTTER,
Co. E, Sd Battalion, 18th U. S. Inf.
ENIGsyILLE, Pa.
[Comrade Rutter was probably too busily
engaged TO notice Van Cleve's division and
HaFkers brigade of Woods division, both from
the left wing, Gusily engaged on Rousseau:
right at the time to which be refers.-ED.
The National tribune., 1883-09-06
90. u, UOlH IIIu. ' OF. III .
EVANSVILLE, IND.
THE HEAVY moRrAL1Tx AT SALISBURY.

THE HEAVY MOkTAI.iTY AT SALISBURY.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Apropes of the discussion as to the causs of
the heavy mortality at Salisbury prison, permit
me to give you the experience of company l.,
Eighth New York heavy artillery. Out of
LOO prisoners captured by the rebels at Vel
don Station, nineteen years ago to-day, (Au-
gust 3d. twenty-five were from company L.
On October 4, 1864, nineteen were sent from
Belle Isle to Salisbury. The three who were
left behind sick, were paroled; one died on the
way home and the other lived to reach our
lines. Of the nineteen who We're taken TO Sal
isbury, two Were commissioned officers, who
remained there but few days and were then
taken out and sent to Danvilie, where one Of
them died. After the departure of the two
officers, seventeen were left at Salisbury, and
the rebels having sent emissaries into the
prison, two of my comrades enlisted, rather
than starve in the rebel army, but deserted at
the first opportunity and joined their regiment
again in time to participate in tie closing
scenes of the war. Two more were taken out
of the stockade and cared for by Catholic
priests, and in the end reached home safely.
But thirteen members Of company l. were now
left at Salisbury, and here, Mr.. Editor, comes
the worst part of my story. Twelve of them
lie buried there, and l alone OF the thirteen
survive! l can give you the names OF all but
one of the boys, whose name | have forgotten,
and nearly the exact dates of their deaths.
give you this record simply to show how heavy
the mortality was at Salisbury.
When / entered, the prison-pcn had not been
completed. 1t had been used rs prison for
rebel deserters, captured newspaper correspond
ents, civilians under arrest, &C., but not to any
extent for Union soldiers. So Ear as | know,
no prisoners were brought to Salisbury from
any Of the more Southern prisons, but they
We're arriving almost daily from Belle Isle,
Richmond, Petersburg and other northern
points. Nearly all were fresh from the field,
and the cause Of SO great a mortality was the
exposed condition of the men-they were with
out tents or blankets, and had but little to
eat-during the cold weather. l should be
glad to hear from others who went there In
October, 1864. GEo. w. Z. PKTTIBoNE,
Co. L, 9th N. Y. Heavy Artillery.
FREMONT NEB
The National tribune., 1883-09-06
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Gar Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
The Thirtieth nliaois at peInont.
: FdiLor NAT;oNAL TEIpuNE:

To the Editor NATIONAL tribune:
j read. In last weeks issue of THE TRIBUNE,
an article on the battle Of Belmont, which cuts
my gallant old regiment out of its first fight
entirely. Your correspondent, in aliudIng TO
the regiments participating in that sanguine
engagement in the woods under the big guns at
Columbus. mentions tie Thirteenth Illinois,
Colonel Phillip B. Fouke. That is an error, as
Phillip B. Fouke was colonel OF the Ihirtieth
Illinois; not the Thirteenth. / was a member
of company ID, Thirtieth Illinois, from its or
ganization at Camp Butler, Illinois, on the 25th
of August, 1851, till j was ordered to the rear
by Serge2nt-Major Mcdonald, on account Of
expiration Of term of enlistment in the rife
pits before Atlanta, Georgia, on the 26th Of
August, 1854 ] passed through twenty-odd
engagements under the flag Of that gallant old
regiment, and am very jealous of lis honors.
Company ID. Thirtieth Illinois, lost its captain
Thomas Marekley-in the battle Of Belmont,
November :, 1861, being the first life sacrificed
upon the altar of cur country from CRAWFORD
county. Illinois, in the great conflict. A braver
and better officer never went to the field. His
body was foand nnder flag Of truce. the next
day, stripped of all its garments except socks
and drawers. was wounded in this battle
before ! had fired my gun and claim the honor
of shedding the first blood from Crawford
county, Illinois, in the great civil war IA
America. Ii any survivor from any OF the
companies sent out by said county thinks he can
establish priority of claim, let him rise and
explain. L am still on the skirmish-line,
guarding The flag and watching with interest
for every scrap of Unwritten history of my
gallant old regiment and It's officers ard COM
rades. BENZ. Z. BORING,
Late Serg't. Co. ., Goth III. Vet. Vols.
TERRE EAUTE, IND.
The National tribune., 1883-09-06

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
have been requested by a anumber of our Post
to ask, why it is that we are charged from 75
cents to one dollar5a piece for the Grand Army
Republic badges, when, according to past Com
mander-in Chief Van Deryoert's report, they
cost only 40 cents He states that there has been
1858 sold. Now, then, we would like to know
who has made this extra sS35, 600 that the
poor soldiers have had TO pay2 1t is no wonder
that the Commander III Chief met with so few
badges in his travels. They are too expensive
luxury for most Of the poor crippled and dis
ablee veterans to indulge in, aud until we can
get them for a reasonable price tsay % cents, at
which they can afford to sell them, the
metal being furnished free), the boys viii not
buy them, for they feel that they are being
robbed, and somebody is makinga a heavy specu-
lation out of them, and they won't stand it, We
would like to have an explanation through
your paper. Yours, in F. G. and L.,
LEWIS MARvILI., S. NJ,
Ed. NJ. Prutzman Post, No. ~ Ct. A. B.
PARkVILLE, MICH.
I'VE would say to our comrade that he is all
"rong in sapposing that anybody is making a
heovy profit out of the sale of badges. The
profit reserts mainly to the headquarters of
the Department. and has enabled Departments
generally to reduce the direct per capita taxes,
thus relieving the entire membership, and has
also enabled Departments and the National
The National tribune., 1883-09-06
Another Sad RoiI-call.

In your issue of July 26 appeared an article
headed :" A Sad Roll call at Andersonville," and
l thought report OF the mortality of our old
regiment-Ninth Minnesota Y. I.-1night be
interesting to some Of your readers. Two hun
dred and fifty Of rs were captured at Guntown,
Miss, June 10, IL, and Il, 1857 At Vieksburg,
April %, 1865 forty men, Or skeletons, were
released-all that were left of US, and many of
those have since died. Five out of every six
who entered the prison answered their last
roll-call during our ten months stay in that
fearful place. To many of US who are yet liv-
ing death would, indeed, be a relief, as we
STILL and must, as long as life lasts, suffer from
disease and broken-down constitutions caused
by starvation and exposure in that hell upon
earth. Yet they say we have simply earned
our $l3 per month and we have no right to ask
for pension. If the Government owes prison
ers nothing, they ask nothing. We ask no
charity, as in those dreary days of imprison-
ment we refused freedom and life itself rather
than in anyway disgrace the old flag. We
faced death in its most hideous form and now,
il our Government has done for us all that right
and justice can ask, we can face what may be
before US in the little time we may have to
live. Is the Governments conscience clear2
&i j.. A. MATTHEWS,
MANKATo, MINI. Co. u, 9th Mimi. V. /.
The National tribune., 1883-09-06
FAIRFIELD. NnB.
The Regulars a stnne nIrer.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
/ am much interested in your paper, and
especially the letters published under the head
ing Of Fighting Them Over-always the first
10 which l turn. 1t is amusing to read some
OF the letters that ID. G. Blodgetf's brought ont
in regard 10 that only bTi gsde Nagner's) that
stood its ground at the battle of Stone River
i think there were other brigades besides, that
stood their ground on that memorable day,
Deccmber 81, 1852, but that depended some
what largeiyupon the part Of the line they stood
on. If am not mistaken part of General
Crittenden's command was not assailed at all
on that day. belonged 90 company c, Third
battalion, Eighteenth u. S. infantry. Regular
brigade, (which was composed of the Fifteenth.
Sixteenth, Eighteenth. and Nineteenth u. s.
infantry, commanded by Licntentant-Colone
o. L. Shepherd of the Eighteenth), and General
Rousseau's division, which was on the reserve,
and remember double -quicking up the Nash
The National tribune., 1883-09-06
The Law as to FiIliag Vacant Offices in Posts.

10 the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
VIII you please answer the following: Our
rules and regulations provide that where
vacancy occurs in an Office it can be filled by
election, but not until the next meeting. Now,
does this apply to al vacancies, only to those
occurring by DEATH resignation, or deposition?
In our case the Post itself created vacancy by
promoting Comrade Cunningham from the Office
of j. Y. G. to that of Commander. | hold that
in such case the rules should not apply, but
that the Post should fill the Office it has made
vacant at once. To apply the rule in such
eases might result in an election and installa-
ton at each of half dozen or more successive
meetings, if the Post should promote officers
from one post to another and these services
would become onerous, especially as ones time
is needed for other work. If / am right, and
you can give any rulings on the point, please
do so.
ALEDo, Ill. V. Z. TERAN.
[Section g. Article VII, Chapter H. Rules
and Regulations, requires all vacancies i'll elect
i've offices, however created, to be filed ut q
stated meeting, after notice has been given of
such contemplated action. Comrades cannot
be deprived of the right to such notice and
time for consideration, unless the rules are first
changed by the National Encampment.-ED.
TRIRUNE
The National tribune., 1883-09-06

Encampment TO spend moro money in the work
OF building up the organization which every
reasonable ccDfade must agree to be right and
necessary. The tax of the National Eneamp-
ment is but four cents a year on each comrade,
sum so small that it is insignificant
and did not pay the necessary running
penses last year With all due Difference TO
our conradc, we doubt whether the reduction
he demands would be of any substantial heue-
fit, and the Order does not want cheap cam
paign sort Of badge. The badge will last a
lifetime, and surely every member OF the
Order can allow proper profit for the handling
and sale when the money is properly used. If
not so used let the representatives 10 Depart
ment Encampment take the matter in hand
ED. TRIBI
The National tribune., 1883-09-06
The ooIor Sergeant Of the 1s7th Illinois.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
As was member of Old Slap Jack" the
One Hundred and Twenty Illinois vol
unteer infantry, and belonged TO the color
company company c., permit me 10 gay that
comrade ". 4. Simmons IS mistaken in saying,
IN your issue Of August I'd, thai the color ser
geant OF cur regiment iSchemcThGrn) was
wounded ia the fight al Arkansas Post. If he
viii turn 10 Eddy's Patriotism in Illinois"
he viii end a picture Of the color sergeant, and
also an account of his brave exploit IN planting
the coloTs Of orr regiment on the breastwOTi1s
OF the Post while the surrender was taking
place. ComraGe Simmons is also mistaken IN
saying that the Fifty-ffth Illinois was TO our
right. Il was il our rear. Nor was there aay
graveyard near where we lay in lire Of battle
during that Sunday fight. The coolest man
that the writer saw there was LieHtenant-
Colonel Aalnborg, Of the Fifty-lith Illinois.
he sat his horse during the whole time,
talking 10 the boys Of cur Own ald his regi-
ment, AID telling Us 10 keep cool. But one
member Of cur company, Nicholas Miller, was
killed during the fight. and but one woaHded,
George Kirk patrick After the capture Of the
Post we corralled over Loo head o. mules, and
j remember driving UP te the corral three
splendid yokcs of Texan cattle.
Dr. Iressell. think, is mistaken ID regard to
General BGrbTidge riding in with the flag OF
the Ninety sixth Ohio volunteer infantry
Ny OWE REGIMENT, ! am sure, had the honor OF
planting the stars and stripes first on the
works. II Colonel Eidridge were alive ht
would soon settle matters.
GEORGE H. KNOTT,
Co. c, l21th III. Vol. IDfy,
FIGry TrK
The National tribune., 1883-09-06
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON THURSDAY

Iowa, ThirteeIth kr4ny Corps, which led the
charge at Blacls River, where we lost our brave
Colonel Ikiasnian, Captain MeGFay, and where
four other oiiiders were wounded. rs we'll as i34
priyates. ] never saw such a shower Of bullets
as there. l hope some colnIade will write q
sketch CT the Milliken Bend fight. The Twen-
ty-tlair1 Iowa was the only white regiment
that participated in it. 1t was very much re-
lueed III numbers at the time while the attack
ing force was 1000 strong. The regiment lost
over half its members in that fight. If General
Iawler is still alive should like to hear from
him through THE TRIBUNE.
ABEL. Ia. - A 23D Iowa VETERAN.
The National tribune., 1883-09-06
Enemies no Longer.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

To The Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
To-day august 9th) is the anniversary of
the battle of Cedar Mountain, Va, fought
twenty-one years ago. How time does fly, and
what strange things sometimes happen! So
vividly do ] recall the scenes and incidents of
that hard-fought engagement that it seems as
though it might have been but yesterday
Mnsing over the fight of time and my ex-
pericnces of the rebellion, mentioned to an
ex Confederate friend last evening, when
calling at his hospitable home, that to-day
wonld be the anniversary of the battle of Cedar
Mountain, fought twenty-one years sgo. Is
it SO long since that fight7" he remarked, with
The National tribune., 1883-09-06
Past Commanaer-in-Chief Earnsbaw on Col. Baker
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

ana tOA, bHASi.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In your issue of the 23d inst. there appears
q communication signed by E. w. Metcalf, of
Western Nebraska, in which he indicates that
i was with the laEented Colonel Edward d.
Baker on the morning of the day the battle
Of Balls Bluff was fought. This is mistake,
rs / was with my regiment, at Camp Grif-
fin, near Chain Bridge, Virginia, at that
time / wish TO say, however, that | had
very pleasant associations with num-
Der 81 the officers and men of the First Cali
fornia regiment, including Sergeant Alfred c.
Baker, brother of the colonel.
/ am surprised to learn that General Gordon,
to whom my friend Mr.. Metcalf refers or any
other man, should intimate that Colonel Baker
wasfull Of vanity, or that selfish ambition in the
least degree controlled him; or further, that he
was capable of making fool-hardy movement
under any circumstances. ] am comfortable in
the belief that thousand efforts to snlireh
the action Of Colonel Baker in this most mex
plicable event OF the war would not percepti-
bly, change the sentiment OF the country, viz,
that Colonel Baker was one of the trucst and
bravcst defenders Of the Union, and in all that
pertained, from first TO last, TO the disastrous
battle in which he fell, he carefully obeyed the
orders Of his superior officer, skiilfuIly COM
manded his troops, fought with bravery
never excelled, and, in the best sense, gave his
noble life for his country.
VIM. EARNsHAw.
NATIONAL HOME, MONTGOMERY Co., 0.