The National tribune., 1884-09-04
yet,) traitor, re-enforcements were not SENT
JAMES VAN HoUTEN, Co. A, 9TH Ill. Cav,
Vermillion Ill
SALISBURY.
The Outbreak of the Prisoners and Its Murderous


The Outbreak Of the Prisoners and Its Murderous
Repression.
To THE EDITOR: A writer in THE NATION
AL TRIBUNE Of Aug 81 asks for an account of
the attempted outbreak of prisoners at Sails
bury, n c., in the Fall of 1864 Well, comrade,
20 years the 25th of next November will have
elapsed since that event, and it would be no
wonder if one who has nothing but memory
to fall back on should not get everything just
as it occurred. However, having vivid rec
election of that tragedy, 1 will give, to the
best of my ability, brief account of it, hoping
that some one with better facilities and more
ability will write it up from their standpoint.
| was the Corporal in charge of the wood squad,
consisting of Ga men, who went out every morn
ing to get wood for the prisoners. We had gone
out that morning as usual, with no intimation
OF an outbreak IN any quarter, and 1t is my
opinion that somebody went off halfcocked on
that occasion. / base this assertion on the fol-
lowing facts: We were guarded by, think,
two regiments; one was composed of old men,
too old for active service; the other of young
boys from IA to 16 years of age, the latter of
whom took particular delight in shooting
Yank on the slightest provocation. 1t was
known in the prison the "boys" were ordered
to the 'front.' and would go by railroad some
time that day. This would leave but light
guard for the prisoners; but the rebels had got
the Yanks down to very low physical con-
cane in one hand and musket in the other
were deemed sufficient to hold them in SUBJ
mission until the process of annihilation,
which about this time was making rapid
progress should be completed. But some of
the boys thought otherwise, and without
preparation attempted to overpower the guards
and, by surprising the camp just outside the
prison limits, get what guns were there and
thus make their escape. But, as l said, they
went off half-cocked, for the rebels were not
yet gone, though they had broke camp and were
aboard of the cars and the whistle had actually
blown to start, when firing was heard in the
garrison. Our wood train was being unloaded
at the depot when this occurred.
messenger from the prison-pen but a few
rods away came to the officer in charge of the
guards having chargeof the wood squad, with
! orders to look out for the Yankees under his
charge The regiment of rebs were double
! quicked back to the prison-pen, and at once
mounting the scaifolding around the outside of
the fence commenced to fire on the prisoners, a
| few of whom afterwards learned had attacked
the relief of 10 guards who were stationed inside
| the pen at the well, kitchen, hospital and other
| places. These with the 10 not yet relieved,
would give them 90 guns to start with but
what was an unorganized mob of half starved
men with 20 guns and but little if any am
munltion, against two regiments well armed
and equipped, and piece of artillery at each
OF the four corners of the yard all ready for
action. Upon the first intimation of the out
break the guard on duty opened fire. The ar
! tillery commenced to throw its deadly missiles
in every direction. Not one-half of the
prisoners knew anything of the outbreak until
the firing commenced. Before they compre-
| hended the situation the entire force of guards
were aroused and in position. Junius Henri
| Brown, author of " Four Years in Secession -
says: " For fully half an hour the shooting
| lasted and in that time 20 men were killed
and wounded, not one of whom, venture to
say, had any intimation of the outbreak be-
| fore it was undertaken, and who were as guilt
| less of any attempt at insurrection as infants
! unborn" Two of the rebel guards were killed
and five or six wounded by the party who
overpowered them. Thus ended the attempt
to escape from Salisbury Prison Nov. 25, 1864.
If any of the parties who led this undertaking
will write up their view of the matter, T. for
one, should be very glad to hear from them
| also, won't some of the officers who for while
were confined with us, though separated by a
chain of sentinels, tell US through THE Ma
TIoSAL TRIBUNE about their plan for breaking
out which was nipped in the bud by spies, who
gave away the whole thing, which resulted in
| the officers being sent away to Danville with.
out any notice. But / have already taken toe
much of your valuable space. hope this
will be starter for others better qualified tc
write. - HALsEY LATHRoP, Co. c, 9th Pa
Reserves, Archibald, Pa.