Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-12-17
NINETEEN MONTHS IN REBEL
PRISONS.

NINETEEN MONTHS IN REBEL
PRISONS.
Capt. James s.. Anderson's Ex-
periences in Libby and
Andersonville
The following interesting paper was
read by Capt Anderson of this city, at
tho G. A. r. Banquet, Dec. 5th: i
I was captured at Chickamauga, Sept.
goth, 1863; by Gen. Gordon of the 65th
Georgia Regiment Gle is now member
Of Congress from that state) We were
marched back through Disadvantages
Division of Kentucky and Tennessee.
They were engaged IN drawing rations of
sugar cane. We were started Immediate
ly for Dalton, about 80 miles distant, by
the route we took, and arrived there late
in the evening. We received that night,
each man Of US, one pint of tour! and as
we had none Of McBride's baking pow
der with us, our bread. as one might
naturally conclude, was rather heavy.
The next morning they took from us our
rubber blankets and canteens, and started
us on the cars for Atlanta, where we ar
rived late in the evening, and were
marched through the town, to the pen.
AS we marched in, we were again search
ed. Our jack-knives, case knives, and
haversacks taken from US. We were sure
there would always be a pen ready to re-
ceive us. Here we remained three days,
their railroads being taxed to the utmost
bringing their wounded from the Chicka-
manga battle field. Finally, we were
ordered to be ready to move, were
marched to the depot and put in the cars,
and started for Augusta, from there to
Branchville, Columbia, Charlotte, Ra-
leigh, Weldon, Petersburg and Rich
mond. Here we were put on Belle Island,
small sand-bar in the James River, be-
low the Falls, where we remained a week
or 10 days. We had neither tents, blan-
kets, or anything, to protect US from the
severity of the weather. The nights were
so cold it was impossible to sleep, and
we were only too glad to get away from
there.
We were then marched over the long
high bridge that spans the James river,
and we're placed in the Pemberton build
ing, about one block from the famous
Libby, up the street toward3the Capitol.
We used to 80 to the Libby every day
that we drew our rations. Occasionally,
and quite often, we had fast day, but it
was through no proclamation of Presi-
dent Lincoln-it might, however, have
been issued by JEFF Davis. My wife used
to give our children lunch between meals,
that was more than zoe had for days ra-
tons, and such vile provisions for Ameri-
can citizens, consisting of mule beef and
wormy peas. We were often obliged to
shut our eyes in eating it, Another
source of annoyance that took me 10
months to become accustomed to, was
the grey-backs, whlte-backs, and red
backs and black-backs. "Oh, shade of
the mighty! where, now, are the legions
that came but to conquer?" for we were
surely powerless before this ravaging
host. We used TO skirmish among them
three times day. They were always
waiting for us. venture the assertion.
and know that am within the bounds
of truth, when say that each time we
captured from three to five hundred.
One man named Smith, from the
10Th Regulars, was eaten up alive, and
died three days afterward! When parol-
ed, on reaching our lines, miles back of
Vicksburg, we drew new clothing, and a
bar of soap, which was the first soap I
had seen in year and half. I started
for creek with my new suit and precious
soap, in my extended hand. intending to
go back to camp alone. did so with a
great deal of manoeuvring.
Time dragged heavily. We had moth
ing to read, or do with ourselves. No
means of communication with the world
outside. We ]onged to know of the pro-
gress of the army, and of the probable
result of all of this suffering and loss of
life-if it was to bring freedom to our
country. We longed to know the fate of
our late comrades, but we received no in
tclligcncc, except from Rebel sources, and
we had no confidence whatever in what
came to us in that way. An old negro
used to pass my window every morning,
with the Richmond Wing md Examiner,
singing out; '"The latest news from Gen.
Lees army. Gen. Longstreet Captures a
Whole Division of Yankees! The latest
news from Gen. Bragg's army. Gen.
Grants Army Again Routed, and Driven
across the Tennessee River. with loss of
Artillery and Trains p Of course we did
not believe these stories, but they did not
set so very we'll on an empty stomach. In
! a few days more other prisoners were
brought in, and we received the true news
of the battle of Lookout Mountain and
Mission Ridge, when Gems. Grant,
Sherman. Sheridan, Thomas and Hooker
had whipped Bragg and taken 60 pieces
of artillery. Then we did sing and shout
even in our prison. From that den of
misery, and filth, and starvation, rang
out the grand old song, rally Round the
Flag" and our own unnatural selves
were forgotten in the shouts Of "Glory
Glory Hallelujahl" Soon after, we were
sent away to Danville, 40 miles south
west of Richmond, and put in a large to-
bacco building on third floor, under
charge of Maj. Moffatt, citizen of st.
Louis. Here we received clothing, and
looked with wistful eyes on the Rebs
while they were drawing the good things
sent to the Union prisoners by the SAM
tary Commission of Philadelphia. Ihave
seen whole regiment of the guards