The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-08-14
A SCOUTS EXPERIENCE.
Captured on the Stonemaa Raid-Threatened as a
Spy-Attempts TO Escape.


A SCOUTS EXPERIENCE.
Captured on the Stonemaa Raid-Threatened as
Spy-Attempts TO Escape.
To THE EDITOR: THE TRIBUNE is an ever
welcome visitor to my table. The history of
Stoneman's raid by Gen. Capron is one of the
most interesting war articles / have ever read
from the pen of any writer. j was especially
interested, as i was acquainted with many
brave fellow who belonged to Stoneman's COM
mand, but more particularly because John G.
Hall, mentioned by Gen. Capron as having
been shot while in the act of delivering to him
(Capron) an order from Gen. Stoneman to sur
render, is my next-door neighbor. / gave the
paper TO Hall to read, and he has since given
me las he did more than a year ago. the his
tory of his capture by and escape from the
enemy after Stoneman's surrender. Hoping it
may interest many a soldier and reach the eye
of many an old comrade, send you Halls
story:
Zen. Capron would never surrender; but
finding was too badly wounded to follow him,
he made his escape with his command from the
field. The severely wounded were removed 20
Confederate Col Haskells house. There was
pointed out TO the Confederate officers by some
of our own men as a spy, and was informed
that if ] lived until the next day would be
hung. That night John Smouse, of the I'd Ind.
Cav. III think died from an amputation and
was buried at Sunshine Church, aid board
with my name, company and regiment placed
at the head of his grave. The members of Co.
L, 18th Wis. Cav, can testify TO this.
We were now moved TO Macon (Confederate)
hospital, where my hair and beard was re-
moved and / was known as John Culbert.
"A few days before the surrender squads of
our men were sent out to destroy railroad and
other public property, but the boys frequently,
without any authority or provocation. would
destroy private property and confiscate articles
of value TO themselves.
My duty as a scoat brought me one day to
fine brick residence not far from Sunshine
Church, where l discovered some of our boys.
/ dismounted and went in to see what they
were at. / found they had piled some fine
furniture or q splendid piano in the parlor
and were about firing it. l tried to dissuade
them, telling them that we were not sent down
there to make war on defenseless women and
children or to insult them and destroy their
property. This only aggravated the boys;
they made for me, and il was not until knocked
three of them down with the back of my saber
that they could comprehend me. They then
LETT, threatening 10 report them. 1t occurred
TO me afterwards, as | lay in hospital at Macon,
why i had been pointed out as a spy.
'As recovered from my wound was allowed
/ the freedom of the hospital grounds. One.day
met paroled Federal officer-a prominent
commander IN the late disastrous raid. He
turned to the guard and said, you had better
take care of that fellow (pointing to mel; he is
a dangerous man. The guard replied, Mind
your own d. business. You don't run this
/ thing / soon found out why l met with so
much consideration at the hands of the enemy
| The people whose property saved from con-
! fagration came TO the hospital thanked me for
what | had done FOR them, gave me a roll of
/ Confederate money, and expressed hope that
! they might give further assistance.
but soon lost this soft thing, for we were
sent TO that worldwide renowned slaughter
pen at Andersonville. Here / saw and heard
/ things too terrible TO mention. i can only say
that after all that has been said and written,
the half has not been told and never should
4 be. Il would be too revolving for human ear
| TO hear. AT the end of six weeks / made my
escape. The dogs were put On my track, but
4 managed TO avoid them. / wandered in the
bush for several days; was captured near Grit
1 hntown and taken back 10 Macon. After five
days / walked out into the country and hid in
| the bush, making my way the best I could to-
ward the Union lines. After three weeks /
was recaptured near Millen and taken TO Law
\ ton Prison. / remained there five weeks. /
was sent out one morning with the wood squad
and forgot 10 90 back. wandered in the woods
several days and nights until my feet were so
! frozen ! could not walk. A reb found me- took
Inc TO his home, made NE comfortable, and in
/ few days turned me over to the proper au-
thorities, and was sent 10 Savannah to prison.
/ Escaping again, went out on rice plantation
and remained secure for three weeks when /
heard they were exchanging prisoners at
/ Charleston, SO ] went thither and gave myself
up. But here / met with a sad disappointment.
/ was put on a train with some other prisoners
to be sent to Florence. We were put in a box
car with two guards. Before reaching Florence
we passed over long trestlework. Itwasgrow-
| ing dark, and our guards were standing by the
open side door lighting their pipe. Quick as a
tiger sprang upon them, pushed them from
the car, and they fell clear of the bridge. Their
/ guns went of when they struck the trestle-
work. but / have never heard from the guards.
At the first stop escaped from the train, secure
in the darkness. ] wandered about several
days but becoming exhausted. surrendered
to Gen. Iyerson at Florence, who, in spite of
| all the unpleasantness between us at Stone
mans surrender. treated me very kindly. /
remained at florence until March, 1865 when
| was exchanged and rejoined my old regiment.
/ am taking great pleasure now in reading
Gen. Capron's escape. / never before knew
how he got away"
And yet Hall, crippled in body, enfeebled in
! mind, with no means, is only receiving 81 per
month from this rich Republic which he helped
70 save" 11TH MICH. ISF.," Petersburg,
Mich