The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-22
A PRISONERS PLUCK.
Sick and Nearly Starved to Death, bat Resolved
Never 10 Give Up.
10 the Editor NArIoNAI. TRIBuNE:

belonged 10 the l4btH regiment new IoiA
volunteers and was taken prisoner at the bat
tie of Cold Harbor, june 2 1864, Immediately
after that fearful thunder shower, memorable
IN history. We were Immediately marched TO
Libby prison by strong guard with liked bay
onets. Upon reaching the prison, we were told
we might each write letter, which would be
SENT providing it contained nothing objection
able Mine did not reach my home until the
following October. We remained here but two
weeks, when We were told we were TO be taken
farther south, into more comfortable quarters,
where we were TO have good barracks to sleep
IN, plenty to eat, and should be near the water,
where we might battle frequently. AT this
cur spirits rose for we were supplemented
enough to think nothing could be worse than
Libby. This we learned afterwards, was told
Us to render it unnecessary TO send large
guard with US We We're marched or rather
driven. like many cattle into open cattle
cars; but there were few cotton-carS, and /
was SO extremely lucky as to obtain spot on
the top OF one of them, which not only afforded
me fine view of the country, but gave me
chance to breathe the fresh air. Our next
stopping place was Danyille, where we arrived
almost fanished for want of drink and food,
not having been supplied with either on the
way.
OFF FOR ANDERsoNvILLE.
Here we remained only day or two when
we again boarded the train without the slight
est knowledge of what our destination was to
be. After travelling for two days we stop
ped close to a dense woods, and were ordered
out OF the cars and marched into the woods. AS
the train moved rapidly OF, we supposed we
had reached the comfortable quarters promised
rs, but learned afterward that the cars were
wanted to transport troops. 1t was raining
fast, and we huddled together ike so many
sheep, the rebels forming guard In ring
around US Presently some one started Rally
A 81.
cur famished condition, the boys sang heartily.
! This eXasperated the rebel guard so much that
! they said if we did not desist in five minutes,
| they would pour a volley into US. We sang
until the time had nearly expired, when, think
ing discretion the better part Of yalor," we
! stopped. Here we remained until morning,
when the train came back and we again start
ed, the rebels telling Us we would very shortly
reach our destination. From my position on
top Of the car, had fine view OF our good
| quarters as We neared them. | saw what APP
| peaTed TO HIe 70 be large open field with a
! high fence around it; no barracks, no tents,
/ but merely dismal swamp This was Ander-
sonville But not long was ] allowed to in
dulge my reverie. WirZ or "the Dutch Cap
tain" as he was commonly called, gave his
orders 10 hurry those men from the top of the
cars. Z" IL you csU't get them off any other
1 way" said he. knock them of" which they
did, and many poor fellow was struck with
the butt Of their guns. We were then counted
and put In squads of nineties; the gates were
opened, the rebels forming line each side,
| with fixed bayonets, and we marched into our
promised comfortable quarters. We were i'm
Gediately salnted with the cry, Fresh fish )"
! the boys eagerly inquiring for news from the
1 army. Ny heart sank within me- But, deter
mining 10 make the best of the situation, be-
gan TO look around. was told not to go too
near the dead4ine, and not knowing what this
meant, looked up, supposing / should see
/ line stretched in the air. What did see was
a rebel on the stockade, leveling gun at u.s.
ready to fire should we venture any nearer in
that direction. Ii is not necessary to tell of
/ the dreadful sufferings we endured In that
/ piace,-so much has already been written,-and
none but those who experienced them can fully
| realize the situation. Our rations were pint
/ of meal and piece of bacon as large as the
first joint of the thumb; after a while few
beans we're given Us, with little new moiasses,
4 probably 10 hasten the diarrhea-which all suf-
fered with-to fatal termination. was never
able to assist in the tunneiing, much TO my
regret remember that on the 4th of July,
WiTz came into the stockade aud said we should
have no rations until we told where the tun-
neling was going on. The next day he was
told, and the informant boy--they were
obliged 10 take from the stockade In order to
save his life. The death rate was frightful
many, who one day would be apparently well.
the next would be dead; and invariably there
would be scramble for their clothing-some-
times almost before the breath had left their
bodies.
A PHYSICAL WRECK.
In about three months after my incarcera-
ten began 70 suffer with scurvy, my mouth
swelling and my teeth dropping out. The
affection soon extended over my whole body
until / became almost helpless. was on the
point Of dying every day during the last two
months of my stay there, but l had deter
mined ] would never give MP. In October
word was brought us that we were to be pa
rolled, and every day detachments were taken
out was taken out at night and sent 10 Sa-
yannah. There We stayed two weeks, and
Jared much better than we did at Andersen
, vile, and had il not been for this fact would
in all probability have died, as my disease
grew rapidly worse. at Savannah we had
c0rnbread, and every morning a load of il
would be brought in and q return load of dead
men, like so much cord-wood, taken out On the
same wagon. But vet the bread tasted good
From here we were taken 10 Millen stockade
We had no blankets and scarcely any clothing
and suffered very much from the cold, but we
found some wood there and so the boys who
! were able could build fires. Here, too ths
doctors came 10 see us and, while they ex.
pressed sympathy, said they could not help us
any, as they had no medicine. This sickest
were put in corner near the gate, and told
they were to be removed 10 the hospital outside
, which they were building. The hospital, how.
ever, proved 10 be merely long shed, though il
was much better 70 be there than to be lying
upon the ground exposed to al kinds o.
: weather.
] CONFEDERATE COURTESY.
One morning an officer came into the stock
: ade with roll Of papers, and began to call of
the names Of those who were TO be paroled.
listened intently, but nothing sounded like my
name. On the agony, when realized that
was not among the numberi Our evident dis
4 tress and piteous wall so wrought upon tn.
officer that he told his orderly TO go TO his ten
and ascertain if some papers had not been lef
behind. He soon returned with one, which
thank Heaven, contained my name We wer,
taken TO the shed outside. Here quite mum
Der Of doctors came daily TO see TheJ
always seemed In high glee. They wore high
top boots aud every step would hop up. saying
7" Lookout for the creetersn One of then
stepped up to me, aud, with an awful oath
d called to the other four to come and look a
e =" this - Yank." j was, indeed, a pitifu
{, sight-swollen, disfgured, aud suffering in
tensely. Imagine nay feelings when, with 81
air of perfect indifference they said, "Ohi b.
: viii kick out before morning" j told them
!. would not die, and die did not. After few
a days ambulance came and We were again
: sent 10 Savannah, and on November 18th takel
on board q rebel boat Reaching the mouth O
? the river we saw the steamer City Of New
). York. flying the stars and sE#pes OH wha
,, q glorious sight We could not say word-w
q inst cried ike SO many babies The rebel