The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-01-22
ANDERSONVILLE.
How . Soldier Escaped by Personating Dead
Man.

To THE EDITOR: If you will allow me
small space in your valuable paper, Will give
you bit of unwritten history concerning the
war, in which other persons may be more in
terested than myself. While looking through
the History of Pennsylvania Volunteers,
written by Samuel z. Bates, j noticed that
was not mentioned as being prisoner OF war
nor missing in action. / at once called on my
late Captain, Henry A. Haines, Co. c, 1S4th
Pa, to ascertain whether l was so noted on his
muster-rolls, and he informed me that his rolls
gave no account of me being captured, although
was captured by his side and was with him
in prison quite while.
We were taken prisoners in front of Peters
burg, June 22, 1864, in common with 1900
other unfortunates, and taken to Libby; from
there to Belle Isle then to Lynchburg, to Dan
ville and from thence to Andersonville, arriv-
ing there on July - 1864. As soon as we were
turned into what / called the bull pen, more
commonly called the stockade, saw the misery
of our poor soldiers; death and lanentaton on
all sides, the extent of which will not attempt
to describe
Immediately set my mind to work for some
mode of escape. / sought out all or nearly all
the prisoners who belonged to the Masonic
Order. l can remember the names Of but few
now, although there were something like 200
of US. Nat. Budd, of Machias, Me-; young
man by the name of Crafts, from Minneapolis
to the gunboat Underwater, are about all that
j can name at this time. We made our request
known, and succeeded on the Oath day of July
1864, in being taken outside the stOckade, an
oath being administered to us that we would
not make an attempt to go beyond a reasonable
distance from the camp, which we were all
very willing to take. After we were in what
We called Paradise" / sought out and made
the acquaintance of Capt. Dick Winder, who
had charge of Andersonville, and indeed, he
was a gentleman of fine attainments, with
heart full of sympathy for our wretched pris-
oners but he was bound to obey the orders of
his superiors. He treated me kindly, never
theless. l visited his quarters once day to
get the papers and learn what was going on
between North and South.
One day ] noticed in the paper that an ex-
change was effected for all sailors and marines.
Joseph Ingersoll, my bunk mate, was sailor
on the gunboat Underwater, and had ship
mate, who was captured with him, by the name
of James Matthews, and who died at Anderson
ville Why could | not assume his name, and
be exchanged in that way, flashed o7er my
mind with lightning speed. fastened to see
Ingersol, and / hurriedly told him what | saw
in the paper, and that i believed i could be
exchanged as Matthews, if he would assist me-
He at once promised to give me what assistance
he could, and said there was no one knew any
thing about Matthews being dead; that he had
form he would claim ME as his shpnate
There was thing in the way, however
Captain Winder knew all about me, and if l
made move to betray him, and he found it
out would be in worse shape than before,
and probably he would return me to the stock
ade. i came to the conclusion that in this, as
In all other things, honesty is the best policy;
and as he always treated me kindly, would
see him, tell him all, make confidant of him,
and face the worst. | called on him the next
morning, and with my breast heaving high and
long, l opened the subject and told him my
plans. He listened to me until had finished
/ will never forget the look he gave me when
he said, My dear boy, you will be hung, if
caught" My heart sank within me, but de-
termined not to be baffied in any way. / said
Captain, if | make the effort, and should be
detected, will you promise me that you will
give me what assistance you can, and save me
| if possible?" He rose to his feet, looked at
me for moment, walked over to where / was
| seated, and extended his hand and said, Il
appreciate your courage; you can always de-
pend upon me- and may use my name i'll case
you get into trouble" l left his Office and
have never seen nor heard from him since.
went to Ingcrsoll, told him of my CONVEX
| sation with Winder, donned the sailor uniform,
gave my name out as James Matthews of the
gunboat Underwater, and was exchanged as
such in the fall of 1864. While James Mat
thews lies in the burying ground at Anderson
vile, the exchange rolls at Washington no
doubt show that he was exchanged and never
returned to his command, while my name does
not appear on the exchange papers at all.
We were taken to Annapolis, Nd, the sailors
being taken from there to Washington, while
went to my regiment and was with it until the
close of the war. / write this for the benefit
of the relatives and friends of James Matthews,
and would be glad to hear from any of them, or
the survivors of the little band of Freemasons
who were fortunate enough to be one of u.s.
JOHN L. JACOBS, I'd Lieut., Co. H., 164th Pa,
Waytown, Pa.
Charlottesville.
To THE EDITOR: want to call Comrade
Warmers Oath N.Y.) attention to his commu-