Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-15
TAKEN PRISONER.
The War History OF a German Inmate of
the Soldiers Home at Leavenworth.

Maj. Carl Smitl, of the Soldiers
home, is a Jolly. good-natured fellow
says the Leavenworth Times. He has
German face. a German accent, and
a Jolly German laugh. He told his
yarn in this style:
Il was born in Prussia, and at the
age of 10 entered the service for one
year as a volunteer. You know in
Prussia those who serve without pay,
and equip themselves, can do their
service in one year. and get liberal
education. | was then a student, and
in 1919 turned against tie govern
ment. In other words, | was what
they call in this country n rebel. |
was IN three severe engagements. as
Il lieutenant. Finally all of rs rebels
were driven out of the country to
Switzerland. From Switzerland I en-
igrated to America, in 1861, and en-
gagged in the drug business in Evans
vile, Ind.
Having been accustomed to mill
tarv service. I responded to the first
call for three-months' troops in April.
and went rs captain of the lSt Indiana
battery, attached to Gen. Lew Wal
lace's division. We were stationed in
western Virginia, and were in few
unimportaut fights. When Gen. Viii
lick was made colonel of the 23d In
diana he wanted me to be his adjutant.
In August, 1861, l was mustered in the
three-year service, and in 1862 was
made major.
The first battle | was in was at
Rowlett's station. There we fought
| the Texas rangers. On the second
day of the fight we were ordered to
make n bayonet charge. In this
charge my horse was killed and was
shot through the hip. Then came the
battles of Perryville and Stone River
and Missionary Ridge. Col. Martin,
now governor of this State, was then
colonel of the Sth Kansas, and used to
report to his general through me. |
have some of Gen. Martins reports in
my room now. And by the way, Col.
Martin was very brave man. | re-
member, when we were at Mis-
sionary Ridge, the order was given
that the regiment on picket duty be
relieved, and another regiment be put
in front. Col. Martin asked as par
ticular favor that he should be placed
there and lead the attack, which was
done.
Il was in the Atlanta campaign, and
in the battles of Franklin and Nash
Vile dbl ever tell YOU how / was
taken prisoner? I'll tell you. When
Gen. Willick was captured at Stone
River, he wrote me that he would be
exchanged soon and requested me to
90 to Washington and get money.
His letter came to me through Gen.
Rosecrans, whom | knew very we'll. l
could not 90 to Washington without
passes, so Gen. Rosecrans made me
bearer of special dispatches. The
army had just been paid, and large
amount of money was being sent north.
/ had considerable sum with me
when l started on the train. We had
| gone but Il short distance, when we
| found that the rebs had put rails on
! the track to wreck the train. The
engineer stopped, and almost imme-
| diatclv thirty-three officers and men
in uniform jumped on board the train
and ordered US to get off. We got off
| double quick, and were soon relieved
of nearly all our clothing. One fellow
| made dive at my watch. | pushed
him away and shouted i guess not,
my friend. This is my watch, I'm
your prisoner, but you won't take my
private property
Just then a brilliant thought struck
me. | belonged to secret organiza-
ton and thought perhaps the fellow
was q member of the same organize
ton, SO | tried it and made the sign.
| Y'oughter see his face! I'm your
T I'm nt TO
tect me- You see didn't know what
they were going to do with me, and
knew | must fight for my life. Well
| he said, 4 will give up your watch, and
/ slid the watch down into my boot.
But come along. And we started off
for Gen. Kirby Smiths headquarters.
I knew there was no hope for me if
| ever got there. SO | started in. / Of
fercd him my gauntlets, and anything
| had on. Then | thought of the
money in my pocket, pulled $3.50 out
of my pocket, and holding the roll up
in my hand, winked long and hard at
my captor. He seemed to understand
the situation in a moment, for he
stopped, scratched his head and looked
long and wistfully at the money.
Amt you a surgeon? he inquired,
with sly wink. Yes, I replied with
another wink and twinge of my con-
science. We'll | can't take you pris-
oner. You must go back to tend to
the wounded And you bet your bot
tom dollar / went back, but not until
they had robbed me of almost every
thing but my pantaloons. Finally ] of
fered them my boots, full of holes.
D your boots. Mine are better
than yours Which was fact.
That afternoon | footed it to Nash
vile, arriving there about dusk. When
l reached the picket lines was or
dered TO halt. WHO are you? they
asked. 'An escaped Union prisoner
l said. Don't believe it, And they
put me in an ambulance and carried
me to the commanding general whom
| knew, and who telegraphed to Rose
Grams that / had arrived with the dis
patches-very important ones-safe.
Rosecrans equipped me again and sent
me on TO Washington where l arrived
safely.
After the war | went to Cincin-
natl, then to Peoria, remaining about
ten years in each place. Two years
ago | entered the home"