The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-07-13

q @A y" 49,
master in the Wells school at the west End.
Boston. He could tell his pupils a story
which would make their eyes dilate and their
gentle frames Jingle from head to foot. To
a Boston Globe representative he accorded
an interview recently. the substance of which
is recorded below.
Capt. Dimick enlisted and went to the front
Hampshire Infantry, joined the ninth corps
of the Army Of the Potomac in Pleasant Val
ley, Va, just after the battle of South Noun
tain and Antietam, the dark days of the re-
bellion. His first battle was before Fredericks-
burg in March, 1863 After serving under
Mcclellan and Burnside, the corps was ordered
to Memphis, Tenn, then to Knoxville, KY,
back TO Grant in the Wilderness, fighting the
battles of Spottsylvania, North Anna and
Cold Harbor. In front of Petersburg, June
II, 1864, he was taken prisoner, being at the
time in command of two companies, as Off
GERS were scarce.
How were you captured, captain?" asked
the reporter.
I'VE were ordered to charge upon the
enemy one morning before light. Coming to
a house my men divided, part going each
side. After getting by | tried to draw them
together, and went toward a squad of my
men, asl supposed. 1t was a rebel squad; l
vas at their mercy aud compelled to sur
render"
where were you taken?'
First to Petersburg, was kept over night
at Andersonville, then taken to Macon, Ga,
where with ], 800 Union officers | was held
six weeks; then to Savannah for six weeks,
Charleston for three weeks and October 7,
1864, to Columbus, S. C., where / was con-
fined with 1,500 commissioned officers, it be-
ing the custom to keep these in separate
prisons from the privatcs and non-commis-
stoned officers"
What kind off prison was III"
"A level field with no enclosure, but sur
rounded by a line of guards and with four
cannons facing the grounds. A few feet in
side ofthe guard was a circle OF stakes. This
vas the dead line to cross, which by light
meant infant death from q musket of the
guard.
any prisoners escape?"
't0h, yes; on darknights there were frequent
attempts to escape, some of which we're sue
cessfnl. Each soldier of the guard had a
certain beat TO traverse back and fourth and
when two guards were at opposite ends Of
their beats, a prisoner would run through the
line. There would be a musket shot; ifin
the darkness il missed, their prisoner escaped
into the woods, and the guard could not fol-
dew
How Was the food?'
ut was called Camp Sorghum, as that
sweet mixture was the principal article Of
diet. The living was very poor, consisting of
eornmeal and Sorghum, no meat or yegeta-
bles.'
How long did you remain at Camp sor-
ghum?"
u escaped from there November 4, 1864,
after a four weeks stay
"Did y0a run the liner"
mo, I took another course. II was chilly
November weather, not unlike the same bleak
month al the North. The prisoners were nc
corded the privilege of going out Of camp in
70 a wood lot, which was also surrounded by
a guard, for fuel to use in cooking. This
wood lot was used up, and about the same
at Camp Sorghum. The new commander is
sued an order allowing the Union prisoners
TO 60 70 his tent, give their parole that they
would return, and then pass out into an un-
guarded tract OF woods for fuel. It was a ia
vorable opportunity, and the first day, No
venher 3, about fifty Of the prisoners es-
capped. The following day, ], with others,
got away"
How We this done, captain; by breaking
NNNE RtiDitA
mo, We did not do that way; I cannot
say how II was with Others. We went to the
commanders tent, gave the parole, got the,
desired fuel and took it back to the camp.
Then we returned and took mp our parole,
We were free from the ties OF honor. and felt
thah it was the rebels duty 70 see that
we returned to the prison enclosure. Men
were passing back andsorth, and three Of rs,
drawing deliberately TO one side, got into
the woods and serreted ourselves until night. i"
Who were with yoa2p
Two Pennsylvania officers, d captain and a
henteiant, whose names 1 do not know. We
were Joined that night by Lieut.. w. G. Hol-
ms ffpm the One Hundred and Forty.nfth
Pennsylvania infantry and 4 third man Il
was q eiO51sE November riRhtRna w~etraveled
in the woods only six miles before morning =
How did yon guide your ccurseH'
n happened to have a little pocketrom-
pass. which I had carried about from the
timeI entered service. / have ii here row.
Capt, DImick opened his desk and held
forth welEwofn eompass, the size Of d sfnali
watch, such as seemed more like a piaything.
needle aiming toward thenorth, Healso took
out q letter. crumbled and With pretty torn
creases and gently nnfolded II.
*sIhis. Ne said, IS tbs only letter received
during the Ave months I was IN Southern
prisonss 4 was written by the woman who
At4FtN H&Nt NFQHWH NY WIFE,
OH 4 part ofthe eheet moi covered BY writ
ing was the outline OF e map, pin holes mark.
81 on the family traced lines important
points bearing upon the proposed Journey.
There were q few maps in Camp Sorghum
hifR were richly treasured, borroWedon
laid L over the latter ahd pricked through
3te faincipel places Oar aim Has TO strik,
khe 6teengille & Columbia railroad. fifty
Mik* from camp, ae a point Just NtkA q
= WbSfTft erueeea the SAt4aa s thef
follow The railroad IN the direction Of Knox
fNle Mhieh was q total distansN o. Q miles
from tbe aamp. Union forces were ueareTs II
the eeal direction. but the Knoxville roufl
appeared 80 ~ more le1eibla. Guided ny tn
NidN Nap End coMNass. wa proceeded. hldlni
"a tAe woods hY day and tfavessn9 hy nigAt
tNheikilNx nn sueh 4irfifed sanplles as we has
tfkN witlENe 0f fafa&ea on the Wav.
st seeont night Ne made twelve miies
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