The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-22
A JOYOUS TRIP
OF Paroled Pr!.oaers On tie b. E. Lee


EDITOR NATIoHAL TRIBUNE: One scene
that transpired on the Savannah River in the
month Of November, 1864, during the days Of
parGllng Is worthy Of note, and has as yet never
appeared in print
On the 18th of November squad of about
800 prisoners, mostly recent arrivals from An
deTsJuyille, left the st0ckadG at bIilen and
were loaded into freight-cars, destined for
Savannah for parole. The night vas spent in
the cars, and carly Sunday morning the 20th)
the necessary formula Of taking the oath and
signing the parole papers was undergone On
the steamboat dock at Savannah, where three
steamers, the Beauregard, the Swan and the
Robert j.. Lee, were awaiting 70 transport the
prisoners down the river to a point about half
way to Fort Pulaski, where our own boats were
awaiting their arrival. The BCaurcgard and
Swan were soon loaded and under way. The
Il. i. Lee was an old flat-bottOmcd river freight
beat, with au engine each side Of her; the
/ boiler well asiern. and all were on one deck
as in fact, there was only one deck or c0mpayt-
meuU on the B0at-which was the largest and
also the si0west OF the three steamers; for
before the Il. T. Lee was mile away from
Savannah the other boats were out Of sight and
well down the river. About 200 Of the paroied
prisoners were on this bOat-as hopeful a crowd
as one could wish TO see The trip down the
river was pleasant one, and it was late in the
afternoon wEcn our boats were sighted on
rounding bead IN the river. The exchange
boat-thc old sound steamer New York-was
discovered less than mile IN the distance, and
from her flagstaff foated gracefully the glori-
0us stars aud Stripes that the watchers were so
auIiOas 70 sec once again. The scene that fol-
lowed tie discovery Of the dear old flag
Gods flag" they called twas a strange aud
pathetic one, and battles description Men
who had faced death on . dozen battlefeIds
without aiuching were so overcome with JOY
that they
WEPT LIKE CHILDREN,
aud in the exuberauce Of their joy embraced
and even kissed their nearest comrade. Others
were on their knees Offering prayers Of thanks
for their prospective deliEerance from cap
tivitY almost as bad rs death. Some, unable to
stand on their feet, were lying Oh the deck
weeping, praying and laughing, all in a breath.
Some were singing old war songs, aud al times
gave vent to cheers Tor the old flag.
The scene vail be long remembered by the
writer as the most touching one in a lifetime
Even the rebel guards, unused IS they were TO
such devotion TO the old flag stood by in silence
with moistened eyes, watching the strange
scenes, while the above joyful manifesto
tons were ia progress. Ii was noticed by a few
that series Of signals were being exchanged
between the BeaUregard, which was anchored
near the New York, and the r. L. Lee and it
was soon noticed that the Il. f. Lee had
.
Some excited individual noticed the fact and
cried out they are taking Us back to Savannah
The exclamation came Ike thundcTbOlt 70 the
surprised and terror-stricilen prisoners for the
very thought Of returning TO Savannah and a
rebel prison again, after even a glimpse Of
prospective freedom, was too much to bear,
and where only a minute before was joy and
thanksgiving was now scene Of terror and
dismay. Some were for jumping overheard
and SWIMMING ashore; only their weakness
prevented the trial
Finally one intrepid spirit cried out, " We will
! die first" aud shifting the action TO the words
seized one Of the stakes, lying in pile near the
1 boiler, which were used for fuel. His example
was followed by q score of others, and q rush
was made on the rebel guard, who were fright
encd by the sudden change Of affairs and
sought safety on the deck above, narrowly
+ escaping death at the hands Of the now en-
RACED prisoners, who were bent on q strike for
/ freedom.
Volunteer engineers and fremcn were plenty,
and what would have been the result Of the
4 sudden change IN the possession Of the steamer
can only be 5uuni5cd FOR the excited crowd
was under 40 control, and would have stopped
only when freedom was assured.
During the excitement the hatch of the
! upper deck was removed, and the officer in
charge Of the rebel guard shouted to the men
below: For Gods sake, men, be quiet. We
aIt Avt gong bdAFA ~ t4ltidus RG are only
going into shallow water oGt Of the current to
anchor until the other boats are uuloaded"
This assurance quieted the excitement al once,
but the prisoners retained possession Of the
weapons Of defense and only rclinquishcd
them when some two hours later, they marched
across the gang-plank on board the New York,
when the stakes were thrown on board the L.
T. Lee with the assurance that the Johnnies
could burn them on the way back to Savannah.
After three days stop on the New York and
happy ones, too, the Wabassct started for and
arrived safely at Annapolis after a three days
voyage with the paroled prisoners, vino inside
Of a month were granted burroughs and spent
Christmas and New Years once more al home
W. 4. LANE