The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-27
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
CAPTURED BY THE ENEMY.
Louisville Legion Mans Prison Experience.

Louisville legion Mans Prison Experience.
FDTroR NATIoSAL TRIBUNE: It was about
6 O'Clock on Saturday night. Sept 10, 1863, i'm
mediately after the first terrible battle OF
Chickamauga had been fought that squad Of
soldiers belonging to the 9Th Ky. louisville
Legion, 9Th Ind, list Ohio and other regl-
meuis who were separated from their com
mands after a desperate fight with the enemy,
late in the evening. started out under cover OF
darkness through the drilling rain IN search
Of their camps. MoToUt with fatigue, pressed
by hunger, and some Of Us suffering from
wounds received that day, our anxiety 10 rcioin
our comrades continued to increase as We
wandered through the weird darkness Of the
miserable night The dim light Of csmpfres
gl0WCd IN the distance, and appeared 10 US TO
be fully mile away. Sick with the smoke Of
battle. which affects the soldier more or less
after q hard fight, we pursued our way with
uumeasured tread through a field and near the
edge Of deep wood over undeTbrush, cut down
TO decrease The speed Of troops on the march,
all the while whispering 10 one another, and
occasionally stumbling over some poor Gntor-
tunate victim belonging TO either side, whose
brave spirit had taken its fight to " Fane's
eternal camping ground it seemed as II We
had been all night on the tramp, but We found
out afterward tina: twas 9 o'clock, aud captured
by the enemy. One Of the officers in the squad,
about 10 minutes before our capture, said to
us. Bows let US make our way 10 the campfire
vonder 70 the right: ITEMS our fellows,
think" With that object IN view We marched
of ia Indian Gle, feeling almost sure that we
would soon be among our comrades again. We
had not proceeded great distance when sud
denly The sharp click Of s rifle pierced our ears,
and immediately after the stern command,
81 Haiti Who comes therel impressed us still
more deeply. and kept Us in short suspense as
we stood stock still contemplating our situa-
ton, not knowing into whose hands we were
about to cOnsign ourselves. Then IN one grand
chorus we shouted out, " Friends, without the
counteTsign," which was responded to by the
pickct-guard, F." Advance frieuds," And we
advanced IN true s0ldicTly style, as naturally
becomes old veterans and, as a matter OF
course, at the point Of the bayonet, and ID short
order; at the same time stumbling against one
another, for il was too dark 10 see our way
clearly, and we held our heads erect as we
marched forward. WecOuld not tell through the
thick gloom Of the night whether the sentinel
was Federal or Confederate. We were ordered
70 halt; and the Johnny yelled out at the top
Of his husky voice, Corporal Ct the gyaTd, No.
2; Corporal Of the guard, No. =" that re-echoed
all along the picketliue, passing from one
sentinel 10 another and was transferred TO the
officer Of the guard. In brief space Of time
we heard the dull tramp, tramp, tramp COM
ing rapidly down toward Us. =" Halti-ETODt
lacei-Order arms y were at once given, and
the officer approached, ordered Us to advance
in single file, which was accordingly obeyed.
1t was then for the first time that We realized
our unfortunate situation. We were Gisarmed
and cur names recorded IN the book Of fate and
prisoners OF war entered opposite our names
That night we were taken ia charge by the
provost guard, whose officers name ] afterward
learned was Lieut.. Pollard, who belonged TO a
Tennessee regiment; nevertheless he proved
himself TO be deuced clever fellow 10 the pTis-
fir%
fact, ! viii relate an incident which occurred
70 me at the time; although not OF any material
interest II may answer as matter Of record.
At the time Of my capture ] wore tall
black felt hat, somewhat on the Puritan style,
and adorned with au ostrich plume Of the same
color. One Of the Secesh who stood guard over
Us approached LIE III an arrogant manner, and
said: Hello! that's a purity good sort of a
hat you We got on, aux: lets swapi" at the
same ume jerking IL OF and putting, his own
on my head, and. in a ruilanly manner, crush
ing 1t down over my ears with the remark,
I've wore that darned ole nat long enough .
It was an Old broad brim white SLOUGH hat
two sizes too large Tor NE, and perforated with
bUilet-h0ies; ana, 10 Use an 0ft-quotcd phrase
II was more holy than righteous" 1t evil
IDENTIFY had seen better DAYS, and the owner
was very probably Southern planter, who no
doubt. donated IL TO this scalaWag ] could do
nothing more than 10 scOWl at the fellow for
lar; but no sooner had he robbed me of NV
headgear (which was, by tie way, a present
from 2 lady than the rebel Lieutenant who
noticed the mauuYers Of the guard, d8rted al
him like hawk after q chicken and, with
drawn saber, said: allow none Of that sir;
gIyethe prisoner his hat and never do you
offend another III my presence again"
! was surprised, and at thesane time reioiced
70 know there was al least one man among our
capt0rs III whom We could confide as a friend
Abolt aybreak on the following morning
many other prisoners were added 10 our nun.
Der, and marched OF under guard of about e
butteTuuts," the most miserable looking SET
1 had ever seen. The Lieutenant having trans
ferred US into their hands, remarked to tho
Captain who was bury, repulsive-look ing
chap, Treat them well, Bob Z" but Bob diJnI
seem 70 pay the least attention to what tht
Lieutenant bad requested Of him. for be would
now ano then, probe prisoner with his treach
erous saDer, and order him 70 step up lively
step up lively there" After having trampeC
for more than a quarter OF a mile in a STEADY
gait occasionally exchanging few words viii
the guards On the way, and also with our com
Taces, We a. length arrived at the listorica
stream Of Chickamauga the River OF Death
where we were allowed TO rest, ali footsore anC
weary on a knoll near lis banks.
il a beautiful Sabbath morning. clea
and frosty, the brilliant sunlight peerini
through the tall tree-tops; not a cloud obscure,
tue blue canopy OF heaven; not sound per
vaued the atmosphere. save an occasional sho
from some distant picket-post The belate1
prisoners, tired and hungry some of WHOM
were stretched out upon the greeusWard halt
asleep while others were sitting around con
yersIng, striving 10 make themselves merr
under the existing circumstances. A full hall
hour OF more had elapsed, when on the rebel Iefi
tremendous firing Of musketry began. whic
was Kept up necessarily for about 20 minutes
then ceased for awhile, only to be renewe
again, when a general firing began on the RICH
lett and center, and continued all along m
line Officers hurrying TO and fro on hors,
back, iOretold that the fierce conflict of I'd
previous day was being renewed with ecu:
desperation. Infantry, cavalry and artiler
were making their way 70 the front as speedil
IS possible; all was hustle and excitement
officers were distinctly heard, here and Their
giving the word Of command and far In III
advance shouts and yells went up as if a gres
victory was being gained. In the meanfin
Capt Bob was ordered to take the prisoners I
the rear, and hold them there until furtb,
orders.
The battle continued to rage with wild,
fury. The roaring cannon belched forth fir
shot and shell, whirling on their death errau
through the atmosphere, heavy with suIpbu
Gus smoke, and scattering in every directio
like demons let loose from pandemonium. TT
guards with their prisoners were ordered on
oOuble-quick march down the road an