The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-12-26
IN VERY HARD LUCK.
Col. Lenho's Command in Camp Ford Prison. t


EDITOR Observation-Disclosures: few days
ago | received from james Il, Taylor, artist,
New York City, the Unknown painter OF
battle scenes of the late war, photograph of
the 10Th Iowa. taken on their arrival at New
Orleans from Camp Ford Prison, Tex. They
were known as Col. Leako's men, and had quito
n checkered career while prisoners of war. In
the Fall of 1863 Col. J. b. Leake, Goth Iowa,
commanded the garrison at Morganza Bend,
La, which was composed of the 10Th Iowa aud
Goth Ind. On tho Doth of September they wero
attacked by u large and overwhelming force of
the enemy. They made n stubborn Defense but
were finally surrounded by superior numbers
and compelled to surrender. The garrison was
marched TO Camp Ford, and confined in the
stockade. Col. Duganne, in his history of the
early days of the prison, gives the following
account of their suiierings and disappointments.
A portion of them were sent forward for eX-
change on Christmas day, 1868, but from sonic
cause the exchange did not take place. and they
were sent back TO Camp Ford in the following
Spring. Dismal had been the experience of
these poor fellows, and bitter their sullerngs
during Il severe Winter in shclteress camp
near Shreveport, La. On that cold Christmas
morning, when they left Camp Ford, cherisbing
dclusive hopes of speedy liberation, shiverin g
and half.clnd. they started on their journey.
They had been constrained to part with their
scanty clothing months before, when nearly
starved, on their marches from the Mississippi
River into Texas. They had given away every
thing not absolutely necessary to dccency in
exchange for food wherewith to stop the crav-
ings OF hunger. When they arrived back in
prison they presented spectacle which beggars
all efforts at portrayal"
A short time after their return Col. Leake
received orders again to get his whole command
ready for exchange After few hasty prepa-
tions they started with eiatod spirits on their
tyo In fh, Ifntn,, Al,
change fell through, and in about six or eight
weeks they wero back again in the stockade.
In July, for the third time, they were paroled
for exchange, and left the prison this time 10
return no more. was taken prisoner with my
regiment ut the battle of Sabine Crossroads,
La April 5, 1864 during the Inflated Banks
Red River expedition and had only been in
Camp Ford few weeks when this wandering
tribe of Union soldiers, as they were called, re-
turned the second time, making it the third
time that they were sent TO the same prison.
i saw them as they entered ut the prison gate,
and more miserable-look ing set Of men it has
never fell to my lot to behold,
At the sight of them | began to realize that
perhaps /, too would be reduced to the same
extremity before my turn would come to be
exchanged At the very thought my heart
sank within me, and began 10 make prepare.
tons to escape In an unguarded moment
was tempted beyond my strength and fell in
other words, committed a forgery to get out
OF prison. ] wrote out a pass and signed the
prison commanders (Col. Border) name TO it,
TO let myself and another comrade out 10 look
after the sick in the hospital. On presenting
our pass at the gate we were permitted Ia 80
out of the stockade. With as little DELAY ms
possible we struck out for Little Rock, Ark.
distant 300 miles, which was the nearest point
to the Union lines. For nearly two weeks we
wandered day and night through the almost
endless swamps and tangled canebrakes, with
only the sun and stars for our guides For two
days we were run by bl0odhounds, but baiiled
and eluded them: wAdcd and swan stream
after stream lived OH such things as the woods
aud fields afforded until the 18th day out,
when, within 80 miles Of Little Rock, we
walked unaware into the hands of tho rebel
pickets. We were started back to prison. and
when we reached Shreveport we met our repi.
ment, exchanged aud homeward bound. IL
was trying ordeal to say farewell to our com.
rades, and wish them safe journey home
When we arrived At Camp Ford we received
our sentence from the prison commander lor
attempting To escape. The sentence was
never TO be exchanged. but to remain I'm
/ prison until the close Of the war" We nm.
| pcaled TO higher authority 10 have the verdict
set aside, but IL was all in vain. Exchanges
took place dnrng the Winter, but we were not
included, aud the sentence was carried out "a
wv 'etasA' 'hhi - HtttE IA weary months oil
| imprisonment the long-iooked. for day of de.
lverance came to Us aud the $50 prisoners In
! Camp Ford. When SO awoke one morning In
/ the middle OF May, 1865 we found 1.-THE Gates
| Ajar," not solitary sentinel on guard aud the
| rebel camp deserted
Then came the news that explained the
mysterious disappearance during the night OF
| the prison gnards--tien. Grant, at App0mattox,
over LOO miles away, had unlocked the pom.
! urTous UFikgu rutps aud set tho rautfvsz fraa
This ragged and barcfooted group In the piet.
| urc before me were uneonsciously the cause OF
all OF my misforinnes and many additional
/ tedious months of captivity. aud for that
/ have sentenced them 10 hang-on the wall in a
| giit-edge frame as II reminder OF Camp Ford
Prison. Tyler, Tex. A. BEHiSu, Major, 18th
Ohio. Lynehburg. o.