Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-04-25

the rear. never dreaming that the rebels wer
anywhere else but in our front and right
Nov this vas . mastery stroke Of strateg,
on my part if there hadn't been an II in tn,
WAY. That II vas . rebel regiment lyin,
ohliquely TO the left as the other did on III,
right hadn't run. (and l must eonfes,
that vas runnins), fifty yards to the lef
when came upon this regiment, every mar
of whom was lying dat upon the ground
They must have seen me A. | approached
but had no knowledge Of their presence Ill
vas within twenty feet of them. OF course
! stopped and my irst thought Was to run in
the other direction.
But before had fairly made up my mind
(and il all occurred in q few seconds OF
nme) one man rose from the ranks and took
deliberate aim At me. Well, l thought to
myself, I'm dead man now sure" But
the msn with the gun soon gave some orders
which FASTENED TO obey, aud wasn't slow
about il either. And this Was the order
Drop that gun, take OF those accoutrc-
ments and step inside these ranks quick. or
fire." Stepping over the PROSTATE rebels.
as they lay upon the ground Vas met by
an oftcer and requested 10 follow him.
was taken out to the ChArlcs City road.
which, much TO nv surprise, Was only q
/ sA'N'' mtt blkut
that was bewildering and astounding, The
sides of the road next 10 the woods from
which w had just emerged WAS lined with
rebel troops. AT the head of the road lead.
ing out of the swamp vac planted . rebel
battery shotted TO the muxxle with grope and
canister ready TO give US = warm welcome
The road further up Was filed with infantry
and smbulsnces
was taken before Gen. Huger who sat on
fine horse, rough, stern looking man but
who spoke 10 me kindly and told me not 10
be afraid (and perhaps | did show some
signs of fear) that no harm would befall me
He inquired my name, regt., and corps, all
of which could, and did, answer truthfully
He then asked il knew where Mcclellan
WAS, and what his plans were. To this | an
swered that did not. all knew WAS that We
were falling back somew here. l was then
dismissed and taken by the officer, who WAS
my guide, to the general headQuarters,A lit
tie farm house some distance up the road
towards Richmond. On the way up the Of
hcer was quite loquacious and among other
things said that they would surely capture
kearney's and Hooker's commands. that
night that they couldn't get out of the
swamp and would have to surrender" But
keavney's and Hookers divisions dad get out
of the swamp, and Gen. Iiuger with his
command sat down before that cross road
and watched the swamp ss q cat would
watch a mouse only to have them steal
away after all.
| spent that night at Headquarters, and
aside from being called = damned Yankee
and had no business down there to fight 1--WE
uns," was used very well indeed. The next
day WAS sent with a large number of other
prisoners to Richmond After reaching the
city | was taken TO the office of the provost
marshal and from there sent to the prison
called Castle Thunder. signed my name
in the books of the prison and became de
Jure and de raefo a prisoner of the Confeder-
ate States Gogernment. Castle Thunder in
spite of its awe inspiring name was only a
tobacco warehouse transformed for the time
being into prison for Union soldiers. II
was a four story building. If ! remember
Alright, and was assigned To the third. This
building was only short distance from the
famous Libbey prison which could be seen
from our west windows. Both were situated on
Carey st, as rect running near and parallel
with the canal and James river. We were
crowded and hustled together like cattle and
were obliged to lie down at night upon
floor gummed an inch thick with the drpping-
of tobacco. Our rstions although good were
scant and distributed at irregular intervals.
The Fourth of July passed unobserved by
the citizens of Richmond, but the 2lst Of
July, the anniversary of the first Bull Run.
was y gala day. Guns were fired and bells
rung through the day, and the heavens were
lighted with rockets and other fire works at
night.
! WAS one day sent out with squad of our
men to assist in removing our own wounded
Srn tI,o Riabn,onJ
never saw such sight as oor wounded pre-
sented as they were passed out onto the plat
form. Their gaping, gangrenous wounds
were terrible to look at; and some of these
poor fellows were 40 far gone that they died
in the short transit from the depot to the hos
ptal. When taken from the ambulances
dead they were carried to the basement Of
Libbey prison and from there were carted of
by the wagon load to be dumped in 4 com
mon grave outside the city.
do not remember the exact date of my
removal with several hundred more Of my
fellow prisoners, to Belle Isle. but I do
remember that my first experience
there was anything but agreeable.
Owing to an inadequate supply
of tents which was certainly inexcusable, |
was obliged To lie upon the ground for three
nights. But that would have been no great
incon venience il it hal not rained never
saw it rain harder and when couldn't stand
it any longer I had to lie down In the mud
and 20 to sleep. However. | never enjoyed
sweeter dreams in my life. After time
was successful in getting into tent but the
were wretched poor things and ! was not
much better off than before. Body lice were
as thick as ants on the ground, and one
couldn't sit down without having these
disgusting vermin crawling up his legs or
into his shoes. At last a day came when it
was rumored that we were to be exchanged.
The rumor was true and amid a struggling
mass was enabled TO get my name booked
for a trip to Yankee-land.
don't remember the date of my release
ss had lost all run Of dates, but We were
marched on no, summers day twelve miles
to Aiken's Landing on the James river
Here we met the Union exchange boats I
can remember well my sensations on once
more beholding the stars and stripes One
who has never been prisoner or wanderer
in foreign land can understand or
appreciate this feeling. could have
fallen on my knee, and worshipped
it. but even As il was, the tears
stole down my cheeks, and q thrill Of delight,
q sensation of unspeaknble blissfulness came
over me as ! once more looked upon that
dear old flag ! had come from Richmond
II had come for me, and others to take me
once more under its sheltering care.
When stepped ashore at Harrison's Land
ing | hadn't the slightest idea where TO look
for the Sd Maine. As passed up by the old
Harrison house | me, q soldier, and having
no idea that he could give me the informa
ton wanted, ventured to ask him IL he
could tell me where the Sd Maine was
encsmped. Nov / vas a little amused
a. well a. somewhat disappointed (for vas
tired. to have him tell me tina, 1t vas "out
in frort as usual" lie gave me some further
directions and | started on my way.
Whether he was Third Maine man or not,
| never ascertaned, but he seemed 70 know
that that was the usual place for the brave
old Third. found the regiment not only in
front but upon the extreme front, a. they
were out on picket duty.
1t was q beautiful moonlight night when
walked into the company streets. a rag
ged, dirty, lousy, vretched, released pris-
oner, come back to join his com
rades once more in battling TO pre-
serve the integrity and perpetuity
Of a government that stands to-day in the
front rank Of Nations.
found the regiment encamped in pi ne
grove along side Of . beautiful fresh water
pond. The boys soon learned Of my re-
.urn and was given Q hearty welcome. IL