The National tribune., 1890-10-16

| when ali was ready we were led out into the
street, went southwark n block or two and were
| turned into sort of Enclosure formed of the
| street in front, an iron fence the two sides
at right angles and church at the back. In
! this little square we halted till further orders.
In one corner was largo pile of captured
| knapsacks and in the church were the officers
| of Milroy's command who had been taken.
| Occasionally one would come out and go round
! TO the rear of the church, attended by guard.
! saw Col. Ely, of the 18th, come out, escorted
by a little runty- looking rebel. The Colonel
wore full uniform, hightopped boots and all,
| but he looked dusty and sober, and as he
reached tho foot of the steps, stopped mo-
ment and looked our way. folt sorry for him.
and wondered If he recognized any OF his boys
among that squad of prisoners.
After awhile we wore taken away and
marched to the fort on the high hill north of
town. Here all the prisoners were collected
and after some search found n number of my
company gathered under shelter made Of
blankets and sticks built against the breast
work. From them / learned what had been
done since | saw them last. Capt. Bates was
wounded, Lieut.. Blanchard supposed to have
escaped and Lieut.. Carpenter captured. or
the mon number were known to be wounded
largo number missing and the rest were pris-
oners. Milroys army had been destroyed Mil
roy himself barely escaping capture. 1t was
said that the rebs had q rope ready for "Old
bllroy " if they got him.
The next day, Wednesday, Juno II, was tho
worst day had yet experienced since our
lstment. 1t was perfectly cloudless the sun
pouring his searching rays down upon us, Mt
the same time q high wind was driving the
sand in clouds all about us, and as We were
sweating freely our faces soon became coated
with mud. Daring tho day, Gen. Ewell camo
around, and the Johunies undertook TO fire a
salute with some of the captured field pieces.
The Yankees were crowding around, interested
to see what was going on, but when the rebs
started Off with the pieces, they were soon
brought up standing with the guns fat on the
ground, for the innocent prisoners had pulled
out tho lynch-pins.
Sometime in the afternoon we were called
out TO draw rations, and got ttle pork and
bareback. About o'clock 1900 prisoners were
counted out, and we fell in and marched out of
the salyport and down the steep and long hill.
At its foot we halted and stood by tours in tho
road, surrounded by cur guards, the 55th Va,
Col. Board. As the Colonel took his place at
tho head of the column. he addressed his men
in nearly tho following words: Men, these
Yankees lrave fallen into our hands by the for
tunes of war, but want them treated as gen.
ticmcD. If / hear of any abuse or insults, the
perpetrators shall be severely punished. Col
umn, forward-march." And we started on O
81 mile march to Staunton. 1t did not seem
possible TO me that | could over get there, for
was not yet free from the fever aud was weak
and sick, but / got there.
Until our guards turned us over to the Rich
mond City Guards ut Stsunton, we were treated
just as well rs we could be, and we parted from
the 5Sth Va. with most kindly Ceilings. ii.
SAWYER, Co. b, 18th Conn, Kempton, Ill.