The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-18

dead-line. and men who got near that were
shot dOwn like dogs.
As time passed on the deg'h-Iist grew larger
and larger. / have counted in the morning 40
and sometimes - that lad died during the
night There was 10 prevailing disease, merely
starvation and exposure; bat soon the scurvy
set in and men would get 30 that they did not
know their own names or where they belonged.
| tell you IL wss hard 90 have our comrades
going ia that shape and we could do next to
nothing for them.
There was at different times quite a number
Of tunnels dug and other. sehemrs planned TO
get out, but invariably some one would give
them away for a loaf Of bread or something TO
eat. Men would at such time almost sell
their souls for pieeo Of bread.
iow made their escapd, but nearly all were
recaptured. For my own part had become so
weak aud emaciated from starvation and expo
sure that could hardly walk. | could walk a
little with two canes. had seen my comrades
one by one carried out in the dead-wagon, and
felt that II was only matter OF time when
should travel the same road. Hope was nearly
gone. There was only % men left Of our squad
of 100 Who was 10 90 next? That was the
thought as we looked at one another.
This was about Feb. 20, 1865. and / think
that day We began to hear rumors OF exchange
or parole. The next day we found out that We
were to be moved for certain which gave Us
nc" sllt. W. lau ebtleLhluI 10 utilt loI. W.
found later on that Gen. Sherman bad got down
south of US, and that they were afraid we should
be recaptured. That night we drew two days
rations which meant a move of some kind. In
the course Of the evening they moved the sick
that could not walk. Next day was the 22d
day of February. and we were marched out OF
Salisbury Prison and headed for Raleigh. /
thought II could get out Of there j could walk
home. How coed and clean tho world looked
to Us after our long confinement in that he'll of
JEFF Dagiss.
i think no savagcs ever tortured prisoners as
did that damnRble COnlcderacy, aad II there -
hell, sincerely hope sOme of them are in 1t.
/ walked about a mile. / should think, aud
could 60 no further. You can imagine my
feelings to sec the rest going towards home,
while bad 20 remain behind. But thanks to
the Colonel who bad charge Of US, got
there just the same. lie had good heart aud
was a gentleman. He rode along where was
lying On the ground and said: My man, can
you 60 no furthpr?" told him / could not
lie said: Stay here; will take care OF you.
had no choice I'm the matter; i had to stay.
lie told the Tear-guard, which, by the way,
was the only guard we Lad. to march on and he
would attend to me. ] supposed then that
was 10 be put in some other prison; but It was
Dot so TO be. / think il was nearly an hour be-
fore the Colonel came back and asked me "
| could walk about mile | got on my feet and
| tried. but could not walk more than a few steps
lie then asked me if could get on his horse.
but could not. lilo then lifted me into the
saddle. held me there with one hand, and led
the horse with the other about a mile to the
passenger depot. He then got mo transp0rta-
ton through TO Raleigh on passenger train
That was the only time | believe that ever
/ rode on the yellow cars in Dixie. That rIde
remember very little about. / know he fixed
me ia two seats turned together ~ well as he
could, with car cushions for bed. About the
| next that remember was being helped oil tine
train at Raleigh. The rest all got there tina
night. Kind people, mostly negroes, gave me
something to eat and got rested and felt bet
| ter.
The next two days were used up in signing
| parole papers, and we knew We were surely
| going into our lines You should have wit
messed the Joy on our faces TO know how W.
felt; men wept like little children for JOY
| Hope deferred maketh the heart sick tin
Good Book tells us. We had hoped until hops
had nearly died within ", bat we were gcinl
| home. | think now that 10 was about the 26ti
Of February when they loaded Us onto fat car
aud started us once more for our lines which W
| reached the ist Of March We were sent int
/ our lines about 20 miles from Wilmington
! y. G., on the Cape Fear River, where a steame
! was waiting for Us, making just five months {
a Jay since VIC were captured at Pegram'
/ Farm.
got home. or should not now be writiE
these lines Ny weight was 80 pounds II wa
4 l7O when captured.
While in Salisbury I became acquainted wit
! Albert u. Richardson, also Henri Brown, bot
correspondents Of the New York Tribune.
knew OF their escape, but was so far gone that
did not dare 10 90 with them. II God spare
my life ! mean 10 march on 10 WashingtO
next September to tho National Encampmeui
aud hope 70 meet you all. do not claim. a
/ sec a great many Of the comrades do. tina
they kept a diary, for did not. What hav
written is from memory. All ] can say, 1t can
not be written as bad as it really was.-BUB
| TON G. RICHARDSON, Go. +. LIST u. S. s. s.. AM
Co b, l7th VI, Parker Post No 123. Attic
| Center, Mass.