The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-06-22
TUNNELING.

| TUNNELING.
| as it can rain in Mississippi. The roads were
| terrible, and the smallest creeks became
rivers, setting back on the surrounding low
lands, until some of them were miles in
width. Many poor fellow was swept away
| in the swift current. If
GODS COUNTRY
had not been the goal, not one in so could
have succeeded in reaching Black River.
| The Texans were very kind, and assisted
many in crossing the worst places.
We crossed Big Black River on pontoon
| bridge, and were then inside our own lines.
| The railroad from Vicksburg ran out to this
place, and train of cars awaited us. Boxes
of hardtack and barrels of whisky were
opened, and ready for the prisoners to help
| themselves which opportunity many of the
| prisoners availed themselves of, and paid the
| penalty with their lives.
| 1t would be useless to try to describe our
feelings upon once more entering civilized
country and regaining our freedom. None
but those who have experienced it can real
ize the joy that fills the heart. l crawled
| up the bank and into the cars. completely
exhausted. / had used up every bit OF
strength of body and will in the grand effort
to reach our lines. had been prisoner IL
months and II days!
Three miles out from Vicksburg, where
there was camp for paroled prisoners the
cars stopped. Surgeons came aboard and
| picked out those that were too sick TO stop
here, myself being one Of the number. Maj
Gen. Morgan l.. Smith was at this time in
aware of the fact it would have been oi
great service to me. He was an own cousin
| was aware of my imprisonment, and was on
| the lookout for me. But in such an unor-
| ganized mass Of men il was impossible to
| find any particular one, so
HE MISSED ME.
| /, with others, was taken Immediately to
| the hospital-boat, which was in waiting.
| Attendants put US through the bath, and
| then to bed in the main saloon, where long
rows of cots were placed. 1t may be imag-
ined how little life was left in US, when it is
stated that teaspoonfui of milk punch
every half hour was all that they dare give
| us.
The boat left Vicksburg the next day, and
arrived at Jefferson Barracks, No., in the
course of week. At Vicksburg and Cairo
members of the Sanitary Commission came
aboard and distributed tobacco, also paper
and envelopes, and offered to write to friends
at home for the ex-prisoners. We made the
| trip without accident.
| We went into hospital at Jefferson Bar
racks, where we were still kept on special
diet; and, oh! SO hungry. 1t seemed as
though we never could get enough to eat
After we had been here few days / was
surprised and made happy one afternoon by
seeing my brother walk into the ward. He
had received my letter from Cairo, and
started Immediately, and had been hunting
for me throughout st. Louis and the sur.
rounding camps and hospitals.
A furlough was procured for me, and
the next day at p. m. was on the road tc
my home in Oswego, N. Y. When changed
cars at Chicago at 5 a. m. April Is, 1865, the
newsboys were crying the extras with The
account of President Lincoln's assassination
Along in 1S49 or 1850 my brother, above
mentioned, was fellow-clerk with John E
| Mulford for the forwarding and commission
house of Fitzhugh & Littlejohn, Oswego N
Y. Mulford had some trouble with the Irish
dockmen, and was one night set upon
brutaily pounded, and nearly killed. Among
other injuries that he received his jaw was
broken. AS he had no home but his board.
ing-place my brother took him to my faith
er's house, where he was tenderly nurse6
and cared for until he regained his health.
AS John f. Mulford was Commissioner O