The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-10
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
RELIEF FROM BONDAGE.
Closing Days in the Notorious Anderson
Vile Prison.

crowdlnc around, and we had a regular talk
over. They asked us where we were from,
and if we knew Old Abe had been shot, aud
whether we knew that Lee had surrendered.
We told them we had not heard any such
news. nor did we believe it, They insisted
that such was the case, and that the war was
SOW over.
The Sergeant then said: "See here, Yanks,
you'ns can so to Macon if you choose. Ii is
about 40 miles from here. Or yon can come
along TO camp, and we'll try and send you
by rail"
That we might discover the truth of the
matter, we went to caInp with them Inc
Sergeant told us to sit under a large pine
tree while he went to procure Baltimore
paper TO confirm the news they had told US.
He obtained several papers from the Colo
mel, who came With him. He handed them
to me. and as WAS taking them au incident
occurred which interrupted my reading
them.
Under the tree where we were sitting two
men were sleeping. covered with blanket.
The noise of our talking awakened them,
and one thrust aside the blanket and, look.
ing up at me, cried:
Hello Mike; where did you come from?"
in turn looked at him and said:
"Hello, Mike; how did you get here?"
Our greeting somewhat surprised the rebs,
and it was, indeed, strange that two ola
comrades by the name OF Mike should meet
under such circumstances. The two men
were Comrades Michael Poe!h and Henry
Blaney, OF Co. c of my regiment. They had
Jumped from the train going to Macon, and
been recaptured and brought there the pre-
vious evening.
/ proceeded to read the papers. The news
1, xI,o ,l,oie pQI
Colonel said he was ashamed 10 seud us to
Macon in the condition we were then in.
He said we were not fit to be seen by civil
lied people. So he sent us back TO Ander-
sonvif1e TO receive some clothing; but all we
received was shirt and pair OF drawers
apiece as ttey had no other clothing there.
When we arrived at ABdersonvlile 1t
locked desoiate; the stockade WAS deserted,
the guards were adj gene. Only Capt. NirZ
and his staT remained, with about 80 Or 40
sick prisoners, who conld not be moved.
On Nav g 1865, we were taken win the
sick, TO the railroad, signed a parole, aud
were sent to Macon. This, suppose, was
the party Capt. Noyes saw on ms way to
Alabama, previously referred to in The Ma
TIosaL TRIBUNE.
We took the first train for Macon, and,
when about one mile from the city, saw
camp of boys in blue, and our dear old flag
waving on high pole in the center of the
camp. cannot describe our feelings. The
boys all ran to the side the camp was on,
ana looked and pointed at Old Glory as we
passed There was no talking or yelling.
They all must have felt as dad. My heart
was IN my throat.
In short time we arrived at Macon, and
were taken to the Provost Marshal's Office,
AMI from thence to our quarters in the City
Hal building. The hall part was nearly
6Iled with ex-prisoners. Many Of them
claimed to be escaped prisoners, but we're
nearly all men out on parole, and working
at Macon.
Our mess of six took possession of the
FIRST Office on the right as we went in the
hall, with small room attached, In the
rear of the second Office. The first thing on
the program was 10 draw rations. On the
road to the Commissary's we met two stout
young contrabands, whom we pressed into
service TO carry our rations. The Quarter
master did not ask us how many there were
OF MS, but merely asked how much we could
eat, and whether We were very hungry.
He gave us nearly bushel of corn-meal,
and two small sides Of bacon aud some rice.
He said when that was all out not to be
basbful but come for more. We asked him
He told us they did not have any, and could
not get any for some time. as the railroads
were torn up In front and rear, and the
communications cut off from our army; and
that the whole command had to live On
rebel rations until the roads were repaired.
Next we drew full rebel uniform. as they
had no Others. We then felt as human
beings once more.
The next morning whilst on the portico
OF the City Hall, leaning against one of the
pillars enjoying the beautiful sights of the
city, one OF the sick comrades who had come
with Ms came out of the hall and took the
opposite pillar. He said:
"Conrade, how do you feel by this timer
j told him felt all right.
He said oh, feel so good" He told
me how long be had been in the hospital
and that be had given up all hope of eve
.eeiug his family-a wife and two dear littl,
daughters. He stood in silence for shor
time then turned away and fell to the floor
went to assist him, but he breathed hi.
last He was dead Comrades, that mar
lied of pure JOY.
ksacon with the honors of war by the ex
prisoners and an escort and drum and fife O
one of the companies stationed in the city a
the time. / think he said he belonged to :
Missouri regiment.
give poor man horse and he will rid
him to death, |" is an old saying and / thinl
that was about the way with us at that time
We were privileged characters while at Ma
con. We had two splendid but poorly -iur
- nished rooms in the City Hall. We could e
where we pleased and do as we pleased. TIL
guards and patrols had nothing to say to US
Plenty TO eat and drink, we lived like gen
tlemen, but our rations were not of the Gen
tlsmen kind. Cornmeal and old pork to ca
and water to drink. Our two darby cook
did the best they could, but every meal the
had something of cornmeal and old pork.
One day while Shatzler and i were ex
ploring the City Hall we found the adjoin
ing room to have been the cutting depar,
nent OF a tailoring establishment for th
making of rebel uniforms The shelve
were all filed with rolls of jackets and par
tsseons ready 10 be sewed. Each bundl
contained two jackets or two pairs of pan,a
looms. We concluded to confscate some
them, and try to sell them and purchas
something more palatable for us. This W
did, and succeeded in selling about doze
or more bundles, until in some way the al
thorities found it out. and guard was 81:
toned at the do9r. These rolls of clothIn
We sold at 81 in silver or greenbacks, or SIC
in Confederate. At these rates / suppos
you think we could soon buy out the cen
missary, but that was not the case, as we ha
TO nav % cents in silver OR Creenhacks 4