The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-12-24
ECHOES OF
THE PAST.
Excerpts From the Diary Of
Capt. A. J. Campbell.
The Prisoners Arrive at jackson,
Miss.-Death of Captain
Gordon.
The 4Sth Tennessee ReOrganizes, Elect
ing VIM. NJ. VOORHEES,, Colonel,
Aaron S. Goodwin, Lieut.
Col, and Andrew j.
Campbell. Major.

Sept. 10, 1862.-Flags flying at half
mast yesterday and to-day at this
point Helena, Ark. Left Helena
at 4:30 p. m. Ten miles below we
passed Delta, Miss, a deserted viii
lage. Friar's Point, fifteen miles
below, is very pretty village and
the county seat of Cahoma county.
Just below here we passed a ferry
boat, guarded by gunboat, receiv-
ing cotton from the Arkansas shore.
Twenty miles below Helena is a
camp of Federals some two or three
thousand strong, Oh the Arkansas
shore. At Helena a Union man
from Alabama, and the secretary to
the military governor of Arkansas,
came to our boat in a skiff and was
cursed and thrown at with crackers
by our men. At eleven o'clock we
tied up for the night.
Sept. IA. Started early this morn
ing and passed the White river at
eight o'clock. Just above Napoleon
is the Arkansas line. This place
seemed to be almost deserted
Nearly every house in it was closed
and there was a small deserted viii
lage on the opposite bank. Below
here we passed several villages and
gunboat stealing negroes under a
flag of truce. Tonight we anchor
with upward bound boats that took
down the first lot of prisoners.
Sept. Ia. Ninety miles to Vicks-
burg. These returning boats have
but fauy VanEaaS ond tbau ora Staol
ing negroes and everything they
want under the flag of truce. All
have negroes aboard. A negro
came to the bank last night and
followed to the Yanks to come
after him. The negroes all up and
down the river have the signal for
stopping boats. They also bring
horses and mules with them. We
saw negro this morning signaling
a boat to take him on when we com
menced. shouting, "Shoot himr'
"Catch him. He took to the
bushes in hurry.
We started this morning at ten
o'clock. At twelve we passed Lake
Providence. Below here we saw
over hundred negroes and not a
white man among them. Here our
boat touched bottom and careened
to one side, frightening some on
board. An off GER fell overheard
| this morning but was picked up by
skitf. Last night some of the
Rebels went down in the hold and
got keg of lager beer, got up a big
row and ran the sentinel up stairs.
Sept. Is. Seven months ago this
morning since we were surrendered
and we are now lying at anchor just
above Vicksburg, waiting the slow
process of the military authorities
We arrived here just at dark last
night. Nine of our number have
been buried on the banks of the
river between here and Cairo, just
wrapped in a blanket and covered
in the sand.
CLOUDY and raining this morning
Shipped aboard the Paul Jones and
breathe the free air of Dixie once
more. What 10y to me to think that
[ am relieved of the hated presence
of the Yankee once more! Now /
can meet the Hessians on an equal
footing! Landed at the beautiful
city of Vicksburg, which has so far
nobly withstood the bombardment
of the enemy's feet. We waded
through muu and rain to the Wash
ingtOn hotel, which was crowded to
overlooking. We finally found shell
ter under the roof of Mr.. Wilson, a
kind and affable gentleman.
Sept. II. Vicksburg has suffered
considerably. Nearly every build
ing shows signs of the bombardment
The price of everything is enormous.
Board is four dollars day. Shirts
are from six to eight dollars. To-
baccO is one dollar and half plug :
watermelons from one to three dol
lars; suspenders from four to seven
dollars; apples ten cents apiece
The prisoners are coming in slowly
from. our fleet. This evening Capt
Gordon was moved up to the resi-
dence of Mr.. Wilson, where every
kindness was shown him. He was
taken sick coming down from
Cairo
Sept. Is. We procured boarding
to-day at Mr.. Martins. 1t is diff
ficult-very difficult-to get any
place to stay.
Capt. Gordon, our brother soldier
and fellow prisoner, breathed hi:
last this evening just after foul
o'clock. He dropped off as gently
as one falling asleep, Our associa.
ton with him on the tented fielC
and in military prison revealed tC
us more fully the estimable quail
tiles OF his heart and soul. He was
a consistent member of the Presby
terrain church, an unyieldinl
Southern-rights man and gentle
man in every sense of the word
His fatherly care of the younger
members of his regiment and mess
rendered all attached to him, anC
we were deeply grieved at the loss.
Sept. 10. Capt. Gordon was buried
to-day in the lot of Victor +. Wilson
Rev. E. H. Rutherford officiating il
the burial service-J. Q. Arnold
sexton. We could not procure 9
metallic case nor charcoal.
This place is nearer played gu
than any place / ever saw. Every.
thing commands fabulous prices
! Smoking tobacco, one dollar ;
pound; roasting ears, two dollars
per dozen; sweet potatoes four dol
lars per bushel. The fare is yer!
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