Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-23
A HARD COLD.

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Humphreys Medicine Company. New York.
fatal. Pandemonium reigned complete
and for a time no quarter was asked
nor given, and many on each side lost
their lives. Many shots were fired al
such close range as to burn the clothes
or flesh of the victims with powder
/ From sheer exhaustion and overpowerinl
numbers, the remnant of Picketts Divis-
ion, the flower of Virginia's contribution
| 10 the Confederacy, yielded themselves
| captives, being literally surrounded and
| beaten into submission. Heth's Division
on our left, having given way, the enemy
had advanced their columns so as to over
whelm US.
While we were receiving and. returning
as best we could the fire of Hancock s
fresh regiments, at the extreme climax
OF this fight the writer saw a grandson
| Of President Tyler, Robert Tyler Jones,
himself already bleeding profusely from
a serious wound, wave his pistol and
threaten to shoot the very first man
who offered TO surrender.
What must have been the feelings of
the handsome and brave. Pickett as he
saw the greater portion of his division.
Of which he was justly so proud, killed,
wounded or captured, and only about
six hundred returned from the bloody
charge?
WOUNDED AND CAPTURED.
The writer was taken from the field
with other wounded who were captured.
and We were guarded for the night with
Gordon of infantry and cavalry. In
being taken TO the rear we could see
the terrible loss we had inflicted upon
the Federal army, for every nook IN the
fence, every little stream Of water to
which they could crawl, every barn and
shed. every yard and shade-tree were
literally burdened with their dead, wound
ed, and dying. The writer remark
ed to a fellow-oficer, who was ter
ribly disconsolate over our loss, that,
while our division was nearly annihilated.
1t must have been the dearest victory
ever purchased by any commander, and
a few such, while Gripping the Confede-
racy, would almost destroy the enemy.
The next day we were taken TO- West
minister. Md, under a heavy guard, but
not before General Meade had ascertained
that General Lee would not again, give
battle. for really, Meade was in no hurry
10 keep up the fight after so heavy
loss as his army sustained. Lee pre-
scented with his depleted ranks, after
three days Of this conflict, such front
as kept the Federal commander In doubt
as TO what he would do.
From Westminster we were taken by
railroad TO Baltimore and Fort McHenry.
and there for the first time the writer
had his lacerated leg properly dressed
by a Federal surgeon. which was. indeed,
a great relief. Thence. after n days stay
We embarked on the steamer Kennebec
down the Chesapeake and via Fortress
Monroe, being told that we were 20 be ex
changed but, without disembarldng, we
were taken out the capes and up to Fort
Delaware, where we were incarcerated
until August under charge Of General
Schoepf. who with several negro regi-
ments guarding US. thrust US into close
and dirty quarters, with impure wafer
and scanty ratiOns, which made our stu
alton miserable I'm the extreme. In
August the officers were removed from
this prison across the country to John
sons Island. Lake Erie. As is well known,
Johnson's Island Is situated about three
miles from Sandusky City, o. We were
transferred from Sandusky on a little
steamer and ushered into the prison lot
which embraced about five or six acres,
surrounded by close stockade, sixteen
feet high, on the outside of which, about
three feet from the top, was a platform
for sentries. who were stationed thirty
yards apart and walked their beats,
watchfully guarding rs with loaded guns,
which they were only too ready to use
on the least provOcation. We were not
allowed to go within twenty yards of this
enclosure. Many a heart bleeds to-day
for the loved ones who entered those
portals. over whose gates might have
been written. as Of old, HE who enters
here leaves hope behind" for many died
from wounds and sparse and unsuitable
diet and poor clothing. with bare hand
full Of straw for bedding, with the Their
mOmeter from ten TO twenty degrees be-
low zero There were thirteen large two
story buildings I'm the prison lot, and
usually from thirty-five to forty-two hun
dred prisoners. nearly all officers OF the
Confederate army, among them numerous
representatives from every
State in the Confederacy.
Well does the writer remember some
pleasing features Of our prison life; the
law school, the medical school, well at
tended, and from which, in both theory
and practice Of medicine and surgery, o.
number of students, when released, en-
tered upon useful and Incentive careers
The chess club and the theatre were |
great sources of relief and amusement. |
In mentioning those chiefly instrumental |
in the theatre, we cannot neglect to name |
Captain John Cussons, Of General Laws's |
staff the active and chief promoter OF |
anything to help our sick and wounded |
these entertainments went. He was the |
genial friend, who. with a fairly well |
organized theatrical company, composed |
IF his fellow-prisoners, arranged every |
thing to amuse. instruct, and enliven his |
comrades through the tedious hours. He |
liberal contributions from
audiences of Confederates and Federals
for distribution to the sick and wounded.
Tor these poor fellows stretched on hard
,eds in the hospital. When recalling
.hese patient, earnest. and tender atten-
ions by such noble Samaritans we can
,ot paw too high a tribute to such men as
Colonel Or) w. S. Christian, Captain
,ussons. Adjutant Ferguson, DR.. SEES
lions. and others. who nobly tried to fill
he place OF a mothers or sisters care
or the enfeebled soldiers.
Go be continued)