The National tribune., 1899-04-06

al, OPP ortunlty to enlist until the winter @
1S62-'63, when the California Hundred ant
Battalion were raised in San Francisco t
complete the I'd Mass. Cav.
The California Hundred was raisel aut
commanded by Capt. Sewell Read, ami hac
already sailed before / was aware of its bein,
enlisted. After the departure of the Cali
Sheriff of San Francisco County, commenced
raising battalion of four companies, con.
sisting of 103 officers and men 10 each com
pany. Mr.. Thompson received his com
mission as Major of the battalion from Gov,
Andrew. of Massachusetts.
enlisted March >, 1863. in the company
commanded by Capt. George A. Manning,
and was mustered into the service by Ma.
Ringgold. On March %, 1853. We boarded
the steamer Constitution, and after % days
landed in New York. We remained there
for day or two, were reviewed by some Of
the public and military officers, then boarded
the cars for Boston and Rcadville, where we
Joined the Cd Mass Cav, and lost our iden-
tity as Californians, and our future services
were credited TO that regiment. We were
soon mounted and equipped, and in less than
one month we were encamped on Capitol
Hill, Washington, where we were thoroughly
drilled by Col. Charles Russell Lowell.
We received our first baptism Of fire while
accommodating Smokers Gap, in the Blue
Ridge Mountains, in July, and were ever
after in active service up to the close of the
war. The regiment took part in AZ engage
ments, little and big, besides many small
affairs, and was with Sheridan from the
battle of Winchester to the close of the war.
About Feb. 12, 1854, a detachment of our
regiment, consisting of little over 100 men,
under the command of Maj. Read formerly
Captain of the California Hundred), left our
camp at Vienna, Va, to hunt up MOsby. We
had been out about 10 days, had captured
some men and horses, and were on our way
back, having failed of our object, when,
within 12 miles from camp, on the night of
Feb. %. Mosby ambushed US from a thicket
Of ncelle-pines with a largely-superior force
Our Major was killed at the head of the
column, and every other officer was wounded
or dismoanted Mt the first fire. We drew
our revolyers and fought as well as we could
an unseen enemy. In n few minutes we had
lost II men killed and many more wounded,
and our pistols were empty. Five or six
made their escape, and the rest Of us were
taken prisoners and commenced our march
TO Richmond instead of to our camp at
Vienna. We were taken to Pemberton
Building, opposite Libby, Richmond. where
we remained about three weeks, and were
then forwarded on box cars 10 Andersonville.
We remained at Andersonville about six
months, where saw 19 of my company, out
Of the % captured with me, die of starvation
and exposure.
/ was taken to Savannah, where We were
told we were to go on board the parole boat
to be taken to our parole camp at Annapolis,
Nd, but, much to our disgust, we found
ourselves landed in another stockade. One
more of my company died, and in few days
more. another, leaving only four out of 25 in
eight months.
The death of my last comrade, who died a
raving maniac decided me to wait no longer
for an exchange or parole Of prisoners, but to
take my chances of speedy death by the
bullet Of the guards rife, and, if possible,
to make my escape. / went to one of my
remaining comrades and told him of my
purpose, and asked him to 90 with me; but
be declined, and tried to discourage me, tell
ing me it would be impossible, and if at
tempted it / would be surely killed. told
him it would be sure death for me to remain,
and if / could discover any way Of getting
out, l was going to 60.
10 make my chances better, resolved to
secure q rebel uniform, and in this fortune
favored me- i knew of comrade who had
rebel cavalry jacket that was too small for
him. One Of my comrades who had died
gave me his blouse few days before his
death That was too large for me, and
made trade, he taking the blouse and
the Jacket. Ali needed now was pair OF
pants. as my cap had grown quite gray with
wear and age. The list Ga Regulars were
inveterate traders. They would trade for
anything, even to brass buttons and bone OF
wooden trinkets that we might make, and
for my pants / resolved to try them. After
trying many of them and being refused,
finally found guard who was willing to
trade me an extra pair he bad, which, by the
way, were new, for my cavalry pants, pro-
vided mine were good. i told him mine
were new when was captured, but did not
tell him how long ago that was, and he con-
sented to trade. He was to come on guard
again at IL o'clock p. M, and we arranged
our signal of recognition, which was low
whistle. He was to bring his pants and 6
cord to throw to me, so he could draw my
pants to the top of the sockade from across
the dead-line.
When the time arrived started to gc
around the pris N, giving my signal as
came opposite each guard, and when nearly
halfway around received the answer, and
the exchange was quickly made / am
afraid / took advantage of the poor boy in
the darkness, as had worn the pants bott
day and night for eight months, and they
were rather the worse for wear; although i
he only wanted them for relic that did no
make much difference.
tried now to get another comrade to g
with me, but he refused, and / resolved to gt
alone if l could find place of exit Tbi.
eomrade agreed to help me out if he could
if was determined to 20. After examin
ing the stockade carefully for two or thres
days, the only chance could see was on the
end, that was a partition between tie prison
pen and the jail-yard. The Jail was either
stone or brick building, with cupola Tn,
partition on that end of our pen was of post
and boards; the posts eight feet apart, ant
the boards nailed onto them horizontally.
discovered board three feet from the ground
that bad a piece split of of one end, whicl
left hole large enough to insert stick.
l told my comrade of my discovery, an,
We went TO the cooks wood-pile, got stick
and waited until the guard on the other sid
of the wall went to the far end of his beat
We inserted the stick and pried the en-,
loose. 1t snapped like a pistol-shot.
The guard hurried back, but as we ha'
gone, and the board had gone back TO it
place, he discovered nothing. ] thought
prudent, however, to wait until this guar,
was relieved by another before l ventures
out. So waited until IL o'clock, when th
guard was relieved, then told the conrad
was ready. We approached the stockade
Seeing that the guard was far enough away
do laI %t,a ,,-l H.. Il