The National tribune., 1900-07-26
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
BATTLEFIELD AND PRISON.
Adventures of Capt. J. D. Phelps and Fellow,
officers During the War.

DEATH not long ago, of Capt. Ithamar ID
Phelps, at La Porte, Ind, removed on,
of the most gallant survivors of the 73t
Ind, one who had a soldiers full expert
ence with war, in camp, on the march
the battlefield, and in prison. Phelp.
enlisted in August, 1862, and was mus
tered into service on the 18th of the same
month, at Michigan City. He was elected
First Lieutenant of Co. X, the latter af
terwards rendezvousing at Camp Rose
South Bend. of which Gilbert Hathaway
| was commander.
Besides the 73d, s7th and Doth, camped
| there, there was n company of the 4th
Ind. Cav. The 73d remained only a week
in Camp Rose after Co. X joined it, GO
| ing from there to Louisville, Ky, where
| the regiment received its arms, after
| wards proceeding to the front. 1t was
caught in the retreat from Richmond,
| Ky, and was in line of battle at Perry
vile, where, like the S1th Ind, it no doubt
first vividly beheld the flash of the rebel
cannon as they sent the death-dealing
shells kissing and bursting all about
them.
The I'D was engaged in the terrible
battle of Stone River, where it lost one
ticipated in the noted Strcight raid. This
was gotten up in April, 1863. In Febru-
ary of that year Lieut.. Phelps was COM
misSiOned as Captain.
The troops participating in the Streght
raid were the 73d and 51st Ind, Sd Ohio
and SOth ILL.,, part of two companies of
Tennessee cavalry, and two mountain
howitzers Gackass batteries). The COM
mand started from Murfreesboro and went
to Nashville, thence going via the Cum
berland River to Palmyra. Here it left
the boats and crossed the country to
Fort Henry on the Tennessee River. The
troops then went up the river to Humboldt
by steamboat, afterwards crossing the
country to Tuscumbia, where they foraged
a couple of days for animals on which to
mount the men.
AT this point they met Gen. Dodge, who
was to start them after the rebels. They
met the latter at Sand Mountain under
Forrest and Roddy, who had about 1000
mounted men. Although the Union force
numbered only between LOO and 800 it
drove the Confederates back and cap
turcd two pieces of artillery, but the en-
emy kept following the Unionists, and at
dusk another fight took place, resulting
as before in the Confederates being driven
back.
On Saturday, May ., at Blout's farm,
Col. Hathaway was killed. This was a
severe blow to the 73d, as he had en-
deared himself to the regiment by his
many excellent qualities as q gentleman
and a soldier. The next day the Union
troops were surrounded, and, as their am
munition was exhausted, Col. Streight,
who was in command, surrendered. BY
the terms of capitulation the officers were
to reserve all private property, the troops
were to be allowed to retain their colors,
and all were to be paroled. But the terms
were not complied with after the surren-
der. 1t was said that this was not Gen.
Forests fault, but was the work of his
Supcriors.
The Union officers, numbering %, were
taken to Rome, Ca, where they camped
outside the town. Then they were taken
to Atlanta. From there the men were
sent to Richmond. The officers remained
at Atlanta six days. They then went by
rail to Augusta, Ga, Columbia, S. c., and
Salisbury, n. c., travelling in regular cat
tie cars, part of the way on fiat cars, be-
ing, of course, exposed to the weather.
They rode night and day, at slow rate.
The men were sent to City Point from
Richmond the day before the officers ar
rived at the latter place. On reaching
Richmond the officers were at once taken
to Libby Prison, where they remained a
year.
1t would require too much space and
time to relate all the incidents of the
Journey from Rome to Richmond. 1t was
long and tedious ride. No doubt the
captiyes were often hungry and tired and
cold. They were called bad names by
the citizens, and once in awhile women
spit at them.
Capt. Phelps entered Libby in May.
With 100 others, among them being Col.
Streight, Col. Rose, of the 18th Pa, Maj.
Hamilton, Of q Kentucky regiment, the
Major Of the Doth Ind, and Lieut.. l.. p.
Williams, of the I'D, he crawled through
the now famous tunnel, which was begun
in December and completed in the follow
ing February.
Much has been said about who was en-
titled to the most credit for originating
the idea of digging this tunnel. Col Rose
has been credited with being the origina-
tor and others have been similarly com
plimented, but Capt. Phelps said Capt. |
to do with the tunnel as anybody. The
latter belonged to the 4th Ind. Battery,
more popularity known as Bush's.
Capt. Phelps and Col. /. n. Walker |
were chums in this escapade now become
historical. Comrade Walker became |
Lieutenant-Colonel of the I'D, and was |
afterward Assistant Adjutant General of
Commander of the Department, and Ma |
tional Commander Of the Grand Army.
Capt. Phelps, before his departure, had |
procured map Of the country over which |
he expected to pass, of which he made a |
copy. This he had thoroughly studied |
anu WAS therefore quite ldHllidE Will IL. |
He had loaf of Libby corn bread when
he started. The two comrades travelled |
only at night. They had gotten along
passably well without meeting with any |
until Thursday. With some
other comrades they had met they were
lying in a piece Of woods on kind of
hill. They had fire, because it was so
cold they couldn't sleep in the daytime.
This doubtless led to their discovery by
some Confederates who were prowling |
around. AS soon as the Union officers were
noticed one Of the Confeds exclaimed:
Here they are-four Of them! You all
run down the other side of the hill"
Capt. Phelps said, Lets light out"
and the escaped prisoners suited the ac-
ton to the word, running for three miles
through streams and over fields, without
stopping.
The rebs shot at them when they start
ed, but were unable to overtake them.
The Union boys did not stop until they
reached some thick bushes, skulking from
place to place. This experience was too
much for Col. Walker, and he broke down.
He was never very strong, and the jour-
ney was too much for his weak condition.
Capt. Phelps staid with him and would
have seen him through, but the Colonel
thought it would be useless to attempt to
further pursue the journey. He was as
sisted to the railroad by Phelps and sur
rendered, the latter going alone. He con-