The National tribune., 1900-07-19
ARMY RED TAPE.
How an Escaped Prisoner Cot Tied Up In 1t
Irving to Get Home.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: l en-
listed June 13, 1861, for three years, if
not sooner shot. On May ), 1864, in the
battle of the Wilderness, Va, our whole
regiment was captured. On May Is,
near Greensboro, n. c., while en- route to
Andersonville, | escaped For nearly two
months l Travelled through the Confed-
eracy.
My intentions were to make my way
northwest until l struck the Blue Ridge,
then follow that into Harper's Ferry. !
reached the Blue Ridge, in June, and
Pedige. In talking to him of my plans
he induced me to change my course and
go southwest toward East Tennessee.
From his description of the country and
the dangers to be encountered, did so,
somewhat reluctantly, because it was
rection to the one leading toward home.
He kindly instructed me as to my course
and as to certain Union people whom l
should see, who would assist me.
/ reached Knoxville on July q, 1864. 1
could never have succeeded in reaching
our lines had it not been for the help re-
ceived from those loyal Southrons. God
help those people for their kindness to
me and others. They fed me when hum
cry, meIded my shoes and clothes, went
with me and took me to other friends on
my route.
At Crab Orchard, Tenn, I fell in with
G.. w. Kirk, Colonel of a regiment of
North Caroiinians and East Tennessee
ans, who was just returning from raid
over in North Carolina with q lot of pris-
oners captured at Camp Vance, n. @. 1
Joined him and went along to Knoxville.
/ went to the Bell House, took swim
in the HOston, drew ratiOns and clothes,
also a white shirt and towel from the
Sanitary Commission, then was ready to
move on; but this was not easily done.
Finally l applied to the Provost Marshal
and told him what l wanted. He said l
should go to Col. Kirk and get paper
| from him, showing where / joined him,
and bring it to the office. He then gave
me a pass to Chattanooga and transpor-
tatiOn to Nashville. On the train | met
and shook hands with Parson Brown
low, whom l knew by reputation. l ar
rived at Chattanooga and had to stay
over night | went to the Soldiers Home.
Next morning l hunted up Gen. Thomas
and got pass to Nashville. / arrived
there and went to the Soldiers Home.
They took my papers, and next morning
they were all fixed to carry me to Louis
vile, NY.
| There I hunted up Provost Marshal,
showed my papers, and he gave me pass
and transportation to Philadelphia, Pa,
where / arrived after dark.
| Someone sent me to the Union Volun-
tcer Refreshment Saloon, or Cooper In
stitute, and noble institution 1t was.
L warrant many old soldiers gratefully :
remember the kindness there dealt out to
the boys.
Next morning l started for some off,
cial who could help me on my way.
went in one office. The officer asked me
what regiment / belonged to, took down
some rolls and looked over them, and said
my name was there as missing in action.
/ asked him how that was, and he said
he had discharged some of my regiment.
! said - that was the case l wanted my
discharge, as l had already served over
my time. He said he supposed / was en-
titled to my discharge; said j should go
to Gen. Cadwallader's Office and get an
order for my discharge and bring 1t to
him. / did so, and got my discharge.
i then wanted my pay, but could not
get it without a descriptive list. ] wrote
to the Adjutant-General at Harrisburg,
Pa, and was directed to apply to Adj't-
Gen. Townsend, at Washington, ID. G.. I
did so. / wrote home and told the family
the fix / was in. They went to see
my Captain QRobinson), who had shortly
before been discharged, and he gave them
descriptive list, which they sent me.
Then l went to Gen. Cadwailader, who
gave me an order to report to the Pay
master. He sent me back. saying the
reported to him. | had to go back a
couple of miles and have it fixed over
Then got my pay and bounty. If / did
not openly curse the Army red tape, al
least | thought some very mean things.
l have only given running sketch OF
my tribulations. The details and names
would more than fill THE NATIONAL
TRIBuNE.-BowMAN HARRISON, Co. f
7th Pa. Reserves, Shickshinny, Pa.