Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-08-22
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING REMlNICENCES
OF THE WAR.
Sraphic Account of Stirring Scenes
witnessed on the Battlefield and in
Camp Veterans of the Rebellion Re-
cite Experiences of Thr Ii ig Nature.

fish, but l don't like to have any man
say fresh fish to me or at me. In the
summer of 1861 | was captured under
very unusual circumstances. We were
IN the mountains in West Virginia. and
l had been sent forward by the captain
to report as to the rebels supposed to
be forming for attack in front. ! came
back and reported that there was a full
regiment of the enemy, some mounted.
the most of them unmounted, and that
they were advancing in way to sur
round our one company posted on the
mountain road. The captain was lit
tie skeptical, and, catching up a mus
ket and taking myself and one other
man, went forward to investigate fer
himself We came suddenly on the
advance guard of the rebels. \ man
who seemed to be the adjutant of the
regiment demanded our surrender. The
captains reply was a shot that killed.
My comrade and myself fired ana
brought down two others. Then we
We're overpowered, and, without know
ing how the company came out in the
fight, we were taken to the jail at
Fayetteville,
I'VE were among the first prisoners
taken by that division of the Confeder-
ate army. The officer in charge permit
ted us TO write to our regimental Off
GERS and the captains personal baggage
and our knapSacks were sent to US
under a flag of truce. We were trans
ferred to another Jail, and in few
weeks were sent to Libby prison. Up
TO this time we had roughed it, but we
HAD not been subjected to any severe
treatment, and the captain had re-
manned with us. But when we came to
Richmond the captain was taken one
way to Castle Thunder and we We're
hustled off under guard TO the large
building across the street, called Libby
prison. As we entered and caught
glimpse of the men on the first floor /
realized what prison life was to be.
But the greeting surprised us. A score
of men, Union prisoners, shouted out,
Fresh fish" As we went up to the
second floor more men shouted Fresh
fish, and as we reached the top floor
there was roar of men shouting
Fresh fish,
I'VE didn't understand it. The pris-
oners seemed so cheerful, in spite of
their rags, that we in some way arrived
at the conclusion that we were to have
fresh fish for supper. My friend said
he hadn't heard so much talk about
got to the top floor we soon OWNED
that we were the fresh fish, and that
the boys were welcoming new prisoners
to the misery of life in Libby. Instead
of fresh fish for supper each nan was
given half of an ordinary slice of
bakers bread and a small piece of
spoiled or tainted beef, and we were in
vited to go to the hydrant and draw
our coffee
Il could eat the bread, but l couldn't
stand the beef, and was just about to
toss it away when man lying on the
7yor said, Don't do that. Let me have
it, and he gulped it down almost at a
mouthful. | told him that l couldn't
stand that sort of grub, and he said;
You will get over that; anything goes
here Probably not dozen men on
the floor had blankets. We still had
our knapsacks and blankets, but we
had to tie the latter on us to keep them
at night. Poor fellows who were weak
and sick would slip up in the night and
try to pull them away from us. In
few days we were weak and sick our
selves. and were sent down one floor
Then we were weaker and could hardly
walk and were sent down another floor.
This we found was the rule-the strong
er men on top and the weaker men in
sliding scale on the floors below.
I'VE had nothing to read and we sim
ply sat around on the floor and talked
over our troubles, or sat with our heads
down brooding. The time came when
was scarcely able to take a step. Then
one day the guards came in and said an
officer across the street wanted to see
Inc, and they had orders to take me to
Castle Thunder. | said couldn't walk,
but they ,ook hold of ne and supported
me across the street, where Capt. Hunt
met me- He was shocked at the change
that had come over me. and bis first
words were: Now, look here, Duff, |
don't want you to die; can't stand it
if YOU die | am going to get you out
of that day or two later | was
taken out by guards and Informed that
was to be assigned to the cook house.
that Capt. Hunt had recommended me
as an expert cook. They support
ed me over to the shed where the cook
iuc was done and dropped ne.
The superintendent of affairs asked
me what l was doing there. l said |
didn't know AMI didn't care, but If he
would give me something to eat. !
would call ii square He gave me
small cup of soup with small piece of
bread | gulped it down. AM when
he said couldn't have any more told
him he was worse than thArebs inside
He laughed and said: Now you Just
kees your mouth shut and be patient.
In about an hour he gave me another
little bit of soup and another little
chunk of bread and cussed him again.
He laughed and told me 10 keep my
mouth shut. and in about an hour he
gave me more soup and bread Then l
understood that what seemed 10 me
cruelty was kindness. remained there
some time quartered with the other
cooks in the negro quarters in the pris-