Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-27

prior to that, SOlQler IN tne ClFiA
War, delivered a lecture last evening
in the Yoeman's hall, corner Main and
Court streets, relating some of his ex-
periences in the rebellion, and espec-
tally at Andersonville prison, in Geor-
gia, where he was confined for several
weeks.
A Tried Soldier.
Captain Palmer enlisted in the
Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves, one OF
the most gallant regiments that fought
for the Stars and Stripes in the COS.
He says that it was agreed that they
were called reserves because they
were reserved for the hardest fighting.
However that may be, the Ninth got
into several good, lively fights, and
Captain Palmer, who was first a pri-
vate and finally a sergeant, was in the
thickest Of the trouble.
Wounded In Battle.
At the battle of Gaines Mill he ne
elected to dodge a Confederate bullet,
and it tore an ugly hole in his back,
just missing his spinal cord, and rem
dering him unable to walk. He was
left on the field as MORALLY wounded,
and later was taken prisoner by the
Confederates. He was then taken to
Richmond, Virginia, from there to
Libby prison, thence to Crews tobac-
co warehouse and from there to Belle
island. After forty-fiye days of cap
tivity he was paroled as desperately
wounded soldier and reached the I'm
ion lines.
Rejoins the Army.
Captain Palmer had then secured
enough wounds to entitle him to pen
sion for the rest of his life, as well as
to an honorable discharge, but these
were not the things he entered the
army to obtain, and as soon as he could
get around again, he rejoined the I'm
ion soldiery.
Captured Again.
In 1863, on Meade's Mine Run Ad-
vance, the subject of this article was
helping to guard wagon train, when
he was taken prisoner by the Confed-
crates for the second time. This was
Just two months before his regiment
was due to be mustered out. He was
taken first to Richmond and then to
Crews tobacco warehouse. From
there he was taken to the Anderson
Vile prison, which at that time was
new.
First Escape.
While at Richmond, Mr.. Palmer had
escaped from his guards and for four
teen days he was free man, but in
the Confederate country. Finally he
was caught by guerilla farmers and
taken before General Winder, who
made him swear that thereafter he
would never try to escape. This oath
was taken with a mental reservation,
however, and the captain says To-Day
that he thinks he was fully justified in
believing that he committed no misde-
meanor in breaking 1t, under the cir
cumstances.
Successful Escape.
After having endured almost every
thing possible to endure and live, in
captivity at Andersonville, Mr.. Palmer
had an opportunity to escape. A sail
or named William Morrison died, and
Palmer exchanged names with the
corpse burying the dead soldier as him
self, and joining the sailor prisoners
as Morrison. A short time later, the
sailors were paroled, and Mr.. Palmer
reached home in safety.
Touble Not over.
After having reached home, Captain
Palmer had much trouble in making
his former officers believe him to be
alive. His parents and friends knew
him, but the records of the army show
ed him as dead at Andersonville, and
much time and trouble was necessary
to bring about for him official recogni-
ton as living man !.
Andersonvilte Horrora
| Last evening Captain Palmer's re-
marks dealt mainly with his expert
ences at Andersonville. He was intro
duced by Major Mahon, and spoke for
something less than an hour on prison
Life. He told Of the horrors Of An