The National tribune., 1902-04-03

where rebel hands consigned them, but in
peaceful graves where their loyal comrades
have since the war placed them, remem'
bered and watched over by their coun-
| try for whose preservation they so gal
lantly endured all. The flag Of the Union
| floats proudly each day above them. Their
graves are hallowed by the tears of the
! living and bestrewn with the sweetest
/ flowers by hands that were not raised to
| destroy our beloved Government.
The course taken by our Government
in relation to the exchange of prisoners
was generally approved, although it pro
longed and increased our suffering. We
! were in the service fighting for a great
principle. We felt it an imperative duty
to suffer therefor, if necessary, unto death
We were often advised by the rebels who
came into the stockade that our Govern
ment had forsaken US. No heed was taken
to such talk, as we were too well aware
of the situation to need any posting from
them as to the genera! state Of affairs
at Washington and throughout the North
The $4,000 men in Camp Sumter were
men of intelligence and reason. Rebel
| ignorance was out of place in advising
them to become discouraged and to es'
pouse the cause Of armed traitors.
! Some time in September, 1864, there
came an order for 1000 prisoners to fall
in line and march out for transfer TO some
other point. 1t was pretty generally be-
| lieved that this was the commencement
of an exchange. In fact, the rebels en-.
couraged us to this belief.
The scene in the camp at the rumor OF
exchange was simply indescribable. The
| JOY manifest on every countenance told
only too truly the awful suffering and sus
pense borne by the patriotic boys il
blue" Now that the dearest wish of theil
hearts was to be cOnsummated, they would
brace up and endeavor to pull through
the remaining days, before standing again
under the glorious Stars and Stripes OF
their country. Songs, shouts and a gen
eral deiirium of joy pervaded the camp
Savannah, Ga, was the place mentioned
| by our guards as the point Of our ex
change.
| / managed to flank OUT with the first
600, and by so doing got separated from
my comrades. | was confident that they
would soon follow, and that we would ere
long all be away from that dread char
mel house. The change would be an agree
able one, even though we were simply
transferred to another point, as we would
probably not be so crowded.
Again we rode in boX-cars packed 81
densely we could not lie down. We coulC
hardly sit down. Still, we could endur,
almost any suffering in consideration o.
our soon again being in Gods country
| After two days humping and pound
ing along over the toughest of railroads
drawn by q rickety old engine, we arrived
at Savannah. Ordered out Of the cars
we marched along the streets and sooI
arrived in front Of another prison pen
which had been hastily prepared for us
This looked rather gloomy, and was in
consistent with our idea Of an exchange
Hope had not died, as it was reported
that We would remain there until our ex
change boats arrived, when The exchang,
would proceed.
The boats did not arrive, and VIC sool
got to understand the whole matter. At
lanta had fallen, and the rebels, fearful
that Gen. Sherman's immediate attention
would be directed TO the release of ou
men at Andersonville and officers con
fined at Macon, Ga, transferred them (,
several prison pens farther south, leay
ing q few thousand of those too sick (,
travel at Andersonville.
SAVANNAH PRISON.
4 No pestilential swamp characterized tn
new stockade at Savannah. The air wa
: pure. Lieut.. Davis commanded the pris
on. About 5000 prisoners came from An
dersonville. / was disappointed in no
meeting any of my comrades, who / ex
lpected would certainly arrive in one o
the several detachments. They had evi
IDENTIFY been sent to some other point
At this place an old raider OF Anderson
vile, named Pete Bradley, of New Yorl
regiment, endeavored TO excite disconten
among the prisoners, to the end that the,
! would desert the cause and enlist in tn