The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-08
ASYLUM PEN.
Recollections Of Gloomy Days in Southern
Prisons.

Of Gloomy Days In Southern
Prisons.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I have
been very much interested in Capt. Beech
ans adventures. l was a cOmrade-in
misery with him in the Columbia Jail in
South Carolina, and also in Camp Asylum.
well remember when Capt. Beecham and
few other comrades were turned in with
us at the Jail. We stood around the
group while they told us of the terrible
mine explosion at Petersburg, where they
were taken prisoners with the colored
troops who had fought so CALAMITY.
Among the prisoners were Bowley, San
ders and others-bOys from 10 to q years,
officers of the colored troops.
The night of Dec. IL, 1864, the prison
ers, 20 or so in number. were taken from
the Jail to the Asylum Pen and turned in
like drove of cattle, with no shelter and
all of us thinly clad. We had been taken
prisoners during the warm weather. But
we had at the Asylum Pen long bed
the ground-and for covering we had the
canopy of heaven. We slept spoOnfash-
ion, as close to one another as we could
possibly get; the closer the warmer, and
warmth was what we were after. There
was no turning or kicking around; once
in the spoon, we had to stay there, until
our bones ached and we could endure it
no longer. 1t depended upon our staying
qualities and the length Of time We could
stand the spoOning. Two or three hours
did the most Of us. Then we would get
up and walk around. So we passed the
nights from Dec. II to Jan. II, before all
of us were provided with shelter
l still have my diary, made Of brown
paper, bought Of sutler by name of Cat
lin at a cost of 81 Confederate. The dol
lar l got of Capt. Clark; his reg ment l
have forgotten. l gave my note for $50,
should arrive in Gods country, for $500
Confederate money, and this note never
having been presented, is still unpaid. l
have never seen or heard of Capt. Clark
since.
will quote from my diary:
TUESDAY, Jan. 10, 1S65-Eight dollars
for meat; So for bread. Sunday, Jan. ID,
paid Capt. Clark S27. Thursday, Jan. 10.
two pounds cotton, $3.25. One hundred
dollars for pair of English shoes. tThe
cotton l used for padding my jacket to
make it warm.) Feb. 2. received letter
from Lieut.. Gere, of my regiment, the 2lst
n. Y. Cav; the letter just ID days COM
ing through. Saturday, Feb. a, the tun-
mel was found today and rebel guard
stationed at the tent, which is about 90
feet from our tent. Sunday. Feb. IL, at
tended meeting. Lieut.. Gum interested
the comrades by an instructive talk on the
Bible"
The diary also contains "Sherman's
March to the Sea-" l understood at the
time that it was composed by Lieut.. By
ers, then prisoner with us. 1t was sung
and played by our famous string band.
If this should meet the eye of Stauber,
who was with Capt. Beecham after their
n ut
five divided, two going with Beecham and
one with Stauber. he will be reminded
how he and l worked all night Feb. IA,
1868, digging a hole in which 10 hide
when the prisoners would be called TO fall
out to take the train. We felt certain
the rebels would remove us out before
Sherman came into Columbia. We heard
the cannon boom all day on Feb. 16. 1860.
and Sherman did come in on the morn
ing of Feb. II.
Late in the afternoon of Feb. 16 we
heard the cry at the gate, You Yanks
fall in" The big gate was wide open.
There was great excitement. Stauber and
| went to our hole in the barracks, and
were covered over with boards and straw
by one of the comrades. The hole was
under the tier of hunks, and was just wide
enough for Stauber and myself to get into.
sardine fashion. Everything for awhile
was quiet, but, alas, in few minutes
we heard the rebels pounding around with
the butts of their guns. At last they went
out of the barracks and met others coming
in. They said they had looked and that
there were no Yanks left there. and they
went on. Quite while elapsed. and we
began to hope that we would not be dis
covered Then a Johnny reb came in and
proceeded to investigate with his bayonet::
He poked around under the boards and
straw and found the hole and suspected
there was some one in there and he or
dered us to come out, but We kept quiet,
thinking we would not get excited over
trifles. Finally, Johnny's patience gave
out, and he said. "NOw, Yanks. l will tell
you once more to come ont. and il you do
not, | am going to shoot into that hole.
| do not recollect which answered first;
maybe we both squealed at the same time,
but we came out, all the same. and were
taken TO the gate. where the rest of the
comrades were in waiting. We were then
marched to the train, which was waiting
for MS to get loaded.
The first train load of prisoners left Co
lumba on the evening of Feb. l6. and ar.
rived at Charlotte on the evening of Feb.
IT, There, | made my escape from the
camp the next day, and arrived in our
lines at Greenville, Tenn, Sunday night,
March 90, 1S65.-WILLIAM L. RILEY,
Cos. G and G, 21st N. Y. Cav, El Dorado