The National tribune., 1903-09-03
TO CAPTIVITY LED.
Results of a Daring Enterprise.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Just af-
ter Gettysburg, July ., 1868, Capt. Abram
Jones, commanding about 100 men OF the
1st n. Y. Cav, known as Lincoln Cav
airy" dashed into strong column OF
Lees army at Greencastle, Pa, and cap
tured 700 prisoners and 200 wagons. Be
ing in the extreme front, and failing to
exercise proper discretion, l rode too far
within the Confederate lines and was cap
tured. When l surrendered l was near a
battery. A Colonel said: ITO charge a
battery single-handed is certainly gal
liant act l wish you belonged to my COM
mand." l replied that l thanked God L
was not rebel No other member of my
regiment was captured. My captors d.
vested me of hat, boOts-in fact, of about
everything except my pants and handker-
chief. l walked barefOoted from Green
castle to Staunton, Va. OF course, l be-
came tired, it being long and weary way
to travel with bleeding feet. l was as
sured that if failed to keep up with the
procession bayonet would be run
through me. / gave one Of my captors a
dollar gold piece to get me loaf of
bread. He cheerfully accepted the gold,
but failed to deliver the bread; thereupon,
in sudden heat and passion, l seized his
gun and assaulted him, giving him pair
of very black eyes. They condemned me
to be shot but when Gen. Imboden learned
that l had given the fellow my money, for
which l had received nothing in return,
he RENTED the sentence, saying my Of
Tense was pardonable one. Reckoning
the column of prisoners, the most of whom
had been taken at Gettysburg, l resumed
the march ION to Richmond"
After q brief stay at Libby Prison, We
were transferred to Belle Isle, where
Lieut.. Boisseux was in charge. On the
second day there, we were relieved of all
valuables, money and watches especially.
| had a few dollars in my pocket book,
which l threw back over the dead line,
at the same time calling Lieut. BoisseuX
thief. Infatuated, he seized gun and
would have run the bayOnet through me
had not one of the guards interfered in
my behalf. However, he gave me VIC
lent kick and ordered me to so after the
pocket book. Instead of going, l called to
the boys on the other side to throw it over
to me, which they did. When the Lieu
tenant found there was little wealth in the
pocket book he was evidently diSappOint-
ell, plainly showing that he was disguised
with me for not having more plethoric
wallet.
However, when he ordered n thorough
investigation Of my seant habiliments the
money l had sewed up in my pants was
revealed to his rapaciOus gaze, and, of
course, he eagerly took it all.
The prisoners were permitted to battle
in the James River, and Lieut.. Boisseux,
treating me with distinguished considera-
ton. put me in charge of the detachments
of bathers my compensation being extra
rations. He ordered me to not let more
than 40 go into the water at one time.
Again perversely insubordinate, let out
from 10 to so, and gradually increased the
number to $50. After two weeks duty at
the bathing resort" Boisseux, probably
afraid l would take the entire encamp-
ment sin a-swimming," transferred me to
the Commissary Department. My duty
was to go on the boat to Richmond for
bread. ration of which was about
enough for a two-year-old child to eat at
one meal. In addition to the bread, a
little bean soup was served-one or two
beans in a cup of liquid, that represented
a dead horse or mule.
My sojourn at Belle Isle was in July
and August. When q detachment of
prisoners went out, Aug. %, 1863, Lieut.
Boisseux told me to accompany them, al
though my name was not on the list for
exchange. He sent me along as an EEK
| tra," because he had insulted me, and /
had had the courage to defend myself.
l well remember the "red-headed Ser
geant at the gate" think he was killed
when our troops entered Richmond-JoHN
| CLEMENS, Co. l., LIST N. Y. Qincoln Cav
alry), Canton. o.