The National tribune., 1904-08-11
GETTYSBURG PRISONERS.
Brutality and humanity Of the Rebels ana
Robbers Who were Their Guards on the
March ana In Prison

fsDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Ihe follow
ing is a correct statement of facts. from
notes taken on the spot, by Orwin III.
Balch, Hath \. u, to which l was an eye
witness. and vouch for the truth of every
word-CLAUs &. CLAUssEN, Co. Il, SID
Ill.
ANNAPOLIS. MD. Sept. %, 1868.
On the afternoon of July / there were
about 5000 of the First and Eleventh
Corps taken prisoners, mostly in the viii
lage. Comrade Balch says:
Il had been to work, until | was taken,
in the hospitals. taking care of the wound
ed: was not allowed to take the parole
there and left to take care of the wounded,
as | always supposed was customary with
all that were connected with the hospital
but was marched to the rear with the rest
They enlarged our numbers the second
and third day to over 4 900. On the third
day We had our choice to take the parole
and be sent to Carlisle. Pa, and take the
responsibility of what view our Govern
ment might take of it, or 60 to Richmond
and be legally exchanged.
THE rebel officer also said he had I'M
derstood that Gen. Halleck had issued an
order that he would not accept any parole
on the field: and if we were taken before
We were lawfully exchanged, we would be
shot or hanged, as sure as there was a God.
1.-The most of our officers advised us not
to accept of any parole on the field, as
there was great chance for our being re-
captured before we crossed the Potomac.
about / 800 took the parole there; the
rest went to Richmond. We were all very
hungry, for we had drawn no ratioRs since
We had been taken. This day. July 3. there
was the hardest fighting. During the bat
cannonading from morning until sometime
after dark. We could see change in the
rebels countenances towards night
July 5.-This morning We were put on a
double-quick and marched in the direction
of the Potomac. The whole of Lees army
we commenced passing through a noun
tain pass in one Of the ranges of the South
Mountains. Here We could see our cavalry
making dash on one - their trains, but
We were guarded too sharply-the guard
consisting of one division of infantry. one
battery and a squadron of cavalry-to pre-
vent us making any resistance or attempt
to escape. At IL o'clock p. M we arrived
at village called Spring Mountain, a
small place. The roads were in an awful
condition. Raining; no rations: men
used up; no medicine for the sick or
wounded.
July Ga large number of officers and
men agreed to take their parole. Maj.
Fairfax commenced paroling all who
the house where the Major was engaged
and stopped the business, saying that all
would have to go to Richmond. This in
cluded the sick and wounded.
I'VE were now marched in the direction
of Waynesboro, Pa. The guards were very
strict over the prisoners, using the bayonet
when they tried to get water or buy any
thing to eat. We arrived at Waynes-
boro at Q p. M; marched through the town !:
heard cannonading in our rear. Marched
until o'clock of morning of July Z. No
rations. Great confusion among the rebels.
July At 10 o'clock a. m. reached
Hagerstown, Md Passed A. P. Hills,
Ewell's 1ate Jackson's) and Longstreets
Corps. The men of Hills Corps gave our
men a few bareback. Along the whole
route, it seemed, all the barns and out
houses had been taken possession of by the
rebels for their wounded.
PASSED through Hagerstown. Rebel
guards used their bayonets on our men
when getting water and trying to buy
bread. The ladies Of the town waved their
handkerchiefs to us, and said: Cheer up,
boys, we would give you bread, but the
Chvalry of the South threaten to burn our
houses if we do!' Encamped outside of
town. Bread sent us by Union people was
taken by the guards and distributed among
"July S.-Marched to Williamsport, Md,
on the Potomac River No person in town
allowed to give OF sell us bread. There
had been a cavalry fight between Hager.
town and the River. Our dead lay, strip
ped of their clothing, in the field. Rebel
pontoon bridges destroyed on the Potomac.
The country around filled with wounded.
wounded rebels had been set across the
river. Our men had to trade their blankets
and even take their shoes off their feet and
give them to the guards for bread. A guard
would charge So in greenbacks for a small
loaf of bread.
I'll, n I'll 80, Al,
Potomac in fatboats. River very high
Guards taking prisoners money on pretense
of buying something for them to eat, but
never returning money or food. After
crossing the river Imboden's Brigade took
charge of the prisoners. Gen. Graham, with
125 officers and 1000 men, were now under
Imboden, to be taken to Staunton.
July 10.-Finished crossing the Poto-
mac and marched about two miles beyond
Martinsburg. The most exciting scene on
our march occurred while we were passing
through the streets of this patriotic little
village. l must say that the strongest
sentiment was manifested in this place that
have been through during the time that
have been in the service. 1t seemed that
about every man, woman and child came
into the streets, loaded with bread to feed
the starving prisoners but they met with a
strong resistance from every officer and
guard. Yet, in spite Of all they could do to
prevent our getting any of 1t, it was
thrown into the ranks by cuts and loaves
Bakers bread and great loaves of home
made bread, biscuits, crackers, cakes of all
kinds, would come into the ranks, thrown
from windows, doors and every by-place
They came like hailstones. There were not
many pieces that struck the ground; for
there were about 1000 with raised hands
each eager to catch the bread.
Zone particular case l will relate, to
show the feeling of the people of this lit
tie town. A man l took to be a baker
came out of small alley, his arms full
of great cuts of bread, and rushed
through the guards and scattered the bread
through the ranks, then rushed back for
more. The officers, a number of them
seeing that this was dangerous man.
rushed to this place to keep him from do.
ing any more such horrible deeds as feed.
ing starving men. They met him, his
arms again full of bread, and with drawn
swords they threatened his life, if he did
not go back with the bread. He did not
mind their threats or fear their swords
but rushed through their line and the line
of guards and threw bread into our ranks
This was a true and brave man. l ex-
pected to see him shot down, but he was
not while l was in sight of that place
but he was ordered under arrest, and
went out of my sight with an officer and
guards.
This village is IL miles from the Po-
tomac, at Williamsport, on the edge of
West Virginia. The rebels wera aS much