The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-02-08
MUTINY AMONG PRISONERS.
Men In Blue Made Desperate When They
Believed Freedom Was to be Snatched
From Them.

Men In Blue Made Desperate When They
Believed Freedom Was to be Snatched
From Them.
Editor National Tribune: I read in
recent issue of your valuable paper
that Comrade Paul Grogger, Co. F. I'd
f. Tenn. Mid Inf, wants to know
whether any Of the comrades were on
track near Andersonville. Septem-
Der. "a.
1 was on that train, and know that
1t was the first train of prisoners that
left Andersonville. 1t is of no use
for me to state the scene, as he de-
not march back to Andersonville. but
were loaded on some other train and
shifted towards AndersOnville. We
stayed in the cars until the wreckage
was cleared away and the track fixed
up, when we started for Savannah a
second time. We stopped there but a
short while, and went on to Millen, Ga.
On or about Nov. Is we left the stock
AIDE at Millen, and were loaded into
freight cars destined for Savannah for
parole. Early on the morning Of the
goth the necessary formula of taking
the oath and signing the parole papers
was undergone on the dock at Savan-
gard, the Swan, and the Robt. f.. Lee,
were waiting to transport the prisoners
down the river to a point about half
way to Fort Pulaski where our own
boats were awaiting their arrival.
was on the Robert E. Lee, the slow
est of the three boats, with about 200
other prisoners, as hopeful a crowd as
one could see, and late IN the afternoon
our boats were sighted on rounding q
bend in the river. The exchange boat
with the Stars and Stripes afloat was
less than a mile distant. the sight of
lit l. a.
scription. Men who had faced death
upon dozen battlefields without
fiinching We're so overcome with joy
that they wept like children embraced,
and even kissed each other. Others
were on their knees offering prayers of
thanks for their prospective deliverance
from captivity worse than death.
Some unable to stand on their feet were
lying on deck, weeping, praying and
laughing all i'm a breath, while others
sang old war songs, interspersed with
cheers for the old flag.
1t was noticed that series of signals
were being exchanged, and that the
Robert f. Lee had changed its course.
heading up the river. Some excited
one cried out "They are taking us
back to Savannah" which came like a
thunderbolt to the surprised and ter
ror-stricken prisoners. The very
thought of returning to Savannah was
100 nucn Tor Inefn, anu Wnefe oIiiy d
minute before joy and Thanksgiving
were in evidence terror and dismay
made a heartrending scene. Some were
for jumping overheard to swim ashore,
only their weakness preventing. l then
cried out at the top of my voice. 1--WE
will die first and seized one of the
stakes lying in a pile for fuel. Others
followed my example and rush was
made on the guard. who sought safety
on the deck above, narrowly escaping
death at the hands of the enraged pris-
oners, who We're bent now upon free
dom. What would have been the result
can be surmised, had not an officer in
charge of the guard appeared and
shouted: For Gods sake, men, be
quiet. We are not going back to Savan-
nah; we are only going to shallow wa
ter out of the current, to anchor until
the other boats are unlOaded." This as
surance quieted the excitement at once,
but the prisoners retained possession
of the stakes until some two hours
later they marched across the gang
plank on board the New York.
After a voyage of three days we ar
rived safely at Annapolis. I think any
man who has served any length Of time
in a rebel prison Is entitled to $50 a
month pension. ] was taken prisoner
May 16. 1864, at the seven days fight
at Bermuda.-George Drifting, Co. A.,
Tooth ~ Y, Angola, n. Y.