The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-02-13

with the promise THAT Mt would be re-
turned when weHNerso exchanged or
paroled What IDoneyoI had was in
such shape that they did not find it,
and it answered atgoodepurpose in after
months. ;m %
We only remained inIAtlanta a short
time, when we were loaded in box cars
and started for Richmond, arriving
there the 1st of OGtoben We were put
into the Pemberton Building, where
many of the boys win remember our
raid on the sugar. andt salt stored in
the basement of the building. We re-
manned there untilt Now Is, when we
were taken to Dahvillenva., and 1 re-
manned until Nay 10, 1864, in building
No. 5. sT la
After making an unsuccessful at
tempt at tunneling out the prisoners in
No. were started for Andersonyille,
May Is. The first night out after leav-
ing Danville I. W. Harrison, a member
of the 10th Wis, and myself cut a hole
thru the bottom of the car with an old
pocketknife and caseknife, with teeth
filed on the back for saw. When the
train arrived at Black Stork Station,
S. c., and stopped for water, we crawl
ed out thru the hole and made our es-
cape We were out only three days and
nights, when we were recaptured, and
taken to Columbia, S. c.. where we ar
rived May 20, 1864. and remained there
until June %, 1864, during which time
they had concentrated at that point q
prisoners that they caHed car jumpers.
On the morning of June 20 they load
ed us into q box car, and started for
AndersonvilIe again. AS Harrison and
still retained our pocketknife and
caseknife saw, when night came on, we
cut another hole thru the bottom of
the car. and at a station between Au-
gusta and Millen, Ga. of which l never
learned the name. we again made our
escape. 1t was on the night of June
20, 1864, and We reached the Federal
lines July 25. We struck the Western
G. Atlantic Railroad between Marietta
and the Chattahoochie River. when
Sherman was in front of Atlanta.
Another Successful Escape.
We were out &c days and nights,
travelling at night and hiding in the
woods during the day. We never came
in contact with any person, white or
black, during the Is days and nights,
and subsisted during the time on new
Irish potatoes. apples and blackberries,
of which there was an abundance. We
did our foraging after night. We never
had any bread during the time. and all
the meat we had during the time was
one goose that we caught one night
we had an old coffee pot and got some
potatoes during the night, and having
q supply of matches when we escaped,
the next day we built a fire, boiled our
goose and potatoes, and-well. such a
feast have never experienced since: it
seemed good enough to US for King
and good enough for a Senator or Con-
gresham that would vote against the
ex-prisoners' bill. I might mention
MT ar
with our Imprisonment and escape, but
time and space will not permit.
From the time we were captured,
Sept. 20, 1863. until We got back to
the Federal lines, July %, 1854, was 10
months and five days. making a total
for me in the Confederate lines of II
months and 10 days; made three es-
capes and was never exchanged or pa
rolled.
went thru with Sherman up to the
sea and thru the .Caro1lnas to Colds
boro, where was mustered out of SER
vice, having served, from April II, 1861,
until April /, 1865, and never served a
day in the hospital. Nov, if any COM
rade can beat this all-rolnd record. let
him come to the front.
While our Representatives in 1.-The
halls of Congress Representatives of
the grandest Republic of the world,
made SO by the men of '61 to '65-may
deny us this pittapce, wa will continue
the fight in this line lIntbi we are justly
rewarded In '61g when they needed
our services, the world and the fuIlness
thereof was ours If We would bring
back a reunited country but to-day,
when we ask for bread, they give us a
stone. These boys We're then boys of
the land, full of hope and ambition;
every road to fame and fortune, to joy
and honor, was open to their feet; they
had the right to contest for all the
rewards of faithful citizenship and hon
est endeavor; but they turned their
backs on all these, gave their lives to
the hazard of war, and for four long
years stood where death was threaten
ing and life was only jest. In the
camp, on the march and upon every
battlefield of that war they proved their
heroism as soldiers and their patriotism
as men, and now all we ask is Justice
John r. Porter, First Lieutenant, Co.
G, 21st Ohio, SIS West Fifth St, Day
ton, o.