The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-04
Taken Twice by RebelS-Wit-
messed Lees Surrender.
Experience of j. c. Snodgrass,
Former Topeka Butcher.
ON BELLE ISLAND.
And in Libby Prison on StarTa-
ton Rations.
Both Sides Were Glad When
War Closed.

Twice captured by the rebels and
an eye witness of the surrender
of the Confederate leader, General
Lee, while a prisoner of war, is part
of the remarkable experience of ]. G.
Snodgrass of Los Angeles, Cal, who is
visiting at the home of his son, Chas.
NJ. Snodgrass, of Shorey. Mr.. Snod-
grass ST., conducted a butcher shop
on the South side before going to Cali
fornia about seventeen years ago. He
is II years old. He tells his war ex-
perience in a very vivid and interest
ing manner.
at enlisted early in the war at my
home, Cressline, Ohio. in the 123d
Ohio volunteers, Company Il. of the
infantry" said Mr.. Snodgrass to a
visitor I'm June, 1863, while under
General Milroy in the army of the
Potomac, we were captured near Win
chester, Va. The rebels outnumbered
us four to one. When the colonies
learned this they wished to evacuate
the pdace by 10 o'clock at night, but
the general waited until o'clock a.
m. In the meantime the rebels had
surrounded US and about five miles out
of town we were taken prisoner.
From that time until we reach Lib
by prison, after three days, we were
fed only once. We marched little
over a hundred miles to Berrysville,
Va. On this hike we drank whenever
We could come to a stream. AT Ber-
rysville we were loaded into box cars
and taken to Libby prison. Here We
stayed two weeks we were so
crowded that to sleep we had to take
turns, standing with out feet apart
whole our comrades occupied the
pace between.
'sIn two weeks we were transferred
to Belle Island. in the Potomac, about
q quarter of a mile from Richmond.
The conditions and suffering there can
not be described. We were only given
a small piece of hard tack once day,
and sometimes a little meat Water
was supplied from a pipe which con-
nected with the river. We had no
shelter of any kind. The island was
perfectly bare. Men died by the hun
dreds Their bodies were loaded into
a cart and hauled away by the scores
every morning. I saw all of this for
four months.
'sWhen we were exchanged, most of
us we're so weak that two of us would
be supported by rebel who helped US
to the boat.
vessel our troubles were not at an end.
The trip to our destination, Annapolis,
Md. was to have taken only four days
and four nights. but storm arose and
the vessel drifted so far out of her
course that we were twice as long on
the trip. The boat sprung leak and
all on board had to take turns at
pumping to keep af1oat If another
boat had not found us and helped US
to repair the damage believe that we
would have foundered.
upon reaching Annapolis we were
placed in hospital where we were
cared for until we recovered from the
effects of our starvation at Belle
Island. Then we went back to our
"Just before the close of the war I
was again taken prisoner near Apo
mattox, the scene of Lees surrender.
We had been sent out to burn what
iOh hrid 70 m
Lees retreat, but ran into a crowd of
rebels and were captured A little
after that found a dozen grains of
to eat for nine days. Then Lee sur
rendered. I was an eye witness to this
event.
Appoma4tox we saw how Lees bat
tie lines had been repulsed three
times by Grants forces. On the after
noon of April 9, 1865. the Confederate
massed his troops and made a desper-
ate attempt to break through the
Union lines, but was driven back.
about 2 O'Clock that afternoon, I
saw him go into his tent which was
not far from where I lay. He was in
there several moments. Then he
came out with a white handkerchief
tied to his sabre. He mounted a horse
and waving the sword, rode within
shouting distance of the Union lines
and called for Grant. That general
some long distance conversation. Then
Lee returned to his tent. He came out
again with a white cloth tied to a long
staff. Accompanied bv four or five
officers he rode a little closer to the
Union lines than before and again
asked for Grant. The latter came
within speaking distance. After some
conversation Lee returned and sent his
orderlies out to tell his men to come
in and stack their arms.
Grant Joined Lee under an apple
tree near where I was lying. Lee
handed Grant his sword and the two
generals shook hands. A man handed
Grant a book in which the general
wrote out the conditions of surrender.
when this news spread around there
was the widest of excitement The
rebels and unionists threw their re-
volvers up in the air. broke their guns
around the trees and cheered and yell
ed as if mad. 1t lasted until way late
at night.
st Will rever forget that time We
could see the CLEAN of the union camp
fires. On the clear air rose the songs
end cheers. On all sides were heard
tie remarks: Well I'm glad the in
fernal thing is over
THE next morning Grant took us into
his lines and had us fed. issuing just
a little food at a time. The sight was
pitiful. Men begged for more. but as
we had been without anything to eat