Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-03-11
Civil War Stories


!
few leaves from the diary of Geo.
w Bailey, during the war a first lieu
tenant in the Sixth Missouri infantry.
and A. d. c. Second division staff.
FIFTEENTH Army Corps. tells a tale of
Yankee invention, pluck and endur-
ahce' that is as exciting as strange.
Lieut. Bailey was taken prisoner by
the Confederates, before Atlanta, Ga,
On July %. 1864. His experiences be-
lore the time from which we give our
extract will be passed over Hungry,
despoiled of clothing and everything
worth taking, he was in the hands of
the foe when he wrote as follows:
| July 20, 1S64-Continued silence in
the direction OF Atlanta What was
the result of the battle? What does
the silence mean? Has Sherman fall
en- back? Has Hood evacuated? Were
questions asked continually, but no
reliable responses elected. One genius
said: The Yankees can't fight for
awhile, all the live 'uns are busy bury
ing the dead 'uns"
| How long are We TO be kept in
this miserable placer" How long are
| we to be kept on quarter rations?"
| Nobody seemed to know. We knew
that exchanges of prisoners had ceased
because of disagreement about the
status of negro troops, and there was
little prospect of the question being
| speedily settled, The gloomy pros
pect of Andersonville loomed up, and
a careful mental consideration and ad-
| Iustment OF chances for life resulted
In favor of desperate attempt to es-
cape rather than attempt to survive
unreasonable. While thus contem-
! plating, we were startled by the loud
command of the Confederate major. or
dering, Fall in, prisoners! Hurry up"
A hasty formation into lines (no
trouble about baggage march south
ward, the officers separated from the
private soldiers. Where are we go
ing? Don't know: can't ascertain: but
toward Andersonville.
Confederate officers rather provoke
argument on the subject of the war,
and many interesting discussions en-
tempt to escape. Near evening we
march through Jonesboro, Ga, some
| twenty miles south of Atlanta. situated
| on the Macon railroad. Inhabitants
line the street; first Yankees-great
curioslties Whites rather jubilant,
the plying glances OF the blacks indi-
cate their sympathy. Desiring con
tirmation an opportunity was sought
to converse with negro A beckon-
ing, an approach. stop that" said
the guard. Get back there. you
niger" But the mere prompt effort
to respond, on the part of the black
man, was convincing enough Of friend
ship. Two miles below the town we
reach our quarters for the night--an
open field. A blanket is carelessly
thrown among the prisoners and falls
upon the writer Providential, a great
luxury, comforting rest assured
July 20. 1S64-When We were gruff-
ly ordered to Fall in, prisoners!" and
over dusty roads marched rapidly
southwark No rations. At early even
ing we were cOrTalled in a large In
closure or pasture some ten miles
north Of Griffin, Georgia. near big
Sandy Greek" Again we have the
earth for resting place, the sky for
"A covering. The writer lay and gazed
upward into the "dim-lit vault" above
him. and was busy with his thoughts
"Andersonvllle," they say; mo chance
for exchange; fuss about the colored
troops; you won't live a week in An
dersonville." MS a desperate alterna-
tive, but III take my chances In at
tempting to escape There's a gully
out there, through brier- patch New
light; escape by way of burial
Plan matured; trusty comrade-offi-
GERS assist. lineup, muscles. will,
calculating ingenuity. friendly sugges-
tions. briers cut to stick In the earth
concealing the writer and present I'M
inviting appearance to pedestrians. and
cautious work were brought into re.
QUESTION and the grave-digging was
completed. During the labor the cap
tives thoughts dwelt, with some mis- |
giyings. upon the imperative orders of |
the Major issued the day before in
the presence OF the prisoners: Shoot |
sragglers without warning. II you |
eaten man hiding. bayonet him with |
out a word No nonsense" Intended |
for intimidation, Ell? Well. It's safer |
to consider it as dead earnest. He |
thought also of the immature plan TO /
disarm our guard; how they were to |
be set upon simultaneously: how in. |
formation Of three companies behind |
deferred us. and how disappointed |
some were when wiser counsel dis. /
couraged the attempt. But the
grave" Col Warren Shedd. Thir. |
teenth Illinois Infantry, nov rendered |
hts assistance Boughs and grass were
gathered; the adventurer fitted I'M |
satisfaction All right, cover up"
First came grass and boughs, then
"Oh, here, Lieutenant. here are some
things you'll need" Col r. X. Scott. |
sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry, presented
some maps Oinen) Of the country.