The National tribune., 1910-04-28


that no reply was necessary, 1 started
back, and in less than five minutes
after / had delivered the dispatch the
wagon train began to pull out and the
famous flank movement was under way.
This was about 8 o'clock in the after
noon. After l returned the horse the
General thanked me, and told me I
could go to my regiment. The ques-
tion has occurred to me: Did Gen. Grant
plan the flank movement in the time
that / passed headquarters till 1 came
back with my filled canteens, or had he
plapned II beforehand? If he planned
1t Before he started the campaign. then
he surely kept his plans concealed from
Meade. If it was made in the time that
quick and mastery stroke, and put into
execution all inside of half an hour
Captured at the Wilderness.
George NJ. Bailey, Co. l, 14th n. Y,
Canandaigua, N. Y, writes:
Il noticed in Chapter VIII of the
Wilderness Campaign, now running in
The National Tribune, reference to
the 140th n. Y. trying to get in touch
with the enemy. AS the regiment adj
vanced as stated, we could see no enc
my in front. 1t seemed that they had
suddenly disappeared, when we re-
ceived terrific fire from the right and
rear (the regiment being quite ways
In advance of the balance of the line).
On our right there was dense under
brush, creepers, vines, etc. 1t was i'm
possible TO see where the enemy was
until they swung In our rear and opened
upon us from that direction.
in this fighting, which had lasted
about two hours, we found ourselves at
the mercy of the enemy. Most of the
regiment from the colors to the right
.ts 1t 14I
tured-my Captain, Hoyt, being one of
the captured. We were rushed to the
rear. From there we could see the
dense smoke from the fighting line, as
well as from the fire in the woods.
In the evening we could see the
blaze from the fire. During all that
afternoon we could hear one contin-
uous volley of musketry, punctuated by
occasional shells, as what batteries
could be used were worked with des-
perate energy.
early in the evening the prisoners
captured that day were started on the
way to Orange c. H., which place we
reached in the early morning, May 6.
We continued on until we reached Cor
about 6 p. M, and drew ra-
tions. We received two hardtack and
half a pound of salt junk. They were
afraid to have us stop in town, so they
marched us down to a small stream
outside the village.
About midnight the prisoners were
loaded on the cars and started for
which place we reached at
3 p. m. of the 7th. We unloaded, and
went about two miles into camp. We
drew our rations there, two hardtack
and two ounces of ham. The citizens
charged us 50 for biscuit, So dozen
for eggs, 50 for plug of tobacco, and
everything else in proportion. Every
thing had been taken from us but our
wooden blankets. From there we were
taken to Locustdale, where we were
placed on exhibition as live Yankees. A
good share of the boys went in SWIM
ming while there.
May our number was increased by
200 Wilderness prisoners, making in all
about LOO, according to the rebel fig
ures.
May II we left for Farmville, and
rode in regular passenger coaches. the
last we saw of that kind of conveyance.
May IL we were loaded in box cars
and started for Danville, and reached
there at noon.
May IS we were put into three
tobacco warehouses, 240 on
each floor, divided into squads OF 20.
They were very strict with us.
May Is we were loaded in box cars
and started for the South. Georgia.
al
at $50 p. m. The stockade then con-
tanned about Is acres, including the
dead line, with $4,000 prisoners, which
place all the adjectives ever used does
not fully name its horrors. The condi-
tions inside, the water, lack of shelter,
filth, etc, cannot be
oyerdrawn. l have often wondered If
any of those who were in the 140th n.
Y. that were confined in Andersonville
at that time are yet alive. / would like
to hear from them. L was there during
the big storm and when Providence
Spring broke out. I was in the squad
that was sent to Florence Oct =, where
the conditions were no better than at
"Oct. , we were informed by the
rebel officers that they intended to
starve us to death or force us to join
them. They did starve some of them
until 900 joined them, as my diary
states, 10 save themselves from actual
starvation. The rest of us were ex
at Wilmington Feb. "a"
The 1st Me. III. \.
p. NJ. Baker, Co. d, 1st Me. II. A,
Colorado Springs, Colo, writes:
In the Wilderness Campaign men,
ton is made of the 1st Me. II. A as
being in Gen. Motifs Brigade. That is
an error. The 1st Me. Ii. \. was not at
he battle of the Wilderness. L was in
co. ID, 1st Me- II. A. (Col. Daniel, Chap
ain), and we left Washington on May
16, 1864. On the 18th we fought our
first battle at Spotsylvania Court House
about 5 o'clock p. m, lasting two and
4 half hours. We lost over 500 men
killed and wounded. 1 think Col. r. B.
Sheppard, of Skowhegan, Me, or HOr-
ice A. Smith, of Bangor, Me-, will agree
With me-
As Seen by Johnny.
+. H. Foote, 4Sth Miss. CConfeder-
lte), Vicksburg, Miss, writes:
Il read in Chapter XI of the Wilder
ness Campaign the realistic descriptive
account of the burning woods ON the
Po River, in which many Union SOL |
liers perished miserably on May 10,
ho / think il was May II, our brigade, |
Iarriss Mississippi, took position on
ome nights or banks of the river. While
here some of the men went after wa
.er, but soon came back, as the Fed |
.ral sharpshooters prevented them from
the stream.
when they returned they told US of |
he horrible sight of burned Union SOL |
iiers, and a few of us went to the |
front to see. Such a sight it was, The ,
bodies were dreadful to look at, with |
heir distorted limbs and eyes protrud- |
ng. Ears, nose and lips were burned |
,ff of some; faces in horrible contor-
ions, grinning teeth, hair burned off |
lose, fingers roasted off to hand or |
,alm, bodies swollen out of shape; the |
belt keeping its place made the swol-
en-, putrid mass loci; like a huge sack |
# meal tied in the middle.
''Sharpshooters soon drove US away, |
md If j live to be 100 years old | will |