The National tribune., 1910-06-16
AFTER 46 YEARS.
Reyisfting Scenes in the South Made
Famous During the War.

tfie war.
Editor National Tribune: Last Feb.
ruary 1 revisited Charleston. S. c.. and
other points in the South after an abb
sence of nearly 46 years. 1t was al
Charleston that I served a time in the
rebel prisons. and, of course. they were
the first things l wanted to see. With
the help of an old colored aunty / To-
Gated the old workhouse prison SITE but
the prison has long since disappeared,
and a poor class of dwellings now stand
there. The Jail adjoining is still there,
but much changed.
Before / was exchanged in 1864 about
40 of us were transferred to three
story colonial residence near the corner
of Broad and Rutledge streets. All of
this part of the city being in reach of
the Federal guns at that time was de-
serted. 1 recognized this house at once.
and called on Mrs. Cunningham, who
lives there. and was kindly received and
taken thru the rooms. Mrs. Cunning
hams husband was stationed at the
signal station we could see operating
from the steeple of St. Michael'S Church,
farther up Broad street, from our pris-
on.
1 have met several old men here in
Charleston who helped guard us during
wartime. They were very agreeable, as
l must say they were the day the war
was over. 1 was at Macon. Ga, at that
time. and 1 know our feelings were
mutual. 1t is easy to get around at
Charleston now. Cross Cooper River on
the ferry, then you can take a car ride
the full length of Sullivan's Island and
pass all the old forts, then on to the
Isle of Pa1ms-a 12-mile ~iee. In the
opposite direction you can enjoy an
eight-mile trolley ride up Cooper River
to the navy yard.
From Charleston went to Atlanta.
mans army there on a cavalry raid un-
der McCook to the rear of the Confed-
crate lines I did not think I would be
so long returning. and then to find a
large modern city in place of the dilapi-
dated tent city ] left behind. IL 1
could have Joined my old command
down by Turner's Ferry, on the Chatta-
hoochie. my happiness would have been
complete during this visit.
We spent a week in Atlanta looking
up old landmarks. but they are few.
The skyscraper has taken the place of
the former picket post. You can go
any place you wish on the trolley. Our
favorite trip go miles) was to Marietta,
at the foot of Kenesaw Mountain where
rest in our National Cemetery all of our
boys who were killed or died in and
about Atlanta. 1t is very beautiful
place. Ten thousand of our boys are
buried there and many of my old regi-
ment.
Commander-in-C Chief Van SAINT and
wife were stopping at our hotel We
enjoyed being present at a reception
given him in the hotel parlors by the
Blue and the Gray. 1t would have
pleased all the boys to have seen the
kindly feeling which prevailed over the
One thing they agreed on
was to have a Reunion of the Blue and
Gray in 1911 on the historic battlefield
Of Gettysburg.
After a weeks stay at Macon I went
to Newman. Ga. where 1 was captured
on the McCook raid. 46 years ago next
month. We (my wife and u secured
1 carriage. drove south from Newman
five miles to where we found a granite
marker, reading: Gen. Joe Wheeler,
= S. A, routed Gen. E. NJ. McCook, u.
5. Army, July 81, 1864, capturing 800
Of his men. Newman Chapter. U. D. c..
1908"
I went on foot about three-quarters
Of a mile thru the woods. and found
he spot where we surrendered. My
feelings are hard to describe. Strange
20 relate, the place looks as 1t did
hen-a clearing with timber on the
Jour sides. but the four lines OF solid
gray were not in evidence. A rabbit
jumped up at my feet, and awakened
ne out of my revery with a start-H.
r. Bird, Sth Iowa Cav, Mount Pleasant,
owa.