The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1911-05-17


back. A tall. lank. greasy fellow grab
bed me. yelling, We've got Gabriel, by
G.! Here's his horp," and snatching
the bugle. began to blow most un-
earthly toots. The Federal forces
lost some 1880 killed, wounded and
captured.
About ten o'clock that night. about
Ave or six hundred of us were started,
closely guarded, we knew not where.
but after two days and nights. arrived
at Ringold, Ga. All this time we had
nothing to eat and very little water;
many died on the road. After a scant
meal of corn bread. spoiled bacon and
water. we were crammed into cattle
cars like sardines. and started for
Richmond, Va. Railroading in the
Southern Confederacy at that time
was slow and tedious. After nine
days and nights of very devious trav-
cling, stops and long delays. we final
ly arrived at Richmond part were
put on Belle Isle. little island in the
James River and part in Pemberton
prison.
Enroute to Richmond.
In the three months service, on en-
velopes and letter paper. was printed
in large colored letters this legend,
ION to Richmond" AS we now came,
in passing through the different towns
women and children and old men, too
old for service. would crowd around
to see the horned Yanks" as they
called us; then we would raise the
roof shouting "On to Richmond" and
singing John Browns Body Lies
Wondering in the Tomb, But His Soul
rally Round the Flag Boys" etc.
Will not attempt to relate prison ex-
periences for year and fourteen days
as this is already too long. and in fact,
there is much of it that am sure
your readers would not relish. For
twenty years after returning home,
did not dare to talk twenty minutes
about 1t. At night would have fearful
Nightmares of prison experience,
would jump out Of bed and feel around
the room, slap and pinch myself out
Of II.
After the battle OF Chickamaugua,
the Confederate soldiers were becom-
ing discouraged, allowing themselves
to be easily captured. The Confeder-
ate prisoners were cared for so well
In the Northern prisons, while We
were fed on unsalted corn bread. and
canal water to drink; so the Confed-
crate authorities got at logger heads
with the Federal government and re-
fused to exchange prisoners for near
ly two years, hence our long, weary,
imprisonment: about three months in
Pemberton prison, nearly opposite Lib
by. on the same street; six months in
Danville. three months and fourteen
days in Libby. making year and
fourteen days in all. The bill of fare
was three ounces corn bread; coarse
yellow meal with many bits Of cob
and husks ground up with 1t. the Con-
federates said to make 1t stick to the
ribs: no salt; only canal water and
meal mixed and baked in huge ovens;
this with one army tincupful of wat
er, was twenty.four hours rations.
Twice Z week one tincupful Of very
thin soup. also. perhaps half dozen
small. hard. brown beans. and evident
ly some very ancient bacon had been
In touch with It. for each cup had float
ing on its peaceful bosom thirty of for
l ty little black bugs; the Confederates
told us that was pepper and they being
in authority, We ate what was set be-
fore us and asked no questions. Now,
do not blame the Confederates too
hastily: II was the best they had.
From the prison window, we could
see the Confederate soldiers eating
the same food at their meals, only
more Of It: indeed, II we had plenty to
eat, and with nothing to do, would GER
tainly have suffered from disease.
Scurvy and vermin were plentiful; we
had to go hunting" as 1t was called.
twice day. Our wardrobes were con-
spicuous by their absence; well
worn blouse, pants, shoes, most cases
old stockings, or rags on the feet, all
horribly dirty and ragged: no shirts
or vests. many bareheaded. At regular
hours in the forenoon and afternoon,
everyone would get busy hunting
we would crack our Jokes and make
the best Of It, "Old Jake" and slender
youthful looking boy were constant
companions, neither of them ever
hunted. consequently. had plenty of
company. Jake sat on the section of
an old stove that at one distant day
had warmed the room; the boy,
Brown" sat on a rickety old bench
beside him. They never smiled, would
say nothing from morn to night; just
sit and sit: finally, old Jake gave up
the last drop of blood to his pests and
died; his youthful companion was dis.
consulate and died in about a week
Two other boys, we were all boys then
who In my dairy are called "Our Des-
ponding Neighbors." died also of
inconsistencies and "gray-backs."
Endowed with natural artistic tai
ents. still had my portfolio with
drawing paper and case of colored
pencils wrapped in very dirty. rag
ged shirt. managed to smuggle them
] through and have the portfolio yet
with some of the many sketches that
were made. After fifty years they are
much priced.
We were searched every few days
and everything valuable taken, except