Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-11-21
al WAR
M}|=iI1Nl|ScER:HS(B5S
SET FREE TWICE BY PAROLE
Document Proving Fact of Imprison-
Tent Proves Later to Be Valuable
to Soldier From Illinois.

A parole from a southern prison
proved valuable in freeing a northern
soldier from further Imprisonment in
a Union guardhouse and from posi-
bic Incarceration in the Alton peni-
Tertiary, where deserters were sent.
How the parole was obtained and
used is told by Henry Strong. who
was a member Of the 93d Illinois
regiment. Afterward Mr.. Strong help
ed prevent delivery of prisoners at
Camp Douglas, Chicago,
At the battle of Big Black river
May II, 1858" said Mr.. Strong. Gen
eraI Sherman's division was in posi-
sion at the top of the hill. The battle
opened early in the morning and be-
fore the end of the day the Confeder-
ates made three charges up the hill
and were driven down every time.
1T was not long before a rebel bull
let took me in the shoulder, and down
I tumbled. The firing was going on
fast and l rolled down the hill into a
little ravine, where I was protected
from the shots of both sides. All
about were men lying dead or dying.
Then came the charge of the Con-
federates The men climbed the slope
below the rayine, under the fire from
our lines, and passed across and up
the farther slope, trying to take the
hill. lay still, pretending to be
dead, as the charge swept among the
bodies in the rayine. On they went
up the hill into our fire. They could
not stand it for long and here they
came back again, crashing down the
hill, wild eyed, yelling, screaming.
once more they passed through the
ravine among and over the dead and
living bodies and stumbled down the
slope beyond, while I pretended to be
a corpse
Our men were victorious there and
the division at the hilltop was moved
on to another part Of the battlefield.
Late in the afternoon, when there
seemed to be no one near by, l start
ed to hunt up my regiment, but before
I had got far l was captured by a
stray detachment of Confederates
They took me to Vicksburg and put
me in prison there, and I stayed in the
prison for about two weeks. About
the LIST of June l was parOled and sent
across the river to the Union forces,
where 1 Joined my regiment. A
month later Vicksburg surrendered.
While l was in the hands of the
Confederates l had an uncomfortable
experience. In the roll down the hill
into the ravine l had lost my hat, and
so when l started to hunt up my regi-
ment l picked up the cap that some
Confederate soldier had dropped, and
l was wearing it when l was captured.
Just because of that l was accused of
being spy and Of trying to pass my
self off as a southern soldier. | got
out of that all right and my imprison-
ment at Vicksburg did me one good
turn.
After I had reached my regiment I
was sent back home to Neponset. in
Bureau county, Illinois, where I had
been the first man to volunteer for
the war, though my brother, who also
lived there, was a southern sympathiz-
er. I had been at home only a short
time when government agent came
there and arrested me on a charge Of
being a deserter from a Missouri
regiment. I was arrested under the
name of Henry Stone or Strang-I
could never find which-and was TAX
en- to st. Louis and put in the guard
house at Benton barracks. There [
stayed two weeks without being able
to get anybody to look into my case.
At the end of that time I got word
with an officer Of the barracks and
identified myself by means of the
parole from Vicksburg prison. Luck
lily l had kept it in my pocket or I
might never have got out of the
guardhouse."