Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-16
A Prisoner of War
on Christmas. 1864

Editor Observation-Disclosures each
recurring Christmas time comes, the
memory of the prisoners Christmas in
1864, and the conditions surrounding
it. make the contrast with the Christ
mas of 1913 seem like a dream. l read
the article of Comrade Dan Bishard,
at Andersonville, in the Register, and
it brought back memories that can only
be effaced by the old grim monster.
death.
w were both members Of the same
regiment and captured at the same
time. His Christmas came at Ander-
sonville; mine at Salisbury, n. c. The
! conditions surrounding US car not be
described. language necessary would
not be printed, and the true history will
never be known in it's entirely.
I'VE would at first be sorry when a
loved comrade died, but later we al
! most envied his good fortune on reach
. ing heaven for Christmas while we re-
! manned in the living he'll. We had saved
from wood allowed us enough partially
! to support a clay roof. Our house was
a trench about two feet deep and six
feet wide. The dirt on top was sup
ported by the wood we "a saved. That
DIS our QulIlS. II "Oulo hSep Oul SOIllC
cold, but not rain.
Christmas morning a confederate
soldier, who had deserted but was a p
tured before he got to the union lines,
was put into our pen for safe keep
ing until a court martial could try him
| as a deserter. I saw him when he came
in, n bantered him to swap uniforms.
He vas not f%avorably impressed with
mine, and until showed him how we
could both stand surer chance to get
out, would he consider such a trade.
We changed hats, cavalry coats, and
trousers, and he went at ono n en-
| listed in the rebel army. l was not
quite ready to do so. / never saw him
! nor heard from him before or since.
Afterward, with an old peanut sack to
cover up my rebel uniform, I went for
; wood, losing the sack. When not noticed.
I walked away, scarcely daring to
breathe. but it worked. I was gone
tw Give days, but was recaptured with
the help of hounds, and taken back to
the pen. l shall not attempt to describe
! my heart sickness. This was my third
attempt. and it had failed.
Take in the situation: In the win
ter; in the enemies country, where
every one with a white skin was nunt-
ing you, without cent. every mans
hand against you and you against him.
hundreds Of miles from home.
you know nothing Of poverty.
have seen in to the dregs. I would help
the worst criminal on earth in like con-
ditions, law or no law / don't think ]
would refuse help ever to n Of the
hated guards. I shall surely try and be
a good fellow to some one wlo needs
help this Christmas. I think I know
something Of extreme poverty. and can
speak from experience.
"On Feb. %, 1865. the prison gates
opened and we were paroled, attic we
did not reach our lines until March 2.
We We're not guarded after the 22d.
Let Christmas be remembered as a
help Gay, not forgetting that it is the
birthday Of him who was rich, for our
sake became poor, hat we, thru his
poverty, might become rich
so remembering my own condition
forty-nine years ago. and contrasting
it with 1913, ] bid every one a Merry
Christmas.
&C. H. BROCK.
iowa Soldiers Home