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Rebel Prison Pens

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Parent Issue
Day
29
Month
March
Year
1893
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

[V ritten without notes und at oddspelllW years afterward, for the ediflcatiou of my comrades, and read before Welch Tost, No. 137, G. A. R., on "Literary Evemng," Kriduy. March 24, 1S93.1 (OMRADES AND FkIENDS- By all of those preseut who participuted in the Battle of the Wildernesa it will be römembered that just prior to the opening of the spring campaign, the 9th anny corps, of wliich the 2Oth Mich. Inft. was a part, and oí which régimen I was a member, came back from the western army "covered with glory," and at once resumed its iM position iu the front and the thickestof the fight. Crossing the Rappahannock on tlie 4tli of May, 181)4, and the Kapidan, at Gerniania Ford, on the 5th, it participated in the battle of the 6th, on wbich day I was carried off the field and to the hospital, having been keeled over by the too intímate proximlty oí a shell- which. passed so close to iny inoutli that it eaused the blood to flow froni niy nose, raouth and ears. On the evening of the Sth those of us who were in the hospital were notifiecl that "the army was about to make a iiank movement, and leave the hospital tents, and those wlio staid, to the tender mercies of the rebs, who wonld ptobabl} parole the jirisoners ; but all those who could, liad better join their connnands." Not desiring to fall into the hands of the rebs, I bid my triend and company-mate, Billy Boston, (now Commander of Jeffords Post, Xo. 82, of Nashville, Mich.) good-by, aftcr bestowing upon him all the extra clothing my knapsack contained, and sauntered off in search of soiue of our teainsters to get a "lift" on the march of the day. As luck would have it I feil in witta Geo. Walker a member of our company, and still a resident of our city. Being still weak from the loss of blood, I requested him to put my knapsack and equipments into bis wagon, and thus help me along on the day's tramp. He said they were lieavily loaded with ammunition and had strict orders not to put anything more on their wagons, but that might pu my knapsack in and then we would take turns riding or earrying my gun These ternis, of course, were acceptec by me (but somehow my cartridge box haversack and canteen also followed mj knapsack) and I succeeded by this ar rangement in keeping up with the train during the day, and when night came the teams was correled a short distauce from our regiment, so I immediatel] joined the same. On the following tnorning, or the 9tl of May, I was detailed to go on the skirmisli line ; where, aftera short but livelj engagement, the left of our line (composed of OOth Ohio men) gave way, anc took to their lieels, leaving those of UB who had CTOBSed Ny river, under nol only a front, but flank fire. This was too much forme, and I at last attompted to retreat, but was soon halted by a sharp pain in the leg, and on raising to my feet I was commanded to surrender by three full-grown rebs, who stood with their rifles in close proximity to me. Of course I obeyed, for I could not do otherwise. I was immediately taken to the rear, the rebs in charge of me being urged to liurry me along by the storm of shot and sheJl being thrown towards us by a portion of the 9th corps in our rear, and the whistling of hullets poured all around us by the 17th Mich. Inft., who, by a sudden charge, liad succeeded in getting a position on the main road to Spottsylvania, un the right flank of the enemy. My first salutation after getting out of the range of the deadly missils was from a troop of Texas Rangers, who after gently tapping me on the head with the bui of a carbine, quickly relieved me of my timepiece, and departed- seemingly much to the disgust of the guards who had me in charge. Shortly afterwarda I was ushered into the presence of Gen. Battles, who was sitting on his horse, in the midst óf his staff, along-side of the road, who after inquiring where I was captured, and to whose forcé I belonged allowed us to pass by. Xext I was taken into the tent of Gen. Kobert E. Lee, where the following conversation took place : Q. "Well, yank, where did yon come from?" A. "The front," Q. "To whose comniiind do youbelong?" A. "To Burnside's corps." l. "Huw large au artny have you out there?" A. I don't kuow how ïnanv men there are, but I tliiuk there are enough to whip yours." '. "Where are they making for, or where do they intend to go?" A. "To Kichmond, I suppose, after tliey have whipped your army here." "Oh yes;" said Gen. Lee, in a san astic manner, "they will all go there the same way you are going now." The General then motioned to the guard to take me away, and I was taken a short distance furtlior to the rear and placed in a field, under guard, together with some other unfortunates who had been taken previously. Here I was left to take care of myseli, as bestlcould, lor the next five days on the remnanta "f the rations last drawu froni Uncle sani's qnartermaeter. Additions to our uuinbers were of daily occurrence unt the 12th, (but with very few of whoi was I acquainted) and on that day I wi souiewhat elated, iorthe moment, to se gome of my own company brought in, a may appear fron the salutation I gav my friend, Krank E. I.ansing, as grasped him by tl! band, and said, " am glad to see you, Frank, but its d d bard place they've brought yo to." When, about the 14th day of Ma) the first eatables fumiehed by the rebs a couple of hard-tack, were issued to na and we were ordered to fall in, we did s without any misgivings, little dreamin or caring what was in store for na, ( wliere was our destination. The fin thing of note on the road was tlie wai of a bridge - which wc were infonncc had been destroyed by our eavalry wb had made a raid through there. So,o course, we were forced to ford the streai (wbich was aliimt waist dsep) inountec rebel otficers and men riding in front behind, and both sides of us, constant! driving our fellow-prisoner forward b cursing or threatening to shoot theui. After a long and tedious tramp, wit muddy clothes and Boaking feet, whe night came on we were marched into tield, tired and huugry, but with n prospects of anything to eat. Soon a f te breaking ranks it was discovered tha wild seullions abounded in our presen quarters. These were speedily gatherei and bastily devoured, and to a certaii extent saüsfied our craving appetites although causing an almoat eqnally cra ing thirs,t. However, being so thor oughly exluuisted we soon laid down t rest, ouly shortly afterwards to be dis turbed by the cowardly attempt of th Johnuies to steal our blankets while w slept. Frank and I managed to kee ours throught that night, at least. In the morning we proceeded on ou way to Gordonsville. On oar arriva there we were drawn up in line near wha was said tu be the provost marshal1 office, and told to rest. The most of us were perfectly willing to do so ; but my friend Lansing, as was bil costana when in our own liues, proceeded at once to clean the mud from liis boots, and in other ways slick himself up. For some reason, 1 thought lie was foolish for doing so, and remonstrated witb him, but to no avail. (We both had new, fancylegged boots on that we had purchased from O'Hara, of Ann Arbor, at Annapolis, Md., just before thiscampaign and of which we feit quite proud.) This time, at least, I was in the right, for shortly thereafter we were marched througli the aforesaid provost marshal's office, searched and robbed of everythiug we had worth taking (not excepting Lansing's boots, but leaying me mine, however) not even leaving us our writing material, lints, baudages, salves, overcoats, blankets, and cooking utensils, even taking our little " wi ves," on which we depended so mach. Our nioney was not forgotten by tliem either, (although they claimed "it was worthless, tliej' made i very thorough seareh for the saine - oompeiling us to turn our pockets wrong side out - and examining such other places as they thought it niight be concealed in. and whon they found any they made a great exhibitjonoi their disgust tor the saine, by tearing it in two or crumbling it op and throwing it down - although we noticed they took particular pama to have it land in one corner of the room out of the reach of any but the choaei few who were perpetrating the wholesale lareeny of our goods and money. After being thus robbed, we were marched out of the back door and into a field a few rods to the right of said office (the usual gaard surrounding us) wliere, along toward night a ratiou of mea] or flour was issued to us - not one of us having a dish r pan left in which tu stir up or cook the same. Ilowever, Yankees are inventive, and while some few ate it raw, others in one way or another procured oyster or other cana, while others got old pieces of tin, from some of the rebel kids prowling round, and in a short time they were turned into frying pans, and water and meal was gotton into a " suitable eondition for consumption. We went by cars irosa here to Lynchjrug, aud eamped on the bank of a creek surrounded by high hills, just outside the city. From here Frank wrote a letter home, which he now lias. Onr stay at Lynch burg, Va., was sliort, as we were soon loaded on box cars and transported to üanville. Here, br the first time since our enlistment, we were quartered in a building- in the hird story of what had been an old obacco warehouse, but from the amount of "creepers" we found there we con:luded it had been thequartersof troops Jefore. Guards were stationed at the doors and on the stairways, which seemed tous quite sufficient; but shortly ifter our arrival, when one of our numjer looked out of "the wiudow, a fatal shot from below was convincimg proof hat guards were Btationed outside as well. It soon became evident, for some eason. that we were not t be kept here long, as nothing convenient for he keeping of so many priaonera was irranged. The following day orden rere given tor oa to faflin, we were aarched down to, and again boarded a ox-car train, which was fllled inside nul uut, and heavily guarded, and we oon ascertained the tact that wc were on our way t Andersonville, Ga. On bis trip wc were infonned that liiscuits OUld !"■ boughi for a " dollar a piece in nu icd, orfourfor a dollar of greenback." 'his was the tirst time after being taken risonerthat we beard a "rel)" admit hat greenbacka were good in that ountry. Onreachinga watering station u North Carolina, ctuled WiUtsborough, one of the gnards who :is on top our cai secured a valise full of tempting-looking liscuits, which he was selling at thé ibove rates. Your speaker had secured i dozen of them and was holding his noney waitíng for bis change, when he flreman, whoni the engineer had enrusted with the engine to go and get water, for some reason came back to the rain with the engine at full speed, and t was not until it had crttfhed j.artly hrough the iirst car and broken the oupling in quite a number of others, liat the engine was stopped. The conequence waa quite a number were rniaed, some severely, and almost all n the top of the cars, including the ebel guard, his biscuits and money, were thrown to the ground. Jlis inoney ad biscuits were Boon taken care of by lie boya, wbile he with a bayonet :irust throngh his shoulder was taken are ofbyhis mates. Some few of our ' to escape, during the excitement, among them, we believe, Col. Pelos Phillips, fonnerlyof Ypsilanti, but now of Kalanaazoo. Sneu] the damage was repaired and wc rere Bgain on the move. On ourarrival al Mariin. Ga., we met a large nomber of Union oilieers wlio had just arrived tliere fiom other prisons, among them Lieufc Knight, formcrly of tliis city. He gave mea sliirt, which was vrorn py me the following nine inontlis of niy incareeration in the rebel prison pens. We arrived at Andersonville, .Tune 4, and wen marched iuto that Bickening place, of which it has been written bv many, "that when once ttntered all hope depaited." It took a brave heart indeed, to look around, see the emaciatel fornis, the oreeping ground, the lillliy water, tlic feverisb cliinate, the want of elothing, bedding or nlielter of anv kind, and listen to the stories of those previonaly there, about the poor rationa, growing day by day worae, and then see a ray of hope left that he could snrvive it and once more see home and friends. However, we had cnlist cl to help preserve the unión, to fight a foe and take our chancea in war whatever they might be, and we at once decided to make the best of it. We soon found some of our former comrades, of whoin the foHowlng are a few we now recall : Joseph Hoag, E. 1'. Banden, Jack Shannon, Levi Show, David Webster, W. Freil St hlam'erer. And there was Johu L. Kansom ton; One when once met yon alwaya knw ; A soldier aud a f rieud true blue. Who alwuvs would remember vou. He it was who was taken out with the dead, nul deposited on the dead-pile, and afterwards becoming conscious, called to a reb officer for a drink of water; and was infornied by the aforesaid individual, " if lie was not dead vet tn pet Hght back inside the stockade and die." He did not do the latter, however, bat has since published the book entitled "Andersonville Diarv," and furnislied the pension office with the naines of soine 14,000, who were known to have died in Andersonville prison. He is now in charge of "Andersonville" in the World's Fair exhibit at Chicago. We were warned about the dead-line by the shootiug of one of our EUimber by a gaard. Thia was an imaginary line about a rod from the stockade, the -trips of board originally placed there haring been mostly appropriated for fuel and other purpöses. The question may be asked, wliat did we do to pass away the long days and nights in thisdreary God-forsaken hole? We will answer, well, everything that an inventive Yankee mind could think of- i. e., dng wells, (70 feet deep) and dug tunnels (some over 100 feet long) without piek or shovel, hut with old tin plates or halves of canteens in place thereof, aud pulled the dirt up and carried it away in old rags or wooden pails made from our scantysupplies of wood ; visited friends, especially the sick ; played cards, checkers, dominóes and chuck-luck; bet on races, etc, etc. The latter amusement did not last long, for the capital stock for betting purposes (unsisted prineipally of rations (such as Ihev were) and when a man lost wliat little of them he drew he was about ready to lie down and die. Rut, as it nay prove interesting to sonie of you to know how these races were conducted, 1 will describe one for you. It was in tliis wav, we will suppose rations had ust been issued, Toni meets Dick and says, have you any Band, take both of mr rationa and they'll make a fair meal, - wliat do you say fora race to see who will have them? 'il' its i go, out comes a tin which is placed in the sun until it is hot, then Toni and Dick drop their festive "graybacks " ontn the same, and the loase that gets uil' the tin irst is the winner. Very uiten one 'grayback" would turn'around beore the edge was reached, either by lelp or of bis own free will ; theu the I nvner of the saine would accuse the ! ther fellow of cheatingby "Blowing i ïis louse back," etc, which frequently i nade trouble and often ending in a i ' scrap." But I carne near neglecting to pay iny respecte to that arch-traitor, demon and murderous wretch, Wirz. He it was who was in ourthoughts duriug most of he day ; lie it was who showed the most brutul dl8po8ÍtíoD oí any one I ever saw ; be it was who seemed to spend his eutire time in eoncocting the most ljrutal pnnHlinient l'or any attempt to escape or for any infringemeutof tlieprisou rules; he it was who at one time Stamped a poor skeleton of a man to death ; he it was who made a practico of coming inside the stockade to relate the most unreasonable stories abont the certaintv of a ;ral excliange commencing on the folowing week, (until the subject became o old, that he, kuowing that no one vould place any confidence in liis statenent) wouUl then bring in a Macón Ga) paper with an item to that effect nserted ; and he it as who, on a cerftin ocasión, ordered the captain of the nain battery to flre into the stockade, wliich if the artillery officer had been as ïeartless as Wirz, and done as lic was rdered, (tliat being the signal gun vould have caused the discharge of vei-v piece of artillery around the Stockde, and the rccklcss murderof a nomer of thousand onarmed and unsuspectng men. But he is dead ; lus life was egally taken as a penalty for liis crimes, t was inadequate; but it was thought est that that was all that should be one. Oor eveninga (at Andersonville) were rincipally passed lying on the san.lv ide-hü] talking or singing some sueh ong.s as "Wiicii thU cruel war ia over." Or the touching and more appropriate )iece, beginning In niy nrlsoo oell I sit. tliinkiug motber di-nr of yon . A lid our bright and happy lióme so far awtiv ■ ud the tean thc-y lili myeyes.spite of Ú that I can do. When I try to cheer my oomradea and be ïay." Ournighta were apenti lying on the cold, amp ground) in resUess sleep, trom vhirh we were Irequently aroused by the ry of " Raiders,1' which was a signa] hal gome poor tellow was being robbed í wliat little he might have, or, perlape numlered, ly those of our number vho were totally depraved or liad come utlie conclusión "might made right," nd because they were the strongest ïey had a right to rob or even kill teir IVllDw-jirisoners in order to secure hatever in clothing, food, or money ley might possess. Anv scheme which the "Raiders" eemed feasiljle would be sprnng upon ie unsuspecting, and it was easy for licni to do this as it was impossible to ■II who belonged to them and who did ot. One of these games was played on iy friend Lansing and a little Englishian who occupied the ground near us, 'hc story was told them that a tiinnei asalreadydug and was to be opened up tliat night, that sonie twenty-iivc were to be put onto it, and that the were amoog tho lucky number. The bit at the hato, as most anvone WOUld As fchey figured it vrould take about tw weeks to get to our Unes; it was leemec best for Lansing to take about all tin eatablea from the smal] stock we liai (for we were engaged in the Butler bun uess in a smal! way at that time), so ] liel])el Frank fill fiis haversack as ful as possible. Everytbing was ready anc be made up liis niind to try to get a nal before starting. We put the haversaek hetween our heads and soon went U sleep. It was daylight when we awoke the haversaek and contenta was goue hut not so with Lansing. He was stil with me, and could hanlly understaiu why be had not heen called, as was agreed upon. The little Englishman did not show up until DOOD, and whei he clid he was in a terrible state of mine and physieal condition. He informei 08 that he had heen called, as was agreed upon, and gol up and foliowei to the upper cornerof the stoekade. He was then seized, blindfolded and throwi forcibly to the ground, a ratzor was pul to his throat and he was told if he uttered a loud word he would be killed everv bit of money, a watch, ring, anc Other valualiles were taken away from him, and then still hliudfoldedjustabout daylight, he was taken down among the mostdensely settled portion of the pen and turned loose. After hearing his story Lansing was glad he got off as easy as he did. It looked serious- so many tiercé ani] bloody struggles had tliesp. men eaused, that at last ïtbecame anbearable, and one night, about the n'rst of July, the entire force of )risoners were arouseil hy their brutal attacks. Raiders," "Raiders," was haard on eyery side. Anything and everything in the shape of a (luh was eeized upon. Men were found assisting the "Raiders" who had never been suspected before. The battle Burged, lirst in favor of one side, then in that of the other. The men wereweak from the laek of food and proper care, bul they fought for their Uves, and as some would ['all others vrottld take their places. Superior numbers tinally succeeded in toreing the "Raiders" into a comer of the stoelende, and as daylight ilawned the "Raiders" nknlkêd away, for the ñrst time, tlms admitting their defeat. A day or two afterwarda a stir was cansed by two men being knocked down, terribly bruised and robbed in broad dayligíit on our main thoroughfare. Excitement was intense. Finally the rebel quartermaster came inside the stockade, anned witli a navy revolver, and offered to lead, if we would organize, and arrest the leaders of these raiding and murderous gangs. His offer was accepted; a following was soon found, and armed with short clubs the entire space iuside the stockade was gone over in search of "Raiders," and over one hundred were arrested and taken outside. A court was formed with twelve of our men as jurors, and a rebel justiee of the peaee acted as judge. Two of our men ere chosen as attorneys for the defense, and twc us attorneys for the prosecution. The trial proeeeded and quite i number were convicted of murder orbeing access. in tliereto. Se ven were genteneed to be hnng, (one of them aftèrwarda being shot by a gaard while attempting to escape,) seveu to be placed in ball and cliain, and thus conflned until sent to our lines, hen the evidence against them was to be forwarded to our government; and still otliers were sentenced to run the gauntlet. A few days afterward the rel)el quartermaster, spoken of above, furnished anus for, and assisted about a, dozen of our men to escape, and we leafned afterward tliat he, as well as they, reacbed our lines insafety. ïhose wlio were sentenced to ue bung were executed inside the stockade, on the 12th of July, before an audience of soine 30,000 or3ö,000. Of tliose sentenoed to run the gauntlet (or run across tlie camp willi men stationed on both si. les the lines), ouly one thing worthy of note happened, and tliat was in the ease of a big Frenehniaii , who, after making a few leaps, drew a knit'e and striking at the first man witli whom lie happened to come in contact, murderonsly attacked him; but the "Regulators," who bad organized were upon liim, and he v:is dealt some severe blows, one of which, we believe, proved fatal. After this occurrence, a pólice forcé was organized and law and order prevailed. The following in relation to the haagman, was received by me in reference to au article I wrote iu answer to an item which appeared in the papers in January, 1890, relativo to the death of a man by the name of Nichols, who, it was elaimed, was the appointed hanginan on that occasion. The item stating that he had ahvays been very reticent about the matter, on " account of tlie veterans shunnin;,' hini lor the part he had been called upon to take." I took the ground then, and still adheretoit, that the haagman only did his duty, and was entiöed to respect instead of abuse for doing the same, no matter how disagreeable that duty mignt have heen. ïliis letter illustratee clearly the feeliuga of the patriota who were confined there. COLDWATBB, Mk-h.,Jan. 2lst. 1MK). Jakm n. Saündrrs. Esi.- M, Dear Omrad .- I received a paper with au ortlcle in it wrltten by you relating to Andersonville prlson. I Baw the extract in a Detroit paper referredlo prevlousto gettlng yonr paper and tliought then of the Lmprobabllitiea and misstatements con tained in it. It would look tome ns if Nicliols took upon hlmself in his lifeUme lionors i for I consider that the pcople who were instrumental in the riaugiiig of the slx villnins at Andersonville were houored thereby) tlmt did uot belong to him. I do uot remember any N'icliols at all connected with the banglng. There was on ezecutloner who sent to the Korth by thu While I canuot last remember hls name, it certainly ' ".',' N.1,Sh,ol; The Bhould have been no ' ïll-wi lprill-feelingtowardtheexecutionerin , ufter lm., and I dou't believe there could have been. Itis a pity that many more were not ' bang. 1 nu Kind. romrade saimilurs, that vou ' onswered the article, and socll. j self, I pay bot httle attentlon to anrtlilug eonnccted with my long imprisonnien't It . gpfortunate and ad question to dweil upon While there were men in Andersonville who rere Imng, and others that shonld have been, there were also thousands aud thonsands of as ' good soldiers as ever went to battle-eaptured ' m battle. Tlu-y done more good, too, for the ' North by remaiumg prisoners of war than they eould have done at the front, and it was , deemed policy that tbey remain prisoners by the Resident aud Secretary of War. They kent i ab e-bodied Confedérate soldiers out of tic field, ïnasmuch as there was no exchange. ' Ihosewho lived to get away tiave never beer, 1 recompensed In auy way for their siifterines bv the goverument. Bills in Congrei. grautlii thesmall sum oL $2 per day for time [ oncd receive noatteution farther than their 1 presentatlon.and-goby defanlt. The class of i soldiers whom itwpuld benefit are too smaü to farther the politlcal interest of officials to ' advocate. It is i shame aud disgraee to our ( country and to the people who represent the ] Interesta of the country at large that these exRÖytteïfedt: "8aUTe t0-day are "üt 1 am, very truly, yourfriend and comrade JOHN L. RAN80M. j Rebela carne in every day trying to Í get mechanica or tradesmen to take the t non-coinbatant's oath, and work in their shops; I was twice approached far this purpose, and urged t go to Macón and assist in tlie printiuj; office there. This we coDsidered as bad as going into tlie rebel ariny, as it would enabfe tbem to send tliose whose places we took, into the iield, and we poeitively declined to act rdc to any sucli proposition. Some of our men who were sickly and almost starved ('ame near accepting the offer to enlistin the rebel arniy, with the hope of making their etoape, hut at'ter buking the matter over, decided not to soil their record ljy any sucli action, even ii'dcath reaolted [rom their devotion to the cause. The only men caught in tliis way was some of the "Raiders" gaugs, or those who cared aeitber for their reputatioo or their country's good. The stockade was now crowded to ita very edge. There were many dcmented men among us. who cauaed us mach trouble, notouly in looking after them, but from their frequently walking over the lead line, which nol only resultcd in the loss of their own lives, but the endangeriug of others - for frequontly those some distance awav was hit by bullets shot at or through those who had 8tepicd over the line. Rationa were also growinji Bcarcer and poorer. A eook house liad beeii built, eontaining a large trough, in which uur bread was mixed, the Btdea and bottoui of which were covered witli sour dougli, and large numbers of Bes and gnats were constantly hoveriiif; in and around it; ineal was slioveled into tbis by the wagon load, and water from the iilthy streain was taken to mix it witli. This was tlien put into paus, inarked off into pieees about tour inches square by one inch deepand baked. One day one-lialf of the prisoners would gel i square of this, éach, for their day 's rations, and the other halt' would get raw meal, and the rext day, vict vena, Nearly all the prisoners now had the scurvv, and their teeth became looae and dropped out, while noany were Buffering from dropey, gangrene, etc. The prison seemed turned into a heil of torture and insanity. After roasting all day in the scorchin i Bun we would He down at night on the ' filthv ground and try to simt our eye : and sleep aud thna forget our terribl surroundings. But this was almost ini (jssible, owing to the large number o: mosquitoes froin the swamps, and th liooting and howling of the night owl and otherbirds in the woods near by. About the middle of August a spring of verv good water sprnng from the ground near the dead line, north of the creek. ïhis was a great relief to us, and was thought by many to be the direct gift of our Creator. Shortly after :his several other springs appeared and ;he effect was apparent in the health of :he iumates. On September 11 th we were directed :o fall in quick, as we were going to be exchanged. We did ho, and in a short time afterwarus we were chrubing aboard Bat-cars, and we are ready to go - where ? we knew not. At any rate, we say, we are leaving Audersouville ! and we can think of no worse place we could be put in unless it be heil itself. Think of its record : about oue in every three bad died. And tbose tbat emained, wbat were tliey? What could they be after staving 80 long in such a filthy place without a chauge of clothes, not even having the care bestowed upon dumb animáis; nor l'ood BUfficient to keep a dog alive, and even wliat they did art unfit for a beast to live on. Why then, shoulil ( not rejoice in leaving such a place, even if we did not belicve the statements of the rebels tbat we were going to be exchanged. We did rejoice over our removal froni the detestable )lace, even after we arrived at our new ilace of confiuement, which was callad FLORENCE, S. ('., At least the air seemed purer; tlie scenery had changed ; Wirz's deceitful and tyrannical figure was no more to torment us! But we little knew what there was in store for us ! We found here au open field of some ten or twelve acres, into which we were taken and a doublé line of guards thrown around us. The morning after our arrival soine of the prisoners wished to get some wood. An old gentleman, seeminglv the officer in charge, passed along the line, was addressed, and asked if they could go outside the guard to secure some wood and brush. He gave his consent, motioned the guards to let theni pass, and they started ; others seeing these men going followed their example, and a general stampede resulted. The officer became excited, called on the men to halt, and iminediately seut out the guard to stop thein. A large nutnber gathered what wood they could and returned ; but some of the stronger ones took to their heels and left. The hounds were put on their tracks, and it was reported that most, if not all, of them were eaptured or killed by the hounds. The officers and guards beeame more strict and bruta] as the days went by. The work of building the stockade was soon completed, and ere long resembled Andersonvilleto a considerable extent. The dead-line was inarked out iu some places, and in others was left to the discretion of the guards. About this time the kindly old gentleman, who had at lirst had charge oï us here, departed, and anothoroilicertook command of the prison. In the person of Lieut. Barrett, of the 5th Georgia Regiment, we found au tgnorant, brutal and unscrupulous villain, who seemed to enjoy anything that would cause us to suffer, or reduce uu in everything that tends to inake a man. As the cold weather came on, notwith) tand ing the fact that we had dug a hole n the ground and made a covering of boughs and mud, our Bufferinga increased, my tent-mate, Frank Lansing, was far from being well, and it was often necessary to "borrow" wood in the night and build a tire for him to get warm by. Others were being brougftt in, and in consequence, our rationa small as they were) daily decreased. One day Lieut. Barrett came in and said a spade had been stolen by some of the wond ,suad, and that no rations would be issued until it was returned. Two days then were speut in fasting. Another time he clauned a tunnel was being dug and threatened not to issue a ration until the men digging it were turned over to him. Three days were passed at this time without food. When it was stated tliat four men liad given themselves up, admitting that they bad been tunneling, Barrett put theiñ in irons, and with an oath told them he would fix them on the morro w 80 they would remember him. A ratiou of raw rice was then Usaed to the prisoners, and as many oí thé priaonera had no means of.cooking it, or teetli to chew itwith (on account of the scurvy) snfferingof the must agonizing description followed. The death-rate was sometliin; terrible to contémplate. Barren, true to his word, thi tinu ai least, struug up the four wlio admitted (ligging u tunnel. They begged to be shot, but were only answered by curses. It was claimed thattwodièd justafter being ent down, and the other two were turned back into the "pen" to die of neglect, after the terrible strain tbey hail been torced to andergo. At Bnother time, Barrett, aocompanied by a guard, carne into the "pen" and walking up to a half dozen men who stood talkiug, after telling thein to disperse, but without waiting for them to do so, drew bis revolver and shot one of tbem tlirough the arm. The .sergeant who was shot stooped down and picked up the ball, and tnrnhigto Barrett said, "I willyet put thatthrough yotirheart." The following day the sergeant liad disappeared and I never saw or heard i hiin asain. In December] an exchange of a certain number was called for. The detacbments were drawn up in line, and Barrett ac ïpanied by some men, who were said to be doctors, passed along the line and culled those out who were "the sickest." Wben they had seleeted a giyen number the sergeants of the bunflreds, were told to march them out towards tne gate - as they were to aeconipany the men, as some one was needed to look after them. In this way my i'hum and tent-mate wis taken from me ; and, as I supposed, being so overjoyed in the hopes of going to "Cíod's countrv" as we culled the North, he lianded the book containing the namps of the men in the detachment over to the neaiest one to him,aml thus inyopportiinit of goiiif; with the next lot was lost. After lookin; onr detachment through and gelectiug whooQ they desired to release, still lacking om' to üll the quota, Barrett grabbed me by tho Hrin and saii"lieve, what's the matter with jrou?" I, snpposing that there was gomething in niv looks he did not like, simply replied: "nothing, if I onlv liad soniething tu wear, and you'd i;ive me somttliinr to iat." He replied, "you have too 1 - il mach now." After awhile he selected a tall man, who had been a powerfu] fellow, bnt nr - ikiw u wreek, and also a little fellow, who had not seen as rauch of iiisou life, and told them to fight for it, and "tlu: one who whipped the other should eo and be exehanged. They did so to the best of their ability, Barrett standing by and enjoying the i'uii. Tlie little fellow was victorious, and was allowed to go. The following weekanother squad was selected in about the same way ; the sergeants again being allowed to accompany them. But this ended it, all our hopes of getting out were doomed to disappointinent. The winter passed at last, though mauy were the weary days and nights we put in there ; sometiines forced to run up and down to get warm, holding our teeth in to keep them froni dropping out. The latter part of February finally dawned upon us. Our troops were reported at different placeH, nearer and nearer to us. The "rebs"' seemed to be uneasy. We were finally ordered to fall in ; were marched out of the stockade and down to the railroad. Hope kept us up. Flat cars were at hand and we were ordered to get on them. We did so and the engine started. After two days and nights we iinally stopped at SAI I.SIilKV. Ilere we wore taken to aimther Btockule, smaller than eithei Florena Audersonville. To say it was crowded would be putting i! mildly. It u;ipacked when we got in. We found sorae more of our company boys liere, and were infornied by them of a terrible storm they had had, and the washing away of the stockade. They were bettei clotned than we were ; bad heen better fed and had not suffered so mucb froi climate and exposure. Iu tliis prisoii one of the boya killed a dog owned by one of the rebel ofticer.s, cooked and ate the saine, was traeked and discovered, and as a pttnishment was compellèd to eat the refuse lie had areviously cast away. The second day after our arrival, wc were again valled out, drawn up injine, and onve more boarded the nat "cars. After some days and nighta, during whioh time it had been rainms; almost, ■ontinually, or on the 28th of February he train stopped, we were unlo.ided at a urnt bridge, a few miles Erom Wilmingm, X. C. We were told to get ofl' the ars and on looking at the engine we saw a white tlag. We lollowed those ihead of us as best we could, and soon came in sight of souiething on the road, vhere our comrades were stopping. Phis proved to be barrels of salt. They were placed there tor us, and were patonized freely, being the first salt we ïad seen in some eight months. How ! got to Wilinington I could never teil, ometimes walking, sometimes crawlag; but at last I reached there, and ound a place (with my comrades 1 to ie down in the railway depot ; next we were placed on a transport and taken to Annapolis, Md., waahed and clothed and placed in the hospital tliere. We vere turned looso, bat ucrer exchanged. My wardrobe on this occasion, notwithstanding the fact that a box had een sent me from home (which liad )een rifled of almost everything it conained by the rebs before reaching me), was the shirt given me by Lieut. Knight n tlie 4thoL June of the precedingyear; pair of army drawera which bad done ie constant service during my conlinenent (neither of which had been washed or months for fear they would fall to ieces, and leave me in a state of tv - as many uf niy feUow-priaonera ad been unmercifully left before) ; cap and a pair of simes made from a liece of an old army overcoat. This was 11 I possessed when I reached our lines latdreary winter day, and most of my omrades were similaily attired, Whal picture we would have made as we rawled into Wilniington ! Is it ■ not a ■onder that I am alive to teil the story o-day ? or that any of my associates are ill living? They are fast passingaway. f the flve who were discharged, and ame home with me, I alone remain. irice, Van Arnum, Vetter and Sehlanerer have since paseed away, uever to je heard fromagainuntil Gabriel sounds he Reyielle, and then, at least, we hope o receive our reward. When captured ten nionths previous weighed 162 pounds ; had kept on my eet till now ; not daring to look forward o the time when I should be free once nore; but never giving up the hope that ay would come- it liad come ; but whal as J ? a skeleton of ninety pounds in eight, completety broken down. Froin that time until March 18, 1866, '. remained there, a portion of each day leini.' totally oblivioos to everything lat was (?oing on. One day while coucions I applied for a furlough, and the octor said I should have one. It was jrought to me the followiug day, but ing out of my head, it was returned o the doctor's tent. On regaining sciousnesB I inquired of some of my aseociates aboat it, and the nurse told me I would probably ftnd it at hia (the doctor's) teut. I went there and eecured it. Just as I was ROing away with it 1 was met by the doctor, who asked me wbat 1 liad." I told him, and lie said I had better give it to him, as I could not poseibly live nx enougb to et home. I told him I lial ratherdie tryingto get lionie tluiii tu die there, and t hut I had the furlough and should niakc the attempt. He permitted me to do so. I arrived home onable to speak a loud word on the 2Oth of March, 1865, where bul my mother recognized me, and Bhe even looked ujion me as one risen lniin tin1 aeaa. ror six weena i nmeieu between life and death, the pbysiciana (and tliey were auch 08 Drs. Jewett, Palmer, Wells aud Woodraff) pronounced my case incurable, claiming I is Buffering From a "combination of diseascs." At the expiration of my 30 day furlongh, on the affldavlt of Dr. Wells "that I could not be removed from my bed,'' my furlough was extended. Shorüy afierward the doctors held a coneultation on my case, and canie to the conclusión that "quick c-i)neumpüon had set in and my day_s were limited." My father, who was in New York rity, was telegraplied to that "if he wanted to Bee me alive to come at once." time I fooled the doctors. I had iny folks send for a carriage, place me therein and take rae out to Judge Kingsley's, in the country. J diacarded all medicine; but dieted niyself on pure milk and ale, and although ] havemany oches and p:iins to reuaind me oí my prison days, 1 am still with you. I have changed my mind as to the tlieury that tlie government was right 'm regard to reiüsínjs the unjust claims oí the rebels in order to secure an exchange. When we ïeiiiember that ior the upwards oí 13,000 paroled by Grant at vicksburg, they released none change (al though most of the above nnmber were Boon mtheir ranka again . and tliat they would concede to uo general cartel of exchange, but were only willing to release those who were completely uselflss as soldiere, and only a imrden to our government, and demanded in exchange thereför able-bodied nwit, who were in better condition than the nien they had in the Held (au we know by having met a train-load oí thein just fi ono our lines). Whocan teil, if their claims had been conceded, anl all tlieir men returned t tbeui in exchange for the "wrecks" they had made of n who were unfortuuate enough to be in their bands, how many more men it would have been necessary to draftin the north? Huw dcb louter it would have taken Sherinan and Orant to inflict the fatal blow to their cause ? or how niany more men would have "bit the dust" on Southern oil ere this cruel war had eeased ? We jre satisfied ihat it was all for the best ihtertsts of the Union, aud our share in putUg down the relellion cannot be overf-stimated. For it is stated without contradiction, that Home 90,000 men died in rebel prisons, or shortly after leaving Ihe saine, which is more than was killed in the upwards of the two hundred batUes of the war of the rebellion. Ve have heard copperheads, or rebel tympathizers say tliat the southern prisionera in our northern prisons suffered as much as we did in the south. But iKey kne.w that statement wasfalse, if they had any knowledge of what they were talking about. I have never vet heard a ■tbel, whu had been a prisoner, say so, nor have I met a person who has. Fellow eomrailes, 1 have oeen asked by sonie to give a description of the tunnels we dug and relate our trials and snfferings in tryiug to escape, but I will only say, that nuuierous tunnels were started and Ioiiíí and weary honra in work were put in on the same. As said above, our tools for diggin;; were limited to a half canteen, a tin-cup or a píate. First, as a general tbing, the tunnel was started froin the "dug-out" or hole, whicli some comrade used for n Ikhhc. The excavation was dag deep enough to start with so as not to cause the eagleyes of the rehs to discover any sinking of the ground overhead, or to allow thein to reach it with the sharp-pointed iron rocls with which they went arouiul at times testing the ground wherever 1hey suspected any such thing was going on. Keliefs were fonned - sometimes two and sometimes four men working in the 'tunnel at one time. They were generally dag about three feet wide and four feet high, and the dirt was mostly depösited in the creek or in eome partly Bonken well in the nigbt, in order to keej) the "rebs" from discovering the same. Very few of those who got out of these tunnels (as far as we have learned) ever sueoeeded in reaching our lines, :is the prisons were located so far away fioni the front ; and all of the hard work ended, if the tunnel was completed and the "share-holders" ■jot away, in their being killed by the blood-thirsty hounds, (wno were generally put apon their track) or el&a recaptured, returned and iut in the stocks or buiig up by the timaros in the umin trate. The hanging by the thumbs was barbarmis enongh ; btit whatof the stocks? The dnngeon where the stocks were was ; twelve feel deep, below trround, the bottom being covered with oll boards- badly wörn. The Bides ere boarded up and slidea ma. Ie therein about twofeet trom the ground. In these sliiles when closed, were holes just large enOUgh tO hold a niau's ankle. Jnto holes the viclim's ankles were put, and he was compelled to He on the cold, iam] Hoor from ten days to two weeks, receiving a piece of combread and a lrink of water each day (when no( forgotten) as a penalty for what? Why.for Bimply trying to scape from al most certain death. But I now recall a tunnel that had another history. After some ten or twelve weeks of hard work in Florence prisoti, t waa known among a certain few that a tunnel was conpleted. It had been lugdeep enough and so carefully, that it was thought that none but thóse interewted knew anything about it. The point selected for its terminus - the further side of a big tree - had been reached, and in consequence, those interesied were resting, and only waitini; for night 1o come on so that they niight reap the fruits of tlieir labor. Before night ari'ived, however, we were somewhat anTioyed - not to say surprised - to see a body of "rebs" hended by an ofticer, come marching in with upades and sharp-pointed iron rods, and stop right over the spot where the tunnel was located. Jabbing then commenced with the rods, and aftersome time had been spent in persistent hilling we saw that the tunnel was discovered - although covcred with some four or five feet of (lirt - the "rebs" had succeeded in probing to it, and their rods now snnk to the bottom. TJie tunnel was mostlv filled up by them. AVe were now puzzied for some time to know hovy they knew of or located it. Th'is enigma was soon solved, for one of our men was missing. Nothing much was said, lmt a good deal of thinking was indulged iu, until one night, a few days after, this man was again turued into camp. He had expected an easy job outside for turning traitor and giving away his former friends, but instead was only rewarded by being kept outside tliose few days, given a haversack full of rations and Uien being returned to liis former confinement and the tender mercies of hit rienda f It was known shortly lifter his retara tbat he was inside again, and preparations were made to receive him. A pieceof an iron bale (or handle) to an ola pail was fouud, it was bent into the shape of a capital "T," and along toward eleven o'clock that same night lie was lmnted down, the "T" was heated to a red heat, and he was finally branded on the cheek so that henceforth he would be known as a traitor to our cause. Not half of the horrors of Audersonville and Florence have yet or ever will he told, nor in fact can they be clotlied in such langnage as one would care to relate theni in to a civilized world. Anything that could be swallowed was eaten by some, no matter bow niany times it had been swallowed before. The rage were taken from the body of a dead comrade before he was put on the "breadwagon" to be hauled to the dead-pile, and inmiediately transferred to the Imriies of the liviug, no matter of what disease tlie comrade might have died, I5ut enough of this for the present, as I leur 1 am wearying your patience. Eiaving used my old friend and comrade's name in the foregoiug without his consent, I deerued it no inore thau fair to sul)init the proof t the same to liim before making il public. Opon thinking the matter over I have decided he ia correct in regard to the name of the town referred to. The followinR is bis reolv : Howki.i.. Mioh ., Maroli, 6, 1S93. .J. lí. s.w'NKKi'.s, Aun Arbor, Mich. Dear Oomrade: - I have re;id over the proofa snit me, of your ten montha of prlson llfe, witli great Interest. i bave ieen lii to mark but one place in the aazne, to-w it : Qordonsvillei aa the place where they made the Bearch of our pereons; anc tvhere we camped on the baus of a small strcani as just out of Lynohburg. A you are giving your experience of that trying time for you and myseli.I prefer uot to make any chaugea in your sketch, ioasmucb is you bave bo kiudly assoclated me s your compauion nul chuxn in thost.' dreadfnl tlnys. WbAt you have aaid I knowTu be correct from personal knowledge. Dear Jila: The associatiou oí those montha of living misery and wretebednesa willforevcr remain stamped Indelibly upou our loemoriea untll our riiml "muster (Jiit " I know not liow it luis been with you, but in my dreama I bave been by your ide in that hole dup la the ground at Florence wlu'ir iresuffered together those panga of hunner and tlie tonnents of i'old, the daily remiuiers oí whieh stili liuger within our persons. I have often wished to know how you got alotjg after I left you at Florence and how you came Bnally intoour lines, but 1 know now that you were siniply tumed loose to make your wiiy to Wllmington. Will you klndly scjhI your "sketch" wheu you get it nrinted, that I may file it with other mementos of the war. The proof I now return to you, as I do not uuderstaud otherwisc. Witli kind regards to family, and self, I ain your comrade, Frank E. Lansing. Tliankiiii; you, comrades, for your kiiulness and patienc-e in tlms giving me your attention, I bid vou good night.

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Old News
Ann Arbor Courier