USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization. > Part 34
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with clothes that would help to prolong the lives of the wretched ones. So in time we got used to all the dreadful sights. Every one was so distrustful of another that no one would lend a cup or pan except, say to our own mess or to those who came in last. Our mess had a coffee pot, for when the rebs captured me I picked up the coffee pot and was allowed to keep it; and it answered a very good purpose. Also some of the boys retained a canteen. John Fitchpatrick came in with a blanket and canteen, and a few of the Third Iowa boys had some cups. So we managed to get along that way. Many of the men would eat their day's rations at once and then not one-quarter enough. Some would divide in two meals. Some would make three meals. Our mess would make at times one meal, but generally three meals; not that we had any more than enough for one mess.
THE RAIDERS.
Men became so hardened that it wasn't safe to lay anything down, and it was impossible to find out the guilty ones, more particularly among the old detachments. A short time before our lot came in six soldiers belonging to New York city were hung by the prisoners in the stockade. They were a lot of toughs from Sing Sing prison who were enlisted only to get out of the penitentiary. There was a secret band of a few hundred who could spot a soldier coming in and if he was supposed to have any money, blan- kets, etc., at night a lot of them would come over and rob him; or if he showed fight, kill him or any one who would help him. They were termed "raiders," and many a poor soldier had a razor drawn across his throat. So their word was either to get your throat cut or hand over, and they were gone. So strongly entrenched were they that a few couldn't do anything; and matters seemingly progressed to such an alarming extent that men be- gan making clubs out of their rations of wood for self-defense. At last it . was seen necessary to take the matter in hand. An organization was ef- fected with the assistance of the rebel officers who remarked that if mat- ters progressed that way long, they wouldn't have any Yanks left. The police force being organized, they received an extra ration. After that a charge on the raiders and a big fight. Lots of heads were smashed, the raiders arrested, the ringleaders given a trial, found guilty of murder and hung. It wound up the raiders. The police being kept on duty, there was a chance for a soldier to sleep without a razor drawn across his throat. Then a court was organized, judge appointed, and in case of theft a hun- dred lashes on the back, or buck and gag. By such means peace and good order were restored.
It was bad enough to be starving to death and shot at by guards without being murdered by one another. One night I felt very sick and wished for a drink. I had got half way to the branch when the cry of "raider, raider" went up and all started toward me, thinking, I suppose, I was one. So I
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dropped down where I was and the crowd went on. So I just stayed where I was till morning and let the water go.
NEWS OF EXCHANGE.
An occasional paper would come giving glaring accounts how the Yanks were getting defeated, Sherman's army being cut off and the Confederacy acknowledged by England, with lots of talk about exchange. The late prisoners would take in lots of the stuff, but the old prisoners were used to the rebel lies and said, when they could be in our lines then they could be- lieve in the exchange.
SICK CALL.
Every morning they would have a surgeon's call; at times though, they would miss a day or two and a sick soldier, if he had any one who would pack or help him to the gate, would receive medicine, which was simply sumack berries. At times the surgeon would fail to come, and there would be so many there that the sick would have to wait nearly all day ere they would be attended to. Many would die there. Some would be so sick that it would be useless to carry, them back; and as one place was as good as another for sick or well, the sick soldier would be left along the dead line to end his sufferings. The principal disease was scurvy, and men were lying around in all kinds of shapes, limbs much swollen with. blotches all over them and covered over with great sores with maggots in them, and the poor boys were unable to help themselves. In fact, no one could do any good; for no medicine would help. Lots of the boys lost all their teeth and gums dropped out of the head.
My gums being affected, I began to think our mess would be in as bad shape as the rest of the old prisoners if we stayed long enough. Many very heavy showers we had during the summer, and quite a number who were unable to sit up or stand on their feet were drowned and hardly a look of compassion cast upon them, as all had become habituated to such sights. It was "soldier, mind thyself." The Third Iowa boys aimed to be as agree- able as possible and our mess tried to live in each other's affections and formed resolutions that we would take care of one another. Many were the surmises in regard to our prospects for the winter, and we would settle down to the fact that if we were not out in October, we would be prisoners all winter.
FLANKING OUT FOR EXCHANGE.
Matters progressed in such manner till the first of September, when it was currently reported that at last we were to be exchanged. And what made the report look like truth was that the Macon Telegraph came into our prison yard with an article from one of our leading papers stating to the people of the world that the Federal government at last would exchange,
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and on the evening of September 21, orders were received for eighteen de- tachments to be ready to move out-about 3,000 men. Next morning the men began to move out, and glad were the hearts. Smiles were pictured upon the countenances of men who hadn't smiled for months or a year- lucky fellows! I wished I was with them and I would give all I ever ex- pected to have on earth if I could only go out with them. Such like ex- pressions were heard on every side. Some of the boys "flanked out," that is, found out the name of some soldier who had died that was on the list to go out, then answered to his name. The penalty for flankers was to be put in the stocks or bucked and gagged. The talk was all of exchange, and a great effort must be made to get out, for there was fear that the com- missioners would have a row. Our own General B. F. Butler got his full rations of cussings. The 3d Iowa boys were in the one hundred and seven- teenth detachment, and as they were commencing with the lower numbers we of course would be the last that would go out, and then before our time came there would be another row about exchange.
So we boys talked, "flank." Some would rather die at once than re- main in the stockade or "Bull pen," as we called it. The punishment seemed great for flanking yet we made up our minds it must be done. Sev- eral of the 3d boys flanked out on the evening of the 7th and on the even- ing of the II Gus Kendall was missing. So we knew he had tried it, and as we couldn't see him in the stocks, we thought him lucky Gus. Next even- ing Jim Trotter and myself concluded we would try the flank movement, and John Fitchpatrick and Joe, his brother, would try it the next night. Jess Dunn and Kime Aldridge would next evening attempt it. Before we started I had a talk with Lew Harris who was unable to sit up on his bed which was no more than the bare ground.
Soon the long looked for train arrived that was to carry the prisoners away, and many fears arose in my mind how we would make it, for it didn't look very comfortable to see the boys in the stocks and old Capt. Wirz cussing us all the time. Still we were bound to try to get out at all hazards. The thirty third detachment being ordered up, Jim and I fell in. It seemed so me my heart came up. Jim and I wanted, you might say, to embrace each other to think we were to be exchanged; and we were sorry that our other boys were not along. The officers at the gate remarked to the guards that if any flankers were discovered to run a bayonet through them! Well I felt "rather in spots," a common phrase of the soldier, but there was no detection as we passed beyond the stockade, and once more on open ground, we felt happy. We. were strongy guarded up to the de- pot, and the guards on the train were very courteous to us, wishing us a safe arrival to the Federal lines. We believed the guards really thought we were going to be exchanged. At last on board of the train, as we cast our eyes back, we thought we could never find a worse place, as John Fitch- patrick used to call it then the "American Bastile." We congratulated our-
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selves, and our fortunate "flank" rather made us blue that our other boys weren't along.
FROM ANDERSONVILLE TO FLORENCE.
On the night of the 12th one small ration was given us, a small piece of corn cob bread and an inch square of rotten bacon, which we got away with in short time. We were soon rolling out like so many hogs packed away in dirty cattle cars and guarded. The guards were on top of the cars. Some car doors were bolted and some had an inch of space left in the door. A few of the boys who had pen knives cut holes through the cars to let air and light in as we were nearly smothered, and numbers died. We had many stops on the way, and the citizens thought we were going to be exchanged. Some were very kind to us in words, but only a few could see them through the holes cut in the cars and cracks in the door. Arriving at Augusta, Georgia, we remained a few hours and then on to Columbia, S. C. Then we began to fear and doubt yet were not willing to run any risk; for we might be well enough for all we knew yet. Some of the boys had got a hole big enough cut through during the night to get out of, but few got away. If the shot failed to hit the escaping prisoner the train was stopped, the neighborhood was aroused with blood hounds and he was soon run down. Remaining at Columbia a short time, we soon were moving out again. We were told that our ships had failed to arrive at Pensacola, Florida, and we must be quiet on the train as it was not their fault, and lots more such stuff. What was our dismay to find out that we were to stay at Florence, S. C., a short time, so we were informed, to await our ships; and we began to realize that it was another prison instead of exchange.
FLORENCE AND NO RATIONS.
We were ordered off the cars and marched up to a field surrounded by swamps. Soon great droves of negroes were set to work with pick, shovel and axes; and the awful reality soon appeared that we were in for another pen. But it was a change from our former one, and so we consoled our- selves. The commander of our new prison seemed to be a fair good soldier and lamented so many being sent to him. In fact he was not expecting any company of our kind and he had no rations for any but his own men, which made rations look serious to us, for we had only drawn one day's rations on the cars and had been on them several days. So before we drew any rations we were pretty well starved out-some five days on a pint of corn meal: A great many died, just died before our eyes. Yet I must think our Major was a humane man, for he regretted it so much and sent negroes in all directions to hunt food for us. He had been a prisoner among the Federals and had just returned. He informed us that he had been used very well, and he would like to do all he could for us. It seemed
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to us he regretted how he was located. He had been in the regular army and had worn the United States uniform.
The night of the 15th passed slowly away, and most all could be seen meditating some plan of escape. Some were making clubs to fight their way out, as there was some timber on the place and the guards were the militia men. They were old boys and young boys. There were no old soldiers to guard us and no stockade. Yet quite a number died during the night. So many gave up all hope and just lay down and died. The night seemed bitter cold, as we were nearly naked. I had no shirt but an old piece of coat and Jim only a piece of shirt, and we were the only ones of Co. E, there, though a few of the 3d Iowa boys came in later. By constant walking Jim and I kept from perishing from cold. Morning dawned, but no rations. Climbing a tree I ate very freely of leaves, which made me feel quite sick. A few of the boys had some rings and some had a little pocket change which they had managed to hide when being searched and which helped them out, as they bought some corn from the guards at the rate of one dollar to two per ear. All day passed away and no rations; but late in the afternoon a load of corn meal hove in sight and it was with great difficulty that the starved boys could be kept away. Guards had to be doubled and then we had to be under organization as messes of one hundred in a mess. It was long after dark and by the time it was dealt out to us it was past midnight. A great many ate their meal raw. Jim and I managed to bake ours on a chip we found by some fire. The fire I had to cook our meal on nearly cost me my life. I took a rail off the fence against orders. An officer close by saw me and made a dive with his saber but I dodged and hung on to the rail. The boys crowded around and bothered the officer so that I got away and saved the rail too. But guards having orders to shoot the first one who laid hands on a rail, put an end to rails for fuel.
PLANNING ESCAPE.
Well, as we had been five days on just one day's ration of corn meal those that could stand up were in for fight or escape. That night Jim and I meditated escape the first chance we got, but we must keep together and, if need be, die together. We saw the necessity of getting out, for in a few days the stockade would be up and an all winter stay assured. The morning of the 17th dawned at last, and a lovely one it was. All nature shone out with its resplendent beauty and yet there we were incarcerated and treated like barbarians by people professing christianity and calling upon God to look down upon their cause as just and good. A general stir seemed to be getting up in camp. Some would be in for dashing on the guards and cutting our way out with fists and clubs, then cut the telegraph wire, seize the train, run as close as we could to Wilmington, N. C., then march to Newburn, N. C., which was the nearest point of our lines. It
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was hard to find a leader as all wanted a say; and we had spies among us, and soon we were given to understand our plans were known and prepared for. Yet some would dash away from the guards while going after water, but most all would be captured ere they had gone far. Others no doubt died in the swamps, as there were plenty of swamps around us.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE ESCAPE OF ROBERT CAMPBELL.
Captain Campbell's story of his imprisonment and escape, as begun in the preceding chapter, is continued as follows :
THE BREAK FOR LIBERTY.
The Major commanding gave the boys a chance to pick up rails and wood, and simultaneously a grand rush was made pell-mell over the guards and across the field, and as Jim Trotter and I had been watching all the morning for a favorable chance, we were not slow in rushing for freedom. So through the bush and into the swamps, meeting squads of our soldiers, some running while others were walking unable to run or move very fast! So many were affected by scurvy and starved nearly to death. Some picked up sticks to fight their way through, others to help them along. In passing through the corn field men would stop and fill up on green corn, eating blades like cattle, they were so hungry. Jim and myself only halted long enough to eat a few ears, then plunging into the swamp we were soon lost and at sea, for our desire was to get away from the rebs. While we were thinking which way to go, we heard a blood hound coming our way, so we ran up an inclined tree which had nearly fallen down, just as the hound passed by. The dog was on some other prisoner's track and we felt sorry for the poor fellow.
IN THE SWAMPS.
On consultation we thought Newbern, North Carolina, would be our point for escape and soon we were joined by two New York soldiers who wished to go along; yet we would rather be by ourselves; for the smaller the crowd the less liability of detection. But as they were so anxious to be with us, we concluded to travel together. All the weapons we had were an old case knife; and we had no masks, combs, matches or any guide what- ever. Our arrangement was that if we were captured by one or two per- sons, we would quietly submit and on a signal seize the guards, disarm them and tie them to trees or if necessary shoot them with their own guns, rather . than go back to die in prison. Our course as laid out was to strike the rail-
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road running to Wilmington, North Carolina, and at night to follow the line of railroad, crossing the various rivers which lay in our way. The rivers were large, and we were poor swimmers and poor in flesh. Jim could nevertheless make the swimming all right, but where one couldn't go the other didn't, was our feeling to one another-at least so far as Trotter and myself were concerned.
If on searching the east side of Cape Fear river we could get across the bridge, we would strike north; yet we were rather afraid that as there were so many Yankee prisoners escaped, all the bridges would be well guarded. Traveling all day in the swamp we reached at night, the road, and going on several miles we ran onto the trestle work leading across the Great Pedee river swamp. Not knowing what time a train would come along, we con- cluded to try it anyhow. When we had gone half way across the swamp we thought we heard the cars, and on looking down to the bottom of the trestle we saw we would have to jump some fifty feet or so or else let ourselves hang onto the braces of the bridge. Some of us boys thought we could lie between the ties, hang on with one leg over and the other down. But luckily no train came and we had our anxiety for naught.
RECAPTURED ON GREAT PEDEE BRIDGE.
Looking at the river, it seemed to be a large one, large enough for boats. We were thinking the bridge was guarded, and Trotter was the only one who could swim the river. Even at that we were afraid the river was full of alligators, and the night was cold and chilly. Proceeding cautiously along on the bridge one of the boys remarked that he thought he saw some one pass on the road on the opposite side of the bridge. So taking off our shoes -three of us had shoes-we went on making no noise. I took the lead, for I wanted to because the boys wanted to go back on some other road, swim or make a raft. They seemed to think it was certain capture to go on the bridge, which soon proved to be too true, so I requested the boys to keep back some distance, and if I was shot or taken their chances were better to get away. I had gone nearly across when three soldiers sprang out in front of us demanding a surrender. There was no other show: and as the other boys had followed close up to me, they also were prisoners. I felt rather bad about it, as it was my fault, our going on to the bridge. And then to think we were going to be prisoners perhaps all winter, starving to death- once I thought I would run and let them shoot me.
Being led off, we found ourselves in presence of a lieutenant who was in charge of the bridge. I took notice that we were on the east side of the Great Pedee river and that looked favorable and Jim and I began to think of escape. Our first salutation from the lieutenant was "Who in h-1 are you any how?" answering his own query with, "O d-m Yankees." I could see that he was no old soldier and took a dislike to him. He abused us by his tongue that we were d-m prisoners that had escaped and we would
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have a good time getting away from him. Our orders were to lie down, with the orders that for any attempt to escape or get on our feet we would be shot. So he left us in charge of a guard, remarking that he would have more fresh fish before long. Being taken to a chip fire we discovered ten "Yanks" some of whom had been captured like us in crossing the bridge and others while swimming the river. Some potatoes were handed us, for the guards were pretty good fellows. By morning our numbers were aug- mented to twenty prisoners, and we were taken half a mile off to a station house and locked in. By nine a. m. a piece of corn bread and meat was handed each of us, the guards still being good fellows. Lots of curious visitors came to take a look at us and most likely they thought we looked like other people.
COMPANIONS IN DISAPPOINTMENT.
One of the doors being left open, we discovered that we were on the bank of the river and near a ship yard, where a small gunboat was being built. We found that our guards were all militia who were hastily collected to guard us. During the day our numbers were increased to twenty nine and our guards were very kind to us wishing they had some extra clothing they could give us, and all being very desirous of the termination of the war and quite talkative. By four p. m. we had more corn bread and bacon, and were informed we would receive two meals a day. Our rations were short but so much better than at Andersonville. During the night we found an old piece of a saw in the building which had been overlooked, sawed a hole in the floor, and two very small boys got away ; but I never knew how they made it. After they got out of the building, some larger ones tried to get out, but the sills were too close to the ground and among roots while we had nothing to dig with. Near morning we were nearly chilled to death ; for the night was cold and raining, and we had no blankets and were half clad.
A BUMPTIOUS LIEUTENANT.
Morning appeared and Jim and I talked escape at the earliest moment. The guards had built a good fire outside and were all clustered around it except those on duty, who patroled around the building. This was a long one and was near a town or village named Marion, it having been the home of General Marion of Revolutionary fame. The lieutenant coming up re- marked we would be lucky if we should ground enough to cover us in a few days. Then we would not trouble him any more. Keeping up such talk all along he would add that he was a South Carolinian and he would capture old Billy Sherman himself. At that I laughed at him and told him a score of such men could not even look at him let alone taking him prisoner. How he did foam and swear running at me with his sword! I dodged under his arm and could have easily tripped him if I had dared. I walked off to the far end of the building, and he got calmed down and informed me I must
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not insult him any more or he would punish all of us. He passed out tell- ing his boys that he would hold them responsible for us.
ESCAPED AGAIN.
When the lieutenant had gone, the guards came and had a long talk with us boys. At the west end of the building which, as I said, was a long one and a depot for the railroad, was a door secured by an iron bolt. We took in the situation, so ate our rations and got ready to go out if we could spring the bolt. Some tried the bolt and when the guards would go around that way one of the boys would signal for to keep still, as he was by the door that was open then some would sing to drown the noise of the breaking of the bolt; and one Massachusetts soldier, being a fine singer, favored the Rebs with their "Bonnie Blue Flag" and "Dixie" and our own songs. They seemed to be well taken in with the music and all were huddled around the fire as it was raining and cold. A few of the boys got up a dance in front. Trotter had sat down on the floor leaning against the wall in a deep study and seemingly asleep, when the bolt broke, the boys began passing out for liberty and I made a spring for Jim Trotter. Ten "Yanks" had gone out by the time we came to the door and soon we were out into the woods brushing by the Yanks who had gone out but who were lame.
IN THE SWAMPS.
After halting a short time to see which way we were going, two more soldiers came, increasing our company to four. The day being cloudy we were at a loss to know which way to go, Trotter took the lead as he was the most expert of any of us in guiding and we soon ran into a lot of wood choppers. Hastily taking a right oblique and they not seeing us, we soon got out of that part of the Confederacy, but finding it impossible to travel on account of the cloudiness, we lay by in a swamp till late in the afternoon, when the sky clearing off, we struck out through the swamp. But we had gone only a short distance when it became cloudy again, and we just re- mained there all night. We climbed a small brushy tree and sat on a limb all night and a fearful one it was. Each of us got a club for protection, but nothing troubled us except millions of mosquitoes and the fact that we could hear all kinds of noises all night.
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