USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa; a record of organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 36
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We felt much relieved and had no desire to find Mareton's Station. So taking the swamp route for some distance we remained till morning. But we wished to leave that country as far and as quickly as possible, so we were soon moving out, but had gone only a short distance when we discovered horse tracks and saw cavalry away in the distance. We knew well enough it was the young woman that had put them on our track.
TWO KINDLY WIDOWS.
At dark we struck out again and as we came on the road we met an old lady. We tokt her who we were and she told us to come to the house and
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she would give us some food. She also gave us a great deal of informa- tion about the country, telling us her husband and son-in-law were killed three weeks before at Petersburg, Va. "There," she says, "is my daughter, whose husband and mine were taken away with handcuffs on." Both com- menced crying and saying they did not blame the Yankees, but the rich planters who were officers of the Confederacy." "Our men," they said, "told them they did not want to fight against the old flag." We felt very sad when they were telling us, and theirs, like others we had seen, was a sad case. While talking a cavalry man had ridden up to the gate and was talk- ing to the negroes. The old lady walked out to the door and as there was no closet to hide in and no way to get out without being seen we were ready to go under the bed if he should come in. She was asked if she had seen any Yankees that day, as it was known to be a fact that they were in the neighborhood not far away, plundering, destroying property, and enticing the negroes to run away. She told him she would send word if any should be seen. He says, "Keep a good look out" and with a good day the cavalry man dashed away down the road much to our relief.
FIFTY MILES FROM NEWBERN.
The woman who thus refreshed us and turned away the cavalrymen had a very savage bloodhound that wanted to eat us up, and she got him into a shed and tied him, and then fastened the door, so no one could get him out ; for we were afraid he would take our track. We were about leaving when we were informed that we were abont fifty miles from Newbern, North Carolina, and at the headwaters of the Trent river. It was quite dark and cloudy, and we had gone but a short distance ere we had to stop till morning; for we were afraid of running into some cavalry.
The night was very cold and chilly and a heavy frost was falling; but we were in rags, and Paddock was barefooted. I had a piece of a coat and no shirt. Trotter had a piece of a shirt and no coat. So we were pretty well frozen out as we had to keep rather quiet. When we could see in early morn we struck out, but could hardly get a move on us for an hour or so. We were on the north side of the Trent river, and Newbern was on the north side of the same river between it and the Neuse river. The day be- ing Sunday made it difficult to travel; for many were walking about, and we were in a thickly settled neighborhood. Also there seemed to be a church somewhere, and cavalry were continually passing on the roads sing- ing and shouting.
TOO CLOSE TO CHURCH.
We had made some ten miles when we came to a sudden halt, for in our direct course lay the road running from Newbern to Kingston; and we just had hid in a brush pile, not over thirty feet from the road when a squad of cavalry went dashing by. We stayed all day and saw many vehicles and
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people pass during that time. On close examination we discovered we were close to a church, but we had to remain in hiding as the timber was open. We could hear some portions of the sermon and there we were hungry and frozen, as the day was very chilly. Also Paddock's feet were bleeding all day, and we could hardly keep from going right up to the church and walk- ing right in among them. Trotter was some sick that day and his knees and mine were all bleeding, as we had taken turns in breaking the grass down ahead when we were in the swamp. My health was some better than the other boys, but my teeth and gums were swelling loose and I could pull them out with my fingers-take pieces of gums and pull out. We had parched corn and the ashes from the corn ate my mouth very badly.
Night came at last ; we struck out and cautiously going up to the road, no one was visible. We ran along and into the woods and had gone a mile off the road into a swamp when we found ourselves unable to go any farther. So we built a fire and roasted some corn and pumpkins which we had for- tunately found in crossing a field. Remaining here till morning, as we had a safe place we built a fire and lay by it all the night. But in the fall the nights were very cool, and as we had no blankets nor half clothing, we didn't sleep much. We were pleased to see daylight again and were on the move as soon as we could see.
PERSIMMONS AND POTATOES.
Coming to a potato patch and a large persimmon tree, we soon filled our haversack and had just gotten out of sight when the old planter came out of the house. We came near being discovered, for the patch and tree were close to the house. A mile or so on brought us to a melon patch, but the melons were mostly half ripe. Still. we filled up on them anyhow ; and dark still found us on the tramp. Finding out we were making slow prog- ress, we reconnoitered a log hut and found it was occupied by negroes. As soon as they learned we were Yankees they appeared very anxious to give us something to eat, and from them we gained a vast store of information. They told us where such and such a body of rebels was located, the loca- tion of the swamps and streams, also where there was a pack of hounds- for we dreaded the dogs more than the rebs, as we had no gun nor could we ever get hold of any, as the negroes were not allowed to have them. Our courage would at times give out and we must yet meet with disap- pointments.
LOST IN A BRIAR PATCHI.
We had gone but a short distance farther when we struck a briar thicket in our route and plunged into it hoping it would be a small patch. We found to our sorrow it was a large one, and we were so cut up and bleeding after working through for an hour that we were compelled to give it up and lie down. Thinking perhaps we should never get out, we started a fire
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WELCH SCHOOL, AMES
EFARCE -EAR
BEARDSHEAR SCHOOL. AMES
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and roasted our corn, and being safe from any visitors, wild or human, we slept very well. As soon as morn came we concluded we must try and get out. Soon the blood began to flow; for the briars were from the ground up to the top of the trees, which were low bushy ones. The briar vines we had to break with our hands to get along, by this time our clothes were nearly all torn off our bodies, and Paddock was without shoes. Sometimes we could crawl under the briars and then our hands and face beginning to swell, we thought we had got to our last camping ground, and no one would ever find out about us. To think we had made such efforts for the past weeks and then to perish in that briar field! So, holding council, we con- cluded to strike a south course, as we knew the wagon road couldn't be very far south of us, and the way we were going might be miles of briars. We had gone struggling for three or four hours, perhaps a mile, and came to a slight opening where we rested till night. As we were done up and the frost was falling very fast we made quite a fire although at great risk for the road could not be a great ways off. Remaining all night but with noth- ing to eat, morning came on and we were again on the move. Going half a mile further we came to a wood. As we could hear the rattle of carts we concluded to move southeast and the great trouble now was to keep a good distance from the road.
THE REBEL PICKET LINE.
After getting out of the briars and into the open woods we had to be careful to prevent discovery, as the road through the woods would take sonie crooked turns and we were liable to run onto it. We wanted to keep at a fair distance from the road, and we had a horror of the briar patches. Well, we took a rest and being so near Newbern, thought the danger was nearly over. We were much cheered up and talked of the good times we would have when we would reach our lines. An hour or so helped us so that we again struck out; but we had gone but a few steps when Trotter motioned for us, and down we went. Sure enough, not fifty yards from us were two cavalry men; but they were looking the other way. So we remained crouched down in the grass until the cavalry men went on, much to our relief. Then we again struck out, observing great caution ; for the signs indicated that there had been more than two rebels around.
Nothing more happened that day. however, and night found us very weak and faint. We had not eaten anything since the night before, and then it was only parched corn. So crawling up to a negro's cabin, they gave us corn bread and sweet potatoes and informed us where the picket lines were. The negroes told us that everyone knew about the three Yankees, and his master was after them, and we must be more on our guard than ever in going through the rebel picket line, which we much dreaded, as the chances were very good to be picked up. As near as we could find out, we were twenty-four miles from Newbern, North Carolina. That night we Vol. 1-21
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passed safely through the rebel lines. We could hear the pickets talk and sing, and one time we came nearly on a vidette post.
ON THE NEUTRAL GROUND.
Traveling on that day till late in the evening we met a boy with a cart and inquired how far it was to the Yankee lines. He informed us we were eleven miles from the Yankee and thirteen from the Rebel lines. He also told us he was a Union boy and his father was dead. His mother was a Union woman, and he hadn't seen any rebels or scouts for five or six days, or any Yankees either. Sometimes the Yankees would be at their house and sometimes the rebels. He told us he would bring us something to cat or else his mother would. So we remained concealed in the woods a short time, and the old lady came out and extended to us the hand of friendship. Then she passed to us a basket full of potatoes, bread, meat and vegetables. Our hearts were full of thankfulness to the good old soul, and we made up our minds there were lots of good people who loved the old flag yet in the south. Many were the kind words she and her boy had for us. The good father and husband had been taken to Salisbury, North Carolina, prison and had died there because he would not fire on the old flag. The tears had to come when the story was told us. Giving us a blessing-for she was a pious woman-and cautioning us how to proceed, she sent us on.
RECAPTURED BY SCOUTS.
We struck out from the house and going but a short distance through the woods we halted and concluded to take the road. Trotter's judgment was to keep in the woods, but I rather insisted on the road. Paddock didn't care much which way, it was so difficult to walk anyway and so near our lines. All 1 was afraid of was running on our pickets and getting shot by our own men, so I thought if we took the road, by midnight we would be in the Union lines. We talked about seeing the old flag again, our com- rades and friends. We couldn't feel any happier to think our people would look at us and what eating we would do, if we got the chance! Trotter said he would fill up on hardtack and coffee: Paddock said his father kept a meat market in Meriden, Connecticut. "Well." 1 says, "I'll go for the hardtack and coffee," when up sprang three rebels with the command. "halt !" and six revolvers were leveled at us.
"Hands up!" they said. We were completely ambushed. We couldn't speak when we were admonished to be prompt in giving answers or we would be shot. Such a feeling came over me to think that I was to blame for this, Hlad I given in to Jim Trotter we might have passed the rebels by. Now to be so close to liberty and yet to be captured and to go back to the pens and no exchange either. I didn't care much if they killed me or not. I told them in a few words what I thought about them and their
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confederacy, and I informed them that there were lots of boys up north yet to come. After some hot talk between us we informed the leader who we were. "Oh, yes," he said, "you are those d-n runaways whom we have been hunting the last six days; but now we have you and no danger of your getting away from us, but if you don't try to escape we will treat you well while we have you, for tomorrow will tell the tale whether you are spies or not."
By this time we had moved on some and there lay eight negroes all tied together with bark and the fourth rebel guarding them. The negroes were all lying on their backs, and just then the thought struck me if the negroes were only loose we might some of us get away; but looking into eight re- volvers, ourselves hardly able to stand on our feet, and the niggers all tied up, I soon gave up that plan, and saw that I must think of some other way.
IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS.
It seems that the scouts who captured us so near the Union lines had been after us for a week and had given us up. Having been close to our lines, they had on their return run onto the darkies who were running away and had then caught us. The command being given "about face" we went a mile and right past the good woman who so lately befriended us. We gave no sign of recognition nor did she. Otherwise the scouts might come back and burn her house. We had gone on a mile when we came to a house and were ordered into a yard. We could see no chance for a dash away. We had very good quarters and were told if we attempted to escape we would all be shot down without any ceremony. We had placed before us plenty of sweet potatoes and meat. I was set in the middle of the floor, Trotter in one corner and Paddock in another and the eight negroes in an- other corner and all tied up. The negroes were let loose one at a time to eat a potato.
For ourselves, if we had not been prisoners, we might have thought our- selves very lucky to have such warm quarters, for before us was a good fire and the night was cold and a heavy frost was falling. We had no chance for plotting an escape for we were strictly guarded ; the negroes were still tied together and the guards kept us all apart and would not let us talk any during the night to each other. My thoughts were to disarm them of any suspicion of escape. The scouts were very conversable, asking many questions, and by agreeing with them some in war matters, we made them think we were some sick of it and never would soldier again. In the talk we found out their names and all their exploits on our lines, taking in picket posts, escapes and runaway negroes. One of them, the leader, whose name was McConnell, knew quite a number of Company A Third Iowa. He had lived in Dubuque, Iowa. We tried to sleep some during the night, but were ever on the alert to escape before morning. My intention was if one of the guard went to sleep to seize one of his revolvers; but they were
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too awake for any movement of that kind. We dreaded the approach of morning for we had been informed during the night that we might have a march of eighteen miles to Kingston, North Carolina, and perhaps be chained or ironed down ; for that was the general doom of escapes, and we had become very well known through the Carolinas. Morning dawned and our captors were going to march us right off and eat breakfast at another house : but concluded to remain till after breakfast, which was going to be potatoes and meat for us. We were told we might go on the porch and take a wash, which might be our last one till we were exchanged. I had just washed, as also had Trotter and gone into the room, but Paddock was still on the porch and washing.
THE RESCUE.
At this moment the planter's boy ran up crying out, "The Yankees! Yankees are coming!" O if we were only ten feet away from our captors or out of sure range of their navies, we might yet be saved. Soon a re- volver was thrust against my head-as also with the other boys-and we were given to understand that the least attempt of escape would be instant death. Our orders were to move out the back way. By this time our cav- alry was slowly coming up, and just as we emerged from the back door our men saw us, and supposing we were all rebels, gave us a volley. In the excitement of the moment the attention of the scout being drawn from us to the cavalry, who were fast approaching us, I took advantage of the opportunity and dashed away. However, the scout fired the contents of one revolver at me; but in the excitement his shot failed of the mark ; for our cavalry were pouring the shot into us, too. My comrades were going through the same experience, and the excitement was great ; for the family were screaming and the house and outbuildings were being riddled with lead from our cavalry men, who supposed they had run into a nest of rebels. The rebels gained the wood or swamp and one who had me was shot in the shoukler.
FRIENDS HARD TO CONVINCE.
By this time our bluecoats got among us, and I was very happy that the rebels had gone. I had made up my mind I would rather get shot there than to go back; for I knew our men would know who we were if killed ; for 1 had some old letters on my person. Our cavalry, which was the Twelfth New York-or at least two companies of that regiment-seemed to be all Germans, and I thought for a while they would shoot us anyhow ; for they had sworn vengeance on all rebels, and we resembled rebels very much. Trotter's cap was a rebel one that had been given him when cap- tured in exchange for his black felt. and his coat was the old grey that the negroes gave him. Paddock, too, had on an okl gray jacket. and my coat being dusted and soiled very much, and our hair being very long and never combed, we looked much like the rebels.
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The cavalry abused us very much, so much that we told them what we thought of them. Their talk was they were going to pay us back for the suffering their boys had in Andersonville, and we could not make them believe we had been there. The captain told us to "trot along ;" and we had gone two miles, when we came to a house, and the cavalry halted long enough to confiscate four horses. The negroes were along; but they had not the severe time we had. By the time we were mounted the colonel and several officers came up and questioned us. He had more sense and was an American, and says: "Boys, you are all right." He told his men we had been abused by them and he extended his hand to all of us, remarking, "Now keep along and you will not again be captured, and we will have some better horses after awhile and saddles, too."
UNDER THE OLD FLAG.
Soon after the Colonel had really welcomed us under the old flag, the boys came up with crackers and bacon; and being Uncle Sam's rations, it tasted like old times when we had been with our regiment. But we were rather held in check for fear we would kill ourselves right there eating under the stars and stripes, though it would have been a happy death, com- pared with the place where some of our poor chums had died. Proceeding five miles and suddenly coming upon a rebel picket post our command cap- tured their horses; and taking a rest, the boys made coffee and had us wade in; for they were much pleased to take good care of us after abusing us so much when we were rescued by them. I drank two pint cupfuls right down ; but Trotter and Paddock seemed to be more cautious, and just as I was starting in on the third cupful Jim says, "Bob, you will kill your- self." Just then the trees began flying around the cavalrymen, and com- rades also were going with them, and I felt myself getting white and should have fallen if I hadn't been quickly caught ; but they threw canteens full of water in my face and I managed to keep my feet. But we all concluded the coffee had been too much for me, and I was feeling bad for several days after.
After mounting us with our prisoners captured on picket post, the Colonel told us to keep our eyes on the rebels for it was our time now. We chatted with the prisoners as we were riding along, and they were much pleased with the capture. Their case was different from ours; for with them capture brought a prospect of living, but with us a prospect of starva- tion. The command made no more captures that day ; but it was expected a wagon train would be passing by a certain road that afternoon, and it was the intention of the cavalry to capture it, the infantry cooperating from above Newbern. However, the enemy is supposed to have got posted and saved their train. So night found us dashing for camp and to us infantry who were half dead and emaciated and not used to a horse, it was pretty tough on us; but the thoughts of getting to Newbern, a place we had cen-
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tered all our hopes on for the past month or so, kept us from falling off and the boys rather kept a watch for us. Midnight found us at the camp of the cavalry (the Twelfth New York ) and when camp was announced there were three Union soldier prisoner boys along.
IN THE UNION CAMP.
The whole camp was up and we had to be picked off our horses and helped into a tent, where we lay down as miserable as we felt ; for we were so completely done up with the ride that when we saw the Union flag we could not keep the tears back. A good soldier supper was gotten ready for us, and a ration apiece of whiskey given. The troops there received two rations per day by order, for the yellow fever was raging in the city, and the camp of the soldiers was away out on the flank of the city. There were no soldiers in Newbern where people were reported two hundred dying every day. Next day we reported to provost marshal at Newbern. who seemed to take kindly to our case. He said that only twelve escapes had reached the Union lines during the past month, we thus making fifteen.
But we were now given a good dressing down, plenty of soap and clean water, good soldier rations and new clothes; and among friends we came to feel pretty good anyhow, even though we could hardly walk. Our quar- ters was in the basement and the marshal's office upstairs. We kept indoors pretty well, for the place was under quarantine and the negroes were kept drunk so they couldl bury the dead. It seemed to be the idea that they were safe if drunk as they piled the dead on carts. The most of the place was depopulated, there being nothing left but dead and drunken negroes. There were no soldiers in the place, but only provost marshal and ourselves. Not even was there shipping, for it was away out on the water some miles. At last we persuaded the provost to signal the tug to come after us; and in a few hours we parted from a first rate fellow wearing the blue.
ROANOKE ISLAND.
Landing at Roanoke Island, we found some of the Fifteenth Connecti- cut, who were first rate boys, and they stuffed and petted us very much. They had surrendered at Plymouth, North Carolina, when the rebel ram Albemarle came upon them and the land force in the rear ; but they were paroled in time. We started from Roanoke Island on a canal boat, which was loaded with rations, the hatches fastened down and a tug away ahead pulling us. By some mistake we were given no rations, and as we were day and night on the boat, we could not stand that. There were quite a number of soldiers besides us aboard going to Norfolk, Va .; so we pried the hatches up and filled up with rations, and put the hatches back. Just
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then we passed the rebel ram Albemarle. She was anchored out on Pam- lico sound and the railroad iron plating had been taken off.
PARTING WITH TROTTER AND PADDOCK.
Getting off at Norfolk, Va., we began to look at soldiers again, and forts, ships, and great guns mounted. But Jim Trotter took very sick and we eased him over on the sidewalk. He didn't know us, and we thought perhaps he was taking the yellow fever. I hastened to find some surgeon and found old General Wood, who informed me where the provost marshal was. He had Jim sent over to Portsmouth navy hospital, and I never saw him till the next April 25 at Raleigh, North Carolina. Paddock found a colonel who knew him, and so we separated, too. I have never met him since, but he was living a few years ago at Loon Lake, Jackson county, Minnesota.
So after I was by myself I felt pretty lonely, for every one was a stranger. I was sent to Baltimore, Maryland, and stayed at the hospital in Fort Federal Hill. I voted for Lincoln there and remained six weeks.
ANOTHER CLOSE CALL.
At the time of leaving I weighed 108 pounds. Receiving transportation for Columbus, Ohio, I laid out in camp there a few days and then went on to Chattanooga, Tennessee, put up on the way at the Zollicoffer House at Nashville, and left there for Chattanooga. As we were going out I could see the hustle of a big fight ; as the refugees were flying for the city, cav- alry and infantry were moving around and dust could be seen in all direc- tions away off. There were several very long trains all together, two en- gines on each, but no soldiers, and as they pulled heavy I knew they were loaded. I got down in the car I was on; the door was easily put aside, and the car was loaded with coffee. Just as we came to Murphreesboro the advance of Hood's cavalry let full drive into the last cars. Our train was the last one and we were just in time to save ourselves. That was the last train that passed over till Hood was busted up.
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