USA > Iowa > History of the Nineteenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry > Part 8
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HISTORY OF THE
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CHAPTER X.
A narrative of the escape from rebel prison at Shreve- port, La., on the 23d night of February, 1864, of John Cary, a member of the 94th Ills. Infantry, and Levi B. Cocklin and' L. Stone Hall, of Co. C, 19th Iowa Infantry.
When I had made upmy mind that I had staid with the rebels and endured their cruel treatment long enough, I sought for comrades those whom I knew to , be brave and resolute men, for I knew that such an acquisition was essentially necessary to success.
Two better men could not have been found in the service than were Cocklin and Cary. Cary was accus- tomed to frontier life, and could not be lost in any . swamp or forrest, when the sky was clear. Hence, in the organization of our party he was chosen guide. Cocklin and I were to procure food.
It was very necessary that our project should be kept secret, which was quite difficult, from the fact we had rations to get, and clothes to make and mend ; we were successful however, until a few hours before we left, when we commenced baking our corn dodgers, our associates guessed our intentions, and were very kind, rendering us material aid by'giving us their own rations.
At last all was ready and each hour seemed a day till we were on our way. It was hard to leave those brave fellows who had shared in common with us eve- ry hardship and privation of our prison life, and who
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were as anxious as ourselves to return to our lines. Many more would have attempted to escape if they had had clothes and shoes. Many of them sent mes- sages to their friends at home, which we gladly prom- ised to deliver if successful.
Finally, the sun sank behind the forrest pines, and ere its last flickering ray of light ceased to play upon the western sky, we had taken leave of our comrades (and received many a God bless you,) and were safely outside the guard line, and with a light heart and light- er step, we were rapidly widening the distance between us and our rebel guards.
It was half a mile or more to the timber; when we had reached it we halted to put on our shoes ; we had carried them in our hands to prevent any unnecessary noise. By this 'time the moon had risen, the stars shone soft and bright, and night's stillness!was broken only by the zephyrs as they played through those grand old pines. We were in high spirits at our suc- cessful beginning, and I think truly grateful to Him who had guided and guarded our steps. We decided to go south, and when it was necessary to change our course to bear to the west. After a moment's rest we moved cautiously forward, determined to go slowly and surely ; for hours we traveled undisturbed, avoid- ing every road and path that had been traveled lately. We were finally halted by an impassable swamp, and were obliged to retrace our steps for miles; this was not so elating as some things I might easily mention; we were prepared however, for such reverses, for we knew our road was a hard one to travel. A crossing place was finally found by wading. This was a cooler too. We must have traveled twenty-five miles before we camp-
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ed. O, how tired and sleepy we got; our five days rations bore heavily across our shoulders.
About three A. M. we stopped, made a bed of pine boughs and reposed upon it with glader hearts than we had possessed for months. In a few minutes each of us was sleeping quietly, and when I wakened it was nearly mid-day, the sun shone beautifully bright, the trees were peopled with many sweet songsters who seemed to congratulate us in our anticipations and hap- piness,-really, we felt happy. The air we breathed was pure,-there were no rebel guards standing around . with fixed bayonets, watching every motion,-neither were the sounds which greeted our ears those threats and curses which we had been obliged to listen to so long. We did not see hundreds of brave men half fed and clothed, living, or rather enduring an exis- tence almost hopeless, in want and filth. The change was perfect, the spell was sublime.
We kept quiet that day, neither moved about much nor spoke above a whisper, for we were near a resi -. dence. We were anxious to have night come so we could take up our line of march, for we dared not to ex- , pose ourselves through the day.
The two succeeding nights we got along finely, our path was in the rear of the plantations leading to Mansfield and Natchetoches. The fourth day from camp we ventured to travel some.
On the 28th, we were weather-bound, it became so cloudy we could not keep our course. We anticipated rain, and prepared for it as well as we could. We made a bed of leaves, over it stretched a blanket. For. two nights and one day we laid in our nest of leaves, during which time it rained constantly. Before the
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first morning the water was running under us. It was impossible to better our condition, unless we went to a house-this we determined not to do. So for over twenty-four hours we laid in the water, there not be- ing a dry thread on us. Truly I believe we suffered more during that time than we would, had the weather been cold enough to freeze us to death.
On the morning of the 30th it stopped raining, still it was cloudy, so we could not keep our course with . any certainty ; but we were so chilled and exhausted with cold, we had to exercise. About noon the sun shone clearly again. We made good time after that, and got along finely until our rations were gone. This gave us new anxiety, for we knew there was danger in stopping at houses; but we must have something to eat, and coming to a small farm house, Cocklin re- solved to go in, Cary and I were secreted in the brush, a few hundred yards distant from the house, and with anxious hearts waited his return. On entering the house he found the farmer and lady at home ; also a rebel officer who was stopping for the night with them. He made known his wants, which excited their curi- osity. So much that they asked him who he was, and where he was from. Cocklin saw that the officer was a shrewd fellow, and thought his best plan was to tell the truth. The officer told him that it was his duty to arrest him. Cocklin replied rather coolly that it might be his duty but that he might have some trouble in doing so. This did not intimidate Johnny any. So Cocklin appealed to his honor, and asked him to do by him as he would like to be done by, if he was in a like position. They discussed the matter nearly three hours, and Cocklin finally won his suit. The reb
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told him that he would not molest him, and that if he was arrested to make another as eloquent appeal as ho had to him and his captor would surely release him. The farmer said he would forfeit his life by giving him food, and that he dared not do it. The rebel said he would report him if he did. The lady had more courage and sympathy, and met C. at the gate with a dish of corn bread, meat and gravy and a bottle of syrup, and wished him well. Just then the officer came to the door and said, federal, I advise you as a friend to avoid all roads, for we have scouting parties ont all the time.
The hours seemed long, that we waited his return, for we were hungry, tired and anxious about his safety. And I knew when we saw his approach through the darkness and brush we were a happy set again. All the food he got would not make either of us feel satis- fied. Still we saved some for our breakfast.
Cocklin thought it not safe to stay there that night, and notwithstanding the rebel advised us not to, wo traveled in the road, for it was too dark to go in the woods, and the road ran in our course. We had not gone more than five miles when we discovered a camp fire ahead. We approached carefully, could hear no noise nor seo any one, yet we were afraid and tried.to go around it ; but the brush was so thick we gave it up and determined to keep the road. We discovered no one until opposite the fire, then we saw three con- federate soldiers asleep by it. We stepped lightly till out of hearing, then we left the road. After this, we - kept our Johnny friend's advice as long as we could.
. The next afternoon I tried my fortune at getting .food. Where I went in, I found a lady with half a dozen
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: or more children, yet so different were they from the poor whites generally in the South, that I will speak . . more particularly of them than I otherwise should. Their home was a cabin roughly made, and undaubed. A log fire-place occupied one end of the house, a rail fence enclosed it, and the whole appearance was that of hard times ; but during all my experience as a sol- dier, I saw no house and yard kept more tidy, nor a family more cleanly dressed ; everything was in per- fect order. I soon learned that the lady's husband was in the rebel service, and that she had not heard from him for over a year.
I told her I was a soldier and was going home, had got out of money and wanted something to eat. She gave me a good dinner of corn bread and bacon. While eating.it I told her I had a fine comb that I would like to trade her for bread and meat. She gave me two loaves and a nice piece of meat, so I went back to the boys feeling quite rich. On this we sub- sisted four days. The country through which we trav- eled was a most beautiful pinery, and the home of in- numerable droves of deer and other wild game; it was the divide between Red and Sabine Rivers. But we came to an end of this up-land the same day that our rations run out, and before us lay stretched out for 'a hundred miles the great swamps.
We were ignorant of this however, and spent half a day trying to cross. Several times we went out into these swamps until our only way of crossing was to jump from one root to another. We tried several times to find bottom by running a long pole down, but our search for it and a way across were equally use- ' less. At night we camped where we rested at noon,
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tired, hungry, and a little down in the mouth. It was not long till all were asleep, and I was at home in mother's buttery, eating custard pies. Was not that a sweet dream ?
We were rested some by morning, yet we were weak and faint. I felt alarmed when I looked into the faces of my comrades.
Our first business was to obtain food and find out where we were. We traveled several hours before we saw or heard any signs of civilization. Finally, we heard a cock crow, and went in that direction ; it led us out to a small plantation. We had avoided such places before, but this seemed our only chance. It was my turn to go in. I borrowed a rebel hat and blouse of Cocklin, expecting to pass myself for a Con- federate soldier, but as I entered the porch of the man- sion I heard some one cry out, "I'd like to know what you all is g'wan up in dar for? Looking back to the negro quarters, I saw a fat old wench, but thinking best not to mind her, I started for the door ; again she called as before. By this time a very old black-man came out of another cabin; I asked him if there were . any white folks about. He answered with all the digni. ty peculiar to their race: " No sar, I am de boss of dis plantation." I went to him and told him I wanted to go into his cabin and talk with him. I was anxious to keep out of sight, for we were on a road traveled a great deal by the Johnnies.
I found out in a few moments that they lived there alone. Their masters gave them their freedom when he died. I told my story and what I wanted. Their sympathy was gained and my parents could not have treated me more kindly than they did. The best
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they had was freely given. A warm breakfast was quickly perpared, and most assuredly I felt that it was good for me to be there. I told them of my comrades and they gave me a loaf of warm corn bread, some dried beef, sweet cake and molasses to take to them. I engaged too, two loaves of bread, more beef and a lot of parched corn to carry along.
I found the boys very anxious about me; I had been gone a good while, but when I opened my haversack their fears quickly subsided. Twas a satisfaction to see those brave fellows eat. New hope inspired them when I told them I had found friends, and had en- gaged food to carry along sufficient for two days.
After breakfast, we moved up nearer the house to a safer place, then I went in again and got the old ne- gro to come out 'and tell us about the country. He said we were within thirteen miles of Chainyville, that we would have to wait till night and travel in the road, for the swamp was impassable. We had been through Chainyville, on our way to Tyler, and knew the coun- try to be very swampy, so we followed the old man's advice and laid by till night. The negro had seen Gen. Banks, and gave us a good deal of information about his movements in those parts.
As soon as it was dark we pursued our course; but not without an opportunity of using all the caution and judgment we possessed. We had not gone far till we rar on to a rebel commissary train. To turn back we thought would expose us more than to boldly go ahead. I don't think we were seen by the men; but we met a lady a few rods beyond the train, and in a few minutes after we heard the hounds baying like so many wolves. We thought she had reported us, and 20
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that the hounds were on our track. If boys ever made good time we did for about five miles. About 3 o'clock, A. M., we turned off into the swamps and laid low during the day. The next night we had gone but a short distance when we discovered a large camp fire right on our road. We went near enough to hear them talk and laugh, then went around the camp, coming back into the road again between the camp and the picket post. We did not discover our condi- tion until within a few yards of the picket fire. Our only chance was to turn into the brush again, and a serions time we had. The Palmetto was as high as our shoulders, and woven together by briars. We came the nearest getting lost here that we ever did.
Before morning we came to another camp. The fires extended for miles, or as far as we could see. Again we had to leave the road. After this we thought it safer to leave the roads and travel in the swamps by daylight. This was rough; but we preferred the company of Aligators and serpents to traitors.
Again we were out of rations. We were in a set- tlement of French, Indians and Creoles, and it was useless to try to get anything of them-it was two days before we obained anything-then we got corn only, and a less resolute man than C. would not have got that. That afternoon we came out to a very large plantation, and secreted ourselves as near the mansion and quarters as possible. After night C. went into the quarters and tried to get something of the negroes. They were frightened and told him they had nothing for him, and he had better leave, for the overseer came around twice every night to see if all was quiet. He inquired for corn. They told him it was all locked up
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and that there were cross dogs about and he could not get any. He succeeded in getting to the cribs and in getting some corn. He brought fifteen ears, and that was all we had for nine days save a wild duck, which we ate raw and without salt.
Our march through the swamps was very tedious- 'in water most of the time from, ankle to waist deep, yet we felt safe. We could not be tracked even by dogs. It was a good time to think of home and its comforts when we had marched hard all day on corn, and had lain down by some muddy bayou for the night which was full of alligators, who sung bass in the grand requium discoursed to us nightly by a host of mo- squitoes. We came to the Atchafalva river in the morning, and were delayed till night before we dared to attempt to cross. Then we made a raft of logs bound together with vines, and at the still hour of mid- night we paddled in safety to the opposite shore.
The following day, ( Sunday, March 13th,) we ar- rived at the old channel of the Mississippi, and felt that we had got most home, not knowing that there were two channels, and that the other one was navi- gated almost exclusively. You can imagine our disappointment when we had waited in vain two long cold and dreary days and nights for a boat to res- cue us from our danger and suffering. We could hear the whistle of boats, even see the smoke, and yet none came our way. We suffered most intensely with cold and hunger, and during our waiting here, we eat a raw duck. We tried to kindle a fire by rubbing two pieces of wood together, and succeeded in making a smoke, but were so nearly exhausted that our strength failed us every time before the wood ignited. Tuesday
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night we got so weak we dared not go longer without food and fire. We dreaded to go to a house, for there was more danger here than in any place on our march, and to be recaptured in sight of the " promised land " we should have dreaded almost like death, yet there seemed no choice for us. It was my turn to go in, and I assure you that it was with a good many misgivings that I approached the house of an old planter and entered and made known my wants. I found Mr. S- and his lady sitting by a bright pine-knot fire. I thought of passing myself for a rebel but when I asked for food he looked at me with a keen, searching eye that seemed to read my character, and to try to deceive him seemed like foolishness. So, when he asked me who I was I told I was a Federal soldier, had been taken prisoner and was making my escape, and hoped he would favor me. He gave me a seat at the fire, and after questioning me to his satisfac- tion, told me he would do me no harm. His kind- hearted lady had ordered the servants to get me sup- per, and I began to feel quite at ease. After learning where I was from, he says: " Stranger you have not come all this way alone, and where are your com- rades ?"
I avoided answering till he told me he was neutral on the war question, and that if I had any friends to bring them in and we should all have supper; then he would direct us to a gunboat lying within a mile and a half of there. Again he promised us no harm. I could ask no more, and went to the boys, who were hid in the brush, and told them our prospects.
We had been seated around the fire but a few min- utes, when some one hallooed outside at the gate. Mr.
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S. went out and we thought at first that we were trap- ed and were about to go out the back door when he came in and said there were three rebel soldiers come to stay all night, and we must go into the back yard and wait till he brought them into the house, then he would come to us again. We did as he said, and in due time we were eating a good supper in one of the negro quarters, and the lady waited on us. God bless her, is my prayer. When we had demolished all the corn bread and bacon cooked, we called for Mr. S. again. She told one of the servants to go in and tell master that misses wants to see him. He came and told us to go one at a time to his shop several rods from the house and he would meet us there. We did so, and had not long to wait his arrival. His first words were, "Boys you are all right now."
He was anxious to talk with us; told how he had been treated by the rebels, said he could take the oath of allegiance any day, but he would not until his pro- perty could be protected ; told us of men who had taken the oath and were daily aiding the rebels. We found out too that those men who came to stay with him belonged to Gen. Lee's army, and had come to cross the river that night on a secret ferry, but the gun- boat was so near they could not, and were waiting a better opportunity. We learned also the man's name who ran the ferry, and that he had taken the oath of allegiance.
Mr. S.'s plantation extended to the river, and he had a wood yard there and a house for his overscer that was unoccupied. He advised us to stay there till morning. We did so, and shortly after day-light we saw our boat. Cary fastened his coat to a pole and
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·signaled to it. We waited but a few minutes till we saw a cutter lowered and an armed crew coming for us. I will not try to describe our feelings as we steped on the deck of that " Linkcum gunboat." Once more we were free !
Had we been at home we could not have been treated more kindly than we were by those brave officers and men. No pains were spared to make us comfortable. Breakfast was quickly prepared, and you may believe we relished Uncle Sam's coffee and hard tack.
After breakfast we were invited into the cabin and asked to tell of our prison life and escape. While do- ing so we were loaded down with the best of cloth- ing. I presume what they gave us was worth two hundred dollars.
All those who have been prisoners of war can ap- preciate our feelings when we had washed and dressed in clean, good clothes.
As soon as we were ready, paper was given us to write home. After we were through writing, Captain Morgan invited us into his own room, and we told him of these men who wanted to cross the ferry ; and who it was that ran the ferry. He could hardly believe it. He said that man had been on his boat several times, and they had let him have coffee, sugar and flour, &c. That night they captured the Johnny's boat and were so near upon them that they left all they had with the boat. They got a large mail, a large trunk full of officers' clothing, a nice buggy and revolver. The next morn- ing -they went ashore and captured the ferrymen. There were three of them, and one was the man Mr. S. named. We were twenty-two days making our es- . cape, and traveled four hundred miles. Came to the
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Mississippi about half way between Morganzia and the mouth of Red river on the 16th day of March. We joined our regiments at Brownsville, Texas, April 15th, feeling well and as if we were at home again.
The following is from a narrative furnished by Ab- ner B. Power, of Company "C:"
"On the night of the 19th of February, 1864, he in company with one Wm. T. Lyons, who professed to belong to the 2nd Kansas cavalry, escaped from the . camp near Shreveport, having stinted themselve to the utmost for some time to lay in sufficient provisions. They traveled every night, and lay concealed each day till the 22nd. Near morning, about 2 o'clock, A. M., they heard the baying of hounds on their track, and being closely pressed, went to the nearest stable, taking out a horse apiece ; but could still hear the dogs till after dark the 22nd, when they out traveled them and heard them no more. The night of the 24th, having ridden from the time they had taken the horses, without sleep. They lay down, and on awak- ing the horses were gone, no trace of them being found.
Continuing their journey, a foot they presently came to a place where Lyons had once lived, and stayed there several days enjoying clandestinely the hospitality of the people. One night the rebel soldiers had a party in the vicinity, and whilst basking in the smiles of Dixie's daughters, our two heroes entered the stable yard, selected the two finest animals and rode away through the darkness. The rain began falling and froze as it fell. They lost the road, and riding through the dense brush for hours, they got sleepy and would
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ride along in a half unconscious state when a sleet-cov. ered limb stark and cold would rake across their faces, bringing them back to rain and cold. They rode hard for many days, not keeping in any direct course long enough to reach our lines. Power and Lyons parted company; as it turned out Lyons had never be- longed to our army.
Power continued his travels alone, sometimes a foot sometimes horseback, till the 24th of March, being hard pressed by the hounds and his horse giving out, he was overtaken by the man hunters and returned to camp Ford, Texas, whither the prisoners had been taken during the time he was running at large. The guards that caught him did not ill-treat him in any way, and Power was exchanged with the regiment, July 22d, 1864.
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CHAPTER XI.
The 14th of August 1864, our regiment, except the three companies at Brazos, went aboard the small gulf steamer Josephine, and after a smooth and pleasant ride landed at Fort Barrancas, Fla., which is just inside." the entrance of Pensacola Bay. Opposite the heavy gray-stone battlements of Pickens, frowned in sullen loneliness, and for miles around us were swamps filled with trees from the limbs of which swung thousands of pendant vines, evergreens and mosses,-the moss ever present in the south known as Spanish Moss or. Death's Banner, hangs flaunting in the shade, while . life and death seem locked in close embrace, as gor- geous-hned, budding flowers spring from the rotting debris of former vegetation.
Here, our camp was near the beach and in the white sand. Gen. Asboth was in command of the District of West Florida, afterward Gen. Joseph Bailey, who was breveted for building the Red River Dam, and afterward, Gen. McKean of Iowa.
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