USA > Maine > The sword of honor; a story of the civil war > Part 2
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Oct. 5. Without an hour's notice we started on
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the So. Ga. R. R., for Columbia, arriving at that city at twelve, midnight; distance from Charleston 120 miles. We regret the last change for we were better sheltered in this last city, Charleston, notwithstand- ing the exposure to the guns of Foster, than in any . other point inside the Confederacy. Yellow Jack was said to be the cause of our removal, as it was taking off many of the guard that surrounded our places of confinement.
Oct. 6. Placed in an open field and kept in the burning sun all day without shelter of any kind; no rations of any sort given us for the past twenty-four hours. Toward night it commenced raining and continued thoughout the night, and we prisoners, without any protection, without blankets or coats, passed a sleepless and most miserable night.
Oct. 7. Early this morning we were given a small piece of bread, and then marched two miles from the city and left in an open field, without a tent or even a tree for protection from rain, sun or weather. This is not Charleston by any means
Oct. 8. Last night I suffered more from the cold than ever before in a single night, the frost being very heavy and the ground, our only bed, very cold and damp. Such inhumanity on the part of the authori- ties that have us in charge is uncalled for, for there are plenty of vacant buildings in Columbia that could shelter us until some arrangements could be made to provide us with tents or axes, so we might provide for ourselves, as a growth of pine trees is quite near our present camp. .
Oct. 9. Passed fearfully cold night without shelter. Although in the early mouths of the fall, yet we have
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frost. Had axes given us today, four for each 100 men, and think we will have some kind of shelter before another night.
Oct. 10. Passed a the night more comfortably, as our tent of pine boughs keeps off the cold very well.
Oct. 17. We had an election in camp today for President, and out of the 1.161 votes cast, Lincoln received 889 ot those polled, Mcclellan stock being very unpopular. This result was very much of a sur- prise to the prison authorities who supposed the camp was strong for McClellan, and said, before we had balloted, they would print in the Columbia papers the vote as it was taken; but when they learned the result, they refused to have anything to do with it.
Oct. 19. Camp alarmed; guards firing all along the line on account of some of our men trying to es- cape. Hounds put on their track and they were soon recaptured and brought back to camp.
Oct. 21. Lieut. Young, 4th Penn. Cavalry, acci- dentally shot by some of the new issue; died at once.
Oct. 26. Some of our officers in attempting to es- cape last night were fired on by the guard, doing them no injury, but they shot one of their own men dead on his beat. Hope to take the chance of escap- ing myself before long. Might as well be shot in attempting an escape as to die from exposure and lack of sufficient food. One of our officers shot fatally last night while attempting to escape.
Nov. 7. Thirteen officers who had some days be- fore succeeded in getting by the guard at night, were recaptured; every white man in the country is hunt- ing rebel deserters or escaping Yankee prisoners.
Nov. 9. Twenty-one officers recaptured and
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brought back to camp, but believe if I once get out- side the rebel guard, will be successful in reaching our lines either at the coast or at Knoxville, Tenn., 500 miles distant.
Nov. 12. Received box from home, but most of its contents had been confiscated by the prison au- thorities before it was delivered to me.
Nov. 20. Another one of our men shot last night while trying to run the guard.
Nov. 21. Last night three officers, Lieuts. Ander- son and Gilman of my regiment, and Lieut. Childs of the 16th Maine, also myself, made a break for liberty and God's Country by running down the guard. Had him helpless and at our mercy; the balance of the guard fired upon us, but in the darkness and con- fusion of the moment did not do us any bodily harm ; we ran for the woods as fast as possible.
CHAPTER III.
It was in the midst of a severe rain storm that we broke camp. The night, of pitchy darkness, was all the better for our project. We had no stars for guides, no compasses, so had to go it blind. We only knew that Knoxville lay in a northwesterly direction from Columbia. Our aim was to travel as nearly in that course as possible ; so we struck out for all we were worth, wishing to put as much distance as possible between us and prison camp before morning. We traveled in the woods the entire night what seemed to us twenty miles, and about daylight lay down in the woods to rest and get some sleep. We had slept perhaps an hour, when we were awakened by the sound of drums beating ; we were upon our feet in an instant, and as soon as we could get our scattered ideas together, found to our surprise and horror that we were listening to the rebel reveille at our prison camp at Columbia, and instead of being miles away from that hated spot, we were within one-half mile of its grounds. In the darkness of the night, without anything for a guide or landmark, we had been travel- ing in a circle. We now knew it would only be good luck and kind fortune that would prevent us sleeping the next night in prison camp. We lay in the woods all that day and at night started again, as we hoped
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in the right direction. But it was still raining, with not a star to be seen. Toward morning we struck the Saluda river, and determined to follow that stream for a guide until we could find something better. We traveled all that day and at dusk ran into a planta- tion by accident, and before we could retreat, started. the hounds. Soon a pack of these man-hunters were after us. We ran as we never did before. It would have been a short race for us if it had not been for the river. We made for that, plunged into its icy waters and were, for the time, safe so far as the dogs were concerned. Slept in the woods for a few hours in our wet clothes until the moon arose, for the weather at last had cleared; we then took the main road to Lexington Court House.
Nov. 23. Struck the river again this morning. We have not found the proper road as yet, or one that leads in the right direction. Came very near being captured by running on some white men, but we saw them first, concealed ourselves, and escaped.
Have had nothing to eat for the past twenty-four hour but dry corn which we found in the fields. Must find some trusty negro who will feed us and put us on the right road. At night we approached a negro cabin for the first time; we did it with fear and trembling, but we must have food and help. Found a family of trusty negroes belonging to Colonel Boozier, who gave us a good supper, such as we had not had for many long months. We did full justice to it, for we were almost famished. Here we re-
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mained till nearly morning, when we were taken to the woods and hid there to wait for a guide these negroes say they will furnish at dark. Distance made the past twenty-four hours, twenty-five miles.
Nov. 24. Still in the woods. The women came twice during the day to bring us food and inform us that a guide will be ready at dark. God bless the poor slaves. At dark one of the slaves, Frank, took us seven miles, flanking Lexington Court House, striking the Augusta road five miles above. Traveled all night, making about twenty-two miles.
Nov. 25. Lay in the woods all day, and at night went to Wm. Ford's plantation to get something to eat. The negroes could not do enough for us, supply- ing us generously with food.
Nov. 26. Remained in a corn house during the day, the blacks bringing us plenty of food. At night our guide informed us that he could not take the road with us until the following night, so we are obliged to wait one day longer; but it may be as well, for the negroes report that Sherman is nearing Augusta. If so we may attempt to strike his army rather than continue our long tramp to Knoxvill, Tenn.
Nov. 27. Still at Ford's plantation, where we are kept secreted during the day, but at night go to the negro cabins where we are plentifully fed.
Eleven officers who escaped from Columbia the day after we did, joined our party. We are to get horses and arms if possible and make a bold push for Ten- nessee.
Nov. 28. Still at Ford's. The party that joined us yesterday have given up the idea of attempting a bold move on Tennessee. About midnight we got a
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guide by the name of Bob to take us seven miles on. the Edgfield road, as the Augusta State road is too public to travel.
We were turned over by Bob to a guide by the- name of George, who hid us in the woods.
Nov. 29. George brought us food during the day, and promised to get us a guide for the night. At dark went to the negro quarters, where a nice chicken supper was waiting us. This is on the Lee planta- tion, the owner, (an officer in the Confiderate armny),. now at home on sick leave. Could not get a guide,. so were taken to the woods and hidden.
Nov. 30. George came to us in the morning with. a warm breakfast which was greatly appreciated, after lying in the cold woods all night without any protection and scantily clothed. At night went again to the cabin where another chicken supper was wait- ing us. This kind of living is in marked contrast with our prison fare for the past seven months; and if we were not in constant dread of recapture, and disheartened at making such slow progress toward our lines, we should think we were not very badly off.
Dec. 1. Just comfortable for a winter's day. At night after eating the usual diet of chicken, Peter, our guide, told us he was ready for the road. Went about twelve miles, when Joe took us in charge and Peter started for home again. Were then hidden in the woods for the day.
Dec. 2. As soon as it was daylight the negroes on this place commenced coming to where we were hidden, all having something for us in the way of food; they also promise us a guide for the night. If
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such kindness will not make one an abolitionist, then his heart must be of stone. This is on the Matthews place. At dark we were taken to the widow Hardy's plantation, where chickens, etc., were served for our supper. Here Jim took us eight miles, and then gave us into the care of Arthur, who, after going with us fifteen miles, gave us to Vance, who hid us in the woods. At dark Vance brought us more chickens for our evening meal, then started on the road with us going eight miles, then Charles took us, going five miles; then David took us four miles, giving us into the care of Hanson, who took us a short distance and lett us at the plantation of Preston Brooks ( late U. S. Senator from South Carolina.) Distance made during the night about twenty miles. This plantation is located at a place called 96, and is one of the best- equipped and most extensive places we have yet come across. Here one of Brooks' negroes who goes by the name of Russel, took us in charge; his first work was to hide us in the woods, or rather a pine thicket too near the widow's house for absolute safety.
Dec. 4. Early this morning the slaves brought us a nice breakfast, for everything is in first-class con- dition on this place, which does not seem to have felt the effects of the war as much as the rest of the coun- try we have passed through. We are now less than one-eighth mile from the Brooks homestead, where the widow and her children live: three daughters and one son, who no doubt would like to hang us "North- ern Mud Sills," as their late father was wont to call us, if they only knew how near we are to them.
We very well know their feelings toward us of the North from the cowardly assault of the husband
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and father, Preston S. Brooks, upon the person of Charles Sumner, in the halls of Congress just before. the war, a war which has not improved or sweetened their disposition. The day being Sunday the family are going to church and the Brooks house servant,. who has been in the woods to see us, has promised to show us the identical cane that Brooks used upon the uncovered and defenceless head of our senator. After the family were out of the house this woman brought a wash leather sack into the thicket for our. examination. The cane originally was a large rose- wood stick with a massive gold head and on its face was this inscription : "Hon. P. S. Brooks from B. D. Vick." Must have been a presentation cane from some admirer of this Southerner.
The stick was broken in three pieces, used up on the head of Summer, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. My great desire was to take this cane away with me, and I so expressed myself, but the servant protested with so much earnestness that I gave up the idea. She said the house was left in her charge, and if this cane were missed, which it certainly would be, she would be called upon to produce it or satisfactorily explain its absence. We were entirely helpless without the assistance of these poor ignorant negroes, for we were dependent upon them for food, shelter and guides; and it was in- cumbent upon us not to make them any unnecessary.
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trouble when they were risking so much for us; for that reason alone this cane is still at 96, South Carolina, instead of in the hands of some of Sumner's personal friends in Massachusetts who would appre- ciate it as a memento and relic of these troublesome times which ended in the freedom of these same slaves.
At this time it was quite cold, ice forming every night; and as we escaped from prison with only what we stood in, and not much of that, we grate- fully received from the negroes valuable additions to our worldly possessions, each one of us & warm comfortable, more precious than gold or all the canes in the South, a pair of pants, a pair of socks, a pair of knit gloves, and food in abundance. I think a good portion of the entire donation must have come from the Brooks' house rather than the negro quarters, but as beggars should not be choosers, and as the end justifies the means, we asked no questions, but willingly and thankfully received this Godsend to us in our destitute and almost naked condition.
At night we bade goodbye to the Brooks plantation and its most loyal servants. Every mile we ad- vanced toward our journey's end, Tennessee, the stronger was our regard for the poor blacks; for the feeding or assisting an escaping Federal Soldier was the promise of 100 lashes, well laid on. And know- ing this would certainly follow, they never failed to
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L Cel. 1't the Bath.
CALVIN S. BROWN Lieut .- Colonel First Battalion Maine Infantry.
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meet us with full hands and willing hearts, and even after their hard day's work, they were never too weary to guide us on our journey to places of safety ; (within eight months, I was able to return some of the many favors given by these faithful negroes). That night we made no progress; we were simply taken three miles up the road and left in a better place of security, as it was not possible to find a guide.
Dec. 5. At dark we were taken four miles, by a darkey named Dan, and soon found we were going in the wrong direction. We retraced our steps, got another guide who took us to Colonel Frazier's. Distance in right direction about ten miles. During the night crossed the railroad above 96, and here Ned took us in charge. The boys on this place were good foragers, for while with them we lived on the fat of the land.
Dec. 6. At dark, two of the Frazier servants took us eighteen miles, and then gave us into the hands of Ben and Harrison, who took tis to Henry Jones' place. Just before we arrived at this plantation it commenced raining, and we got as wet as if thrown into the Saluda river. Here we were put in a negro cabin with a fire and bed at our disposal, and we took advantage of both.
Dec. 7. Our breakfast was bacon and eggs and pea coffee, also a good dinner with negroes to watch the cabin during the day to see that we were not sur- prised and captured; best place we have yet struck, not excepting the Brooks plantation. At night
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Honry took us to Elijah Waters', he in turn to Sam Jones,' who went five miles, and gave us into the keeping of Andrew who hid us in the woods for the balance of the night.
Dec. 8. Nice breakfast of chicken, wheat bread and preserves. At dark after taking a warm supper, Ned took us six miles, giving us to John Wesley, who after going eleven miles, turned us over to Sandy Latimore, who went three miles; he gave us to Balus, who went six miles, and finally left us with Sam Matterson who hid us in the woods. During that night, we traveled twenty-five miles with four different guides.
Dec. 9. It soon began to snow. Our guide came for us and hid us for the day in a negro cabin. At night some negroes came six miles through the storm to bring us food. We are gaining in strength and weight, for we are eating most of the time when we are not on the road tramping. The snow being deep it is not safe to travel tonight, so we are hidden in a fodder barn.
Dec. 10. This morning two poor runaway slaves, brother and sister, came to see us. They are living in the woods to keep out of the way of their master, and are suffering much from exposure this cold and wet weather. They think because we are from the North we can help them; but we are in as bad if not a worse condition than themselves, as the slightest carelessness or accident may throw us into the hands of the enemy, which is every white face in the South. We sympathize with them in their terrible situation, yet we can do nothing to relieve them. It has con- tinued raining and snowing and we are very fortunate
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to have even this fodder barn for shelter; yet it is feartully cold as the corn stalks do not keep us warm.
Dec. 11. Emmanuel came to see us last night and said it was not safe to travel as the snow would prove an enemy, so we keep hidden and wait for the . weather to clear.
Dec. 12. Last night we almost froze, and had we been on the tramp, think we should have perished with the cold. Even in this fodder barn the drinking water in our pail froze almost solid in twelve hours. But we must start tonight, cold or not. Another chicken supper, and at 10 o'clock we took the road, taking nineteen miles before daylight. Tough on our poorly shod feet; as it was snow, ice and water every foot that we traveled; but each mile, although marched in pain and discomfort, brings us nearer the Union lines and God's Country.
Dec. 13. We lay in the woods all day. Last night was the first time we have attempted to travel without a guide. Passed through Pickensville and at this point took the wrong road. Instead of taking the Pumpkintown road, by mistake we took the Pickens Court House road; distance made during the night seventeen miles.
Dec. 14. At dark started by ourselves, struck a cross road where four roads met, but the guide-board being gone were at a loss which one to take. Took the one we thought right and after travelling two hours were at loss to know where we were, but made up our minds to approach a house, find our location, get further directions, also something to eat, for we had been on short allowance for the past twenty-four hours. Fortunately we struck the cabin of a Union
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woman by the name of Prince and her three children. She proved a princess indeed, who fed and warmed ns, for we were wet, hungry and cold. After this woman was convinced we were escaped Union prisoners of war, she opened her heart to us; told us that her husband was a Union man but had been obliged to go into the confederate army, where he was killed. She also told us that ten miles from her house, up in the mountains, there was a camp of Outliers made up of rebel deserters and Union men who had never been in the Confederate army, who were living in caves in the mountains to avoid being captured and shot or taken into the army by a com- pany of Rangers in the Confederate service, employed to capture or shoot these men. These Outliers had told this Umon woman, if she ever came across any Yankee prisoners who were making for the Union lines, to bring them to their camp and they would go through the mountains with them and join the Federal army. After hearing this welcome news, and getting dry and rested, we started about mid- night with this woman for a guide as the Outliers' camp, which we reached just before daylight, after a wearisome tramp of ten miles in a mountainous country.
Dec. 15. The camp consisted of about fifteen men all armed to the teeth with knives, revolvers, muskets, rifles and axes. A rougher, more desperate looking set of men I never saw, and our first thought was that we had been betrayed to a camp of bushwhackers. Our fears were soon dispelled, however, and we found these Outliers ready and anxious to go through with us to Tennessee; and as they were familiar with
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the mountain passes which we were obliged to cross, we were very glad of their company.
Dec. 16. This morning the Outliers began to come into our camp, having heard we were there. Now we have twenty men well armed, who will go through to our lines with us, or die in the attempt. The. wives of these men came to see us today, and say- they are willing their husbands and sons should go. with us as they are certain to be caught and shot by the rangers before long, if they remain here. Went. at night to the house of two Union women. It is a: relief to talk with people who are loyal to the Union; for it has been all secesh for many months.
Dec. 17. The women came to our camp before daylight this morning to see their husbands. They are intelligent, these rough mountaineers, and trne as steel. Can fire a rifle and bring down a deer as: well as a man. At dark went with two Outliers to. their homes up the mountains ten miles away; slept in a feather bed for the first time for three years, but with my clothing on all ready to jump and take to the woods if we are surprised by the rangers.
Dec. 18. At daylight we three went into the mountain to remain until dark, for the rangers are out, and we must keep clear of them. At night went back to the house once more, got a warm supper, then went down the mountain to a good Union man by the name of Alexander, where we remained all night; during the night some twenty Union women arrived at the house, for this is the spot agreed upon to start for Tennessee.
Dec. 19. Tonight we start for Knoxville in earnest, for our party now numbers forty-six men,
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quite a strong force for the rangers to strike. The parting between these men and their wives and chil- dren was very affecting, for they love their kin with a devotion and affection I never saw excelled. Travelled in a mountainous country all night, making about sixteen miles.
Dec. 20. Remained in the mountains all day, and at dark it commenced raining very hard, so we are obliged to remain where we are for the night.
Dec. 21. Went to the top of Chimney Top moun- tain, and here remained until the morning of the 22d. We are now within three-fourths mile of the North Carolina line, which we shall soon cross, glad to get out of the state of South Carolina. Crossed the first range of the Blue Ridge. The mountains have been covered with snow and ice, and as cold on their tops as in Maine in winter.
Dec. 23. Yesterday we made 20 miles, and at night encamped at the foot of Hog Back mountain.
Dec. 24. This morning fourteen of our party started back to South Carolina. Got frightened at the prospect of meeting Indians some thirty miles in advance of us; also afraid of the snow and cold we are encountering in these fearful mountains; men say they had rather be shot at their own doors by the rangers and be buried by their families, than die of cold and starvation so far away from home. Do not blame them any, but we have no choice left us; must press through although the prospect is a very gloomy one. It was a mistake taking this fearful course in mid-winter through these mountains, dressed in summer clothing, no underclothes, stockings worn out days since, shoes all to pieces and clothing in
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rags from rough usage in the mountains. We slip and fall every dozen steps, and thus add to the many rents and rags on our bodies. Got a guide from this section who says he will go through with us, as our present South Carolina friends are no good to us; are so far away from home that they know no more of the passes in the mountains ahead of us than do we Yankees. Crossed Tennessee mountains today, the highest range we have yet struck, being three- miles to the top. Made fifteen miles.
Dec. 25. Early today crossed a very high peak: known as the Balsam Mountain, three and one-half miles to the summit; being covered with snow it was very hard to climb. At noon crossed the Rich Mountain, another high peak, whose top seemed to be above the clouds. At night encamped at the foot of Chestnut Mountain in a very severe snow storm which continued all night. Distance made thirteen miles.
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