USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 2 > Part 33
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576
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
We gave Lincoln at least four to Mcclellan's one, and they shut off our rations three days. That meant additional misery to six or eight thousand starving mnen, who had no rations laid by, Joe McCreary, of Company H, Tenth New York Cavalry, was a messmate of mine in Florence. He worked for the rebel sutler in there. The sutler lost six or seven hundred dollars ; he hunted every place about our mess and bed for the money, but I do not think he ever found it, nor do I know whether Joe had it or not. I hope he did. Florence came to be in time a second Andersonville, and the only reason why fewer Union soldiers are buried there is because the prison was not used as long. The records show a loss in Andersonville of 13,714; Salisbury, 12,900; Florence, 2,000. This is only three prisons, and foots up to 28,614. Three weeks before I was paroled, I was on pa- , role outside the prison proper, part of the time in the wood party, and the rest with the burial party; this enabled me to recruit a little, and without a doubt saved my life, as I had been going down hill very fast. After leaving Anderson- ville, it was my intention to make the same break for liberty that Ferguson made from the cars on the way to Charleston, but, when we got on the cars at Andersonville, they issued to us a small ration of bacon, and, notwithstanding the fact that I knew well enough that in the condition I then was I ought not to eat any of it, I was so hungry I could not resist the temptation. The result was, that there came mighty near being one more grave down there. I was too sick to make the attempt to escape. I can not remember the date of my arrival and departure from any prison or of my arrival at Annapolis; but when they com- menced to move them from Florence, I felt well satisfied that it meant an ex- change, and determined to avail myself of the first opportunity to go. Every time they had moved us before, we had been told we were going to be exchanged, and the disappointments had caused a great many deaths; the poor, starved boys were too weak to stand it. After some had been moved away, I was put in charge of twenty-seven men and we started in box-cars. On the way down from Flor- ence three men from the car in front of the one we were on jumped for liberty. It was just at dusk ; the guards shot two of thein, as it appeared to us, dead ; the third was wounded, as we could see, as he ran into the woods. They did not stop the train there, but notified the guard at the station close by. At Charleston the train met with an accident that killed seventeen more. From Charleston to Savannah two more were shot while trying to escape; one dead, the other badly wounded, and left. When we arrived in Savannah, out of the seven hundred taken on at Florence twenty-nine were missing. Near Savannah we found the rebels throwing up earthworks to resist Sherman. Negro wenches, negroes, young and old men were at work. Our boys cheered and yelled at them, and the negroes shouted and sang in response. In due time we reached Savannah and camped in the prisoners' quarters overnight; next morning we were marched aboard a little old vessel and started down to the flag-of-truce boat. The scenes aboard of our boat, when we came in sight of the flag on the flag-of-truce boat, I can not faith- fully describe. The different dispositions and natures caused different ways of manifesting their joy at sight of the flag we all loved so well. Some cried, some laughed ; others shouted themselves hoarse and threw up what remained of their hats. It was a scene that will live in my memory as long as life lasts. It was burned in by the following incident : In my squad we had one man who was very low; he was from New York. When we arrived at Savannah we became satisfied
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577
EXPERIENCE OF W. A. ORSER, OF THE BAND.
that he could not live to get home, and we thought, as he must die, he had better die where he could be buried on land, and decided that we had better leave him at Savannah ; but his plea to be taken where he could see the old flag again was so piteous that we finally took him with us. We had wrapped him up in an old piece of blanket, and had kept him in position where he could not see the flag, and, when we were alongside the vessel, two of us picked him up and carried him on. The moment we stepped aboard our vessel he seemed to know it (we thought he was unconscious). for he made one last effort, and threw the blanket from over his face, straightened himself up in our arms, looked up at the old flag that was float- ing at the mast-head, extended his arm, and, with the index-finger pointing straight at the flag, with every muscle set, shouted : " There ! thank God, I am permitted to die beneath that beautiful flag !" and dropped back into our arms dead. As the young hero expired, we laid him down on the deck, and, looking up, I saw the captain of the flag-of-truce boat standing near us; with his arms folded across his breast and the tears streaming down his cheeks, he exclaimed, " My God, what a death !" and turned and walked away. The captain impressed me as being one of the grandest specimens of American manhood I had ever met. Tall and muscular, straight as an arrow, with just enough gray mixed with his hair and whiskers to add strength to his kindly features and expressive eyes, he stood there as a father to us all, and we all felt confident that while we were in his charge we were safe. No father could have shown greater kindness or considera- tion than he until he saw us safely landed at Annapolis. Poor, starved boy! That death-scene is engraven on my memory so deep that time can never erase it. It was these scenes while in the service that make me a Grand Army man from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. It was loyalty to the flag that saved the nation's life. We went aboard our vessel a wretched-looking band : but, after taking baths and putting on new clean clothes, we felt that an improvement had been made in our personal appearance. Then we had a cup of Uncle Sam's coffee. In issuing rations to us, at first they were obliged to use great care ; the poor fel- lows had to be watched very closely to keep them from eating too much. Our trip from Savannah to Annapolis was made without accident. The only incident . worthy of notice was that we had all the benefits of a storm around Hatteras, which shook us up in such a way that the hold needed cleaning, and the whole vessel, for that matter. When off Louise Inlet we overhauled a blockade-runner. The mate was sent aboard to examine, and reported her loaded with cotton. While he was aboard of her the Tallahassee was sighted in the distance ; the mate was recalled, and we went scooting north again. In due time we landed at Annap- olis, marched out to camp, and, as our turn came, were paid two months' pay and ration money and given thirty days' furlough. I considered myself in pretty good order, as compared with a great many of the boys. When we landed at Annapolis my weight was ninety-six pounds, and when I got home on furlough it was one hundred and six pounds. I returned to Annapolis on the expiration of my furlough, and was there until the 10th of March, when I was ordered to Elmira, where I was mustered out of service March 16, 1865, making three years, three months, and three days' service.
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578
HISTORY OF THE TENTHI REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
PRISON AND ESCAPE EXPERIENCE OF SERGEANT B. W. BONNELL, OF COMPANY H.
OCTOBER, of 1863, found the Army of the Potomac, under command of General Meade, encamped at Culpeper Court-House. About the 10th of that mouth it became apparent that General Lee had undertaken a flank movement on our right, intending to get in the rear of the Army of the Potomac, and gain posses- sion of our only communication with Washington.
When we awoke on the morning of the 11th we found that our army had moved during the night, and that the cavalry were covering a retreat, our (Gregg's division) on the left. Meade was falling back across the Rappahannock, moving on a line with the railroad. That night we encamped between Jefferson and the Rappahannock. On the morning of the 12th we crossed the river at Sulphur Springs and took the Warrenton pike, going into camp about two miles from Sulphur Springs. We were told we were going into winter quarters, and that all who chose to re-enlist would have furlough and additional bounties.
My comrade, Guy Wynkoop (who also was my constant companion until forcibly separated), and I were so busy fixing up our prospective winter quarters that we forgot the usual noonday meal, and were greatly astonished when, about 3 P. M., the "General" was sounded, followed soon by " Boots and Saddles." No one seemed to know what it meant, until we were mounted and rapidly riding toward Sulphur Springs. Before we reached that place we could hear heavy firing in the direction of Jefferson. Our squadron was stationed on a bluff opposite the Springs to support a battery which was to cover the bridge and ford at the Springs. We were hardly in position before orders came to join the Regiment and cross the river, which we did with dispatch. From the river to the woods it was about one half a mile over broken ground. Our squadron was drawn up in line about twenty rods from the woods, expecting orders to charge what we supposed to be dis- mounted cavalry who were firing upon us from these woods. Suddenly we looked down the line to our right, our attention being called in that direction by some- thing that told us trouble was coming. Soon we saw the rebel cavalry moving to our right and columns of infantry hurrying from the valley to the woods oppo- site us. Orders came from some one to fall back, which were obeyed with more haste than precision. In some way, every one was found to be first at the bridge or ford. However, we gained the other shore in tolerably good order, considering the pressure on our rear. When near the river my horse was badly wounded in the flank, for the bullets were flying thick and fast, and consequently I was obliged to dismount as soon as we crossed the river. Orders came quickly to form a skirmish-line of dismounted men on the river-bank. A call for volunteers was made. I proposed to Wynkoop that we go on the skirmish-line; we did so, but neither of us ever felt that the result of this voluntary sacrifice was very satisfactory-for me it meant all hope of promotion gone, freedom taken away, and many weary months of suffering; for my comrade, cruel death. There were only about thirty of us on the line. Among the number was Sergeant Gideon C. Dudley, of Company Il, and Perry Cowles, of the same company; Sergeant Morey, Company E; and Erie O. Van Brocklinn, of Company L. We were intrenched in an old mill-race, which was empty. We did our very best, giving the rebs as good as they sent us,
579
EXPERIENCE OF SERGEANT B. W. BONNELL.
knowing that if we could keep them in check until dark we could fall back to our reserves, which we supposed were near. Shortly after sunset the enemy made a dash across the river, both above and below us, with a regiment of cavalry, completely surrounding us. This regiment was led by General Fitzhugh Lee. His brigade crossed the river before dark, Early's corps encamping on the oppo- site bank. After our surrender we passed through their lines to the rear. Our hats were taken from us and other indignities offered; but these things seemed " trifles light as air," and were soon forgotten as we faced the sterner realities of prison-life. We found about one hundred and twenty other prisoners of our bri- gade, mostly of the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Some had been captured at Jeffersonton, or in that vicinity. I remember that nearly all of one company of that regiment were among them; it was a new company, and this their first engagement.
We soon learned that no rations were to be expected that night. The lieu- tenant in charge of the guard was quietly eating his supper, and now and then cast wistful eyes at my spurs, and, as I supposed they would soon follow my hat, I proposed a trade for some biscuits. He gave me one for the spurs. I eagerly took it and divided with Wynkoop. We washed it down with a drink of muddy water. Our blankets and other baggage had been strapped to our saddles. Wyn- koop, however, had his overcoat, and, in the dark, I had stumbled over a blanket, and under cover of it we spent our first night in the Confederacy, and I pre- sume we slept soundly after the fatigue and excitement of the day ; possibly we dreamed of home and the loved ones there. In the early morning orders were given to "fall in there, Yanks!" which we supposed meant rations, and therefore obeyed quickly ; but, alas ! we saw no rations.
We were soon started across the river again, and knew that we were following in the rear of their army, and also that they were following in the wake of Meade. This gave us some hope, for somehow we thought that Meade would soon turn upon Lee and hurl him back, and possibly we would be recaptured, or perhaps they would be hard pushed, and would be glad to parole us. I could not, as I looked upon their cavalry, encamped on the hillsides across the river, but con- trast their way of doing things with our way. There seemed to be no regulation or system about anything ; every man seemed to have lain down where night over- took him ; their horses were picketed by fastening the bridle-reins to the sword belt-the horse grazing about while the man slept. At the sound of the bugle all very quietly came together, formed in squads, companies, and regiments. Soon all were in motion. They were truly always " under light marching orders."
As we crossed the river, Wynkoop exclaimed, " Alas, how are the mighty fallen !" I remembered that the morning before, while our brigade was crossing, our nice appearance and good feeling, after the night's rest, and how proudly flags and guidons floated in the bright morning breeze, and how the bands played on the bank of the river. Now we were plodding along on foot, dirty and hungry, in the rear of the rebel army, among the riff-raff, like a flock of sheep or cattle, at the mercy of any or all who wished to order us about. Near noon we reached Warrenton, where we were told we would draw flour and beef. About 1 P. M. we heard heavy cannonading north, in the direction of Bristow Station, and we knew that Meade had halted and was giving battle. Soon came hurried orders to send the prisoners to the rear. Our old infantry guard was sent to the front,
580
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
and we were escorted by a squadron of cavalry, We went back to Sulphur Springs, and were quartered for the night, in one of the deserted hotels of that once famous resort. Nothing to eat'yet, this second day, and we were too hun- gry, tired, and irritable to contemplate anything beautiful in the Confederacy. In the morning we hoped to learn something of the engagement. " Mum" was the word, and we thought it answered something good for our side. More fully be- lieving this as we were started southward for Richmond, they said we would receive rations when we reached Culpeper Court-House, some twenty or twenty- five miles back. Great heavens ! would they starve us? So it looked, and so we thought. That was the longest day I had ever seen, but I experienced many longer and many harder ones before my release. The morning was dark and gloomy ; at noon a chilly, drizzling rain set in. We were obliged to ford the Rap- idan River, taking off boots, socks, and pants, dressing ourselves quickly on the other bank, running and jumping to keep warm. Is it any wonder that many of our number went into hospital, on reaching Richmond, and never came out ? Poor fellows, I well remember their pitiful, death-marked faces. About 5 P. M. we ar- rived at Culpeper Court-House. Rations of hard-tack and bacon were issued, four of the former and about two ounces of the latter. The hard-tack were square, about the size of soda-crackers, double their thickness, made of rye-flour and pea-meal ; the bacon foul, some even putrid and alive with vermin, but we were too nearly famished to be squeamish, and ate it all, only longing for ten times the quantity. Really our appetites had been only whetted by the morsel, and our discomfort was in no way diminished. At dark we were put in empty box-cars and start- ed for the capital of the glorious Confederacy. In the night, upon reaching Gordonsville, we were placed in an immense guard- house made of rough slabs, flat side down. The construction of this building had evidently been hurried. The knots and bark had not been removed from the slabs, and my reader can imagine how softly we slept on such a floor. We tried all sides, first across the grooves and then in them ; but all to no purpose. So we sat up in the dark in grim silence or cursing the Confederacy, longing for day- light, when we would be "on to Richmond !" . We took passenger-cars in the morning, which I have always thought was a mistake. We were promised our next meal in Richmond, and this with the good chance in prospect of seeing their boasted defenses and entering the city by daylight gave us great cheer. About 3 p. M. we left the cars and marched through the streets and were not deeply im- pressed with what we saw. It seemed like the quiet of God's day. We saw on the streets only old men, young boys, women, or negroes. We soon halted in front of "Libby." Major Dick Turner's headquarters were here. All Richmond prisoners were in his charge. His name is associated with all that is devilish. and blackest hell seems too good for him as I recall his fiendish cruelties. As we stood awaiting orders, Colonel Irvine, Captain Getman, Captain Bliss, Lieutenant Johnson, and other officers of our Regiment, came to the upper windows, gave us kindly greeting and welcomed us to the hospitalities of the capital with very sig- nificant smiles. Colonel Irvine spoke encouragingly to us, telling us to be of brave heart, to take the best care of our healths possible, and never for a moment to lose hope of release. His benign look and cheerful words were an inspiration to us ever after. Soon we marched down Carey Street toward the Rockets and were ushered into the " laundry building," which had been an old tobacco pack-
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581
EXPERIENCE OF SERGEANT B. W. BONNELL.
ing-house. The room where we were contained screw-presses and hogsheads partly filled with tobacco stalks and stems. I think these were purposely left for the trade it would open up in pipes. It' worked well, for every man of us traded something for a pipe. On the morning of the 16th, the next day after reaching Richmond, we drew our second rations from the Confederacy. This consisted of a loaf of corn-bread the size of a brick and one quart of the thinnest kind of bean soup. This allowance was for four men. The man who divided the loaf was watched as closely as if counting gold ; the spoonful of beans or rice which fell ยท to each of us the same. This was all we had for twenty-four hours, remember. After a little a rebel sergeant came in and said we would all be searched for con- cealed weapons and other contraband articles. We were all driven to one side of the room. A large, swarthy fellow in a half navy dress called Jack, the very picture of a pirate, directed the search. He was assisted by three others. Guards kept the line of division, and those nearest the point were made to strip and each article was closely examined. Money, watches, jewelry, knives, pipes, combs, in fact every solitary article was taken ; pleading and expostulation counted nothing. One squad after another was thus served. The day was wearing away. Wynkoop and I kept well to the rear. The searched ones were getting crowded ; we quietly edged up to the line and slipped across unseen and thus narrowly escaped. Others, encouraged by our success, followed suit. The guards were getting tired and thinking they had taken all, left with their booty. I never felt sure that the Confederacy profited by it ; more likely it was a private steal carried on by a gang that got rich by our misfortunes. The days in this building passed slowly with- out incident, the monotony only broken by an occasional trade with the guards in the adjoining room. The doors were bolted and barred, but a hole was cut through which loaves of bread and Richmond pies-a mixture of beaten flour and poor sweet potatoes-were passed. One dollar in greenbacks was worth ten in Confederate scrip. The guards were very ignorant of our money. Some advertise- ments with a large "X." on either end and of a greenish color were passed off. One of our boys got one hundred dollars for nothing. Wynkoop had a fine pair of cavalry boots, morocco tops, with silk stitching, fine enough for a major-gen- eral. A lieutenant of the City Battalion wanted them, and paid Guy eighty dol- lars besides a common pair of boots for them. About November 10th we were removed to Pemberton Prison, nearly opposite Libby. This was a four-story building. The first floor was occupied by the guards ; each of the other floors had in them nearly four hundred men. On each floor was what we termed a sergeant- major, chosen from our own number, who had charge of the men on his floor. His duties were much the same as those of an orderly sergeant. He detailed the men each day to carry rations from the cook-house; reported the sick to the doc- tor, who called each morning; also detailed a squad to scrub the floor and do other police work for the day. Every morning at nine o'clock we fell in and were counted off. This was done by one Ross, a miserable specimen of humanity, who had deserted from a Brooklyn regiment. We stood in ranks of four deep. One morning as he was counting, some one unintentionally interrupted him, and for four hours we were compelled to keep in line without our usual rations in order to force us to name the offender. This we utterly refused to do. At last Ross left us discomfited. This is only one instance among hundreds where our boys showed their heroic courage and loyalty to each other. I think, with the exception
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582
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
possibly of Major Dick Turner, this Ross was held in greater contempt by the Northern prisoners than any other man, for many and cruel were the indignities which he heaped upon our defenseless licads from time to time for no cause what- ever. Unrest to his ashes ! The story of one day is the story of many days, until we became sick with hope long deferred. The monotony was occasionally dis- turbed by the arrival of the morning paper, for which we paid fifty cents Confed- erate money. Then we had a circulating library, not very large and probably not the choicest authors; but it circulated, and that "right smart." I was under many obligations to my old friend and comrade, Colonel Frank Place, formerly of our Regiment, who was in Libby, across the way, as he sent me several num- bers of Harper's Magazine, which I was able to exchange for anything going. Some boxes of provisions found their way to us. I ascertained that there were a large number of these unclaimed. I determined to secure one. Assuming a name to which a box had been directed and unclaimed (as the names were read off from day to day) I marched to the place of storage with the squad, and was lucky enough to be able to answer all the questions put without crossing myself and carried the box back in triumph, prouder than any standard-bearer with captured colors. A savory ham contained therein was jealously guarded. About the middle of January, 1864, we were moved to Belle Isle. It was said that this was done in retaliation for cruelties practiced upon Confederate prisoners at the North. The camp was an inclosure of some three or four acres, and already contained some seven or eight thousand men. A large number of those already there had no shelter. Of course, we (about three thousand) had none. It was doubly severe on us in our poorly fed condition, driven out from inclosure at this season, and more, as the winter was colder than any in thirty-five years. The river being frozen at times, pre- vented the transportation of rations. Wynkoop and I had taken our army blouses, thin as they were, for shirts, which, with vests, pants, and boots, com- pleted our outfit. We had each a blanket. The wood furnished for fuel was green logs about eight or ten inches in diameter and twelve feet long. One of these was allowed daily for each hundred men. We were allowed no axes, so we split it up with railroad spikes and sawed it with table-knives converted into saws. Many had not the strength or patience for such work, and so had no fuel. We cooked the rations of turnips, beans, or flour issued. When the river was frozen, at one time for two days, only one small raw turnip was allowed each man. Mar- ket Street-so called from the fact that all buying and selling was done on it- was about forty feet wide and perhaps three hundred feet long. It was crowded from morning until night with men anxious to sell or trade everything conceiv- able. Every man there had something to sell-some article to barter for a morsel of food. Such a babel of tongues ! Every one shouting, naming what he wanted to sell, all in motion, tramping, tramping the livelong day. At night this street was cleared, and those without shelter were scattered all over the camp, walking to keep from perishing. After three weeks Wynkoop and I secured shelter in a crowded tent. It seems to me that I never can forget the nights on that island ! Great, strong men could be heard weeping aloud, as if their hearts would break, from suffering and homesickness. In the morning it was thought nothing of to find half a dozen dead bodies lying on the cold ground, released at last. But in what a place to die ! Their poor bodies were taken up and carried just across the line and buried, not a hundred feet from the camp! No more thought given
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