USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 2 > Part 34
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583
EXPERIENCE OF SERGEANT B. W. BONNELL.
them than to so many dogs ! The days were all alike-nothing but hunger and cold can be remembered. We became acquainted with two young men of Com- pany A, Twenty-fourth Wisconsin Infantry, Fred Rew, from Wayne County, N. Y., and Darwin Merrill, of Waterbury, Conn. They had been captured at Chickamauga, Tenn., in September ; were sent first to Richmond then to Dansville ; had escaped, been recaptured and returned to Richmond, thence to Belle Isle. These two young men were of so much help to us, and were our companions for so long a time, that I will say a word about them. Rew was a graduate of Hobart College, Geneva, went West when only twenty years of age, and enlisted from Milwaukee. In all my prison-life I never saw such a man-never for a moment discouraged, neither would he allow any one else to become so. He was forever planning an escape, and had the faculty of inspiring every one with his hopes. He spoke seven languages fluently, was a natural musician ; had classes in Latin, French, and German; also in music-fine place, on Belle Isle, to cultivate the æsthetic! Merrill was a genuine down-east Yankee-had been a school teacher; also enlisted from Milwaukee. These two men, with Guy and myself, formed & copartnership which lasted a long time. The one object of this firm was to get out of the "Sunny Southland." About March 1, 1864, it became known to us that prisoners were being sent from Richmond to Andersonville. This the firm hailed with delight, for it had been agreed upon by us to embrace the first oppor- tunity offered of leaving the island, and by a series of manœuvres we found our- selves in a group, ready to leave on the morning of March 4th. Exchanging places with other men, we crowded well to the front, fearing we might be left or separated. We were so excited and eager to go that we forgot our rations, and felt like new creatures as we left that miserable place- glad of any change, as it certainly could bring nothing worse. We went first to Manchester, crossed the Road Bridge into the city, and were placed in the same old Pemberton Prison we had left in January. Our hearts sank within us as we looked about the gloomy old building, for we had expected to be sent to Andersonville at once. We were told that we were to draw rations, and probably would start for Andersonville the next day, Saturday. This allayed our fears. Saturday came, but no signs of go- ing, neither any rations. Our suffering from hunger and anxiety became intense ; I could not sleep from sheer hunger. I never before had experienced such pangs of hunger; it seemed as though I would die from starvation before morning. About 4 A. M. of the 6th (Sunday), we were awakened by the guards, who told us to move out in the street, that we were to take the train for Andersonville at once. In a moment all was confusion and bustle. As we hurried down the stairs the guard stopped each man and took from him his knife, if he had one. I was near him, and whispered to my neighbor behind me to pass the word back that the " boys" might conceal or deny the possession of a knife. The sergeant of the guard was very angry and seized me, saying that I should be sent to "Castle Thunder."
Those who have any knowledge of that worst of rebel prisons can imagine what I must have experienced as I thought of separation from my old comrades, who had already gone on out. And I expected to die in that horrible place. If ever a man pleaded his case with another I did with that rebel sergeant. Finally, he took pity upon me, for I think I must have been the most abject-looking mor- tal that ever asked favor of another. He relented, and told me that, if he was
584
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
successful in securing another knife, why, he would let me go. At last a prisoner came who innocently said he had a knife, which was taken from him. I was told to go, which I did instanter. Once in the street and in the ranks (they were formed in fours) I crept along. calling out the names of Wynkoop, Rew, and Merrill. At last I found them, feeling very grateful that I was once more with these old friends. There were just six hundred of us to be sent that day, and we were each given a small loaf of white bread, the first food we had tasted since Thursday. We determined not to be loaded down with rations on the march, and ate it all at once. We were soon in motion, and, in the dark, crossed the river and were crowded into old box-cars, fifty men in each, and at 8 A. M. started on our way rejoicing, hoping never to see that place again. The train was hardly under headway when the quartet began to plan for the escape.
While on the island Rew and Merrill had provided themselves with case- knives, one of which had been converted into a small saw. They also had pro- cured a map of the Southern States, a frying-pan, small tin pail, salt, some dry " punk," flint and steel, as matches were a commodity little known and used in the Confederacy. We had some of them, but could only ignite them by touching them to live coals of fire. Rew was an expert with the flint and steel, and we practiced under his direction while on the island. This proved to be of great use to us afterward. We passed through Petersburg, stopping there only a few min- utes, and as we were in box-cars with the doors closed on the one side, only those near the other door could see much outside as it was guarded by two men. There were twelve cars loaded with our men, and one coach in the rear for the reserve- guard and officers in charge. Every time the train halted an officer would pass down the train and ask if "all was well," telling the guard in our hearing that if any man attempted to escape to shoot him on the spot. The quartet took a posi- tion in one end of the car and began laying definite plans to meet the situation, and decided that night to make the attempt. We decided to use our saw and knives to cut through the floor and to work while the train was in motion; but some of the men so feared the result to themselves if some escaped that we were obliged to give that up. So our small party of four began to lay plans secretly, as we knew some were getting so nervous that unwittingly they would betray us. We pretended to have given up all thoughts of escape, gradually working our way closer to the guards at the side. They sat on planks with blocks under either end, making the seat about two feet high. They sat with their backs to us. par- tially facing each other. We were squatted about on the floor, closely crowded of course, and that served us as an excuse for not attempting to sleep, so we stood up quite a good deal, especially when the train stopped, and conversed carelessly with the guards, who were North Carolina Home Guards that thought themselves the hub of the Confederacy. They watched us very jealously ; but as evening wore away and we were very kindly helping them to keep their lantern with its tallow dip in a position that the draft might not extinguish it (and it did require a deal of management), they gradually began to converse more freely, and we asked many questions about Andersonville, etc. There was a West Virginian in the car whom we had never met before, but we saw he could be trusted, and as he was a powerful fellow we saw he would be of great use ; so he proved. One of the guards was large and muscular, the other smaller. It was arranged that Mer- rill, being the largest man of our party, should seize the six-footer and do this
585
EXPERIENCE OF SERGEANT B. W. BONNELL.
when he thought best, but a nudge to Rew should be first given as a signal. Wynkoop and the Virginian were to help Merrill and I Rew. No one without the experience can imagine the strain and nerve-power necessary to stand thus and wait. As I look back now I wonder any one of us four retained our reason. At last Merrill grabbed his man. Backward both guards went. Merrill jumped first and threw the lantern. I was the last man out as the guard, to regain his footing, seized me; but I grabbed his gun. then he let go, and I threw myself backward. The screaming was hideous and rang in our ears long after. As I fell from the train I struck some railroad-ties that were scattered along the track. I thought I had broken my leg, and sank down on the side while the train passed. As I lay there I saw four men cross the road, which ran parallel with the track, and pass into a piece of woods. I knew it was my party. I regained my footing and found I had only a badly sprained ankle, so I thanked God and took courage. I hobbled into the little piece of timber, and, giving our low whistle as a signal, we soon found each other, and such a hand-shaking seldom has occurred. Oh, how thankful we were! although without food, without shelter, ragged and penni- less, and hundreds of miles from the old Stars and Stripes and farther yet from all our loved ones, in the heart of the Confederacy, and every man once more free. But as we stood there, hand clasped in hand, we felt that once more we should see the old Stars and Stripes : and as we looked up to the heavens and saw the moon in her quiet beauty looking down upon us, we felt that we were free men and claimed the promise awaiting the faithful. And let me say right here that at any time during my confinement I could have taken the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy and been a free man. Judge not too harshly the poor fellows that yielded to the temptation. Not a word was spoken above a whisper, and this was invariably our custom while out. We took a course due west, thinking to get as far as possible back from the railroad by daylight, Rew taking the lead. If that man could see any one star he would give you the points of the compass in an instant. The rest followed. My ankle gave me great distress, but I could bear anything when I thought from what I had escaped. At daylight we spent a little time in securing a safe place to remain through the day, and sunrise found us in a dense growth of young cedars by the side of a small stream. We lay down and rested and slept, one man keeping watch. The boys kept a little pail filled with water by my side and bound up my ankle with an old towel and poured water upon it all day, which greatly relieved it and reduced the inflammation. About noon Rew started on a reconnaissance. We had heard the voice of a negro with a team away off in the distance, and Rew called him as he came near the woods. He came over and talked. He said there were no white men; that he was a mile from his plantation home. Had his dinner with him, which he offered to Rew, but he declined. Rew, however, suggested taking a part of the corn which was for the mule. He gave it all, and said the mule could browse for once if some poor Yankee soldier could by that means escape starvation. I suspect that negro heard some big stories concerning what the Union army would do for the poor negroes, little thinking what a twelvemonth would bring to pass. The darky gave much information of roads and many things of use to us. At night it was thought best that the Virginian should leave us, as our party was too large for safety and he had the advantage of his speech while ours betrayed us every time ; moreover, he knew the country well and was comparatively near home. We
586
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
never heard of him again. Strange meeting and strange parting. There were many such "down South " during the terrible war.
It was now, I think, the 7th of March, about 8 P. M. We struck a negro cabin at quite a distance from the big house. Stationing Merrill and Wynkoop as pickets on either side of the house, Rew and I walked up and looked into the window. We saw a colored man and woman with three or four children. Rew rapped ; the man opened the door, and as he stepped outside, Rew frankly told him who we were. We were taken inside and given supper, two colored boys re- lieving the pickets. Our bill of fare was corn-bread, bacon, cold turnips, and cold water. Never did food taste better, and it was served right royally and loyally by this old couple; I know four reverent prayers were offered for God's blessing upon the lowly benefactors. After taking directions as to route, and a good-by, we started out in the darkness again. We now decided to take a northwest course, crossing the Dan River; then through Virginia, across the Blue Ridge, through West Virginia ; thence to Kentucky, near the Ohio line. It was a long way off, but we hoped in time to make it. We knew of a surety that a negro could be trusted every time ; that when possible they would provide us food. Rew and Merrill had already some experience, and the colored people never betrayed a Union soldier. If a road lay in a northwesterly direction, we kept it ; if not, with Rew as leader, we took a bee-line through field and wood, across creek and river ; nothing turned us aside. We ran across a flock of geese going to a neighboring pond for a morning swim. One nice, fat goose, did not reach the pond ; and with some onions which had been planted and which we thought too slow in growing, and had carried all night in the old lantern, we made a grand dinner. We used only dry wood, lest the smoke might attract attention. It must be remembered that we were passing through a sparsely settled country, and white men were scarce. On the night of the 9th we passed a sheep-fold. Rew hankered for mutton, so he " climbed up another way," and handed a victim over the fence to me. We car- ried it back a bit from the road, quartered it, and each ran his heavy walking-stick through the ham-string of his quarter, and off we started.
One night a pig, quietly meandering along. was served the same way. We visited some hen-roosts also. They were usually little log buildings, securely locked, as it was said negroes were too fond of chickens. We never troubled the locks, but quietly removed a few shingles, and one would lower himself down- usually Rew-then hand out one by one the fowls. There is everything at such times in being able to approach a fowl and to shut off the squeak. There was always one apiece. We would occasionally be able to signal to some colored people, and after dark they would bring us food. We confiscated everything eat- able that we could lay our hands upon, and for the most part were not hungry. Sometimes we would have a colored escort for a short distance to show us the way. On the night of March 21st we came to the bank of Dan River. We kept the river until daylight, when it began to snow. We found a secure place in a large piece of timber, and soon had a roaring fire, from limbs and branches picked up. Such a storm had never been known before in that section ; at night the snow was knee-deep. We had been obliged to stand all day before the fire. We discovered an empty tobacco building not far away, and to that we went, carrying our frying- pan, full of coals. We found there dry sticks, and then replenished from a rail fence. We remained there two nights, knowing that the deep snow would prevent
587
EXPERIENCE OF SERGEANT B. W. BONNELL.
traveling, and felt very safe. On the night of the 24th we started again. and soon came to a group of cabins. We went into one for supper, and all the others con- tributed. It was amusing to see their contributions : one brought an egg, another a little salt, another a small piece of bacon, and so on, so very little had they, but each so eager to do something. We got two of the men to put us across the river. They had canoes or dug-outs, managed by a negro with a paddle. The river was full to the banks. The rapidly melting snow had made it dangerous, and it seemed a great risk to trust our lives to their care. They told us to sit perfectly still, and there would be no danger. At last, after a long, hard pull and two trips, we four were safely landed across. The traveling was very bad, and we were greatly troubled as to what road would be best, as there was a settlement near, and we must not keep the highway, and more we left tracks in the snow. At last we found a fallen tree, and walked the length without leaving any track. We found we were very near a house on one side and the road on the other. We all crawled under logs, and, partially covered with leaves, we lay all day long in the greatest fear. We could hear people in the house talking, also as they passed in the road. I remember there were some hogs in very close proximity, hunting for nuts. We slept littie that day. At night we were early on the way, and secured another negro to row us across another river (I forgot the name). Sunday, A. M. just before going into camp, we killed a pig, which, with some black peas taken from a barn, fed us for two days. The country through which we were now pass- ing we thought would admit of traveling by daylight, if we managed to flank plantations. It was, right hard work, as the mountain-side was getting very steep, so that we could advance only by pulling ourselves up by the undergrowth. We would come sometimes to a little clearing of a few acres, and an unoccupied cabin. Once we found, buried under the board floor, a bushel of the nicest Irish pota- toes ; we took only half of them. Our wits were sharpened, you see. We left that vicinity in a hurry, however, and near night, baked potatoes to our heart's content. Suddenly a man appeared in our midst, much to our surprise. We had no fears of him, but did not care about his company, and as soon as he was out of sight we broke camp, and took to the woods until dark ; and morning found us fifteen miles away. At that time people went little from home, and ten miles there was as good as three hundred North. The country now became more thickly settled, was older and richer, and we found many negroes at work. 'They told us of many men who kept hid in that section, to escape conscription, and we were prevailed upon to remain overnight to meet some of them. One colored man seemed so honest, and so much in earnest, for he traveled all night to get the white men together, we hoped to learn much to our advantage. We had the pleasure of meeting Captain Jack Brown, the leader of one hundred of these men. He was a fine specimen of manhood ; looked like a bandit king. Every man was armed to the teeth. They had been hunted like dogs for two years. Captain Brown had a large plantation, but neither he nor his men had dared all this time to sleep one night at home ; stayed in the woods. A large reward had been offered by the Governor for his body, dead or alive ; and it made our very hairs stand on end to hear him tell of the chances he had taken. Our trials seemed slight as we listened to him. We were informed of a secret order to which all Unionists in that region belonged. We were invited to join. We did so, after hearing the constitution and by-laws.
588
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
I often think of that scene by the camp-fire as we took the oath of this order, " Heroes of America," or, as commonly called, " H. O. A.'s." Death was the pen- alty for violation of the pledge. Brown told us of his mother, who lived twelve miles from there with one of his brothers, and asked as a favor that we should call upon her, as it was on our route. We promised this. At midnight we parted, feeling as we started on our way again that we had profited much by the inter- view. We followed directions so closely that in the morning we knew we were near the Widow Sally Brown's. Saw a darky, that carried a message to her, and soon we were in her house : and such a good, motherly soul was a new sight in the Confederacy. She sat before us chicken, ham and eggs, biscuits, honey, cake, and preserves, and lastly some corn-whisky, of which we only tasted out of court- esy to her, drinking to the health of Captain Jack and his mother. She was a true Virginian in hospitality, but hated a rebel as she did a rattlesnake. Two younger sons were at home with her and helped to manage the plantation and negroes admirably. We learned of other Union families on the way, and the next morning made the acquaintance of a man who belonged to the poor white trash, but was a stanch Union man, He kept out of the army by feigning sickness. We came again into a section settled by poor whites and fared slimly. This was in Carroll County, Virginia. On the morning of April 9th we encamped in a nar- row valley at least a mile from any house or road, on either side of us a hill thickly wooded. We built a little fire early and baked our corn-bread ; put out our fire and lay down and slept awhile. The morning was dark and cloudy. About noon as we were eating our dinner we observed a man and two boys pass- ing along the brow of the hill in front of us. As we could only see them at times we concluded we were not seen by them, but thought we would move away lest they had seen and should report it. Presently they passed back again, but farther down the hill and nearer us. Our eyes were fixed on them and our whole atten- tion that way, when suddenly we heard the snapping of twigs and footsteps in the dry leaves behind us. When we turned we were confronted by three men not thirty feet away, with muskets drawn upon us, calling out to " surrender !" Of course, we could do nothing else; we were unarmed. The man and two boys, also armed, were bearing down upon us. We made no fuss, only asking who they were, and by what authority they ordered us to go with them. They said they were Home Guards from Hillsville, a town about four miles from where we then were. They said the men and boys noticed the smoke in the early morning and supposed it the camp of some rebel deserters from Longstreet's army, which was then fall- ing back from Knoxville to re-enforce Lee. We would be taken to Hillsville, then sent on to Richmond. We quietly packed up the remnants of our dinner, and about 3 p. M. reached Hillsville in a drenching shower. We attracted no little attention as we marched into the jail. Hillsville was the county-seat of Carroll County. In half an hour half the people had paid us personal attention by call- ing. We were the first Union soldiers ever seen there. We were treated very kindly. The editor of the Hillsville Journal called, bringing us Southern papers, which were very welcome, as we had had no news from our army in a month. We learned that prisoners were then being paroled at Richmond, and felt com- forted by the thought that soon we would be sent through the lines with the rest of the boys. It is well that we do not know the future. We had a large, square cell all to ourselves facing the corridor. The jailer was in Richmond on business,
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EXPERIENCE OF SERGEANT B. W. BONNELL.
and the care of us fell to his wife. She said she had been born and reared in New Hampshire. She brought us books to read, furnished us with food from her own table, and in every way proved' herself true to her womanhood. I suspect she was tired of the Confederacy and longed for her old New England home. Her husband was a Virginian, and we would not have fared as well under him. On Sunday morning we were started for Wytheville, on the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, about twenty miles distant. The roads were terrible. When we set out, the guard proposed tying our hands. We claimed the courtesy due prisoners of war, and gained our point. The recent heavy rains had swollen all of the streams; road bridges were unknown there. Small streams were usually crossed by means of logs thrown across for foot-passengers. Many of these had been swept off, and we often went some distance to find a crossing. This added much to the distance. We were carried in boats over the larger streams. At dark we were five miles from Wytheville. The guards proposed to stop for the night; but we begged them to go on, for we well knew that after resting it would be utterly impossible for us to go on. It must be remembered that our shoes were almost useless, leaving us nearly barefooted. At last we reached the station and were quartered in the little waiting-room of the depot. I remember the room was about twelve by fifteen feet, with a monstrous stove, red-hot, and without one particle of ventilation. We caine_near suffocating: but the guards fared the same, we were happy to know. In the morning we very naturally called for our rations, and were told there were none for us. We talked some plain talk, and a man standing by, to show his magnanimity and to let us know, he said, that they were not starving to death in the South, ordered a breakfast for us from the hotel at which he was boarding. We had ham and eggs, corn-bread, and coffee, for . which we very heartily thanked him. As he sat watching us eat he began a dis- cussion and said some very exasperating things. At last Rew turned his artillery upon him, and I think the man heard some very disagreeable facts. He called upon his friends to shut up that fellow. They replied that we were prisoners of war, and that if he had been a gentleman he would have held his tongue. At this he strode away amid the laughter and jests of the negroes and small boys who ' had congregated about the door.
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