USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 2 > Part 36
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We found the " cage" had one occupant already-a young Confederate sol- dier from Tennessee, who in May was returning from his home near Greenville, Tenn., to Lee's army at Orange Court-House, Va. When near Morganton, in company with other Tennessee cavalrymen, who had taken some horses in North Carolina, they were all arrested by the sheriff of that county for horse-stealing.
597
EXPERIENCE OF SERGEANT B. W. BONNELL.
The others made their escape, and he was thrown into the jail to await trial. He was thoroughly disgusted with the Confederacy. No one would believe his story. There were strong prejudices existing between these two States. Raids were made from one State to the other, by bands of cavalrymen, to obtain remounts. Our new friend, Russell, was a very genial young fellow, and proved to be very good company. Our rations were very light, and were served us by two little darky boys, Dick and Tom, who for a very small sum used each day to furnish us with apples, peaches, and melons. I suspect that they stole them, but, as Russell paid them for the fruit, we did not debate the question. An old colored lady, called " Aunt Mima," did the cooking for the jail. She was a good old soul, and while I was there did for me a great many little acts of kindness, which I shall never forget. My clothes were all washed and ironed each week by her, for which she would take nothing in return ; and when I expressed my thank- fulness to her, she would say, "De Lor' bless ye, honey, 'tain't nuffin' !" I hope she lived to see her freedom, and that she enjoyed it many years. A few days after our arrival, I wrote to Sam's father, who lived at Town Line, Davis County, N. C. He came on at once. Sam had pretended to everybody that he was on his way to Tennessee to visit his kinsfolk, when he fell in with me, who he supposed was a Confederate soldier. The father, in the presence of the officers, gave him a terrible lecture, saying " he was ashamed of him for being caught in such company." The boy was taken out. The old man lingered about, asking my forgiveness, which I frankly gave him, and congratulated him upon getting off so well with his son. I received letters from both some years ago, however. I remained here just four weeks. I had written to the commandant of the nearest military post, Camp Vance, about six miles from Morganton, asking that I be sent to Salisbury, instead of being confined as a criminal at the county's expense. I was anxious to see some of our boys again, even if they were prisoners. On the morning of September 21st two guards called for me. I bade my Confederate friend, Russell, good-by, and went to Camp Vance. This was a rendezvous for conscripts and deserters who chose to come in and surrender. Governor Vance had issued a proclamation promising pardon to all who would surrender within ninety days. There were about two hundred and fifty of the former, who did guard duty about the camp, and some drilling. There were about sixty of the latter, who were confined in a large log guard-house. I was put in with these. I soon became acquainted with them, and was at once installed in what was called the first set, viz., the oldest deserters. They told me they were only waiting to be sent to the front. They had the privilege of choosing any company or regiment in Hood's army, and the first time they went into battle they should desert, which I have no doubt they did, going over to our lines. We were taken out in squads of five or six under guard, to get wood and water, some distance away. I noticed one guard, who looked very natural, and when I eyed him sharply he motioned me to keep still. In an instant I remembered John Cunningham. He came privately and talked to me, saying he had been conscripted, and thought to work his way to the front and desert.
On Thursday, the 27th of September, I was started for Salisbury, with one other prisoner, who had been brought in the previous day. He was from Tennes- see, and belonged to our army. He had been captured by a raiding party, while on a visit home. We went by rail and reached Salisbury at 8 P. M., and were
598
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
taken to the prisoners' camp, and placed in the third story of the old Penitentiary Building. We found there some two hundred and fifty men, who were mostly Yankee deserters, having jumped bounties until it was unsafe to remain longer in our lines, then going over to the rebs, expected a cordial reception. On the contrary, they were held as prisoners against the day of exchange, as they would bring back then so many of their good men, and we could take back our cut- throats and rascals. I may seem to speak harshly of this class, but their conduct warranted any title. My Tennessee friend and I were robbed of nearly all we had before morning, and the first sight that met our eyes on waking was two great bullies, stripped to the waist, pummeling each other, until both fainted and were carried off by their friends. On looking out on the camp below, whom should I behold but Rew and Merrill, strolling about ! I signaled, and they both came up directly and took us to better quarters in another building. We related our mutual experiences. They were only out three weeks when recaptured-I about six, besides my sojourn in jail four weeks. All this time they had been languishing in Salisbury. There were in all about eight hundred prisoners ; one third the kind I first mentioned ; three or four hundred citizen prisoners ; one hundred more colored, and thirty officers who had commanded colored regiments, each of whom wore a ball and chain by day. The balance, about thirty more, were, like ourselves, recaptured prisoners of war. Among the citizens were Richardson and Browne, of the New York Tribune, and Davis, of, I think, the Cincinnati En- quirer. There were a number of sutlers, some of them from Gettysburg. I knew several of the latter, having made their acquaintance during our stay there-Mr. Codori, an old gentleman over seventy .* It seemed so cruel to see him enduring such hardships ! About October 10th the camp was enlarged, and prisoners were sent on from Richmond, until there were about ten thousand. About two thirds had tents ; the rest, as it grew colder, dug holes in the ground, which was a clay loam. These holes were slanting, and large enough for a man to crawl into; then a small cave would be dug out from this. Sometimes this mine-room would hold a half-dozen men. A little nud chimney would lead up to the surface, and in the morning, when the fires were started, the smoke would rise from hundreds of these gopher-holes, as we called them. At the call to draw rations, it was as- tonishing to see the number of men that had slept away down in the ground under our very feet. These apartments served other good purposes. The stock- ade was about fifteen feet high, with a narrow walk on the top for the guards, with sentry-boxes at regular intervals. Tunnels were dug leading out beyond the stockade. Many were dug, but I think very few escaped in this way. The guards got wind of this bright idea, and made their camp to completely encircle ours. So, often after digging two hundred feet, upon going to the surface, they would find themselves in the midst of the guard camp, be recaptured and find the work of weeks in vain.
As the weather became more severe, the little buildings which the convicts had used as shops were converted into hospitals. There were a dozen of these,
* The old members of the Tenth will recall the name of Codori, as the one who supplied the regiment with meat during its stay in Gettysburg in the winter of 1861-'62. It was near the Codori house, on the Emmittsburg pike, that General Picket and his staff took position when his division made the famous charge on . the Union left center on the 3d of July, 1863 .- N. D. P.
599
EXPERIENCE OF SERGEANT B. W. BONNELL.
and by November they were all filled with the sick. These were brick buildings or log, about twenty-five by sixty feet ; no floors, no beds ; only a board set up about eight feet from the side wall on each side, leaving an aisle in the middle. In these pens were scattered straw, and there the poor fellows were placed. Not a single blanket, neither bedding of any kind. Only those unable to walk were admitted. The number of sick was becoming so great, and the mortality increas- ing so rapidly, that some system for caring for them had to be adopted by our- selves. Davis, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, was chosen general superintendent ; Junius H. Browne, of the Tribune, hospital steward ; A. D. Richardson, quarter- master. Rew was put in charge of one building, Merrill of another, and I, as nurse, with Merrill. Although this gave me at least shelter, had I not felt it a duty I should have remained outside, in comparatively pure air. The death-list was appalling, ranging from thirty to forty per day. There were six nurses to care for the seventy-five men on the first floor. The convalescents would some- times assist a little. My watch was from 11 P. M. to 3 A. M. The only light in the room was from the old fireplace at either end. I have closed the eyes of three, and once of five, of these poor boys in a single night. Then, with the help of some waif outside, we would carry the stiff bodies to the dead-house, where each took his contribution, piling the bodies up like cordwood-the grave-diggers, a squad of twenty-five men, occupying the same room, eating and sleeping by the side of the ghastly pile, which makes me shudder as the thought is again brought to mind. At daylight the bodies were thrown like logs into a wagon, and taken away to trenches, all clothing, except shirts and pants or drawers, having first been removed, that nothing might go to waste. What a death ! what a burial for a man who had given up home, loved ones, and everything that he held dear, and faced all for his country's sake ! Everything was done that could be done, with the means at our disposal. Very little medicine was furnished. Our quartermaster took the clothing left by the dead, had it washed and mended, and given out to those most destitute. About November 25th the men became frantic and desper- ate. An outbreak was planned. Only a few hundred knew of it. About 4 P. M. a small party made a charge upon the relief guard, some twenty-five in number, overpowering them, taking their arms, and bursting the gates; but an alarm was sounded, the parapet was instantly lined with men from the rebel camp, and, al- though the break was a complete failure, yet for half an hour constant firing was kept up, the prisoners lying flat upon the ground and crawling into the under- ground holes, and hiding wherever they might escape the bullets. Two field- pieces were leveled upon us, and, in the building where I was, the shingles were torn off by the shells. Some seventy-five prisoners were killed or wounded. A large number of these had no previous knowledge of the plan. After this, quiet reigned. Matters went on as before, with few incidents.
There was a camp established about three miles outside of the town for the benefit of all Catholic prisoners, who, upon a sort of parole, were allowed more liberties and better treatment than we were receiving. Several hundreds took advantage of this. Then there was an offer for any who would, to take the oath of allegiance and go outside. I am sorry to say that quite a large number of our boys tried this also. But many came back disgusted with playing rebel. They were very coldly received by our " boys in blue," and deservedly so, too. On the night of January 2, 1865, Browne and Richardson, of the New York Tribune, and
600
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
Davis, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, several sutlers, and my old comrade, Rew, made their escape by bribing the guard at the entrance gate. Nearly all were fortunate enough to reach our lines about February 1st, my friend among the number. After this nothing occurred for some time worthy of note. General Johnson, commander of the post, could not understand why we were drawing just as many rations after we had been there three months as at the beginning, in spite of our decrease by death and other causes. So he ordered a careful count. We had been counted every day in divisions of one thousand each. After the first division had been counted they would break ranks, and, when the next division came to be counted, a large number would answer to assumed names there, and so on until all of the division were counted. All in the hospital, who could possibly get out, drew extra rations in this way. Some men were sharp enough to draw five rations daily. How to stop this puzzled the brain of the stupid commissary for a long time. At last this general count was ordered. A company of soldiers was brought into camp. The first division was called; the guard was placed between this and the rest of the camp. The counting went off all right. The second was called, . and, while they were being counted, those of the first were passing back to the main camp, ready to fall in again. The guard were ordered to shoot any man trying to pass, but really they had not the nerve to shoot defenseless men in cold blood. Consequently in a short time all was confusion, and the rebels found they were beaten by Yankee cunning, and gave up in disgust. Therefore we drew rations just as we had been doing. The days and weeks dragged very wearily and heavily along. The winter was severe, and the suffering very great. Merrill and myself determined, as soon as spring opened, to make our escape. Until that time to be patient. On the 20th of February rumors of a parole were circulated, but we were not easily deceived. We had heard this too many times before. Monday, February 24th, A. M., Dr. Howerton, who lived in Salisbury and came daily to our ward, told us that the sick, at least, would surely be paroled; and that day about noon he came in again and told those in charge of the sick to be on the lookout for orders to go to Richmond for parole very soon. It all seemed too good to be true ; but we were not kept long in suspense. About 4 P. M. the order came for all the sick to be sent over outside the camp and placed on the cars. Every one that it was possible to move was placed on litters or carried in blankets by the nurses or their stronger comrades. But it caused sad heartaches to turn our backs on those who had lived and longed and prayed God for that day, and now that the day had come, must be left behind, and could only cast their wistful eyes at us and whisper, " Good-by," and with a heart-rending groan say, " I shall never see home again !" It was a joyous, glad day for us, but tears of sorrow flowed freely for those poor fellows, while we thanked God we were spared. Many of the sick put forth every effort, and, after the first excitement wore away, sank back and died before morning. Only a limited number of nurses would be allowed, so the doc- tor, a good friend, suggested tying up in a blanket one named Strait, and, although quite corpulent, he could have the rheumatism for the time being, and so he passed out.
At Greensborough we halted and met the trains bringing south the Confed- erate prisoners. We exchanged greetings. They, too, were happy. Wednesday night, February 26th, we arrived in Richmond. The sick were put in hospitals, the well in Old Libby again. The place was loathsome; but we knew our stay
601
EXPERIENCE OF E. O. VAN BROCKLIN.
was short. The next day we were all paroled, and on Friday morning, the last day of February, we marched out of Libby into the street, and at 8 A. M. were on board the steamboat that was to convey us to Jones's Landing. The sick were placed on beds in canal-boats, which were towed by the boat we were on. This care for them at the last moment was all for looks, to be seen by our cominis- sioner of exchange. It seemed as if we should never reach Jones's Landing, as the river was full of obstructions, placed there to keep back our vessels, and, although we carried a flag of truce, we were continually halted at the forts along the bank. We were in torture of suspense lest something might happen, after all, to prevent our exchange. Finally, we were headed for the shore. We saw a squad of cavalry, and we saw a white flag, and, oh, we saw, too, the blue instead of gray, and we knew that relief and friends were near. We stood in breathless suspense -- a plank is thrown out, the officers dismount; they come aboard. It is General Mumford, commissioner of exchanges, and his staff. After a brief talk with General Ould, the rebel commissioner of exchanges, papers are signed. General Mumford turns and says : "Boys, you, who are able, take the road across the fields, to our boat, which is waiting for you. Ambulances will pick up those who give out on the way." The distance across was about one mile and a half, around about nine. The sick were towed around. We passed through General Butler's camp of colored troops, near the place where our boat was lying. I was one of the very first to step on board the steamer City of New York, which was to take us to Annapolis. As soon as we were on board we were given a nice loaf of white bread, a large cup of fine coffee (not rye), but good Java, with good sugar, and a nice slice of cold ham, and, as we ate and looked at the old Stars and Stripes, and at our our own officers and men, in their bright uniforms, the tears coursed down many cheeks. We then fully realized that we were once more in God's coun- try, and fervently thanked him for the deliverance. At 4 P. M. the sick were all on board, and we were soon steaming down the river, not caring to look back, but with faces turned northward, with happy hearts beating high with hope, trying to for- get the past. We looked wistfully and hopefully into the future so bright, as we pictured to ourselves the happy meeting with those we held most dear-who had mourned us as dead.
EXPERIENCE OF E. O. VAN BROCKLIN, OF COMPANY L.
AT Sulphur Springs, October 12th, after we fell back to the left bank of the Rappahannock, Major Avery ordered skirmishers to the bank of the river. I had no carbine at the time, and a man in our company, not feeling particularly well just at that moment (he was attacked with a case of grip-a grip on his horse- which he was not going to lose) kindly loaned me his. I went down to the river with the boys, and was so overcome with the scenery, or something else (all the boys on the line had the same feeling), that when the time came to git we could not git as fast as the Confederate men on horseback could, and the consequence was that we were gathered in, oh, so kindly ! They captured twenty-three of our boys- Ben Bonnell, Company II; Perry Coles, Company II; Newton Nelson,
602
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
Company B; and myself, were the survivors to return North in 1865. They camped us on our old grounds on the south side of the river the first night, just a little south and east of the old yellow brick house on the hill. Ewell's corps was all night marching by. Next day they marched us to Warrenton, and back again to the Springs, over the old turnpike. Slept in the hotel that night (and as the clerk was out, could not get my old room, so lay on the floor all night). Next day, Wednesday, October 14th, we hoofed it to Culpeper Court-House, and as the hotels were all taken, I lay on the floor in the Court-House. Thursday, October 15th, they fed us (the first since Monday, October 12th, excepting a hard- tack I received from one of Wade Hampton's artillerymen), and put us on board of a vestibuled train, composed of freight-cars, with the dining, barber-shop, and bath car switched off on a side track somewhere. Well, we arrived at Gordons- ville that night. I succeeded in getting myself appointed as one of the men to draw the grub for the crowd, and I assure you that the Tenth New York squad did not get left very bad in quantity and quality, such as it was. Next morning we jumped aboard of our palace cars, and away we went, and captured Richmond that night. We all went to Libby and remained that night. Next day, Satur- day, October 17th, they searched every one, and marched us over to a tobacco warehouse on Main Street. We remained there about six weeks, and were re- moved to the Pemberton. Warehouse on Cary Street, almost opposite Libby. In January, 1864, they marched us over to Belle Isle (in the river, just opposite the western part of Richmond). There we remained until about the 1st of March. Belle Isle was the toughest prison I struck. We were returned to the Pemberton Prison again, and about March 6th they placed us on another train of choice freight-cars and started us for Andersonville. We were six days on the road, and were out of the cars twice, viz., at near Raleigh and Charlotte, N. C. Any- way, we got to Andersonville March 12th. This is where all of our boys died. About September 7th we started for Savannah. Stayed in prison there until October 16th, when I was informed by the Confederate commandant of prison (Lieutenant Davis) that he had an order to take me to Richmond for exchange. (An uncle of mine in Buffalo wrote the Confederate General Gardner, with whom he was acquainted, and the result was my departure for Richmond.) We left Savannah October 16th, and went to the prison at Millen, where he had some business, and I was turned inside of prison for one night. Next day, October 17th, I bid my old steadfast friend George Hadley, Company M, Second New York Cavalry (Harris's Light) an affectionate good-by. We had stood by each other for twelve months, and I was loaded with messages and addresses to deliver on my arrival in God's country Davis and I started that night for Richmond. I almost forgot to say that my uniform at the end of my first year in prison con- sisted of a cap, jacket, shirt, and a pair of patched drawers. Lieutenant Davis gave me a clean shirt and a pair of pants ; also a coat, but no shoes. I was tough and did not care, anyway. We went in passenger coaches. Left Millen at mid- night, Saturday, October 17th, and arrived in Richmond Monday night, October 19th.
I had a good time on the cars, as they were filled with soldiers, on their way back from furloughs, and they used me nicely. Davis drove me to Libby (my first love), and I was chocked in, in the dark. At daylight I found myself among a lot of Ben Butler's contrabands and a few white men. Sergeant Stansill came after me
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603
EXPERIENCE OF E. O. VAN BROCKLIN.
soon after our breakfast, and took me into the office. Major Turner ordered him to take me to General Gardner. He questioned me, and looked at my bare feet, bones covered with dirty black skin, and'Lieutenant Davis's gift of the old butter- nut coat and gray pants, about four sizes too large. After getting my pedigree, he informed me that the flag-of-truce boat had left the morning of the night I had arrived, and it would be two or three months before it returned to Richmond, for the reason it had gone to some Southern port to get the boys I had left behind, and I had expected to beat them home. The result was the opposite ; they got home in November, whereas I did not until January, 1865. Gardner sent me back to Libby, with an order to Major Turner to clothe me up and give me better quarters than the every-day go-as-you-please prisoner was receiving. He did so. He furnished me with a dandy pair of sailor pants (stolen from some of our unfor- tunate naval men), a gray jacket, gray cap, shirts, stockings, shoes, etc .- all formerly worn by some of our men, excepting the gray. This put me in good shape, only my skeleton frame and dirty black hide were still visible. That morning after iny arrival in Richmond from the Southern or Georgia prisons, one of Ben Butler's contrabands had the nerve to ask me what colored regiment I belonged to, and how long I had been in. I could not find fault with him, as I really was as near black, dirty, and as repulsive-looking as some of them. Major Turner gave me quarters in the basement, along with the detailed Yankee clerks and musicians, where I put in many a good day, until January 14, 1865. The storeroom was partitioned off from our room (in it they used to keep the uniforms, blankets, etc., stolen from our men). Well, we had a faculty of shifting a board nights, and would steal coats, blankets, etc., and sell to the guards-overcoat, $20; blanket the same. Well, we lived good. Whisky. $5 a pint; cigars, $1 each ; loaf of bread (small), wheat, $1. You notice I mention whisky first, for the reason that was the aim for the average American soldier to get hold of first, and also the average officer hankered a good deal that way. General Gardner gave me $100 (Confederate); you could get twenty of them for one of ours. And right here I want to say that I more than appreciated his kindness. The year the war ended, when he did not have a penny, or hardly a home, I sent him a $10 greenback, which paid him double, and received his thanks as thoroughly as he did mine. The old General is still alive, and lives in Memphis, Tenn. I hear of him frequently, through my aunt, whose niece he married before the war. January 14, 1865, I was called into the office and signed my parole papers, and left old Libby, which had housed my skeleton frame since October 19, 1864, until this day of all days, when I bid it good-by, fat and plump, from extra rations and delicacies that our overcoat and blanket money had purchased from time to time. We (there were about thirty officers and a few refugee ladies) marched down Cary Street to the Rockets, and boarded a small river steamer. They put us below, so that we could not observe their forts, etc., until we reached Varina Landing, on the James River, near by Butler's Duteh Gap Canal. We were received by General Mumford, and tallied off, papers signed and receipts exchanged, and were directed to Deep Bottom. We started ; I, being in much better condition than the officers, soon placed my- self a long way in the van. I crossed through the nigger picket line and over their breast works, and, after walking about two miles, boarded the City of New York, our flag-of-truce boat. The surgeon welcomed me, and presented me with a glass of whisky, which I took, and I was once more back in God's country, after
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