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Knauss
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Story of Camp Chase STORAGE
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CARDS FROM POCKET DO NOT REMOVE
PUBLIC LIBRARY FORT WAYNE AND ALLEN COUNTY, IND.
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
m 3 1833 00555 7332 E
Gc 977.102 C72k Knauss, William H. The story of Camp Chase
THE
STORY OF CAMP CHASE
A HISTORY OF THE PRISON AND ITS CEMETERY, TOGETHER WITH OTHER CEMETERIES WHERE CONFEDERATE PRISON- ERS ARE BURIED, ETC.
BY.
WILLIAM H. KNAUSS
NASHVILLE, TENN., AND DALLAS, TEX. PUBLISHING HOUSE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH SMITH & LAMAR, AGENTS 1906
1770244
A LITTLE BUD. Katharine Elizabeth Gamble, Granddaughter of the Author.
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8612 .464
Knauss, William H.
The story of Camp Chase; a history of the prison and its cemetery, together with other cemeteries where Con- federate prisoners are buried, etc. By William H. Knauss. Nashville. Tenn. and Dallas, Tex .. Publishing house of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, Smith & Lamar, agents, 1906.
SHELF GARS
`xx, 407 p. incl. front., illus., plates, ports. fold. tab. 21cm. Flates printed on both sides.
1. Chase, Camp, O. 2. Jolinson's Island, Lake Erie. 3. C. S .- His :.-- Civil war-Prison life.
163603
6-22563
Library of Congress
JE615.K67 .
COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY MARGARET M. KNAUSS.
163608
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER 1.
DECORATING THE GRAVES-1896. PAGE
After Long Years Strangers Pay Tribute to the Valor of the South- ern Dead-The First Programme at Camp Chase-What Was Said That Day and Who Said It-A Stranger from the South Had Something to Say-An Afternoon Where Tenderness Reigned- More Than Two Thousand Flags Fluttering over Low Green Mounds-The Setting Sun Stoops to Kiss the Little Banners as It Sinks to Rest-Left Alone in Their Slumbers I
CHAPTER II. CARING FOR THE GRAVES-1897.
A Larger Crowd-A Southern Orator, Col. Bennett H. Young, Addresses the People Assembled-Address of Judge David F. Pugh, a Northern Veteran-The Chairman Reviews the History of the Cemetery-The Mayor of the City Speaks Briefly-Some Letters from the South; Also Cash-The Second Memorial Service . over the Confederate Dead a Success 9
CHAPTER III. THE INTEREST GROWING-1898.
Again Orators of the North and the South Pay Tribute to the Silent Dead-Patriotic Lessons Taught-The Confederate Glee Club from Louisville Is Present-Colonel Young, Captain Leathers, and Mr. Osborne the Southern Speakers, Capt. G. H. Bargar Represent- ing the North-Letter from a Texas Veteran-A Lady from Atlanta Writes Encouragingly-"You Will Be Gratefully Remembered by Us; Yours for America on Land or Sea" 19
CHAPTER IV. THE SERVICES OF 1899.
The Children of Avondale School Sing-Orations by Judge David E. Johnson, of Bluefields, W. Va., and by Gen. W. D. Hamilton- Tableau of Blue and Gray with Hands Clasped-An Impromptu Service Some Days before the Regular Decoration Exercises-The Southern Members of Waterworks Convention Pleased and Im- pressed-They Stood with Uncovered Heads-The Mystery of the Broken Tombstone. b
41
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
CHAPTER V.
CAMP CHASE IN 1900. PAGE
Ohio's Governor Present at the Services at Camp Chase-He Makes a Wise and Patriotic Address-The Ex-Confederates Pleased with His Kindly Expressed Sentiments Concerning the Dust of the Lonely Dead-General Arnold, of Kentucky, Delivered an Eloquent and Touching Speech-Mrs. T. W. Rose, President of the Ladies' So- ciety of the Union Veteran Legion, Spoke with Much Tenderness -Dr. Thomas P. Shields, an Ex-Confederate of Ohio, One of the Speakers-What Southern Governors Said.
49
CHAPTER VI.
THE MEMORIAL OF 1901.
Arm in Arm the Men of the South and North Marched into the Cemetery Where Sleep the Dead of Camp Chase Prison-Com- mander Shields, of the Confederate Camp, and Commander Grim, of McCoy Post, G. A. R., Lead the Way-Children of Avondale School Sing-Rev. John Hewitt Delivers an Address-Hon. Emmet Tompkins, Then Republican Member of Congress, Delivers an Oration-Remarks by Rev. Howard Henderson, Ex-Confederate- Captain Rogers, an Ex-Confederate, Places Southern Flowers on Graves of the Union and Confederate Soldiers.
56
CHAPTER VII. THE MONUMENT UNVEILED-1902.
What Southern Writers Who Were Present Said about the Occasion -The Chairman Tells Who Helped So Liberally with the Arch- The Oration of Governor Nash-The Reply of Judge D. E. John- ston, of West Virginia-The Speech of Judge D. F. Pugh-Cap- tain Dinkins, of New Orleans, Delivers an Eloquent Speech-The Story of the Colored Men-Letter from Mrs. Randolph-Invitation to Go to Nashville-The Monument Turned Over to the Ex-Con- federates-Happy Ending of the Author's Work at Camp Chase .. 62
CHAPTER VIII. ODDS AND ENDS.
Planting Trees at Camp Chase Cemetery-An Incident of Concord, N. C .- Confederate Dead at Gallipolis-Official Correspondence Concerning the Cemetery-A Few of the Many Friendly Letters -The Return of a Confederate Flag-A Speech That Caused Com- ment-Insinuating Postal Cards-The Visit of Editor Cunningham -Visiting Camp Chase Cemetery in Winter.
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
VISITING THE SOUTH. PAGE
A Trip to New Orleans Mardi Gras Time-An Unlooked-For Re- ception-What the Crescent City Papers Said-Great Bouquets of Roses by the Ladies-The Confederates Present the Stranger with a Fine Gold Badge-Eloquent Speech of Captain Dinkins-An Edi- torial-Going to Nashville-A Fourth of July Event-Meeting Friends Both Blue and Gray-Guests of Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Toney -A Remarkable Camp Fire-Well Repaid. 100
CHAPTER X. CAMP CHASE IN 1861.
Once a Military Camp and Prison; Now a Fine Farm-The First Prisoners-A Confederate Pictures the Daily Grind of Prison Life-What a Texan Remembers of Camp Chase Prison-The Plot to Escape-The Spies' Report-Brutalizing Effects of Prison Life-The Man with the Poor Memory-The Deserter and the Prisoner-Strother's Story-Work on Camp Chase Begun in May, 1861 III
CHAPTER XI.
INCREASING NUMBERS.
The Indifference of Columbus toward the Soldiers-Southern Pris- oners Were Not the Only Men Neglected-A Wife Accompanies Her Husband to Prison-Arrival of a Number of Officers-A Ken- tuckian Expresses Himself-What the Raw Recruit Said-The Long Roll Beaten-Almost a Riot. 122
CHAPTER XII. THE YEARS CREPT SLOWLY ON.
From 1863 to 1865-Gen. John Morgan and His Men-A Brief Review of His Famous Raid through Ohio-On the Road to Camp Chase -A Tennessee Judge Once a Boy Prisoner-The Boy and the Bowlder-A Conspiracy. 129
CHAPTER XIII. AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS.
The Intercepted Letters Found in the Ohio State House by State Librarian Galbreath-Some of the Letters Photographed-Some Letters from Down South-List of Letters Not Used in This Vol- ume-History of Mrs. Clark, by Her Son, Rev. Frank P. Clark. ... 140
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
CHAPTER XIV.
JOHNSON'S ISLAND., PAGE
A Prison Comfortable in Summer, but Cold in Winter-The First Prisoners to Arrive at Sandusky-The Town Turns Out to See Them-A Sad-Faced Lad-Making a Rope of the Flag -- The Chap- lain's Consoling Words-Letters from Johnson's Island-The Num- ber of Prisoners upon the Island Each Month in 1862, 1863, 1864 .. 184
CHAPTER XV.
STORIES OF THE PRISON IN SANDUSKY BAY.
Prison Rules at Johnson's Island-The Grapevine Telegraph-The Opinion of Whitelaw Reid-The Execution of Corbin and Mc- Graw-A Pathetic Letter-A Deserter Shot-Campbell, the Spy - -Wanted Back in Prison-Adventure of Captain Gubbins-How Lieutenant Bowles Was Killed-A Brave Kentuckian Calmly Meets His Fate. 194
CHAPTER XVI.
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY.
Plan to Liberate the Prisoners on Johnson's Island-Beall Captures the Philo Parsons and the Island Queen-Captain Cole Fails to Capture the Gunboat Michigan, Guarding Sandusky Bay-The Con- spirators to Spike the Guns of the Land Batteries-In Face of Dan- ger They Weakened-Capture of Cole-How Beall Got Away with the Philo Parsons-The Effort to Get Canada Involved in War with the United States-Great Excitement at Sandusky-Warn- ing of the Toronto (Canada) Globe-The Trials of Beall and Bur- leigh-Southern Version of the Plot 207
CHAPTER XVII. A THRILLING ESCAPE.
Prisoners Plan to Escape-Major Winston, of North Carolina, Major Stokes, of Virginia, Captain McConnell, of Kentucky, and Captains Robinson, Davis, and Stokes, of Virginia, Scale the Wall-The Thermometer Thirty-Three Degrees below Zero and the Wind Blowing a Gale-Captain Stokes Recaptured-Making a Raid on a Farmer's Stable-A Troubled Dutchman-No Sleep for Sixty Hours-Going through Toledo, Ohio-Breaking through the Ice -Safe under the British Flag.
. 225
CONTENTS. ix
CHAPTER XVIII.
PLAIN LIVING AT JOHNSON'S ISLAND. PAGE
The Story of Lieutenant Cunningham-Eighteen Months a Prisoner at Johnson's Island-An Interesting Story Cleverly Told-The Lights and Shades of Prison Life-Pierson's Ten Commandments -Nothing in the Lord's Prayer to Cover the Emergency-Getting Home at Last-A Hugging Match 237
CHAPTER XIX. PERSONAL STORIES OF CAMP CHASE.
Diary of Capt. A. S. McNeil-Nine Months a Prisoner at Camp Chase -An Unbiased Story of Prison Life-Going Home at Last-Story of R. H. Strother in Prison at the Same Time as Captain McNeil -Shooting at Prisoners-The Narrative of Lieutenant Mitchell- He Tells of Lieutenant Grasty's Escape-How Captain Herbert Came to Camp Chase-A Pleasant Deputy Sheriff-The Effects of Overeating 254
CHAPTER XX. JOHNSON'S ISLAND STORIES, NEW AND OLD.
Incidents of the Island Prison First Told in the Confederate Vet- eran-Pen Pictures of the Place in 1864. 270
CHAPTER XXI. A CONFEDERATE SPY IN OHIO.
Promoted from First Duty Sergeant to Major-Scouting in the Moun- tains-A Narrow Escape-Recruiting for the Confederate Army in Ohio-Meeting the Knights of the Golden Circle-Makes Colum- bus His Headquarters for a Time-Visits Camp Chase-A Peep into the Prison-Getting Confederate Recruits through the Lines -The Story of Major Marlowe. 274
CHAPTER XXII. GETTING TOGETHER.
Some True Stories That Illustrate What Friends Americans Can Be. though Enemies Once-The Man Who Shot Me-Telling the Story of the Battle-The Captured Silverware-Drinking from the Little Cup in After Years-Plowing with the Yankees' Horses-A Little Rebel Bootblack-Hunting a New Home-A Northern Office Hoid- er-Governor Campbell's Last Pardon.
294
THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE. x .
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE END AT LAST. PAGE
A Hero or a Dunce-The Story of a Spy-He Was Captured at Newark, Ohio-Sentenced to Be Hanged-How It Ended -- One Hundred Dollars Reward Offered for a Prisoner-Dangers of the Ice Bridge-The Death of Lincoln-Colonel Hill Announced It-His Letter to the Sandusky Sentinel-The Money of the Prisoners in Bank-A Pathetic Poem-Going Home at Last-A Visit to John- son's Island in 1904-The End. 302
INTRODUCTION.
IN this volume the author seeks to give to the survivors of the Southern army such data as may be of interest to them and their friends, and it is his earnest prayer that this story, however imperfect, may be kept somewhere in Southern homes, Southern societies, and by patriotic associations, to keep green the memory of their heroes, when they and he shall have passed into the si- lence.
More than forty years ago the story began, and it is not yet ended, nor can it end while there are human hearts to thrill at deeds heroic. When there is left in this fair land not one person to remember or care for the mighty. deeds of the sixties, or for the men who went down to death, will the story be concluded.
The cemetery at Camp Chase has received regular care since 1894. Those who went to sleep so far away from home were, in the main, plain, simple folk, and the world knew little about them. Here and there in the South a heart ached because a man in gray marched away from home and never returned. The names of most of these men were marked on boards at the heads of the graves, but have been destroyed by storms and by time. For thirty years God only has known just where they are.
Time, the great healer, had almost ceased to dress the festering wounds that war had left, when He who doeth all things well caused Henry Briggs to place in the hands of the author a little paper-covered book containing the names of the Confederate dead in Ohio. It was not to be that their names should perish from off the earth, for the annual report of Adjt. Gen. B. R. Cowen, submitted to Governor Cox, of Ohio, in 1868, contained the list of the dead in Camp Chase.
Prisoners of war did not die amid the roar and crash of battle, where soldiers go to death with heart aflame and blood on fire ; but, heart-sick and weary, they sank to rest far from home, far from shrill of fife or beat of drum. It is not the purpose of this volume to compare the prisons North and South.
Prison and paradise are not synonymous terms. There was
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
suffering, there was death, where the Southern sun blistered and burned in the shadeless prisons ; there were months when the cold blasts of the North chilled to death, and stilled the heart throbs of the soldiers of the South.
A chivalrous man prefers to forget the things that rankle, and remember instead the deeds that thrill. With this idea ever in view, a soldier of the Union, wounded in its defense, seeks to tell in a simple and unharrowing manner the story of Ohio's military prisons, and the incidents pertaining to the care of the same since 1894. This story might come from some one else with better grace ; but as the author's work is a part of its history, he will tell it plainly and with sincere regard for the conditions to all concerned.
In 1868 business called the author to North Carolina and Vir- ginia, at which time a friendship was formed between himself and an ex-Confederate who was acting as a guide. By compar- ing notes, the fact developed that both were wounded in the same battle-Fredericksburg. The Confederate lost a leg. Through a bond of the friendship then formed, we mutually agreed to as- sist the comrades of the other, as best we could, whenever op- portunity occurred.
A few months later, while visiting the battlefields of Antietam and South Mountain, the writer found a graveyard where a number of Confederates had been buried. It was upon the side of a hill, and uninclosed. Having in mind the agreement with his Confederate friend, he hired a farmer living near by to build a log fence around the graves of those soldiers who had fallen in battle. Thus he became impressed with the belief that some good might be done, and, perchance, some persons be made happy should they learn that a stranger respected the resting place of their loved and lost.
Upon coming from New Jersey to Columbus in 1893, he learned of the Confederate cemetery west of the city, where there are buried more than two thousand ex-Confederates who had died while prisoners of war in Camp Chase, and that the burial place was in a very bad condition. The gate and gateposts of the stone wall inclosing the cemetery were down, the ground over- run with briers, bramble bushes, and weeds, and it had become a resort for animals.
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INTRODUCTION.
Shortly afterwards he arranged with Mr. Henry Briggs, who owns a farm opposite the cemetery, to have it cleaned up; and in the spring a few friends distributed some flowers about the place.
GEN. GEORGE MOORMAN.
During the following year (1895) efforts were made to find some ex-Confederates in Columbus. A meeting of some gentle- men was called at his office, and it was agreed that we inaugurate a memorial service and contribute pro rata to the expense. A programme was arranged, and steps were taken to have the place grubbed and thoroughly cleaned, have the trees trimmed, the gate and gateposts reset, and other necessary work done.
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
Within three days of the time arranged for the services the speak- ers all backed out, concluding that it would be unpopular and injure them as professional men. This action was a source of deep regret, but he determined to have the service and pay the expenses himself. All of the newspapers were visited and re- quested to say nothing about the matter except that services were to be held there, and to have their reporters present to report in a fitting manner what occurred. :
As the street cars at that time ran only within a mile of the cemetery, wagons were hired to convey the people from the terminus of the street railway to the cemetery. Lumber was sent out to build seats, and arrangements were made for com- fort. The result was a nice service with about fifty people pres- ent. The proceedings of that day are given in Chapter I.
During the year he ascertained that Capt. W. B. Allbright, a Confederate, had been a resident of Columbus for several years, but had not let himself be known as such. He consented to join in the service the coming year, for which quite extensive prepara- tions were made, with the result that probably a hundred people were present. About this time five or six friends in sympathy with the cause paid for some shrubbery and young trees, which were placed in the cemetery.
While riding in a carriage with Gen. J. B. Gordon during one of his visits to Columbus the writer asked if, in his opinion, the Southern people would appreciate the service and care of the ground enough to send some flowers for the following spring ceremony, when with a comrade's demonstration he said: "My dear friend, my people in the South would be happy to have the pleasure of sending their choicest flowers for the purpose of decorating those graves. Through my Adjutant General Moor- man I will see that the people of the South are made acquainted with your desires, and you will have the flowers and the prayers. of them all." At the proper time a request was made of Gen- eral Moorman, and the flowers came in large quantities for the service in 1897. On this occasion there were present 1,000 to 1,500 persons. The principal addresses were made by Judge David F. Pugh, an ex-Union soldier, and Col. Bennett H. Young, an ex-Confederate. Both addresses were highly appreciated, and published in the newspapers here and throughout the South.
INTRODUCTION. XV
The writer emphasizes the fact that the newspapers of Co- lumbus not only treated that first meeting with great consid- eration, but the same attention has been given to each succeed- ing year on the Memorial Day at Camp Chase as to the annual decoration exercises over the graves of the Union dead.
The author was subjected to much unkind criticism by his Northern comrades, so that this public indorsement by the press was very gratifying. Time, which softens the heart's bitterness by the harsh deeds of war, has failed to remove all the enmities born of that first service at Camp Chase. The author does not seek sympathy from his friends in the South because of this, for he undertook the work keenly alert to the fact that there would be opposition.
On one occasion-the presentation of a floral piece-a commit- tee, self-constituted perhaps, sent for him to appear at the State -. house, where meetings of the committee were being held. He did not go, but a member of the committee came to his office and proceeded to lecture him on the error of his ways, demand- ing to know who paid for the design in question, and that he desist from conducting these memorials for the Southern soldiers. In reply he made a few remarks expressive of his indignation, and then promptly left.
Following the service of 1897 some eight or ten ex-Confederates in the county were found, who, with the exception of one or two, united with us. These thought it would injure their business to be known. That the graves might be shaded by trees from their native land, application was made to the different States in the South for a donation, and each State contributed ten trees, but unfortunately very few of them lived.
The G. A. R. Drill Corps, the Uniform Company of Veterans, which had assisted year after year at Camp Chase, as at the Union Cemetery, firing salutes, were at last requested by the Adjutant General of the Department of Ohio, G. A. R .- prompted by certain G. A. R. men of Columbus-not to attend the Confeder- ate services. Colonel Coit, commanding the Fourth Regiment Ohio National Guard, hearing of the action, tendered a company of his and a regimental band for the occasion, the services of which were gratefully accepted.
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
Notwithstanding the opposition, the work went on each year. The interest grew, the crowds came, and the people of the South sent flowers to place upon the graves of their dead heroes.
In 1898 the presence of the Confederate Glee Club from Louis- ville, Ky., added greatly to the interest of the services. Col. Bennett Young, of the same city, was again one of the orators of the occasion, and so well was he gratified that he planned to have presented to the G. A. R. upon the following year the floral design symbolic of the peace and harmony existing between the sections. The design, a most beautiful and expensive one, was ready for May 30.
The writer attended a meeting of a joint committee in charge of the Memorial Day exercises at Post Hall for the purpose of having the design accepted and placed on the lot known as the "Circle," where the ritualistic services of the G. A. R. are con- ducted. The joint committee was in session when he arrived. and had drawn up resolutions condemning the acceptance of such an emblem. After listening to the reading of the resolu- tions, he asked the chairman if the sentiments expressed were those of the committee, and all answered in the affirmative. He then expressed disgust at their unsoldierlike action. Arrange- ments were then made to have the design placed in a wagon and follow the parade, with printed banners, telling the people of Columbus what it was and what it meant. This plan did not carry, however, because the Ex-Soldiers and Sailors' Association, hearing of the action of those G. A. R. men, said: "Put that floral piece on the Ex-Soldiers and Sailors' lot; we will be pleased to accept it."
Leaning against the splendid monument erected by the county upon their lot the beautiful floral picture was placed. From out of a bed of immortelles came an arm with a sleeve of blue holding a flag of Our Country, and from the other side was an arm with a sleeve of gray extended to receive the flag. The emblem was one of the most elaborate floral pieces ever seen in this city, and was the sensation of the day. At the proper time it was presented to the ex-soldiers and sailors of Franklin County. Ohio, in the following words : "You see, my comrades, this beauti- ful design which is the gift of Southern friends who wore the gray. to be placed over the graves of men who wore the blue. It is
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INTRODUCTION.
xvii
fit that it should be here, for the sons of the North and South are marching under one flag. I feel, my comrades, that the men who knew the least of war's hardships are the bitterest to-day. There are exceptions, I admit. We do not envy that man who, in the face of this expression of unity, seeing the grand uprising of the North and South for the glory and honor of America, can coldly turn his back upon the outstretched hand of his brother. In the name of the donor, my friend in the South, I present to you this emblem of a reunited people, wishing that it may be received in the spirit in which it is offered."
The Ex-Soldiers' Society has selected Col. S. N. Cook to form- ally accept the design, who said: "We receive this most beautiful token of a new and splendid era in the history of our country when on Northern graves lie fragrant blossoms of the South, and on graves of Southern soldiers rest Northern blossoms. With pride and thankfulness the oldest veteran organization in the city of Columbus, born before the Grand Army was, accepts this beautiful gift from brave men. If there was no other reason for accepting this gift than the mere fact that Fitzhugh Lee, the Vir- ginian, is wearing to-day a uniform of blue, and soldiers from North and South vie with each other in doing honor to him, we should accept it. We should place it where it is, and treasure it afterwards as a gift beyond price. The gift reminds us also that Gen. Joe Wheeler is in the saddle again. When I see the men of the South marching with steady tread under the folds of our glorious banner, then it is indeed a pleasure and an honor to ac- cept such a token of esteem from the South."
The newspapers spoke enthusiastically of this event, and the only criticism came from the few who seemed to forget that they had fought no man in gray for over forty years.
We turn with pleasure from this unpleasant side of the sub- ject to the erection and unveiling of the monumental arch. an event of great pleasure to the author. Elsewhere this event is narrated in detail. In that part of the history devoted to the year 1902, Mr. W. P. Harrison is given credit for his generous dona- tion toward the arch and monument, which came unsolicited and unexpectedly, and for which the author will ever feel grateful.
The monument would have been erected had no generous friend been found, and not a dollar would have been asked or accepted from the South. The writer felt it a duty that he owed his friends,
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