USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > The story of Camp Chase; a history of the prison and its cemetery, together with other cemeteries where Confederate prisoners are buried, etc > Part 13
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Mr. J. Edward Sims, a writer on the Press-Post, of Columbus, raid a visit not long since to Chattanooga, Tenn., and while there met Judge Cowart, famous for having been a member of the court of Hamilton County nearly ever since he was old enough. The Judge insists that he was but twelve years of age when he came to Camp Chase. It was on account of his youth, no doubt. that he fared so well. Learning that Mr. Sims was from Colum- bus, Judge Cowart remarked that he knew something about Co- lumbus, or a place near there. He then told of his imprisonment at Camp Chase and of the only act that he was ever sorry for while in prison there.
"I was not in prison long," said the Judge, "until I fell into the good graces of a Union lieutenant, who treated me with great kindness. I was permitted many liberties, and was allowed to go across the road to the Four-Mile House to get water. One day a raw recruit who did not know about the freedom accorded me
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was on guard, and, seeing me go out of the camp, began to curse me and threatened to shoot. Fearing that he might fulfill his threats, I hastened back, but swore vengeance. I laid in a good stock of bowlders unperceived by the guards and waited for the raw recruit. In a short time he was on duty again, but this time on the wall, overlooking the prison. Being permitted. to go out at will, by the orders of the lieutenant, I found an advantageous point for my stone battery. The first fire was sufficient to put the guard out of duty. The stone struck him in the face, and he reeled and fell from the parapet. He was unconscious for some time. It is unnecessary to say that I beat a hasty retreat. I was not discovered. For several days quite a hunt was made ; but be- ing an innocent-appearing lad, I was never suspected." Not even to his brother, who was in prison at the same time, did young Cowart tell the story of the assault until they were exchanged and were entering Richmond. The Judge assured Mr. Sims that his treatment by the lieutenant was all that could be desired. He was not only accorded unusual liberties, but his brother was weil treated.
In the fall of 1863 there was talk of removing the prison to some locality more healthful. If it was unhealthy for the prison- ers, it was equally so for the soldiers of the North, although their greater liberty was altogether in their favor. The Ohio State Journal of September 1, 1863, says: "Whatever credit is due for the idea of removing Camp Chase from its present filthy location attaches to General Mason. At his instance the survey and ex- amination had been made and the estimate of cost sent to Wash- ir.gton." Nothing came of the effort, as is well known, for the last Confederate prisoner to leave Columbus for his Southern home went from Camp Chase Prison.
A story of conspiracy was published in the Ohio papers of November 2, 1863, that caused much excitement :
It appears that for some time past the United States military and civil authorities have been engaged in ferreting out the exist- ence of a secret organization of the most treasonable nature. There have been in circulation various rumors relative to the treasonable design of certain persons who, it seems, were mem- bers of this organization ; but nothing definite was known upon the subject except to a few officials, who have been diligent in pursuit of evidence to fasten the guilt upon the parties concerned ; and this having been secured and other things being in readiness,
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the blow was struck yesterday morning. State School Commis- sioner C. W. H. Cathcart, Nathan Cressup, who was a cutter in Child's clothing establishment, a man who gave his name as Slade, and Dr. Lazelle, a Rebel surgeon on parole, were all arrested yes- terday morning, and are now in charge of the proper authorities for safe-keeping. They are all charged with aiding and abetting the rebellion by furnishing means and information to the enemy, and have been taken on a special train to Cincinnati. Slade is supposed to be a spy in the Rebel service, and has been arrested before on a similar charge; and when he was taken yesterday he boasted that he would get away, as he had done on previous occasions. He was in irons and was closely watched. Lazelle's arrest was made by the provost guard on the ground that he had broken his parole in addition to his complicity with the other par- ties. Three more men have doubtless been arrested ere this, as the officers were in search of them last evening. In addition, sev- enteen men were also taken yesterday in Cincinnati on the same charge, and other arrests were to be made in several places.
Another report was as follows:
An extraordinary case of treason has recently come to light, implicating several persons in this city, Columbus, Covington, and Newport in a conspiracy to release the Rebel prisoners at Camp Chase and overthrow the State government.
The conspiracy was brought to light by United States de- tectives, who were supposed by the parties to be spies from the Rebel army and were treated with full confidence. The plot as declared to the detectives was that an attack would be made on Camp Chase, the prisoners (three thousand five hundred in num- ber) released, and the arsenal at Columbus seized. It was also planned to take possession of the penitentiary, release John Mor- gan and other officers confined there, and then to commence a Rebel campaign in Ohio.
United States Marshal Sands and Provost Marshal Piany arrest- ed the persons implicated in the plot: Charles W. H. Cathcart. of Columbus, School Commissioner ; Mr. Cressup, of Columbus. and formerly a sutler in the Eighteenth Regulars, who were to lead the attack on Camp Chase ; James D. Patton, of Covington, a regular agent of the Rebel government, who frequently fur- nished money to detectives under the impression that they were spies, and, according to agreement, met Carthcart and others at Camp Chase and assisted in maturing the plans for the attack ; Ruth McDonald, of Covington, who acted as mail carrier through the Rebel lines, and whose house was headquarters of the Rebels : Samuel P. Thomas, a merchant tailor. of Cincinnati, his wife, and Catharine Parmenter. of Cincinnati, from whom information was obtained that an organization exists in Illinois, waiting for the
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outbreak in Ohio to produce similar results in that State. Other particulars are known to the authorities, but not yet made public.
The arrested parties were kept in prison a short time and ad- mitted to bail. While the report of the detectives was sensational and caused no little excitement in the State, there was nothing done in the matter and all were finally released.
In 1865 there was a commission appointed by Governor Brough, of Ohio, to consider and allow claims for damages to citizens on account of the Morgan raid. The amount allowed came to $576,225. The sum asked for was $678,915. It was claimed that Morgan damaged the people of Ohio to the amount of $493,372. The other damage came from United States and the militia forces that followed the. Morgan command.
The peace Democrats of Southern Ohio and Indiana welcomed General Morgan gladly in most cases, and did not fail to tell him that they were his true friends. The General, ever polite and gallant, smiled upon them, but did not hesitate to take their horses. The most rampant hater of secession did not fare worse than did these men who told their friendship. Some of the Gen- eral's men, more diplomatic than their leader, usually replied that if they were as friendly as they claimed they should willingly fur- nish a few horses. When the commission was appointed to pass upon the claims for damages, these men were promptly on hand with an itemized bill of the damages inflicted by the enemy.
There appeared in the Northern papers of July 8, 1864, an item in which three of General Morgan's men figured. The dispatch stated that a United States steamer took to New York thirty-one prisoners captured on board. the prize steamer Thistle. a vessel captured while attempting to run the blockade at Wilmington, N. C. The prisoners made claim that they were British subjects, and twenty-eight of them were discharged by Marshal Murray under instructions from the War Department relating to foreign subjects violating the blockade. The remaining three, whose names were James Crowders, Charles Drake, and J. D. Allison, were discovered to be Kentuckians, formerly prisoners at Camp Chase, who had escaped and made their way to Canada. They proceeded by way of Halifax to Nassau, and from there they sailed for Wilmington, N. C. These facts were elicited by the closest examination, for the prisoners possessed great shrewdness
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and ability. They were taken to Fort Lafayette, from where it was considered more difficult to escape than from Camp Chase.
On May 18, 1865, the Columbus papers told about the depar- ture of hundreds of Confederate prisoners for their homes. Up to that time 538 were exchanged, or rather given transportation, after taking the oath of allegiance. From the Ist of May to the 18th 1,870 prisoners had been discharged, and there were left about 3,400. All of this number were anxiously awaiting their turns to go, with the exception of fourteen who refused to take the oath of allegiance. On June 20 there were less than fifty Confederate prisoners remaining in Camp Chase. All the others had returned to their homes in the South.
When the last Southern soldier had left Camp Chase, there arrived forty-five men from Little Rock, Ark., bound for the Ohio penitentiary. The prisoners had been sentenced by court- martial for various offenses, none of which were political. They were charged with larceny, burglary, and assault with intent lu kill. There were one Confederate captain, forty-two enlisted men, two citizens, and the guerrilla, Cyrus Chappel, who had been sentenced to be hanged, but whose sentence was commuted to ten years' imprisonment in the penitentiary.
CHAPTER XIII.
AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS.
The Intercepted Letters Found in the Ohio State House by State Li- brarian Galbreath-Some of the Letters Photographed-Some Letters from Down South-List of Letters Not Used in This Volume -- His- tory of Mrs. Clark, by Her Son, Frank P. Clark.
WHEN the work of preparing the history of Camp Chase was almost completed, Mr. C. B. Galbreath, State Librarian, was kind enough to send the following letter to the author :
COLUMBUS, OHIO, August 30, 1904.
Dear Colonel Knauss.
I am pleased to learn that you are having prepared a history of the Confederate prisons of Ohio. Permit me to invite your at- tention to a collection of manuscript letters in the State Library that may be of service to you.
When the material of the library was classified and rearranged, these letters were discovered in a place where they had evidently lain unmolested for years in dust and obscurity. Upon examina- tion, most of them were found to have been written by Confed- erate prisoners at Camp Chase. They were transferred to our manuscript department, where they will be permanently pre- served.
I do not know how the letters originally came into the posses- sion of the library. I have read only a few of them. In the hope that among them may be found something of interest to the numerous readers of your forthcoming volume, I take pleasure in offering you for reference use this manuscript collection.
Very truly yours.
State Librarian.
That there are those living to-day who wrote some of these letters is presumed. The sons and daughters of many others are
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AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS.
doubtless living ; and surely a letter so long buried in the mystery that surrounds these would be of rare interest. How they came to be put away in a sort of lumber room in the State House at Columbus, no one knows. One thing is certain : they were never kept from the South by orders of Governor Tod, who was a most humane man and who extended every courtesy to the prisoners possible. It is unwritten history in Ohio that he was defeated for nomination for a second term because of his humanity-not simply to the Southern prisoners, but to the boy in the ranks who by bravery earned promotion. Many rich and influential fam- ilies appealed in vain to Governor Tod to give commissions to their sons at the expense of the brave boys who had risked their lives on the battlefields.
Interesting as these are, only a portion of them can be used. As will be observed, the letters not published were gone over and addresses given when it was possible to do so. This is done that any survivor of the prison not mentioned by letter, and whose name appears in the list of unpublished letters, can write for a copy of same by giving the number of the letter.
It is fitting, therefore, that the letters found after so many years be herein introduced. The first is from the gallant officer, so kindly alluded to by Colonel Barbier, Thomas J. Carruthers, Lieutenant of Heavy Artillery :
CAMP CHASE, PRISON NO. 3, COLUMBUS, OHIO, April 20, 1862.
Rev. John K. Harrison.
MY DEAR FRIEND: You may be surprised at hearing from me away up here, but the fortunes of war are varied. I am at least a prisoner of war-was surrendered at Island No. 10, of which surrender you have doubtless heard. I was sick, but am now much better. I was making my escape with seven or eight of our com- pany to a farmhouse. The whole command was surrendered the same night.
I do not know what became of brother and the balance of the company. I would like much to hear from him. He may be here, as there are more of the Island No. 10 prisoners in the other prisons-there being three separate prisons, numbered 1, 2, and 3. We had a terrible time of it on the island. I know you must have stirring times about Jackson. We get the papers in here every day. We fare very well-are well cared for, have plenty to eat and good houses to stay in. This prison contains three acres, inclosed with a high plank wall, on which the senti-
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE. .
nels walk. There are about eight hundred prisoners here. We are not permitted to go outside; we can get anything we want, though. The people are kind and accommodating. Tell our friends we are not suffering. I should like to write you a long letter, but the rules forbid. Mrs. Clark, a sister of the Moons, of Memphis, will take this across the lines to Richmond.
God bless you, my Christian friend !
Your friend, THOS. J. CARRUTHERS, Lieutenant. 7
In some of the letters severe criticisms upon the course pursued by General Mackall, the commander of Island No. 10, in regard to the surrender were made, and in others his course was defend- ed. Lieut. J. T. Menefee, of the First Alabama Infantry, wrote :
CAMP CHASE, April 20, 1862.
Dear Father :
As you are aware, I am a prisoner of war. We endured much and suffered much, and I have been sick, quite sick; given up to die with cramp colic; but am still living, thank God! I hope to be entirely well in a few days. Captain Rush and Lieutenant Listrunk are here with me.
The company was sent to Chicago. We were not allowed to tell them good-by. This was attributable to hurry, and not in- humanity, on the part of our enemies. The separation occurred at New Madrid. We accomplished everything General Beaure- gard expected, and that was to hold in check a large column of the enemy. This we did for eight weeks. We are here without clothing except that upon our backs, and also without money to buy what we need.
They feed us well, but sick men want something else besides what we draw. If there is any chance to get us gold. I wish you, B. Rush, and B. Campbell, who is Listrunk's friend, would ar- range with Hon. D. Clopton to do so. I send you herewith au- thority to draw sufficient to buy, say, fifty dollars in gold for me.
Kiss my little boy and see that he is well trained. God bless the poor little motherless and now almost fatherless fellow !
Your son,
J. T. MENEFEE.
CAMP CHASE, April 21, 1862.
Hon. David Clopton, Richmond, Va.
I hereby authorize and empower you to make out my pay ac- count from the 31st of December, '61, to the Ist of May, '62, and in my name draw the same from the Confederate States of America.
1
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This I hope you will do, as I need the money. Your kindness in this will add to the obligations I am always under.
Respectfully,
J. T. MENEFEE, First Lieutenant First Ala. Regt. Attest : C. C. KNOWLES, Lieutenant ; J. W. RUSH, Captain.
Capt. Jackson, of the First Alabama, has a few words to say about the battle at Fort Donelson to the Hon. David Clopton, a Senator or Representative at Richmond :
Hon. David Clopton.
CAMP CHASE, April 22, 1862.
SIR: I was surrendered with ninety-six men, all from Ala- bama, and we are now confined in prison for the want of general- ship upon our part. I am sorry to say that we were badly out- generaled at Fort Donelson. We have comfortable quarters and good rations, and we are very kindly treated. We all are in good health. I want you to write to my father, William Jackson, and tell him that I am well. Write to Erin, Ga., Pike County; also G. W. Jackson, the same address. And I want you to send me some money.
When I was taken prisoner I had but little money ; and now I have not one dollar; and if you will send me some, call upon William Jackson. Erin, Tallapoosa. County, Ala., eighteen miles north of Dadeville, at Newsite ; or you can hold my wages in the army, which is now $500. I am sure we could get the money that way. This lady (Mrs. Clark) is doing all she can for our comfort. I wish you to do all you can to have us exchanged. My home is at Newsite, Tallapoosa. Examine the records at Richmond and you will find my company upon the records.
I do not know whether you will ever get this, but I think Mrs. Clark will carry it to Richmond ; but you may be at home.
Truly yours, J. P. JACKSON, Captain.
Mr. William Jackson.
CAMP CHASE, April 22, 1862.
MY DEAR FATHER : There is a kind lady by the name of Mrs. Clark going to Richmond from here, and I hope you may get my letter. I am sorry to say to you. father, that I am a prisoner of war, but proud that I am well and hearty and weigh more than you ever saw me. The disadvantage that I labor under is my clothes are all too small for me. We have good quarters and good rations and very kind treatment.
I would like if you would go to Alabama and look after iny family ; and if they will go, I want you to move them to Georgia. as I can't tell when I will get home, but when I do get there I will have money to pay for all they consume. I think it best for my family to move to Georgia.
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
After three days' hard fighting at Donelson, we were compelled to surrender. I had only one man killed in my company. Our loss was great, and I never want to see another battlefield. It was fearful to me to look over the field and see the blood run from my fellow-man. I felt the wind of many a bullet, but fortunately escaped unhurt. We were in the heat of the battle. and my company bore the colors. I would write more, but I do not want to trouble Governor Tod to read so much, as he is kind enough to let us write. He is very much of a gentleman and very kind to us. May God bless you and family !
J. P. JACKSON, Captain.
DEAR WIFE: This is the first chance I have had to write you. and I don't know whether this will go through. I am well and hearty, so well that my clothes are getting too small for me. I think I shall weigh two hundred by the time I get home. The health of my company is good. We have plenty of good rations here, and are well treated. I want you to attend to my business the best you can until I get home. I can't tell anything about when that may be. Rear our children for God and our country ; and if I never see you any more, tell them to think well of their father.
I think it would be the best thing to sell all my effects except the land and go to Georgia and live there until I get home. Do just as you think best. Kiss the children for me.
J. P. JACKSON, Captain.
Prisoner of War.
CAMP CHASE, COLUMBUS, OHIO.
General .Curnes.
DEAR COUSIN : Knowing the uncertainty of the country mails in Dixieland, I address you, hoping you may communicate to my father's family the following intelligence : that I am a prisoner of war at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio; surrendered at Fort Don- elson. All the officers of our regiment are with me. The pri- vates were sent to Springfield, Ill. All were well at the last account. Basnet Cracey is with them, and well. We enjoy pris- on life better than I expected; our only uneasiness is in regard to our friends at home. I have written several letters home, but have received no assurance that any of them reached their des- tination.
I want for nothing here and am enjoying excellent health. Have a prospect, through the influence of Kentucky friends, of a parole of honor. but I may not succeed. Please transmit the above to my father, and write me.
Yours,
JOHN G. HALL.
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AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS.
The following letter to a prisoner at Camp Chase is of interest, but the name of the prisoner is unknown, as the letter simply uses his Christian name. The envelope by some means was lost. The Dr. Hoge mentioned in the letter was an eminent divine, a man known far and near for his learning as well as his Christian graces. He was at that time pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Columbus. His death occurred in 1864:
DOBBS FERRY, N. Y., July 25, 1862.
DEAR ROBERT : Some three weeks ago we heard that you had been wounded and taken prisoner at Shiloh. I wrote immediately to Chicago and to Louisville, but could hear nothing from you. This morning, in a letter by Wilson Bruce, I found that you are at Columbus, Ohio.
I hope you were not seriously wounded and are now recovering. You should have written to us at once. To-day I write Dr. Hoge, of Columbus, to see you and do what he can to make you com- fortable. Write, if possible, by return mail and let us know par- ticularly how you are and if you are in need of anything we can supply. If you are capable of being moved and could be lib- erated on parole, come here, and we will gladly do all we can to niake you well.
We heard from Mobile, through Mr. Bargett, about a month ago. He and Mrs. Bargett left Mobile about the 13th of May 10 run the blockade. They were captured by a United States vessel and brought to New York. They were most kindly treated by the United States officers and were at once liberated. When the Bargetts left Mobile your father and mother were quite well. They do not know much about the children. All the women and children who could get away were sent from the city to the country. Your Aunt Sarah will close this note.
Yours truly,
W. MEIKLE.
DEAR ROBBY: We were so sorry to hear you were wounded. Our great desire is to get you to our home to nurse you, if you can possibly be moved. We will send you the money to bring you on, if you can come.
I thought of going to see General Scott, if he could do any- thing for you; you know he was an old friend of your grand- father's. I do hope, Robby, you will keep up a good heart ; your mother's prayers, which are many, will surely be answered, and God will take care of you. I have but a few moments to send this to the post office.
Your affectionate
AUNT SARAH.
10
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
1
Few letters of the many found in the lumber room at the Ohio Statehouse contain more genuine pathos than the one written by Lieut. P. L. Dotson to his wife in April, 1862. There is not a man in the North who may read this letter but will wish that the Lieutenant returned safely to this good wife, Mary, and "Lit- tle Bob."
The swiftly flying years have left age marks on little Bob, if he be living, and it would afford no little pleasure to those who made this late reading of his father's letter possible if he should find it in this volume.
From Lieut. P. L. Dotson, Company D, Twentieth Regiment, Mississippi Volunteers, Prisoner of War, to Mary W. Dotson, Brooksville, Miss .:
DEAR WIFE: I take this opportunity to write to you. This leaves me well, and I hope it may find you well also. O, I want to see you so much! I have thought that I wanted to see you be- fore, but I did not know anything about it. I hope I will see you and my sweet little Bob one of these days. Here the days seem as long as months, but if I were with you all would be right.
I feel happy sometimes when I think I have done my duty; but when I look around on my condition, and know that I am so far from you and little Bob my heart sinks. It is not so hard to be a prisoner, after all, for we get plenty to eat and are treated very well. O, I hope it will work out right, whether for our good or not. I think I will end my days with you, whom I prize dearer than my life. O, Mary, it sends a thrill of happiness to my soul to think I will be with you by and by! Be of good cheer; there is a better day coming. Although I am in prison, I have much fun. We play marbles and the boys fiddle and do anything to keep our spirits up, or do anything amusing, and so don't be un- easy. I think I will get home in July, and then I will stay with you for some time. I have been in camp and in a fight that lasted nearly a week, and now I am in Camp Chase; and when I get out of this, I will return, I hope, to stay with you. I always found in my Mary a kind and good wife; and O, if I could be with you to-day and go to church with you! It can't be happi- ness to you, sweet one, to go there and not see your own dear boy sitting in his own easy way close by you and little Bob.
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