USA > Texas > Prison life in Texas : an account of the capture and imprisonment of a portion of the 46th Regiment, Indiana Veteran Volunteers in Texas > Part 6
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appeared to be greatly pleased. She said her husband was themselves up. She gave them permission to remain, and tired and hungry, and that they were desirous to give 10 AWAY DOWN IN TEXAS
they could go over and see him in the morning. She then a Captain and had cominand of Lake Charles, and that
In the center of the table was a large dish filled with well was furnished with a plate, a knife, and a tin full of water. readiness in a very few minutes. Each place at the table set about preparing supper, which she announced was in
prepared hominy. This was, indeed, a RECHERCHE dish for the exhausted fugitives, and right heartily did they par- take of it. A short time after supper they . were shown to bed. : The couch was a small "trundle bed," such as are oc- cupied by our children. It was too short by several feet
During the night a large cat annoyed Hartlerode. He put men soon fell into deep, sweet sleep upon its easy bosom. for the new occupants. Nevertheless the tired, worn out
the impudent creature off the bed several times in a gentle
manner. It still persisted in returning until his patience
was exhausted, when he seized it and hurled it violently against the wall. It troubled him no more after that. The
travelers felt considerably recuperated in the morning af-
soon as they were out of sight, however, they pursued their by a lad, who directed them in a road to Lake Charles. As fast on water and hominy, they were ferried across a stream ter a hearty supper, a good night's rest and a capital break-
course northward in the direction of their destination.
Shaffer had improved greatly on the fare of the last twelve
and energies. They soon came upon another stream. Here hours, and the two journeyed onward. with renewed hopes
hungry, they now stopped, built a fire and parched their river, they were in sight of Lake Charles. Being tired and what little baggage they had upon it. After crossing the they made a raft out of brush and placed their clothing and
corn, their daily food. On resuming their journey, they
all night. The next day, about two o'clock in the after- passed along to the left of the lake, continuing to travel
thing in order was to sleep. Shaffer chose his bed near a neath the cool and refreshing shade of the grove. The first and pleasant that they concluded to take a good rest be- the bosom of a lovely prairie. The spot seemed so inviting noon, they came to a very pretty fine grove, situated upon
DURING THE GREAT REBELLION. 11
path that meandered through the woods. Hartlerode re- monstrated against the idea of falling asleep so near the pathway, fearing that some one might pass along and dis- cover them. Of course, their capture would have been easy, especially if they had been come upon while asleep. Hartlerode, therefore, chose a resting place several rods distant from the path. Little did he dream on laying down to take that sleep, that on awakening thereupon he should find himself solitary and alone, deserted by his comrade,
toward whom he had been so kind and faithful, and who had shared with him the perils and sufferings of the long, tiresome journey thus far! Perfidy is base and infernal at all times, but when it shows its gorgon head in a boon com- panion, one in whom we have placed confidence, and who we cherished and rated above all others, it becomes inde- scribably cruel and contemptible! A few moments after
sleep. Whether Shaffer allowed himself to go to sleep we laying down, Hartlerode was locked fast in a deep, sound
know not. All we know is, that after sleeping soundly for several hours, Mr. H. awoke, jumped to his feet and pro- ceeded to arouse his, as he supposed sleeping companion, when, MIRABILE! he was gone! Imagine the thoughts and 'feelings of the lone man! What had become of his compan- ton? Had he been carried off? After a little deliberation, this did not appear at all probable. He too would surely have been discovered in his close proximity, had there been an enemy there! Then the suspicion of DESERTION, aye, TREASON, entered his mind. He called loudly, but no an- swer came from the savage solitude, not even an echo to his own trembling, forlorn voice! Alone, and about one hundred and twenty-five miles distant from the lines of the Union army, without food and no raiment, only a few rags upon his person, is it at all surprising that he broke down,
Shaffer had taken all the salt and matches with him, so that and gave vent to his despondency in hot, bitter tears!
the solitary refugee had not even the means to season and cook his food or warm his naked, shivering body! Ho soon collected himself, however, and after a little search he dis- covered the foot-prints of his false-hearted comrade. He started in hot pursuit, entertaining a faint-hope that he might perhaps overtake him. Thus was an eager squad of four reduced to one despondent, almost desperate plodder.
12 AWAY DOWN IN TEXAS
About sunset he came upon a highway, and then too he discovered the crooked tracks of the deserter. Onward he hastened until he became exhausted, but still no Shaffer appeared to view, far out-distancing his pursuer, he being a very rapid walker. All night the lonely, sorely stricken Hartlerode jogged slowly along as best he could, keeping the road. Just at daylight he discovered where Shaffer had left the highway. He took the same direction, traveling as briskly as he could. In the evening he struck the road again, and, lo, there was Shaffer's tracks plainly discerni- ble once more! About three o'clock in the afternoon, or morning rather, he reached Vermillionville, Louisiana, and on the suburbs of that town he lost all traces of Shaffer, As he lost sight of the deserter's last tracks, be assured he
sent no blessings after the heartless, faithless one, nor can he ever recall his name without feelings of disgust and con-
passed around the town, and on gaining the road again, tempt. : Hartlerode had slept none since deserted by his companion, and had lived on sweet potatoes alone. He
about a mile beyond, so exhausted was he that he fell pros- trated by the road-side and went to sleep. On awakening and regaining his feet, he discovered a guard but a short distance allead, guarding a pontoon bridge across Vermill- ion Bayou. He unobservedly gained the bank and passed down several hundred yards, when he crossed over. "Sev- eral horses were hitched at this point, which fact suggested to our hero the propriety of making as speedy and quiet a
decampment of the place as was practicable and possible, A twenty-two mile prairie now spread itself out before our journier, across which he proceeded to tread his way wear- ily. About eight o'clock he espied a horseman approach-
ing at a galloping rate. Here was a serious dilemma! Was the rider a friend or foe? Prudence is always the better part of valor, so thoughit Hartlerode at that momont at least. He quickly threw himself upon the ground and rap- idly rolled his body over and over for about fifty yards and crawled into a cluster of hazel brush, crouching as low as possible. The horseman rode up to the spot where he had
him. Then he started, looking and searching closely on observed the figure of a man and stopped, looking all about $ 1
every hand, evidently deeply perplexed about the myste- rious, if not to him miraculous, disappearance of what he no
1
€
DURING THE GREAT REBELLION. 13
doubt felt certain was a man. He carried an Enfield rifle, which he, without a doubt, would have called into dreadful service lad he discovered the crouching, trembling, almost naked fugitive. The heart of the poor soldier must have throbbed hot and violently in his throat as he momentarily ¿expected to be discovered. How hard it must have seemed, after all the terrible sufferings endured, to be shot like a low dog on that desolate prairie, there to die and rot "unknown, lost for all time to the knowledge of his dear ones at home! Can there be severer pain than the terrible pangs experienced at such awful moments? We think not. Sweet was the deeply drawn sigh and breath of relief our hero breathed when he beheld the dreaded rider disappear in the distance, and lengthy and rapid were the strides he made to get a safer locality. An old house soon appeared, to which he repaired. It was vacant and dilapidated. Two planks laid in the loft. He drew them together and made a bed thereon. Here he rested the remainder of the day, without food or water, his supply of sweet potatoes having been exhausted. At dark he resumed his tramp, pursuing his way unmolested until he reached a point within three or four miles of New Iberia, where he met a party of rebel soldiery under command of a Colonel. A number of wagons were following after. Here was another ordeal to pass through. There was no time to deliberate or lay plans. 'The emergency had to be met right off, and that most boldly. On coming up, the officer stopped, which was the signal for his whole command to halt. "Hartlerode ad- dressed him first, accosting him with a loose, jolly bravado. "Good night, Colonel."
The officer responded dryly :--
"Good night."
Hartlerode inquired, in the same presumptuous man- ner :-
"Where are you going this time of night?" to which the officer replied:
"We are falling back!"
"What's the matter?" persisted Hartlerode.
"The yank's are coming up again," replied the Colonel, moving on as if fearful of an attack. He then asked Har- tlerode where he was going, he replying that he was bound . for Franklin, a town about twenty-five miles distant. He
14 AWAY DOWN IN TEXAS
then demanded his name, Hartlerode giving him his proper name. The next question was :-
"Where have you been ?"
Hartlerode told him that he had been confined in prison for a long time, and was now on his way home for some rest and clothing.
"What regiment do you belong to?" was next asked.
"General Green's old regiment," was the reply. This was a rebel regiment, with which Hartlerode was ac- quainted in Texas, the most of the members thereof, thanks to good fortune, being citizens of the county or parish in which this colloquy was taking place.
"Oh, yes; I know some of the boys in that regiment," and the Colonel moved on, telling Hartlerode that he had bet- ter hurry on home, or the yanks would beat him there.
"I'll conceal myself until they pass through," he replied. "Oh, yes," were the last words of the Colonel, to which Hartlerode gayly responded :- "Good night, Colonel!"
The rebel soldiers were jubilant and frolicsome as he passed them, some yelling "How are you, Sam," they tak- ing him for a negro, so begrimmed and filthy was he in ap- pearance. Thus was this dilemma happily and safely passed, and he pursued his way in better spirits, hoping soon to meet the "yankees," his friends and brothers-in-arms. In this he was disappointed, however. He reached Frank- lin about four o'clock in the morning, passing on the right of the town through the woods, travelling very slowly and cautiously. On and still on he plodded his tedious way, about prostrated with hunger, for five days and nights had passed without anything to eat but a few raw sweet pota- toes. One night he met a negro on a gray horse, and after saluting him, entreated him for something to eat, assuring him that he was almost starved to death. The negro de- clared that he could give him nothing, as he could not pos- sibly get food for his own family. Hartlerode then told him that he had suffered a long and cruel imprisonment; that he was a Union soldier, and that he was now endeav- oring to reach his home again. His sad story aroused the sympathies of the colored man. He jumped from his horse and thoroughly surveyed the traveler. When he saw that the legs of his pantaloons and the sleeves of his coat and shirt were completely worn and torn off, that the balance
DURING THE GREAT REBELLION. 15
of his raiment was nothing but filthy rags, and that his body was lacerated and bleeding, the effects of thorns, brush &c., through which he had traveled, the negro could resist tlie plea no longer, and he invited Hartlerode to go with him. He led the way to a large oak tree not far dis- tant and told him to remain there under it until he re- turned. Fearing that he might deceive or betray him, Hartlerode placed himself in a position so that he could observe his movements. His cabin was not far off, and soon the stove began to rattle. This welcome sound had the effect of allaying all fears and suspicions in Hartle- rode's mind, and he returned to the tree as directed and patiently awaited the return of the negro. In about an hour and a half he made his appearance with a huge piece of piping, smoking hot sweet corn-bread, three or four pounds of fresh beef and some sweet potatoes, and cheer- fully bade the worn, hungry soldier to partake thereof. Never was a meal more heartily relished, or partaken of with deeper, sincerer gratitude. After finishing his meal, the negro carefully packed the food that was left and insisted on Hartlerode taking it with him, declaring that he had plenty for himself and family. When Hartlerode gave the colored man good-bye, he wept like a child, expressing his determination to accompany him. He had formed in his . own mind many glorious castles and had painted many sub- lime pictures of the
"Happy land of freedom" .
Away up in the North, and he had now, once for all, re- : solved to go to that happy domain. Hartlerode advised him to remain with his family a little longer, telling him that the negroes would soon all be set at liberty, and that he could take his family with him then. This pacified him somewhat, but the tears were still flowing as Hartlerode gave him good-bye, and set out upon his journey. The next important point gained was Patterson. A detach- ment of rebel soldiers was quartered here. There was no way to pass but directly through the town. Here was truly another serious difficulty to surmount. How to do it suc- cessfully, was the perplexing question. An old railroad grade passed directly through the place, and the side ditches were filled with a tall, rank growth of sickle-grass. Here was an opportunity, a severe and tedious one, how-
16
AWAY DOWN IN TEXAS
ever. The severity of ordeals has no terror to those who are struggling for "dear life." "Is there a CHANCE for nie
to survive, if I pass through it?" is the only question asked
by the victims. Hartlerode was quick to avail himself of this only chance of escape and safc passage through the town. Down in the ditch he got, and crawled on his hands and knees through the sharp, knife-like sickle-grass for a
distance of three-fourthis of a mile, all the while within speaking distance of the enemy. The passage was success-
fully made, however, a grand triumph of perseverance and
determination. A while before he had marched proudly
and victoriously through the enemies' land, now he was
stealing out of it on his hands and knecs, almost as naked
as at his birth, and nearly as weak and helpless from star-
vation. The severe toil, the deep gashes cut by the sharp grass, and the terrible feelings of anxiety and fear that rent and convulsed him, caused the sweat to pour from his fore-
head, but, thank God, when he sprang to his feet HE STOOD
BEYOND THE ENEMIES' LINES! He wiped the sweat from his face (and can we not safely say there were tears of joy com-
mingled with it?) within the lines of the glorious Union
nied his last look back over the country through which he army. What a great degree of hate must have accompa-
blame him if bitter imprecations dropped from his lips al- course with his life-blood for hundreds of miles! Can we had thus crawled, crouched and suffered, marking his
most at the same moment that the prayer of joy and grati-
tnde for his deliverance was breathed forth? Surely not. .But a few miles intervened now between him and the Union
army. Be assured they were as speedily traversed as his wounded and tired limbs could carry him. Can any one
imagine what his feelings were on entering the Union camp once again. after such a long and painful absence! True,
he was not approaching and joining his old comrades and
acquaintances, those with whom he had enlisted and
fought and from whose midst the cruel fate of war had torn
him, but he knew that he was amid friends, brothers-in ~~
which he had suffered and endured so much. Thou; of the same glorious Union, the same beloved country, f. arms, who were there to defend and fight for the integri
wearing the appearance of a dirty savage, he was most co dially welcomed by the soldiers whom he joined. He h
17
DURING THE GREAT REBELLION.
nothing on his body at all to hide his nakedness but a small filthy rag about the pelvis, and his body was literally lacerated and cut to pieces, huge drops of blood trickling down from the deep gashes. Surely such an object of pity would call forth the warmest sympathies and generosity from even the most disinterested heart, especially when the deplorable condition was brought about in the patri- otic defense of cur loved land.
From the dire effects of this long and terrible tramp, Mr. Hartlerode has as not yet recovered, nor is it at all possi- ble that he ever will fully recover therefrom. After his re- joining the army nothing remarkable occurred during the balance of his term of enlistment, which he served out, that is worthy of notice above that of the many thousands who served with him in the ranks. What we have written con- cerning his escape from prison and the terrible sufferings and daring adventures of his lengthy and obscure route of escape, we caught from his own tongue and from his inti- mate friends and acquaintances. In personal address, Mr. Hartlerode is pleasing. In stature he is ordinary, complex- ion and hair light, voice weak and speech faltering, cast of features sharp, demeanor quiet and unassuming, and his morals are above reproach or question. We have passed his quiet little home, situated about three miles south-west of Winamac, Indiana, where he now resides, several times, and judge from the orderly arrangement of outward things about his home. that he lives comfortably and happy. No doubt he has spent many an interesting hour with his little family in recounting to them portions of the thrilling narrative we have attempted to give in the preceeding pages, with the hope of interesting many kind readers. May our hero live long and may just honors ever be shown him for the noble part he played in the great tragedy-THE PRESERVATION OF THE UNION!
Little need be said of the fate of the three comrades who fell by the wayside. Smack, the first to fail fell into the hands of the rebels at the house he sought shelter, the occu- pants being rebels. He remained at the house for several - days and was then taken back to Camp Groce, where he remained until paroled. Murphy was more fortunate in that the occupants of the house where he stopped proved to be Union people, who treated him very kindly. He re
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AWAY DOWN IN TEXAS
mained with them for five days, when he felt strong enough to resume his journey, but just as he was about to start, a squad of rebel soldiers chanced to come up, who, of course, took him prisoner. He too was returned to Camp Groce, where he remained until paroled. Shaffer, the deserter, after travelling several days, his guilty conscience no doubt preying heavily upon him, became wholly discouraged and prostrated. He proceeded to a house that chanced to be on his route, occupied by a rebel family, and here gave himself up to the rebel authorities, and was also returned to Camp Groce, where he remained until paroled.
HECKMAN BINDERY INC. MAR 94 Bound -To -Please N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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