These memoirs are in the archival collections of the Plymouth Historical Society, Plymouth, Michigan. I am very grateful to Beth Stewart, the director of the museum for giving permission to use them on this site. I am also indebted to Diane Dismukes who was kind enough to type them for me..
The spelling, grammar and sentence structure are substantially as written. I am considering editing the document for clarity, however. I think that breaking the document down into smaller paragraphs would make it easier to read. If you agree, please send email to the address at the bottom of the page.
March 16, 1906.
At the earnest request of my dearest of friends, Rev. A.W. Stalker and for the interest it may be to my children and their descendants I write this, a brief history of my life for the few months preceding and for the three years spent as a soldier during the War of the Rebellion. I do this realizing that much that might be written that would be of interest must of necessity be omitted for even a brief outline of a soldier's life for three years most of which was spent in active service would occupy more space than I could devote to it. History will tell far better than I can that April 1861 brought with it the opening of hostilities by the firing by the South upon Fort Sumpter in Charleston Harbor. At this time I was a boy just past seventeen but I well remember the feeling of determination that came to me as well as to so many thousands of others that a government so great and good as ours should not thus be destroyed. At this time though much desiring it I could not see my way clear to go and take an active part in the strife that proved to be of so much greater duration than we thought possible In July the first great battle of the War was fought, that of Bull Run. As a battle of great disaster; but it served to more fully unite the North in a determination to carry on the War to its bitter end. Unprepared as we were, perhaps, we in some measure might have expected somewhat of the series of defeats that came to our armies during the remainder of the summer of 1861.
During the winter of 1861 and 1862 the two great armies were organized one in the West under Grant and the other, the Army of the Potomac, under McClellan of Washington; and it is to this that I shall mostly confine myself because of the fact that a few months later on I too had a share in its victories or defeats as the case might be: We at home had great hopes as to what the opening Campaign in the spring of '62 should bring to our forces but the months dragged slowly by and it was nearly midsummer before active operations were well begun and then instead of victories for which we had hoped there came to our forces upon the peninsula a crushing defeat - : Perhaps never during the four years of war was the North so shaken. The call for help from the front was loud indeed and the ties that bound me at home were no longer sufficient to keep me. A Wayne County Regiment was called the 24th Michigan: Together with my parents I went to Plymouth upon the afternoon of that day and there enrolled my name together with nearly one hundred others as a member of C Co. A few of these boys I already knew but the great majority of them were strangers to me but they proved with few exceptions to be noble characters and who became friends tried and true. It is with sadness that I recall them as I remember how they dropped out of our lives from Antietam to the final surrender. Many died upon the field, other mortally wounded in various hospitals. Many with wounds less severe were discharged and came home and with a large number of these I have enjoyed a life long friendship.
We enlisted on Aug. 5th and upon the 8th we were to report in Detroit to join the other companies then being formed. The 15th we were mustered into the United States service and were then subject to call outside the state. According to agreement we were then given a ten day furlough and then returned home. I helped my father harvest his oats, had a couple of days to say good byes and then joined the company at Plymouth which was taken by four horse teams to Detroit where we went into camp where for a few days daily drill was our chief occupation. Time was precious. Our armies still meeting with reverses and the call for troops urgent. We were hurriedly ordered to the front and on the afternoon of August 29th we took boats for Cleveland - Our journey to Washington was somewhat hindered but we arrived there Sept - 1st. There we were to see something of the reality of war for upon filing down near the long bridge we were lotted to allow a train of Ambulances filled with wounded to pass and after crossing the bridge a long train of flat cars rolled slowly by loaded with the torn bodies of those who only a couple of days before had like ourselves had their faces forward the front. We can recall the greetings they gave us as they passed by. There duty was done ours only just begun but the sight was not an inspiring one and it was well that we could not look into the future and have known that this was only the first of many similar sights: A couple of days later found us at one of the largest of the outlying forts for the defense of Washington (Fort Lyon). This was only a few miles from Mount Vernon and privledged was given many of the boys to visit the grave of Washington. For some reason not now remembered I did not go but I think the attraction along that line was not sufficient to induce me to take the tramp.
At his time a great battle was being fought that of second Bull Run and Chantilly between our forces under McClellan and Pope and the Confederates under Lee with the usual result the defeat of our side: Lee then crossed the Patomac into Maryland and our Army having concentrated near Washington soon followed. The result being the battles of South Mountain and Antietam: We had been ordered to join our Army then in Maryland but a Mistake in the delivery of the order left us at Fort Shearer near Washington where we remained until Sept 29th: When we left to join our forces still near Antietam battle ground: By this time we were well drilled, the weaker members weeded our and gone either home or to hospital and now if ever we seemed fitted to perform our part in the coming Campaigns - Near Frederick City Maryland I saw in life that great Martyr Abraham Lincoln who from the rear platform of his train addressed a few words to the many soldiers who gathered both to see him and to hear him speak: The words if so be I was near enough to understand them have long since been forgotten but his was the same calm kindly face that after death I was privileged to look upon long months afterward = Near Dunkin Church the scene of some of Antietams hardest fighting we joined General Gibbons so called Iron Brigade. Near here were situated some of the largest field hospitals that I saw during my term of service. These were filled with those too badly wounded to be removed and here in long cool tents under the trees each lying upon his cot were hundreds of boys waiting for the strength to come that would enable them to be taken to their homes. Or upon the other hand true perhaps in a majority of cases waiting for the summons that should take them over the divide: Some of these hospitals were filled with those who wore the gray and here for the first time I saw the Confederate soldier in his uniform: It would occupy too much space to describe the marches and counter marches that at last on Dec. 13 found us under Burnside at Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock and here for the first time was to be a trial of the mettle of which we were made: Lee entrenched upon the heights could ask no greater advantage and the disorder that followed might well have been expected - Years afterward standing upon those heights and looking down to the river with its level plain which we upon that Dec. day occupied I could but wonder that our loss had not been greater: In killed and wounded we left behind over 13,000 men and the result a discouraged and almost demoralized Army!
We did not figure in the great infantry attacks and comparatively our loss was small being mostly from Artillery fire from which we had little or no shelter - Owing no doubt to Jealousy between Generals the whole great left wing of which we were a part was inactive giving the enemy every opportunity to mass against our center and crush it: The close of Dec. found us at Belle Plain near the Potomac and here upon one of the most uneven of hillsides we built ourselves hut to protect ourselves from the winter cold: Seemingly the result of December 13 and 14th battles was not enough to fully demonstrate Burnsides inability to handle so great an army and so upon Jan. 20th (my birthday) was inaugurated the greatest failure as a Campaign we were ever to know and from this time on designated as the Burnside Mud March ending however without any great battle: Three days and nights of continuous rain nearly submerged the army on its march and was the apparent reason of a failure of a movement in which at est there was little or no hope: For some time preceding this I had not been robust and only the utmost determination had I been able to keep my place in the ranks: Two days before we broke camp I was taken sick with what later on proved to be typhoid fever - The morning we marched I had a violent headache accompanied by bowel trouble and my Captain thinking me too sick to march advised me to go to the hospital - Hoping however that my sickness would wear away I did not go and started with the regiment but growing worse I could not keep up and drenched with rain dragged myself along - Two days afterward I came up with the Regiment which with the whole Army were then stalled in the road and under orders to all return to their old camp: By this time I was very sick and our Surgeon tried to find a place for me in an ambulance but owing to the great number who were sick was not successful and so I started back on foot: The first night I came to the camp of the third Michigan. They were all strangers to me but they took me in dried my clothing and tried as best they could to provide something that I might be able to eat. The morning found me no better and I ought not to have left their camp but a soldiers discipline was urging me on and so I left them for another attempt to get back to the old camp: The second night I lay alone under a brush heap in the woods and it was nearly night of the third day arrived at camp: Arrangements were being made to send out an ambulance and men to see if I could be found: I was carried to the field hospital in a blanket was taken in charge by our chief Surgeon and in a few weeks was in far better condition than before my sickness: The remainder of the winter at Belle Plains was passed in picket drill and guard duty. During the winter a box of goodies from home came to hand which well served their purpose. Other boys receiving theirs at different times which enabled us to divide and so receive much longer benefit: During the winter several of the boys in the Co. went home on furlough but this privilege being given only to those having wives at home was of no benefit to me. During the winter Lincoln Proclamation declaring all slaves fee in the states in rebellion became effective causing much comment both in and out of the Army: The spring of 1863 found me in fine shape and on April 25th came orders for our Colonel to take his and one other regiment and go down to Port Conway on the Rappahannock and cross over, the object being to try to deceive Lee and draw some of his forces down the river to this point - A 25 mile march that afternoon brought us opposite our destination where we lay in rain and mud until morning - A part then crossed in canvas boats which we had taken with us - A few horses and mules were secured, the river recrossed and night found us in our old camp. This movement was the prelude to the spring Campaign. Hooker now in command planned to cross the river some miles above Fredricksburg with the main army leaving our Corps to force a crossing of the river 2 miles below the city and hold all of Lees army possible at the point - 2 Regiments were selected to charge across the river the 6th Wisconsin and our own and this to be done in pontoon boats which w had to place in the river under a shower of bullets from the rifle pits on the opposite bank. I did no rowing during the crossing as I was standing with an arm full of guns belonging to the boys who were. We took the rifle pits and over 100 prisoners. Some loss but not great as our artillery shooting over our heads kept them down causing them to shoot too high. A boy from some other Regt. who had jumped in to make the crossing with us and who was sitting nearly upon my feet was hit in the head and instantly killed. While we were occupied here the main army had made its crossing and was fighting the battle of Chancellorsville about 14 miles above us. Here a portion of our army was badly defeated and couriers were hurriedly dispatched for our Corps. It was a night of hard fast marching but morning found us on the battle field but the reverses our arms had sustained was too great to be overcome and the Army was withdrawn to the North side of the river. Nearly all of our killed and wounded numbering over 16,000 were left behind and so another reverse was added to the already too numerous list - ! A large portion of the Army now went into their old camps but we took position on the North side of the river nearly opposite where we charged across and just far enough back to be out of cannon reach. There we lay for some time our camp named Camp Way after our Chaplain: Down the Peninsula between the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers many miles away lay a Regiment of our Cavalry. They had secured a great mound of plunder but by the crossing of the river by the enemies troops were in danger of loosing it: A hurry up order was given our Brigade to go to their relief. Light marching order and no weak men to attempt it: Our history for the following week would tell of some of the fastest marching we did during our time of service: This march was to us somewhat of the nature of a recreation and was replete with odd incidents and also served to relieve the country through which we passed of much in the line of table supplies. We brought back with us numerous pairs of blistered feet which for some days served to remind us of our outing: While our army this lay stretched along the north side of the river Lee had been making his preparation to invade the North and a reconnaissance revealed the fact that already the most of his troops had left their entrenchments and were upon their Northward march: We left Camp Way on the morning of June 12 commenced the march whose end was to be at Gettysburg 160 miles away. At noon upon this day we witnessed the death by shooting for desertion of a member of New York Regiment. One of the firing squad being a member of Co C. A most undesirable duty - We marched by the way of Bealton, Catlett and Centerville reaching the latter place in advance of Lee after a day and night. Soon leaving here still heading north we marched through Warrenton and Guilford. Then to Broad Run near Leesburgh where we remained nearly a week most of which I passed at an outlying picket post where I quite enjoyed myself. Chickens mutton and honey being quite plentiful - On the 25th we crossed the Potomac at Edwards Ferry still keeping between Lee and Washington - The 28th we were at Frederick City and upon the 30th crossed the Pennsylvania line and bivouacked for the night upon Marsh Creek - We all realized now we were very near the meeting point and the morning found us early astir. A short prayer was offered by the Chaplain. Fresh ammunition was issued and we took up the march upon the Gettysburg road now only six miles away = Suddenly with unloaded guns and unfixed bayonets we encountered the enemy - The command was given Regiment into line. This was for the purpose of getting from a marching column into battle line. Loading as we ran we came into formation burst aside their line of skirmishers and in front of Willobys Run encountered their line battle - Our line is not easily checked and we here capture the greater part of Archers Brigade - We then charge across the run and are halted in the field beyond for alignment: During this movement we have not escaped without serious loss. Our Corp Commander Reynolds in whom we so greatly trusted was killed at the onset: Our Regiment list of killed and wounded especially in officers is severe - From Co C several being killed or wounded among the former being our Color Bearer Abel G. Peck a man of middle age of fine physique and noble Christian character shot in the forehead by a sharpshooter when we struck their skirmish line. We were soon withdrawn across the run and formed new line of battle where we lay for nearly an hour when from the woods across the fields in front came line after line of gray clad men. It was a fine sight as with waving flags they came to the attack but it boded only ill to us who in MacPhersons Woods waited to receive them. It is only justice to both living and dead to say we fought them well. Time after time did we form line of battle only to be flanked and broken. The last of these formations being directly in front of the Seminary. Driven from this and with no organization whatever we gave up the fight and ran each man for himself to Cemetery Heights a mile in the rear where as men came in we formed new lines ready to again accept the gauge of battle: It was now about five in the afternoon and Lee apparently of our position gave up the pursuit: This was our salvation for had we continued the chase we most certainly would have lost the position. Here on Culps Hill the roll was called perhaps the saddest during our service = Morning roll call showed 496 men present at night only 99 answered to their names and of these only 6 from Co. C.: 9 men had been killed with the colors or on color guard and 23 new holes shot through the flag and its staff splintered nearly in two. Upon this hill we built rifle pits and during the night most of our absent corps came up and took position on either side of us: These works we occupied during the following two days our Brigade having but little serious fighting: These 2 were days of terrific fighting and great slaughter to most of our forces culminating on the afternoon of the third in the great charge upon our center by Pickets Division. The prelude of which was an artillery duel the like of which perhaps the world had never seen: This was Lees last attempt to break our lines and resulted only in failure: This battle did more to restore confidence in the North or to the final outcome of the war then did that of any single engagement during the entire conflict: From Gettysburg we slowly trailed Lee back to the Rappanhannock and during early fall two Corps left us to join the Western Army: Taking advantage of this Lee essayed a flank movement to uncover Washington: By close margin we gained the fortification at Centerville and Lee retraced his steps: No great battle but some very sharp scrimishing and hard marching: During about two weeks of this time I was detailed as guard on ammunition train a pleasant change as I had only my gun and accountuments to carry. From Centerville I was again with the company and we took up the chase of Lee across the Rapidan and Rapahanock rivers. November 26th under Meade we moved out to attack Lee on the south side of the Rapidan at Mine River. We failed to secure the desired position in time and in the end were glad to get back across the river without severe loss. Only one man wounded in the 24th. Dec found us building what proved to be our winter quarters at Culpepper: Another winter of drill and picket duty. Grant was now made Commander of all the Armies with head quarters with ours. Great efforts were made to recruit and organize the Army for the last great Campaign. We all felt that the greatest struggle of the war was now before us: W had at this time nearly 100,000 men and 250 guns but Lee had every advantage in position: Midnight of May 3rd we left our camp at Culpepper and marched for the Rapidan well knowing that just beyond lay Lees Army our objective point = We knew the character of the work laying so short a distance before us and we can still recall some of the remarks made as we marched along as to what to us would be the result of the Campaign: We crossed the Rapidan May 4th at Germanna Ford and advanced some distance toward the Wilderness and Bivouacked for the night - ! The morning of the 5th formed line of battle and advanced to the attack: No one can describe what followed. We fought in woods and brush and briars, broke their first line but soon encountered another. During this time our Regiment had lost heavily and many of Co. C.s men were killed or wounded: Owing to the dense nature of the trees and brush it was impossible to keep alignment and our Brigade fighting too fast lost its connection on the left and thus allowed the enemy to swing into our rear: I did not leave in time and when attempting to get to the rear ran directly into a Confederate line which left it a choice between being shot or taken prisoner: I shall only write of the main happenings that came to me from this time feeling that to be as brief as possible will make this narrative only too long: Passing to the Rebel rear I saw Lee as he sat upon his horse watching the tide of battle and still further on met the great Corps of Longstreet hastening up to the support of Ewell's broken lines. Soon we were halted and articles of value taken from us and then started on the march to Gordonville, From there to Lynchburgh and Dansville stopping a short time at the latter place. From which we took train for Charlottesvill N.C. and from there by cattle cars to Andersonville was without doubt the worst of Southern prison pens and was designated throughout our Army as the Confederate Hell and the object misery of its thousands of victims proved it rightly named: The cruelties enacted here were beyond description or belief: The nearly 14,000 graves each representing a starving boy attest the truthfulness of the statement and this number was only a small majority of those who gave up their lives victims of the foul usage received here: Of this number many died in and on their way to other prisons. Hundreds upon their journey toward home after release and others in unknown numbers throughout the North gave up their lives unable to rally from the effects of the brutal treatment received. Nearly every day prisoners in a greater or less number were turned into this stockade and upon this June day of which I write there were nearly one thousand gathered from the various battle fields under guard outside waiting for the opening of the gates: Of this number including myself all captured upon the same day were forty five from my Regiment five of which were from Co. C.: Between these five as I remember it we had one blanket and two halves and these were to form the only shelter some of us would have for some months: We secured two or three small poles and were for a wonder allowed to keep them: Two of these after being taken inside we placed on end in the ground and fastened the other upon the tops over which we stretched our blanket making a tent shaped shelter and here for long and dreary weeks three of us lived and suffered. The other two were in a few days taken out the one no doubt through Fraternal Fellowship the other perhaps for valuable information given:
The history of these weeks and months would only tell of starvation sickness suffering and death. Thousands had no shelter whatever and under no circumstances was any medical attendance given: The ratios were well calculated to produce sickness and death: When cooked a piece of corn bread about three inches square was given each prisoner and this from meal ground cob and all and often sour: When uncooked each received about as much as would make the above mentioned bread. Sometimes in place of meal or bread raw rice and molasses was given: Occasionally a small piece of meat sometimes in addition to the other rations more often a ratio of itself: No fuel of any kind was given where with to cook the rice or meal which then had to be eaten raw which in nearly all cases produced disordered stomach and bowels. Cow peas sometimes raw at other s cooked were occasionally given in place of other rations: Whatever might be given always being unsalted: Outside within sight were hundreds of acres of pine tops and bodies of which placed close together upon end formed the stockade. For a few times small squads were allowed to go out under guard and bring in limbs with which to cook but this priveledge was soon denied the claim being made that some one had tried to escape: Each morning a pack of blood hounds circled the stockade outside and they would at once take up the scent of any prisoner who might in any manner have made his escape: Those hounds would be followed by men upon horse back and almost invariably would the prisoner after much abuse be returned: Sometimes they came back empty handed but this did not signify to us that the prisoner had not been overtaken: Almost daily were men shot from the sentry boxes the excuse being they approached too near the dead line. Often would men be shot where the creek came through the stockade for reaching under the line to get a drink of water that might be a little more pure. There were numbers of cases of boys tired of the fight for life who boldly stepped over the line and received the bullet which ended their lives: Raiding by an organized gang of thieves and marauders of our own men was at one time carried on but came at last to a timely end: Any history of Andersonville will give full details of the trial of quite a large number of these raiders and the execution by hanging of six of the ringleaders: This I saw the six all being hung at the same time by one drop. One breaking his rope and exclaiming "Your won't hang me again will you?" It looked almost pitiful to see him marched up the scaffold and hanged over again but this determination had its effect upon this element which the stockade contained: Disease fastened quickly upon the stockades victims. Scurvy and gangrene produced awful sores. Ulcers formed upon various parts of the body. The gangrene caused the flesh to slough off in many cases bones from the feet would drop away and the teeth loosened by scurvey would drop out and added to all this was the constant gnawing of hunger and suffering from unsuitable water to drink: Some sickness came upon us all and looking upon the awful suffering by which we were surrounded we might well wonder whether any of us would again see home and friends: Looking backward to those days I do not think I entirely lost hope but did all it was possible to do to preserve life and strength. This would not be complete without saying that in all Andersonvilles History I do not think that as much as one single rag was ever given where with to bind up or dress the awful sores by which its inmates were afflicted: by the latter part of September the two boys with me (Alfred Willis and Charles Dobbins) were unable to stand upon their feet and I daily carried water in a coffee pail for them to drink and for what bathing they received. About this time another boy of our Company came in and we received him into what little shelter we had. Whoever reads this might well wonder how among the 35,000 men I managed to find him. Simply by crowding toward the gate when new prisoners were to come in. As we could see them gathered upon the hill outside: Longing as we were for new from home he could tell us but little but of the boys left in the Company he could tell us much but of many the history was of wounds and death: One thing however rejoiced our hearts - The battle was going slowly but well: Scurvy was fastening itself upon me both hands and feet were becoming swollen and shiny. One morning at roll call I was told I was wanted at head quarters outside but could form no idea as to its import: I left the stockade with the one who called the roll never again as it proved to witness its suffering: One of the two boys who went outside so soon after our arrival had gone to be exchanged going with a promise from General Winder that he would take from the prison any one person whose name he would give him: This perhaps was the means of saving my life for it was my name he gave: No great kindness was shown me but good air ad water together with a somewhat better diet soon put me in much better condition for what was to follow: About six weeks outside brought us to the time when Andersonville Prisoners were to be scattered and I with several thousand others was sent to a stockade at Savannah. Here though nearly as poorly fed the less numbers made our condition much better than Andersonville: Here I was without friends only such as I might make there being no one there whom I had ever seen before: It is with difficulty that I can recall even the faces of the boys with whom in a small shelter I lived and I sometimes wonder if in the great beyond I shall know them again: A month was spent at this place and then we were shipped to Millen Georgia where a large stockade had been built: Much the same conditions existed her with the exception that we had more timber with which to cook and build shanties for protection. I remained while there with the same boys with whom I lived at Savanna: Four weeks of life there and one morning General Winder who commanded all the Prisons rode in. He knew where I was located by the roll lists and had come to take me out - Brutal as in many instances he was he did not forget to show me this kindness: He took me to his head quarters some distance from the stockade. Here in what had been a granary at the barn he built a small fire place for me with which to cook and keep myself warm and again I seemed to have a new lease on life: General Winder was at this time nearing 80 years of age and lived at the house near by with his wife and quite a retinue of colored servants: I came to know Mrs. Winder well and remember her as a true lady and although I was a prisoner in their power often showed that she remembered that I also was human: With her I had several unavoidable discussions concerning the war and its results but never in a single instance did I yield a point in dispute for which I think I stood more highly in her estimation. While here death came and took her away and thus was broken one safety anchor to myself: The operations of Shermans Army now made it again necessary to scatter the prisoners and Winder with all connected with his head quarters started over land for Columbia S. Carolina. Winder riding in his carriage and myself mounted upon his saddle horse a noted runner from Baltimore: Some times far in the rear we could hear the sound of the cannon of Shermans Cavalry and for several days I studied the chances for making a break for liberty but well knowing that failure in this would mean certain death I deferred it too long was dismounted and given a pony in which there were few chances: During this journey all of Winders fine furniture including an elegant piano was sidetracked concealed and left behind. A boy or rather young man left with them reported to us a few days later on and gave a glowing account of their destruction when unearthed by our Cavalry. The Generals usage of me for a few days showed me plainly I was out of favor and perhaps my chances were slipping away: Time brought us at last to Columbia where just outside of the city head quarters were established. Here at the Officers Prison Winder found the member of Co. C. who had given him my name at Andersonville: He had failed to be exchanged and been sent to this point: He was taken out and for a few weeks our history would be nearly identical: One morning he and I were asked to go into the city with a teamster and help him load a heavy barrel of freight and while sitting upon the wagon at the depot a woman opened a door across the street and spoke with us and as to what followed I give all credit to my companion as he at that time looked into the future further than did I. Although we had often discussed plans of escape I do not think at this time I would have looked upon this as an opening: She said they had a union family and my uniform what had attracted her attention: The result of the conversation was that if we ever came there needing concealment and help it would be given us:
One evening only a few days afterward Winder rode up into the city never to return. Stricken with apoplexy he died instantly: If a friend to us he was he was now gone and his son no friend to any prisoner was now in command: No one can say what the result would have been had we remained with them but it seemed to us that now was the time to make our escape or at least attempt it: Union guns were sounding far away across the river but the crossing was impossible to us so we concluded to wait a day or so for results: Another movement was now at hand where to we did not know but we started on foot with the train. Slowly gained ground in advance until hill and wood shut off their view of us and then ran for our lives. Whether pursued or not we never knew but put as many miles as possible between us and our starting point: We worked back toward night keeping under cover as much as possible and crawled under the floor of an outbuilding very near where we had started from Along in the evening we each shouldered a large stick of wood and made our way through the lines into the City. We did this because many Negroes were being sent out to carry in fuel for cooking purposes and also to burn: At this time the city was filled with confederate troops gathered to oppose Shermans crossing and nearly all houses had them quartered upon them: We had thrown away our wood and went at once to the womans house saw it contained troops passed around to the back yard and hid down by the fence from which point we could watch the back door. The woman was on the lookout for us and soon came to the door said she dare not attempt to get us into the house but would try and bring us something to eat which she did. It was getting far into the night and we dare not let the morning find us there so we made our way to what had been a City park upon which had been built some cabins for teamsters. We were shivering with the cold and very foolishly built a fire and upon getting warm concealed the fire as much as possible crawled up on the overlays where there was a few loose boards and laid ourselves lengthwise of these: Shortly some officers came and discussed why there was the remains of a fire. It was a most trying time for we could have easily here reached down and touched them. They finally passed out and worn with anxiety and travel we sent to sleep: When we awoke day was breaking but the city seemed more quiet and we climbed down put on a bold front went to the house and passed around to the yard again: We were not unexpected and were soon under the bed in a little old dark bedroom: It was yet early morning but from in front and below the City across the river came to us the music of the Union guns opening the way for the crossing of the troops: Late in the afternoon we could hear the infantries guns and soon were told that our skirmishers had passed the house: We lost no time but hurried out and passing to the rear reported to the general in command: My life as a prisoner was at an end and hope that I should again see home and friends was strong indeed: Those who had befriended us were not forgotten and we were able in a measure to return their kindness. They with hundreds of others accompanied Shermans Army coming North as refugees: My release came upon February 17th 1865 and for some weeks I remained with Shermans Army having a pass from General O. O. Howard Commandry the Army of the Tennessee which gave me great latitude to do and go as I pleased: In those weeks I regained my lost strength and was again quite my former self: Time brought us at last to Fayetteville on the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. Wilmington had just been captured and a dispatch boat was sent up the river to communicate with Sherman and by permission of General Dodge commanding it I went with it to Wilmington and upon reaching I at once embarked upon the ocean for Washington.
A few hours after I left the Army the boy with whom I escaped (Andrew Lanning) also took boat but lost his life at sea together with all on board in a great storm that nearly wrecked us also: I remained in Washington one week and after much trouble received y pay for computations of rations for the time I had been a prisoner. With this I made myself a little more presentable and was then ordered to report to my regiment then at Springfield, Ill. - With permission to return home and remain for the period of 30 days. Parents arms were open to receive me and kind friends made the time pass swiftly but my furloughs end found me ready to again take up a soldiers life and so the first days of April found me with my regiment at Springfield: Here the changes that had taken place in the regiment were more than ever apparent: Some of the old boy friends were present but the great majority of the faces were new and strange being those of new recruits whose object in joining a regiment thus in the rear was in most cases the large bounty paid. Our work here was mostly that of drilling the recruits preparing them for a service they were never to see. Time hung heavy upon our hands for our inspirations was gone for the rebellion was fast tumbling to pieces. We who had sen active service became restive and wished either for our discharge or orders that would again take us to the front:
The Assassination of President Lincoln had a short time before this taken place and about May 1st his remains reached Springfield which for a short time lay in state and we were privileged to again look upon the face of him who in life had been so dare to us: May 4th his remains were laid at rest in Oak Grove Cemetery the 24th being the funeral escort -
Our life at Camp Butler continued much the same until June 16th when orders were received to proceed to Detroit to be discharged: We left our last camping ground on the 19th. Arriving at Detroit the next day and were there subject to orders until the 30th, when we were mustered out and my soldiers life was at an end: Many memories of events that are unwritten come to me. Of these are the accounts of the lesser battles in which we participated. The long anxious nights of picket duty where in heat or cold mud or rain we stood or paced our weary beat watching for movements of the enemy. Eyes for our own army sleeping perhaps miles in the rear: The trying ordeal of the skirmish line is unmentioned, where out beyond the battle line under cover of log or stump or rock or in the open as the case might be each man independent of the other sought the life of those in the line beyond and who in full measure were returning to us of that which we gave: Of all conditions this was the one calculated to rack the nerve of the stout hearted. This nearly or quite had its equal in the marching toward the battles front where in the distance the cannons roar told of the work before us. A soldier is seldom anxious for fighting but uncertainty is hard to bear and to have been able on these occasions to have at once gone in and had it over would have been our choice: Often at night after a day of marching have we laid in the rain with perhaps a few rails placed together to keep us out of the water. Many times the rails were lacking and we lay upon the ground with rubber blanket spread over us: These nights like all others would have their ending and with the suns return which dried our clothing our cheerfulness would come back to us: Many ludicrous events enlivened our lives and when in camp amusements and games were quite the order: At one time for several weeks while upon the Rappahannock we did our bathing in the water upon one side of the river the enemy in that of the other Picket and skirmish firing being for the time deferred. Across the river by those somewhat skilled would be sent miniature boats carrying from our side daily papers coffee and sugar. From theirs usually tobacco. In some instances men would swim across from either side under promise of being allowed to return: on one occasion one of our boys sitting upon a log arranging his boat slipped off and received a fine dunking and upon charging Archers Brigade at Gettysburg one of the captured prisoners recognized him and asked him if he did not fall off his log down on the Rappahannock. I write this simply to show some what of the odd happenings that would occur: Discipline in an army is the one great factor that insures success and the soldier who fails under any ordinary circumstances to obey orders is not in trying times to be depended upon and usually fails in nearly all the qualities that go to make up the ideal soldier: A word regarding the much discussed Army grub. This is the one thing that touched the life of every boy or man whether his service was long or short and to fail in the Campaign: The old time hard tack and salt pork has been much derided but perhaps there is no other tow articles of diet that will help a man over as many miles of hot and dusty road as will these: Salt pork and crackers were upon all marches and campaigns our main dependance. Accompanying these were the coffee and sugar and only luxuries of a soldiers life. We drank it sitting down or standing up. Sometimes the order to fall in would come with it still in our cups and we drank it on the march and one article of diet never wasted. In camp beans were added to our rations and oft times soft bread and molasses. At these times fresh beef would take the place of pork and make a desirable change. Many was the time in our own Army when we have laid ourselves down for the night hungry to arise in the morning and try and shake out a few crumbs from an empty haversack. Supply trains were often miles in the rear unable to get up to us. At times cut in upon by enemy Cavalry and so delayed as to sometimes delayed wholly or in part captured and it often needed as competent a man to look after its supplies as to command the army: Considering the vast field of army rations and the great number of men engaged I have always felt a great deal of credit is due to our government for the manner in which we were cared for. Probably it did its best and we made but little complaint. In writing I have touched upon many subjects some of them perhaps of little or no interest but they all touched somewhere upon my life as a soldier and I have written only of those things that came to me as experiences or under my own observation., Holding very strictly to that that is truthful so that in the days to come if others might be interested enough to peruse these many pages could feel that this history had indeed been pat of the life of he who had once been known as