Ohio History Journal
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CAPTAIN T. W. RATHBONE'S "BRIEF DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT," JULY 1 - NOVEMBER 21, 1864 edited by LOUIS BARTLETT Thomas W. Rathbone of Amelia, Ohio, was thirty-nine years old and a captain in an Ohio National Guard regiment on one hundred days' service when he was taken prisoner after a skirmish near North River Mills, West Virginia, on July 3, 1864. Two months later, while a patient in the Roper Hospital at Charleston, South Carolina, he began writing the diary which appears in the following pages. To make it a complete account of his im- prisonment, he incorporated in it an earlier diary he had kept in a "pocket Testament" given to him by "a good Union woman" of Winchester, Vir- ginia, soon after his capture. The diary begins on July 1, when the scouting party he was with when captured set out from its base at Paw Paw Station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. From that point on, in greater or lesser detail, it carries him through his capture and his subsequent trials and experiences as a prisoner of war in Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina, until his second and successful escape four months later. When captured, Rathbone was a company commander in the One Hundred and Fifty-Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, one of the many Ohio militia regiments called into service for a hundred days in the spring of 1864 to NOTES ARE ON PAGES 79-80 |
34 OHIO HISTORY
relieve regular troops from garrison and
similar duty for the summer offen-
sive in the East. Organized at Camp
Dennison, near Cincinnati, on May 12,
with Colonel Israel Stough of
Springfield as its commander, the One
Hundred and Fifty-Third departed
immediately for West Virginia to do
guard duty along a section of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad track west
of Harpers Ferry. It had been there for
six weeks when the scouting party,
which consisted of some seventy men
under Lieutenant Colonel M. A. Leeds,
with Captain Rathbone second in command,
was sent out to catch some horse
thieves. On the morning of the third
day, about twenty miles from its base,
the detachment was surprised by a
brigade of Confederate cavalry under
the command of Brigadier General John D.
Imboden, and surrendered
after a short fight. Their brief
engagement was one of the first warnings
of Major General Jubal A. Early's
approaching invasion of the North,
which was turned back only at the gates
of Washington.
The keeping of a diary was nothing new
to Rathbone. During the West
Virginia campaigns of 1861 and 1862,
when he served for fourteen
months with the Thirty-Fourth O.V.I.,
first as a captain and then as a major,
he had faithfully maintained one. Though
it is as detailed as this one,
Rathbone made no effort in it to sustain
a narrative, as he does here, but
it evidently gave him good practice.
Rathbone wrote the present diary in
pencil. Sometime later, possibly as
late as 1886, he went over the pencil
with ink, and while he made no changes
in the text, he did occasionally
interpose parenthetical remarks, and he
added four supplementary notes,
apparently from memory, as well as some
comments on the writing of the diary.
This diary and the one he kept in
1861-62, along with letters written to
his wife while he was behind the
Confederate lines, are in the possession
of descendants in California.
In publishing the diary a few liberties
have been taken with the text.
Dates of entries have been italicized,
and for the sake of easier reading
a more definite sentence pattern has
been given to Rathbone's sometimes
continuous succession of words. This has
been done by 'the conversion of
his little dashes to periods and the
insertion of periods where sometimes
no mark appears, and by the
capitalization of initial letters in instances
where there are none. When used within a
sentence, the little dash has
generally been turned into a comma.
Beyond that, to aid in comprehension,
some internal punctuation has been
supplied in brackets and an occasional
word or part of a word supplied in the
same manner. In instances where
they might be mistaken for typographical
errors, errors in spelling are indi-
cated with the customary sic.
DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT
35
BRIEF DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT
OF
T W RATHBONE CAPT 153D O.V.I.
July 1st 1864
Lt Col Leeds[,] myself[,] Capt Stevens,
Lts Frazier & Haines with about 73 of our
Regt, 153 O.V.I. [,] were ordered by Col
Stough to go on a scout well up the
North Fork of Big Cacapon to arrest
several noted horse thieves who had been
committing depredations even over the
Potomac into Maryland. We left Camp Kelly
near Paw Paw Station on the Baltimore
and Ohio RR about 5 PM and took the
Winchester road for about 8 m[ile]s.
There were from my Co (A) Orderly Sergt
W
W Ricker[,] Sergt Jno F
Townsley[,] Corp A. S. Behymer, Privates Walter
Behymer[,] Levi Behymer [,] Nathaniel
Behymer [,] Clarington Behymer [,]
Joseph P Clark [,] Nelson F Clark [,]
Maurice Dolen, James B. Guild, Andrew
Behler, Andrew Lillick [and] G W & J
W Hutchins. Total 15. We took four days
Rations of bread [,] coffee & sugar
and a Rubber blanket each, going as light as
possible. We left the main road about 10
PM and travelled the mountain bye paths
till 2 AM of
July 2nd Saturday
When we halted to rest till morning.
After a breakfast of Coffee and bread we
proceeded at 6 AM and two hours brought
us to North River very close after three
Rebs who had stolen three horses a few
miles below us and were making their way out
to Rebel lines. We followed and at an
old Rebels, named Wills, we pressed four horses,
and at Edwards a mile further we found
some arms and more horses; passed Ice
Mountain a prominent curiosity of the
country. Although a very hot day, yet the
chilly air coming from the aperture in
the rocks was freezing. Ice is said to be found
two feet below the surface.
We came to North River Mills about ten
AM and proceeded on up the river. Leaving
the river about 4 PM we bore to the west
and at sundown struck the Romney Grade.
Passing along the grade in the direction
of Romney for three miles we turned East
leaving the grade and marched till 10 PM
and halted in the woods about two miles
from the river and bivouaced[sic].
July 3d Sunday
Got in line of march at daylight sending
details of men to different Rebel farms in
vicinity. Captured two Rebs whom we
found at home and several horses. The men
of one detail brought along a Mr Emmet
for hiding his son and the order to march
was given before the Lt Col was aware of
his (E's) detention. Just at the moment of
taking up the line of march a rebel
mounted was seen coming down the road towards
us. As soon as he saw us he turned and
the advance, after halting him [,] fired a
number of shots at him, but without
effect. Lt Col Leeds mounted a horse and
pursued with most of the mounted men.
The balance of the Command continued the
march and soon came to the river [,] and
crossing [,] continued up the same, I being
in the rear at the time, Capt Stevens
assuming command; soon I heard quite a number
of guns when I hurried on to the front
where we discovered a dust about a mile ahead
and supposing it to be at the farthest
not greater than our force, I ordered Capt
36 OHIO
HISTORY
Stevens to deploy his Co as skirmishers.
Just then our guide, an old man named
[Moreland?], was taken with a panic and
fled. Capt S looked somewhat demoralized
so I had to direct the deployment
myself. And then deployed the balance of the
Command in a meadow some distance to the
rear. Discovering soon that the enemy
were throwing out skirmishers and
entirely out flanking us I ordered the second line
to retire toward the river hoping to
cross, but when I arrived at the river found deep
water so that we could not safely cross.
So I concluded to fight. Ordering my men
over the fence, we commenced firing and
kept up as strong a fire as we could on the
advancing Cavalry and skirmishers and
till we were completely surrounded by a
Cavalry force in our rear when I
surrendered. The Rebs continued to fire on us for
several rounds [,] when the firing
ceased and they commenced robbing us of every
thing, even taking many blouses [,] hats
and shoes. I protested to such treatment but
could avail nothing even with Gen
Imboden.1 Capt Stevens and first line did not wait
to take even a shot, the Capt bravely
(?) making for the woods. The first line break-
ing let the enemy down on the second
line before we were prepared for them, and
almost their first fire dangerously
wounded Corp Behymer and killed the elder Mr
Emmet. We had one killed, Lieut Frazier,
and one wounded, Corp Behymer. Many of
the boys were more or less scratched or
bruized with splinters. My men behaved very
well. None so cool as Sgt W W Ricker. We
were formed in two ranks and counted [,]
making about 34, and marched to the
rear; and after the command had passed were
marched in rear of it. I succeeded in
getting a blouse and old hat and felt rather
comfortable. The command halted on
Little Cacapon and we were permitted to wash
ourselves. When it was sundown
Subsistence was issued to us for one day. It con-
sisted of half pound of meal and four oz
bacon each. Had no way to cook the same
so our meal did us no good. At 10 PM we
were ordered forward and marched till2
July 4th Monday
At 4 AM when we were halted on the
mountain just below South Branch on the
Baltimore and Ohio RR, when we were not
allowed to leave the road but fell down in
the dust and slept till sun rise when
they marched us on nearer the Potomac and kept
us mostly in the sun till after noon
when the command passed us on the retreat.
We could distinctly hear the fight going
on with the block house (Co E of our Regt
was in it) and whipped the Rebel Brigade
consisting of three Regts--18th & 23rd Va
Reb Cav and the 62d Mounted Infy.3
We were marched on the retreat to the
forks of Cacapon where we arrived at 10 PM
more dead than alive. Whole distance
since capture 70 miles. We suffered with the
cold to night. I have neglected to state
that Lt Col Leeds was captured with a few of
the mounted men with him by the enemys
advance guard before we had got into our
fight and was brought to us on the way.
Tuesday July 5th
We had a chance to bake a little meal
and were marched toward Winchester to the
forks of the roads leading to Winchester
and Martinsburg where we were halted for
about three hours when the Brigade took
the road to Martinsburg and we were sent
on to Winchester at 1 PM guarded by 15
Cavalry. I proposed to Col L that we
capture our guards on the way and take
them back to camp but he would not accede
to it. I think the future will reveal to
him the regret that he did not accede to it. So
the Golden opportunity was lost and we
arrived at Winchester at 10 PM and were all
DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT
37
put in a room together on the second
floor in an old brick building and a small ration
of wheat bread given us and we lay down
to rest more dead than alive, and so
[tired?] that but poor was the rest.
I have neglected to state that the
younger Emmet reported to General Imboden
that I had ordered my men to shoot his
father and the Reb soldiers were continually
pointing me out so I seemed like Jenny
Lynd [sic], very notorious. Gen I. told me
that he intended to call me to account
for it and if I could not satisfy him I should
suffer but [he] would release me from
charges if I would show him the man who
fired the fatal ball--vain subterfuge!
when Mr E was killed before my men had fired
a shot. But the Gen was taken sick
(wounded at S Branch) and was brought to
Winchester the same time with us. Col L
saw him, but he was inexorable--really
because so few men had so bitterly
opposed him. He lost in the fight with us one
Captain and several men and met with no
better success at South Branch.
July 6 Wednesday
Bread and old stinking bacon of each
about one fourth of a ration was given us and
we were ordered to march. Forming in the
street [,] we were marched about one
square to another squad of Union
Prisoners who were to be sent forward to we did not
know where, when I was taken from the
ranks, and told that I was detained to be
tried for murder. I requested that my
witnesses remain behind with me but it was
denied me and I was, in a heathenish and
barbarous manner, put into a small room
with about [20 ?] conscripts and kept
there about two hours when I was put in an
adjoining room with about twenty Union
prisoners who were unable to march.
Among them I found Lewis Smith of Co H
153d. I was kept here until the 13th and
was very kindly treated by the few
Loyall [sic] Ladies in town who dared to venture
near the Lousy, Greasy dirty Traitors.
They brought us eatibles[,] coffee, milk [,]
Towels [,] forks and one [,] a Mrs May
[,] brought me an old blanket [,] a Testa-
ment and a nice pair of carpet shoes. My
quarters were emptied and filled about
twice while there. And each day I asked
the officer for a copy of charges against me
but without avail.
July 13th Wednesday
Three of us being left in the room [,]
we were ordered to be ready to go to Stanton
[sic] on the Stage at 10 AM. I again demanded a copy of
charges against me and
received for reply that there were no
charges against me and that Gen Imboden had
no more influence at Hd Qrs than I had.
The total no[.] of our men captured and
sent through here to this date is a
little less than 400. The whole distance we were
hurried through was about 100 m[ile]s
and that without eating scarcely any thing.
At Winchester confederate money would
barely pass at all. I was guarded by the
balance of the 10th Va (Reb) (the Regt
being captured at Spotsylvania) together
with Straglers [sic] and
convalescents from every Regt in Early's and Breckenridge's
Corps.
Started on the Stage at 11 AM in charge
of a sergt and two men, arrived at Woodstock
and was roughly thrust into the county
Jail and placed in charge of a bloodthirsty
Traitor Jailor. Several Marylanders
followed us to the jail and were insulting me
when I retorted that such was the manner
in which Traitors [,] cowards and black-
guards treated Loyal men, when the Sergt
ordered me into a cell and so closed one
of the many scenes of Prison life. The
room was about 13 by 12 with no ventillation
38 OHIO
HISTORY
[sic] and filled with vermin. As the considerate Jailor
said it "did him good to stick
Abolition hirelings into lousy
holes."
July 14th Thursday
Called up at 4 AM and started for
Stanton where we arrived at 8 PM pretty tired of
stage riding in Dixie. There was but one
redeeming point to the whole episode and
that was the beautiful Valley of
Winchester to Stanton, a distance of [ninety-two ?]
miles over a good turnpike road. This
valley has the finest improvements I have seen
in the U S and this year the best and
heaviest yield of wheat I ever saw. It was all cut
and in shock. The orchards were loaded
with a fine prospect for apples & corn quite
good, but for present subsistance [sic]
nearly destitute.
I was put into an log pen of a guard
house with about 60 Union prisoners. Many of
them I had for companions at Winchester.
We were searched here and again robbed.
July 15 Friday
Were put on the cars, Passenger cars!
with the taunt "You Yanks send our men in
cattle cars but we give you good
passenger cars." We were stopped at Charlotteville
[sic] and half rations of wheat bread and bacon were given
us. Then [we were]
put on another train and sent on to
Lynchburg where we arrived at 6 PM and were
put into a poorly ventillated room where
I found Col Leeds with 8 officers of the
135 O V I and in the same room about 40
Reb Deserters [who were?] conscripts[,]
all the most dirty Lousy filthy set I
ever saw-'twas truly sickening. The Rebs
deposited their filth in a tub and were
not allowed to leave the room oftener than
once a week. We were permitted to go
into the back yard two at a time but it was
impossible with that privilege to keep
clean. While here we had less than half enough
to eat [--] wheat bread and half rotten
bacon which we had had to eat ever since our
capture--excepting one day we had old
salt beef a hundred fold worse than the bacon.
We were not allowed to buy any thing
from the outside without it was smuggled in
by the guards who were almost to a man
our friends and were heartily sick of the war.
One Capt Otey was the Pro[vost] Marshall
[sic] and he had collected around him his
favorites who were ever ready to aid him
in doing his dirty work. Our guards were
from almost every Reb State [,] were
convalescents--lame[,] halt and blind--and as
a general thing were sick of the war and
felt like getting back into the old union.
While here Samuel Crawford was brought
in. He had been a prisoner a long time and
while making his Escape was retaken and
so happened to be added to our number.
He had been engaged in the Hospital
Department and was passing himself for asst
surg[eon] 12th Ohio.4
Continued additions were made to our
numbers until we had about 31 officers in our
room. There were about 700 enlisted men
in different buildings in the town [,] three
hundred of whom were sent away before we
left and the 100 were to be sent with us.
July 22d Friday
We were put on cars (not passenger cars
by the way) and crowded so close that we
could not lie down and sent on towards
Richmond by way of the South Side RR.
Changed cars at Burkeville for Danville
[,] Va. where we arrived
July 23 Saturday
at 4 AM and were put into one of the
Mil[itary] Prisons and rations of corn bread &
bacon were given us but short as usual.
Rested to day and
DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT
39
July 24 Sunday
were ordered out at 3 AM and waited
along side the Greensboro RR till nearly 8 AM
when away we were carried over a new RR
but very poorly engineered. Found a
bridge burned and had to walk across a
river and take another train, arriving at
Charlotte, N. C. at 3 AM and were
allowed to lie down on the ground till daylight
when we were put on another train and
half rations again given us. And at 8 AM
July 25th Monday
we were started south. At all the
stations along the route there was something to eat
for sale, but at very high prices to us.
The Lt in charge of us would not allow us to
buy a thing but the guards would get us
whatever they could. A few words about the
country and crops I will omit till we
arrive at our destination which I suppose will be
Macon [,] Ga. Arrived at Columbia
Junction two miles below Columbia [,] S C
where we remained till
July 26 Tuesday
Afternoon started on Charleston RR,
arrived at Branchville at dark and took the road
to Augusta where we arrived at daylight.
July 27th Wednesday
Ordered off the cars and placed under
guard in a vacant lot. Half rations of hard
bread and bacon were given us. We
started for Macon [,] Ga at 3 PM and arrived
at Macon at daylight and were put into a
stockade of about 3 acres where I found
about 1200 of our officers in sheds and
closely guarded. 600 having been sent to
Charleston [,] S C this morning.
July 28th Thursday
The country from Stanton to Macon is
very inferior--the old farmes [sic] completely
worn out and the rest of very thin soil.
No wheat [,] oats or hay and the prospect
for not more than five bushels of corn
per a[cre]. Yet there is a great number of
acres planted one stalk to the hill.
Prices along the road were very high but
those who had money would buy. Water.
melons as high as 10 doll[ar]s, half lb.
loaves bread, 11 1/4 dol[lars], a bite of pie,
1 doll[ar], glass butter milk 50
c[en]ts. At Camp Oglethorpe (Macon) we could buy
nothing from the outside but were
compelled to buy of a sutler. And shame to say
one of our officers was salesman and
added his profits so that he was making money
off his poor bro pris's. The rations
given us at Macon were unsifted corn[,] corn &
cob meal[,] cow peas[,] rice[,] salt[,]
grits[,] vinegar and molasses. Very inferior
and not more than half enough to satisfy
hunger. I found Capt Cutler & Lt Hays of
the 34th Ohio, Adjt Holter[,] 59th
O[hio] here, and that Lt Fairfield [,] 89th O[hio]
had been sent to Charleston[,] S C. The
health was generally good excepting Diarrhea.
July 29th Friday
Was taken sick with diarrhea and Col L
& I went to Hospital. While there Stoneman
made his raid and we could distinctly
hear his guns near the town. How our prayers
went up for him to ride into the town
and relieve us, but alas! he was scared away
by a few boys and old men who turned out
and presented a bold front. So are we
doomed to disappointment.3
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40 OHIO HISTORY July 30 Saturday Feel a little better. My companions in Hospital are our army officers who have been wounded and some sick ones. July 31 & Aug 1 Nothing worthy of note transpired. Getting better. Aug 2d Monday News of Stoneman's capture were confirmed by the Rebs bringing him[,] his officers and about 300 of his command in. Aug 3d Tuesday I returned to the Stockade to day and nothing but the very uncertain news of exchange reached us until Aug 11, Weds. when 900 of us were called out and started to Charleston where we arrived at daylight |
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Aug 13th Friday and were put in the Work House Pris[on]. Here we were fed a little better. I was sick most of the time while here and on Sunday Sept 4th was sent with a few others under parole to the Roper Hospital Pris. building where we have a little more privi- leges, and here my health has been improving. I have written home every week since leaving Lynchburg and reed one letter of Aug 30th on the 15 Sept from my wife.6 Sept 19, 1864 Sold a Draft on the Ohio Valley Bank at Cin[cinnati] O[hio] for 20 doll[ars] in gold to Mr. Quinby. Reed 100 doll[ars] Confed. Sept 20 Sold another draft. Same as above. Reed the same amt.7 Sept 23rd Friday Flag of truce met in Harbor to day and got news of about 140 boxes for us with a mail. |
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DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT 41 At the Roper we have a good market of eatibles--Sweet & Irish pot[atoe]s, and apples, persimmons, dates[,] figs[,] pomegranates, peanuts, shrimps[,] fresh fish, apple and sweet potato pies, sweet potato puding[sic], apple dumpling, [shell peas ?], tomatoes, eggs[,] chickens, biscuits, sweet cake & bread, molasses, sugar, coffee, salt[,] pepper, soda, nutmeg. [Also] writing paper, envelopes, tobacco, cigars, shirts, drawers, socks, rush hats [made of] palmetto leaves &c &c, all of which is very high. I bought a plate [of] stone China, pd. 4 1/2 doll[ar]s[,] and about 3/4 of a yard of bagging for 3 dol- lars. Pd 20 doll[ars] for a hickory shirt and 10 doll[ar]s for a pair of drawers. Traded my cap for an old [coal ?] hat; got 5 doll[ar]s to boot. 3 sheets letter paper 1 doll[ar][,] 3 envelopes 1 doll[ar], rush hats sell for 12 doll[ar]s, [tin ?] cups sell at 2 doll[ar]s, knives & forks at 8 dollars[,] iron spoons 2.00, fine combs 2 1/2 doll[ars], &c. Sept 24th Saturday Our market was stopped this morning to protect the Reb Sutler so now we will have to pay up for the whistle. The news from Va is good this morning confirming Early's defeat. This eve was a joyous time for about 200 of our boys whose names were called for Exchange at Atlanta. Lts Edminston & Fairfield are from our room and my mess, leaving but three of us[,] Capt E Day & Lt J V Baird of 89[th] Ohio [and myself]. Otho [Fairfield] left me 105 doll[ar]s Confed., his blankets and clothes bag, &c.8 Bully for the boys who get to go to God's country! Sunday Sept 25 1864 Up early and assisted Otho in making a cup of Coffee. He got a sip or two and had to go. I sent letter to wife by him. Quite lonesome. Got my washing in this morn- ing--pd. 50¢ a piece. By the way, a few words about how we live when we have got money. For Breakfast usually light pancakes and flour gravy, occasionally boiled sweet potatoes, flour gravy & coffee and baker's bread. For Dinner, usually Beef soup with sweet or Irish potatoes, rice, onions and light corn bread, occasionally rice pudding in lieu of the soup. |
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42 OHIO
HISTORY
supper, corn
bread and flour gravy, occasionally fried sweet Potatoes, light bread and
coffee. Breakfast 7 AM, Dinner, 1 1/2 PM [,] Supper 6
1/2 PM.
Cost of materials outside of furnished rations
Coffee pr
lb $10.00
Molasses "
pt 4.00
Sugar "
lb 7.00
Eggs "
doz 5.00
Butter "
lb 9.00
Sweet Pot. " qt 1.50
Irish " " " 2.00
Bread per
loaf 3/4 lb 1.00
Salt "
pint .50
Pepper " lb 20.00
Nutmeg " each 1.00
Shrimps plate 1.00
Fish lb 4.00
Pumpkins 4 lbs 2.00
Onions Doz 3.00
Milk qt 1.50
To make a pudding for five of us costs, outside of
furnished rations, 3 1/2 doll[ar]s.
Gold is worth 24 doll[ar]s confed. Greenbacks 6 to 7
doll[ar]s conf., and in demand.
The letters were distributed to day but alas none for
poor me. Maj Beatty of our Co
was to be exchanged to day. Col Leeds has the ague and
fever.
Shelling us goes on daily and is on the increase. It
commences about 2 AM and
continues very rapidly till daylight[,] then at regular
intervals through the day.
One piece went through our House a few days ago but
hurt no one. It is so common
that we scarcely notice it except some house is smashed
to pieces.
Sept 26th Monday
All well, a cool night and chilly day. Put on drawers
and vest. The morning papers
give us the news of Early's 2d defeat at Fishers Hill.9
Sent out for 2 qts oysters at 2 1/2 doll[ar]s pr qt.
Pancakes and stewed tomatoes for
dinner and coffee. Our cisterns have all given out. So
we have the brackish well
water left which is unfit for cooking or drinking. The
Naval officers reed a number of
boxes of stores & clothing with money, but our
boxes are not distributed yet although
they have been in town the longer. About 100 more of
our officers were brought to
the Roper from the Jail yard. My oysters did not come
but the money was returned.
Capt Barrett returned from the Hospital and brings word
of yellow fever there. As
day by day goes by the same dull monotony of prison
life is repeated and ours is not
so bad as formerly.
Tuesday Sept 27th
The weather turned warmer during the night and to day
has been very pleasant.
I drew half rations of beef and had soup for dinner. We
make our soup in this
manner--boil our beef two hours [add] peeled potatoes
cut fine with onions and
tomatoes and rice. Had soup and some excellent corn
bread for supper. Quinby
bought about 50,000 doll[ar]s (Confed) worth of Drafts
to day of officers in Roper.
DIARY
OF IMPRISONMENT 43
It
costs us about two doll[ar]s each per day besides C-govt rations. And each time
they
issue to us it plainly grows less, but we are getting good qualities generally
of
[everything]
excepting beans, instead of which cow peas, a most detestable food[,]
is
given out.
Many
of our officers are gambling and drinking continually and show themselves
below
the true character of men.
We
had many McClellan men here before the repudiation by the Peace Party, but
since
then they are silent.10 Every thing looks bright down here for our
beloved
country.
God speed the day of her and our deliverence [sic] from the manacles of
Treason
& Rebellion.
Wednesday
28 Sept 64
Had a
good nights rest. Up early. Feel very well. Wrote a letter to wife. One case
of
Yellow Fever sent to Hospital to day[,] a Capt Dillon. No news. Fresh beef to
day.
Weather beautiful.
Since
I have been in Charleston our batteries have thrown into the city an average
of
about 15 shells a day. Several have come quite near us. Some pieces have struck
our
building but no one hurt.
A few
nights ago, a new gun began throwing 400 lb shells which go entirely over
us
and into and past the back part of the City. About all the City between us and
the
bay
was burnt down in 1861 and presents rather a deserted appearance. As a general
thing
this city is built of wood and presents an ancient appearance with the tile
roofs
and
tile flue topt Chimneys. Some of the buildings are more modern in appearance,
but
of very inferior achitecture [sic].
We
are very much crowded here now and if we are kept thus for any great length of
time
must have sickness.
Butter
has gone up to 11 dollars pr lb. Common shoes 80 doll[ar]s, Boots 250
doll[ar]s.
Tobacco & Cigars are the cheapest articles here--extra cigars 25¢[,]
Tobacco
$2.00 lb[,] letter paper 3 sheets for a dollar, three envelopes one dollar[,]
heavy
cap like this on which I write 50 c[en]ts pr sheet and this very inferior
pencil
1 1/2
dollars. Washing 50?? to 1 doll[ar] pr piece. Wooden buckets 8 doll[ar]s, tin
cups
3 doll[ar]s.
Names
of officers of my acquaintance here
Lt
Col M. A. Leeds 153
O V I
Capt
S. A. Glenn 89
O V I
" Elam Day "
" O. C. Gatch
" D. A. Barrett "
" J. W. Grose 18 Ky Inf
Lieut
C. E. Harrison 89
O V I
" J. V. Baird " "
Capt
Brandt 97 "
Capt
Blinn 100
Capt
J. Cutler 34 "
Lt
Hays " "
"
Knapp Ill
Maj
Owens 1st
cav Ky--
44 OHIO
HISTORY
Thursday 29 Sept 1864
Very warm night. I was not well through
the night.
Warm and pleasant to day.
Lt A Stall[,] 6th U S Cav[,] died here
very suddenly from billious [sic] attack.
To day for the first [time] five of us
were allowed to go outside the inclosure after
water, our water on the inside having
given out some days ago.
The Naval officers start for Richmond to
morrow and it is rumored that we are to
be removed from Charleston soon. No
other news of note.
Quinby is in to night buying orders on U
S Pay Master at two for one. What an
infernal swindle. The
"Mercury" and "Courier" each day confirm the Reb disasters,
and are seeming very despondent.
The Naval officers are getting ready to
leave. There is great injustice done us by our
and Reb authorities. We have reed
neither money nor boxes while the Naval officers
reed both very promptly. We are in a
very sad plight to go through the winter
and will have to suffer if something is
not done for us soon. Yet our condition is a
thousand times better than our Enlisted
men. They are dying by the score every day
from exposure and hunger. During the
mo[nth]s of July and August 1864 out of
35000 over 8000 died at Andersonville
alone.
Our Batteries have shelled the city more
heavily within the past few days, throwing
a shell every 3 minutes.
Thursday [Friday] Sept 30th 1864
The last day of the mo[nth] and here yet
and God only knows how much longer we
are doomed to be in the toils of our
Enemies. Rained toward morning which will
give us some water and cool the air.
The Naval officers left early this
morning for Richmond.
I rested very well last night and did
not rise as early as common this morning.
Damp morning. Very warm to night.
Capt Mowbray, C.S., brought in a no[.]
of boxes for our officers here. Many of them
had been robbed.
Saturday Oct 1st 1864
And yet a prisoner in the
"Roper" in the old and dilapidated city of Charleston, the
Cradle of Treason and Rebellion. I was
sick nearly all night with inflated stomach
and this morn it resulted in Diarrhea.
Feel weak. No news of note this morn. Our
messes were equalized by putting Leeds
in ours making four in each. The other mess
had got tired of his whims I think. He
is not very agreeable in a mess but we will
get along with the case. Rained quite
hard during the night. Mosquitoes very trouble-
some. Flies about the same as in Ohio.
This is Ration day but only flour brought in
late. Our last 10 days rations lasted
about 5 days so we had to go on our own pockets.
Eat but a light supper and laid down
about 9 PM.
Sunday Oct 2nd 1864
Rested very well, did not get up till
sunrise. Had a late breakfast because of the
difficulty of getting bread.
The report is in circulation that Col
Say [,] C S [,] is to make a final effort to effect
our exchange to morrow. But we have so
many rumors on Saturday evenings that
but few believe in it. We have
petitioned President Lincoln for a speedy exchange.
DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT
45
I wrote to B. W. Pease and also to J.
Milton [McGrew?] to send some Confed Capt
down here to be Specially exchanged for
me.
On the 1st we in this room made a
requisition on the Sanitary Commission for some
clothing. I put in for 1 hat[,] 1 pr
shoes[,] 2 socks[,] 2 drawers, 2 shirts, 2 towels,
2 hankerchiefs, 1 Pants.
Capt Day is not very well. Capt Warwick
of Gen Jones staff came in during the
evening and parolled three of our
officers who are to go north to effect an exchange
for themselves. [They are] Capt Platt,
Lieut Thompson & Lieut Blanchard.
And Maj Owens, 1st Ky Cav[,] was
selected for to be exchanged for the Reb Maj
Lamar Fontaine who is here on parole.
They are to go off to morrow morning at 8
AM. I wrote a letter home and one to J.
Milton McGrew at Washington City to try
and effect a special [exchange] for
myself.
Monday Oct 3 64
Slept well. Raining this morning.
The Parolled and to be exchanged
officers started at 7 AM. Warm day. Maj Owens
returned this evening[,] our
commissioner refusing to receive him in exchange for
Maj Fontaine on account of Maj O having
written a letter to Gen H Marshall[,]
C S[,] offering him $1000.00 to get him
(Maj O) out of Prison. The Maj fus[sed?]
very badly about it and is as truly
loyal as any man. Our Govt is piling it on a little
too steep. We are here in prison and she
refuses to help us and we can't help our-
selves, so what shall we do? That's the
question. Our cash outlay for to day was
about 15 doll[ar]s. So we must curtail,
retrench. Pudding to day and very good.
Warm to night.
Tuesday Oct 4th
Pleasant night. Slept tolerably well.
Mosquitoes troublesome.
Wednesday Oct 5 1864
While eating breakfast an order came for
the Prisoners in "Roper" to pack up and
be ready to go to Columbia in an hour.
Hurried things together and when called
upon marched into the street. Capts Glenn,
Day and Myself & Lts Baird and
Harrison agreed to make our escape from the cars
on the way.
Train started at 12 noon. Reached
Branchville at dusk and at 8 PM [some ?] five
jumped off unseen by the guards. And a
mile or two further, as near as we could
judge, about 20 m[ile]s North of
Branchville, we took our everlasting leap. It would
be useless for me to attempt a
description of my feelings. Suffice it to say that for some
time I was in no condition for knowing
any thing. However we gathered ourselves
up and put the pieces together and
started on a country road leading north westward
on our 500 miles tramp. But who wont do
a great deal for Liberty, no matter how
short the enjoyment. I thanked God for
sweet freedom as I had it and may Providence
prosper us. How much more will I be
thankful. Soon after starting on foot Capt
Glenn was taken very suddenly with
billious [sic] colic. I gave him an opiate so
that we did not lose more than a couple
of hours.
We walked on till about 4 AM when we
crossed a small river running across our
route to our left. Our general course
was nearly north slightly west. We selected
the most secluded place and lay
ourselves down for a short nap. Waked at day light
and moved across the stream into a swamp
thicket. Distance about 12 m[ile]s. The
46 OHIO
HISTORY
river above spoken of is the North
Edisto and we are on the state road leading to
N W corner of the state. How
Providential! We have a little bread, about 3 lbs [,]
one half of which we used to day[,] Oct
6th[,] while we lay in camp Edisto. 5 oz
of bread to a man a day! Oh we live even
live! on that but then it is the best we can
do as yet. Our expectations are to get
corn and sweet potatoes from the farms but
have found none yet. The farmers and
their cattle are making molasses from Sorghum
and we saw their lights and heard the
songs of the simple minded negros [sic] in
their attempts to drive dull care away.
Our greatest danger is from being hunted
down by their Bloodhounds. But so long
as they don't see [us] nor our marks (which
we don't intend they should) we are
safe. We being new hands at the biz are
unusually cautious, but 'tis for the
best. The dogs barked at us last night as we
passed along the road just as they would
if any body passed.
The white men are about all gone to the
war so that is favorable for us. The road is
very good but very sandy. At dusk it came
on to rain so we moved from our swamp
retreat sooner than intended in order to
cross the stream on a tree before it was
too dark.
We soon got on the road and it rained
and lightened until we were about saturated.
Met a man on horse back, the signal was
given and to the bushes we went so he was
none the wiser. We next concluded to
flank a plantation house which took about an
hour through the woods and brush. Halted
to rest about every mile for we find that
our powers of endurance are not improved
much by confinement on Rebel diet.
Turned out for three wagons had come.
Slept an hour by the road side at about
4 AM. 12 m[iles.]
Friday Oct 7th 1864
Selected a site to stay till day light
so that we could secure a good camp site. Slept
soundly till day when I waked the boys
and Lt Harrison selected the site for our 2d
Camp of Escape (Camp Harrison).
The first night we had great difficulty
in getting drinking water but last night was
different. The copius [sic] rain
gave us drink, but Mother Earth nor negro labor
gave us no corn or potatoes. So we will
lengthen out our 5 oz bread till perhaps
morning. The mosquitos are not bad so
that is quite a relief.
About 3 PM had quite a scare and a
narrow escape of being discovered. Some darkies
were driving a herd of mules along the
road going North when some of them (mules)
got into the brush and darkies after
them. So we went into [the] swamp on hands
and knees and lay down for about 3 hours
when we returned to our old camp and
lay down on our brush beds and had to
lie close to get warm. Went to sleep and
waked about 9 PM and we started for the
road. Got there and found the moon to
[sic] bright yet to travel in safety, so we waited awhile and
without much danger of
interruption.
At daylight found us within about 4
m[ile]s of Columbia which we intended to pass
20 m[ile]s distant. The Saluda River and
Pickets at Columbia bridge however
stopped our career in this direction. We
got some corn during the night so we can
go for a day or two longer. 15 m[ile]s.
Saturday Oct 8th
Broad day light and no hiding place
secured so we stopped near and among some
oaks & bushes on a ridge near the
road.
DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT
47
Lt Harrison went out to look around and
is missing. We suppose he is lost. Cool
day. Slept some in the sun but could not
in the shade. Columbia is in sight and we
can hear the darkies sing plainly.
Making our supper on raw corn and taking
a nap to wait for citizens to get off the
roads, we started through the brush and
in a half mile came to a road running
nearly west which suited us for
direction so away we went but had to stop frequently
to rest. Capt Glenn[,] poor fellow, he
will never be able to go through. Made 15
m[ile]s and camped on the south side of
the road in a small swamp thicket about
5 AM.
Sunday Oct 9th 1864
Tried to start but could not for the
reason that Capt Glenn had a chill and vomited
repeatedly. At about 9 PM we started.
Capt Glenn consented to return and give
himself up. So Capt Day, Baird &
myself went on [,] passed Lexington C H in about
three miles[,] flanked it by passing round
to the right. Got away from the main
road and among the plantations roads
which run in every direction. Tied up at day-
light (after making a cup of coffee) in
an open woods. Capt D & I lay down in a
fence corner and partially covered
ourselves with leaves. Lt Baird secreted himself
behind a large rock. I had fallen into a
creek at daylight and got wet to the waist
and was very cold. Early in the forenoon
a little girl in passing discovered us and
scared she ran. Soon four men came on to
Capt D & I, one armed with a Double bbl.
shot gun, and arrested us and marched us
back and halted at a Farmers named
[Mutz?], where the women brought us out
some breakfast--wheat bread, corn bread,
bacon, and sweet potatoes pie and
Sorghum Syrup. So we made a hearty breakfast and
after talking with the proprietor we
were marched on to Lexington C H and were put
in Jail by the Enrolling officer (a mean
cuss). His name is Lt Russell. We had
some short bread and cabbage, we got a
pot of coffee made and hominy, a blanket
from one of the guards and passed a
tolerable night. There were but two others in
jail, one a young woman[,] Miss Jane
Gorman[,] for arson & Murder and a straggler
from the Reb army.
Tuesday Oct 11th 1864
A Lady sent us in a breakfast of boiled
rice[,] corn bread[,] chicken and molasses.
At 8 AM we were started for Columbia on
foot [but] soon got into a wagon and
rode into Columbia. [They] took us to
the jail and gave us something to eat. We
were then sent to an open field about 2
m[ile]s west of the City on the west side of
the Saluda River and found all our
Friends safe and heard that Capt Glenn was in
hospital very sick.
No news of Harrison or Baird. Lt Baird
has no doubt gone on. I hope they will
succeed in getting through.
Wednesday Oct 12th 1864
Slept quite cool under three blankets.
We have no tents[,] not a vestage [sic] of any
thing to make man half comfortable. All
well.
Thursday Oct 13th 1864
About 20 escaped last night making in
all about 200 since leaving Charleston. About
50 recaptured. The nights are too light
to venture as the moon is about full. One of
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48 OHIO HISTORY our officers died to day with Yellow Fever and another is sick with the same. Note--Baird was brought in to day. Weather very cool. Our mess consists of Capts Day, Blinn, Lt Baird and myself. Friday Oct 14 1864 Cloudy and cool. Moderated toward night. Another officer died this eve with Yellow Fever. Health generally good. Our officers have found gold (very fine) within our enclosure. No news of importance. Big rations of Molasses (Tar) two qts. each for 5 days. No meat issued here yet. Saturday 15th Oct Slight rumors of exchange yesterday. Our other man was brought in, Lt Harrison. He had got 85 miles N W of us and was accidentally picked up by some negro hunters. He was fed by the negroes. I had intended to try escape again last night but it was too light. Wrote a letter to wife to day. Sunday Oct 16th 1864 Pleasant day. Very still in camp. Two officers got away last night. There are more than a hundred out yet, many of whom will get through to our lines. Had a sermon in camp this evening. Indian Summer. Quite cool. Monday Oct 17th 1864 Pleasant day. Held Election to day for Pres & V P by States. Me Lin[coln] 25 Mc[Clellan] 00 J[ohnso]n 25 Pend[elton] -- N H " 7 " 00 " 7 " -- Ver " 29 " -- " 29 " 1 Mass " 43 " -- " 44 " 2 R I " 13 " -- " 13 " -- Conn " 34 " 1 " 35 " -- N Y " 171 " 29 " 173 " 29 N J " 25 " 6 " 23 " 3 Pa " 187 " 35 " 187 " 26 Del " 3 " -- " 2 " -- Md " 21 " 2 " 21 " 1 W Va " 19 " 1 " 19 " 1 Ohio " 142 " 15 " 144 " 12 Ky " 13 " 16 " 15 " 14 Tenn " 26 " -- " 31 " -- Ala " 1 " -- " 1 " -- Ind " 72 " 11 " 72 " 8 Ill " 79 " 8 " 80 " 7 Mo " 10 " -- " 10 " -- Ia " 36 " -- " 36 " -- Wis " 19 " 1 " 19 " -- Mich " 40 " 10 " 36 " 8 Min " 5 " -- " 5 " -- |
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DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT 49 Kan " 2 " -- " 2 " -- Fla " 1 " -- " 1 " -- Cal " 1 " 3 " 1 " 3 ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- |
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1024 143 1034 112 [138] [1031] [115] Total vote[:] 1167 [1162] Tuesday, Oct 18th 1864 Sprinkled some during the night. Cool morning. Two of our officers escaped during the night and two were brought in to day, one of whom was Capt Pickerell of Iowa. He got within 17 miles of the Savannah river North of Edgefield. Cloudy day with signs of rain. Ration day. Meal issued to us [but] no flour. Bot a ham shank and made a pot of soup for dinner. Wednesday Oct 19th 1864 Cool day. Lts Fairfield & Edmiston returned to day. Both have chills. Thursday 20th Oct 1864 Cool day. All is well as usual. Friday Oct 21st No news of importance up to date. This eve about 8 oclock, Lt Young 4th Pa Vols was shot and killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in a sentinel's hand (his time expired to day). Got our wigwam under better conditions so that it will be quite warm. We have drawn no meat since coming to this place, and no bread. Saturday Oct 22d Changed milder during the night with west wind this morning, but no frost. Rations dry meal alone to day. We have but little money, so we buy a bone with 1/4 lb beef on it for about four doll[ar]s and make a pot of soup. For grease we pay five dollars a pint, and cant get it all the time at that. Fairfield is sick. I intended to get out with Capt J R Smith, 16th Iowa to night, but was disappointed by unforeseen circumstances. Sunday 23d Oct 1864 Very cold night, but our wigwam being very tight I slept warm. In the morning-- Lt Young was buried yesterday and to day at 2 PM an officer is preaching his funeral sermon from 2d Corinthians 5-, 3 v. Pleasant day. Hoping for rain so that we can get out of this worse than Bastile-- this Hell on Earth. Wrote a letter to wife yesterday. Monday 24 Not as cool as yesterday. Our boys killed and ate a black boar which ran into camp. A man came to our camp (a Connecticut native but for some time a resident of this state) and offered to lend us money and take a power of atty on our Paymaster, at 2 Confed for 1 G[reen] B[ack], but Gen. Chestnut [Chesnut] refused to let him do so. Some money letters are advertised and rumors of Ex[change] (bah). An inter- |
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50 OHIO HISTORY esting little scene occurred to day. Lt Col Means[,] our Comdr. C S, and a Maj were inside and started out when the sentry halted them and called for the Corpl. A negro wishing to go out was told by the sentry that he could go. The Corp coming up[,] the sentry (a boy of 17) addresses him thus "That feller wants to go out. What shall I do? I have orders to let no one in or out without orders." This was pretty heavy on our chivalry, but they had to stand it. Capt Smith and I tried to get out this eve but it was too light and we failed. Tuesday 25 Oct 1864 Pleasant day. Took note of provisions sold to us by Sutler--500 loaves of bread $1.40 each = $700; 800 lbs beef & mutton $3 = $2400; with about $1000 worth of other necessaries making about $4000 to about 1333 men or $3 each per day besides C. S. Govt rations. This is the way the Rebs feed their prisoners. Failed to get out to night--not dark enough--too light. |
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Wednesday 26th Oct 1864 Cloudy day. Tried to escape to night at 7 PM in co[mpany] with Capts Dircks & Smith & Lt Hare [two names indecipherable]. The latter two succeeded, but three others rushing out created an alarm and the sentinels fired four shots one of which killed one of their own men. Thursday, 27th Cloudy forenoon. Rained all the afternoon and wet every thing through. Our wigwam leaked badly. Passed a disagreeable night. Friday, 28th Dried out to day. Lt Fairfield went to Hospital. Took his blankets which left me out in the cold. My benevolent (?) mess would not divide blankets or accommodate me but on looking round I found a chance to crawl into Lt Hare's tent and slept quite warm. Commenced getting logs to build a small hut but it is very slow biz with one ax to 300 men, and but one hour a day to get outside the lines. |
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DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT 51 Saturday 29. Very cold night--heavy frost. No ax to be had. My mess tried to make an apology for last nights treatment, but I told them that I had been with my friend--"out upon such selfishness." Such is the action of a large portion of the prisoners. Cannot send letters through without a C.S. stamp on them. Wrote yesterday to wife but am waiting to get a stamp. Lt Thos Hare gave me a stamp and I put the letter in the box. Slept with Lt Anderson[,] 3rd Iowa[,] in Lt Hare's hut. Not very cold. Sunday 30th Oct 1864 Not up till after sunrise. Two or three shots were fired during the night by the guards but no one hurt. Beautiful day. Capt Dircks & Lt Hare made arrange- ments with guard to let four of us out to night. Started at 8 PM and Capt D and Lt H in advance [with] Capt Smith & I following. We crawled towards the line. When the leading men were within a rod of the line one of the guards fired and shot Capt D through the thigh. We retreated and gave it up for this time. The guards had been changed. Warm and cloudy all night. Monday 31st Oct Cloudy forenoon. Reed a letter from my wife dated Sept 25th[,] one from B W Pease Sept 9th[,] and one from Cousin Mattie B. Whipple Sept 21. All well at home, but no news of Ex[change]. Tuesday Nov 1st 1864 Our mess com[mence]d building a house. Got about half done. Made arrange- ments to escape to night and at half past 11 PM crawled out in co[mpany] with Capts J H Smith 16th Iowa[,] W J Rannells 75th Ohio[,] Jno L Poston 13 Tenn Cav[,] and J L Elder 11 Iowa. Took up our line of march South through the dense undergrowth for about one mile [,] thence S E for about the same distance striking the C[harleston] & C[olumbia] road about two (?) m[ile]s from Columbia. Travelled about 8 m[ile]s further in this road South and at daylight had to stop in a little skirt of timber near the road. It was cloudy all night and comm[ence]d raining about daylight |
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52 OHIO
HISTORY
Wednesday Nov 2d
And rained all day almost completely
drenching us and making us chilled through.
A long day it was and when night came on
we started in and walked about five
miles and at about 11 PM being very
tired and sleepy we turned into a woods on
Henry Bakers plantation [and] built a
fire to warm us. Being very sleepy Capt
Smith [,] Rannells & I lay down on
one blanket and one for a covering[,] we
slept till daylight.
We got up with feet & legs nearly
benumbed with the cold. Finding ourselves near
a house we put the fire out and moved
farther into the timber. Rained all day.
Capt Poston & Elder made a
reconnaissance to our material benefit.
Thursday Nov 3d
Started about dark and taking a by road
came near the Congaree river and building
a fire at the end of an old house dried
ourselves by 11 PM and lay down on the
floor and slept till day break when Capt
Smith and Elder went to reconnoiter the
river for a boat. While they were absent
I found some Persimmons which were
eaten with a relish which a hungry man
[three words unintelligible]. They returned
with a good report. We cooked some rice
in our tin cups and ate our scanty breakfast.
On
Friday Nov 4th 1864
Moved to a thicket and parched some corn
for our subsistance [sic] down the river.
At dusk, as we were going to our old
cabin hiding place, we met three [men ?] of
our escaped officers. At 12 Midnight we
got started in a flatbottomed boat[,] five
of us, and the other three took another
boat. The river being pretty good stage we
got along quite well but had to stop at
daylight about 12 m[ile]s above the RR
bridge which we have to pass in the
night. We were nigh chilled through[,] so we
warmed up and ate a goodly breakfast of
cold chicken and baked sweet Potatoes
and will trust our fortunes to another
day. At sundown we got in our boat and
started running till about midnight when
becoming very cold we landed and built
a fire and warmed up. Lay by till 2 AM
Sunday 6th
We passed easily under the bridge and
found our 3 comrades about a mile below.
Passed on till after daylight when we
landed on an island in the Santee about one
mile below the Wateree.
Built a good warm fire and eat [sic] breakfast.
Toward noon some friends came
up the river and gave us some dinner. At
dusk started on the most beautiful of
rivers of a [moonlit ?] night and made
20 miles passing the Reb obstructions and
deserted battery at one mile and landed
just as the moon was setting at Rice Bluff,
a deserted plantation. Built a good fire
on the [Plateau ?], and all lay down to
sleep but me as watch. This river
abounds with wild ducks and the woods on each
side with raccoons & owls.
Monday 7th
We lay till day break[,] got up, picked
up a Kid, and getting in our boats we went
eight miles and landed in the [cane ?]
on the left bank of the river where we camped
for the day. Dressed our kid and cooked
up a portion in several ways. Baked some
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DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT 53 [oat ?] cakes, stewed some turnips and boiled some sweet potatoes, generally faring pretty well. Started at dark [,] came to [Tabs ?] Ferry in 5 miles. Found some negroes who had just ferried a soldier over. They were very friendly [,] got us Sweet Potatoe meal and also told us there was no danger. One old man named Prince was present. He was very glad to see us Yankees. Ran all night till 7 AM Tuesday 8th Nov 1864 When we tied up on an island. Supposed distance run 40 m[ile]s. Roasted the balance of our Kid and made quite a good breakfast of sweet Potatoes and cold Kid. We suppose that we can reach the N[orth] E[astern] RR bridge in about 4 hours run. Started at dark and with a light fog and thick overhead the moon did not mar our progress. Passed the N[orth] E[astern] RR br. at 10 PM (supposed very close), ran 20 m[ile]s and tied up on the Right bank at 12 midnight to wait for the moon to go down so that we could run the Reb Pickets at the Ferry 15 m[ile]s below the RR br. At 2 AM |
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Wednesday Started and saw neither Ferry nor pickets. Landed on an island on the left bank at day light after 3 hours run or 5 hours from the bridge. Supposed [distance] 20 m[ile]s. There must be a large plantation opposite, but some distance back. Nothing happened to disturb our quiet little island retreat and after partaking of a hearty supper of sweet potatoes and goat grease we started at dark and passed several plantations on the right bank (the left is all swamp). We stopped at 8 mi[les] and found a potato patch. Dug a bag full. 6 of our party went to the negro quarters and got something to eat and some valuable information. They told |
54 OHIO
HISTORY
us that we had a Battery to pass 5 miles
further down, to go down Chicken Creek
which is 2 m[ile]s long, into South
river, 2 m[ile]s further to Mazyck ferry and a
picket 6 m[ile]s further and to go to
Mullen island a distance of about 40 m[ile]s
where our gunboats visited daily. So on
we started. Passed the Battery without
being seen although it was bright moon
light. Got to Chicken C[ree]k at about
12 m[ile]s and camped on the left bank a
half mile from its head at about 3 AM of
Thursday Nov 10th 1864
Weather pleasant. Secreted our boat in
the cane which lines the banks and had a
good fire built. Slept about 2 hours
before day light. The land is about one foot
above the water and is covered with a
dense growth of trees[,] bushes and grape
vines. The day passed quietly and at
sundown we launched on the C[ree]k. The
Tide being in our favor we glided into
South river in one mile and found it a wide
and beautiful stream with South
Carolina's best rice Plantations on each bank.
Passed Mazyck Ferry unmolested at 5
m[ile]s. Many islands on the left hand and
reached the coast at about 11 PM[,]
dist[ance] about 25 m[ile]s. Visited the wreck
of an iron clad supposing it to be a
steamer but badly landed on a sand bar of
South Island. Built a fire and took a
short nap.
Friday 11th Nov 1864
Saw one of our Blockaders about 6
m[ile]s from the shore. Hailed her but unseen.
Capts Smith, Rannells & Dickerson
tried twice to reach her in one of our boats but
the wind being against them they failed.
It was a fruitless undertaking and I ex-
pected to see them go to the bottom. At
night we went into an old Reb Fort, built
a good fire, roasted some Potatoes and
stayed till
Saturday 12th Nov 1864
When, the day being fair, Capts Smith,
Dickerson & Burke started in one of our
little boats with the determination of
reaching the vessel or perishing in the attempt.
After they had been gone some time we
came across some marines on shore who
belonged to the vessel which proved to
be the Canandagua [sic], Commander Harri-
son. They were glad to meet us but not
more so than we were. We treated them to the
balance of our sweet potatoes and they
in return gave us hard tack & tobacco. At
about 11 AM a boat was seen coming
ashore. [It was from] another Steamer which
proved to be the Flambeau, Lt Ed Cavendy
[,] Commanding. The boat took us off
to the Candagua [sic] where we found
our boats crew had safely arrived. We were
regaled with the best the vessel
afforded and at 2 PM were transferred to the
Flambeau and immediately got under weigh
for Charleston, where we arrived off
at 1 AM
Sunday Nov 13 1864
Got a good breakfast on b[oar]d the
Flambeau and passing the forenoon very
pleasantly we were sent in the Tug Iris
to the Sloop of War, Jno. Adams, Capt
Gown. Took dinner on the Iris and were
transferred to the Tug Gladiolas [sic],
Acting Ensign Napoleon Brighton,
Master[,] and at Sundown we got under weigh
for Hilton Head. Passed out the Morris
Island Channel 3 m[ile]s to Light ship and
then tacked to the S W. Had an excellent
supper on board.
The view from the outside is grand, giving
a view of the Rebel works, ours and
the city.
DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT
55
Providence has in every instance of
danger interposed for our safety. And while
watching for the RR Bridge on [the]
Columbia RR, which we could not pass in
moonlight, we landed before we saw it
and it so happened that we were almost in
sight of it. And when we started a fog
covered the river at the bridge. Such was
the case at the N[orth]E[astern] RR
Br.[,] at the Ferries, and at one Ferry a
Confed Soldier had just crossed before
we arrived.
Monday, 14th Nov 1864
We arr[ive]d at Hilton Head at one AM
this morn and were reported to Rear
Ad[mira]l Dahlgren who sent for us to
take breakfast with him but we were being
provided with an excellent breakfast on
the Gladiolas, after which we steamed up
to the Flag ship and were very agreeably
entertained by the Adl. who ordered us
to be clothed by the Naval Dept. and
then sent us to Gen Foster at Hilton Hd who
reed us very gladly and regaled us with
a repast & very pleasant chat [,] with some-
thing good to take--apples & grapes.
He ordered that we be paid 2 mo[nths pay]
and have Transportation to New York on
to morrow. We called on Maj Jos [More ?]
who paid us two mo[nths] pay for July
& August amounting to for me 233 doll[ar]s.
My Serv[an]t black--John, 5 ft. 6 in.
high.11 Tax $3.50, making Capt[ain's]
pay
120$.
I learned that a box went up to Columbia
for me on the 3 of this mo[nth] and that
a letter with 20 doll[ar]s in gold went
up on the 26 Oct. I wrote to Lt. Fairfield to
use the same, and gave him a sly hint
what route I came.
We found the Fed officers here could not
do too much for us. Every favor and kind-
ness asked or needed was extended to us.
A Steamer or cat boat with an officer
and men to work it[,] as Admiral
Dahlgren said to day "You shall have a steamer.
You shall not go in a row boat."
We put up at the Port Royal House.
Tuesday 15th Nov.
Had a good nights rest in a good clean
bed[,] with good fare, and this morning
turned out to make some purchases-- a Vest 6.00, Portmanu [sic] [1.00?],
4
Collars .20, Pens .35, Hat 7.00, Hdkf.
.75¢, Gloves .80¢, Chessmen $2.00, Tobacco
.30¢. For Hotel bill 2.50[,] Apples
.20¢. [Tub ?] to N. Y. 8.00. Total $29.10.
Went on board the Fulton at 2 PM and got
underweigh at 4 PM. Slept well to night.
Wednesday 16th
All well. Fine weather and smooth sea.
We have very pleasant times there being
but few passengers. Capt Smith has the
military command of the vessel. At noon
we were off Wilmington[,] N C about 60
m[ile]s from the coast. Pleasant night.
Thursday 17th Nov.
Passed Cape Hateras [sic] at 3 AM
this morning. Sea a little rough. Wind changed
to Eastward so that we can use a fly
sail.
Slightly colder. At noon off Roanoke
island. Prospects to be in N Y by 2 PM
to-morrow.
Yesterday I wrote a letter to Mrs E M
Coffin of Nantucket and to day made my
report to Adjt Gen U S A, to be sent on
arrival in N Y City.
By request of Maj Gen Foster we made a
statement regarding the treatment of our
56 OHIO
HISTORY
officers in Reb prisons and signed the
same officially. This was to be sent to War
Dept.
Friday Nov 18th 1864
Weather a little rough. The latter part
of the night the Jersey Coast in sight with
several vessels on either hand. Cool and
rainy. Feel quite well. Passed around
Sandy Hook. Two vessels aground on our
Starboard quarter. Passed the Forts Hamil-
ton on L[ong] I[sland] and Old Fort
Layfayette [sic] on the Staten I[sland] side and
landed at Pier 36[,] N[orth] River. Went
to PM Genl Hays in St Marks Place.
He refused to give us transportation
west so Capt Smith and I[,] after getting dinner
at the Tremont House on Broadway, went
to the Jersey City Ferry at the foot of
Duane St, bought Tickets for Home. I pd
23 doll[ar]s to Cin[cinnati].
Started at 5 PM on the Erie RR. Got to
Elmira at daylight.
To N[orth] East [near Erie,
Pennsylvania] at dark[,] Cleveland at 9 PM [the] 19th.
Got supper and at 12 midnight Capt Smith
took the Chicago train at Crestline and
I arrived in Cin at 10 AM Sunday, [the]
20th, having dropped a letter at Milford
for E A Parker and one for J F Avery to
let my family know of my arrival. Took
dinner at the Indiana House and went to
Mr. C. W. Bunkers and stayed till Monday.
Nov 21st 1864
When I went home per the
"Buss" where I arrived at 8 PM and found all well and
some what surprised to find the dead
alive, the Captive Free, and our Prayers
answered. God be praised.
THE EDITOR: Louis Bartlett is a teacher
in the New York public school system. He
holds an M.A. degree in history from
Columbia
University, where he has also been
working on
his doctorate.
NOTES
79
22 James Cleland Hamilton, "John
Brown in Canada," Canadian Magazine, IV (1894), 119-140.
23 G. D. Smith, "A Well-Kept
Secret," in Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram, February 12, 1933,
quoting John J. Davis at the dedication
of the Masonic Temple at Clarksburg in 1915.
24 Harrison County Circuit Court
records, Clarksburg, West Virginia.
25 Joseph H. Diss Debar, "Two Men,
Old John Brown and Stonewall Jackson, of World-Wide
Fame, by One Who Knew Them Both,"
in Clarksburg Telegram. Undated clipping, about 1894.
26 Le Monde Maconnique (Paris), January 1860, reprinted in translation in Anti-Slavery
Standard (New York), October 6, 1860.
CAPTAIN T. W.
RATHBONE'S "BRIEF DIARY OF IMPRISONMENT"
1 Rathbone still showed his indignation
at being forcibly deprived of his personal property when
he added the following in the first of
the notes later appended to his diary:
"When captured the Rebs, that is
the men of the 18th & 23d Cav were robbing my men of all
the loose property and hats, blouses and
shoes. This took place even after they had us in ranks.
One burly fellow came up behind me and
struck me in the back of the head with his fist [and] took
my hat. Another grabbed my watch
guard[,] broke it in several pieces [and] took my watch &
knife. I threw my revolver into the
river when a Reb jumped in and got it. While this robbery
was going on I asked who the Commander
of the Rebels was and was shown and told that this was
Gen Imboden's command. When shown to me
I appealed to him to stop the robbery of my
command. He replied 'It is no more than
you deserve you damned Yank.'"
In the final sentence of the note he
added some information about their fight: "After the war
I learned from one of the Rebs who was
in the engagement there we killed 16 and wounded 40."
2 Here the text of the diary is followed
by this statement in parentheses: "Note, these particulars
are not full." Rathbone apparently
was referring to his fourth appended note which reads as follows:
"As soon as taken Prisoners we were
put on the road and marched as fast as we could be made
to go, and a part of the way over the
same roads that we had come on. In six or eight miles we
overtook our other detachment and with
it was Col. Leeds and the men taken with him: They
kept us on the jump till nearly night[,]
halted us awhile[,] and then marched us nearly all night.
"Very many of the prisoners were
about run off their last legs. Many overheated and exhausted.
Some could go no further and were put on
to ambulances or on horseback, and thus kept along
with the Rebel force. Col Leeds seemed
to feel the effects of the over march more than any one
and had to ride. He seemed to be
prostrated by the sun and to have taken cold in his throat and
was chilled whenever we got in a shade.
"I had been nearly prostrated by
the march of the 2d July over and across some very steep and
high hills or ridges and the march,
after the capture, about took the little of life that I had left.
I was like a windbroken horse, couldn't
breathe half way down.
"This lasted me through all my
imprisonment. It also caused severe symptoms of Heart-trouble
and threatened paralysis[,] and later on
the food produced scurvy and diarrhea and constipation."
3 This is known as the skirmish at South
Branch Bridge. Another of Rathbone's notes to the
diary adds a little to the account in
the text:
"When the Rebs fell back from South
Branch they didn't say much. Gen Imboden came back
propped up in a carriage. He was said to
be wounded. They marched us hard till way after night
till they got to forks of Cacapon when
they crowded us close together and placed a heavy guard
around us, gave us some meal but no way
to cook it or carry it."
4 Note three at the end of the diary
describes his quarters at Lynchburg and an incident that
took place there involving Col. Leeds:
"While confined in the old Tobacco
warehouse at Lynchburg, our room was perhaps 40/20 ft.
with windows in one end, and that end 4
stories high while in front or on the street our floor was
but one story, or the second floor. We
were assigned to and placed in the end of the room where
the windows were, but we couldn't see
anything for the windows were strongly barred. We occupied
about half the room and the one door
opened into our part; two guards, one on each side of the
room kept us separate from the occupants
of the other end of the room. The stench was horrible.
Among the men confined in the back end
was a civillian [sic] or citizen from East Tennessee.
He was a Preacher and was about 65 years
old. He had been in Prison for more than a year and
was nearly naked. He was Union to the
death. I heard him say one day that 'I'll rot in Prison
before I'll deny the good old Stars and
Stripes.' His name was James Floyd. One day a cowardly
assault was made on him by a Deserter
who knocked the old man down, jumped on him and was
beating him when Col Leeds regardless of
the guards sprang through the guard line seized the
Reb, pulled him off and holding him at
arms length as if his touch was contamination, shook him
80
OHIO HISTORY
as if he was but a toy, saying 'You cant
abuse a good Union [man] that way in my presence.'
The guards looked on in amazement
without interfering or saying a word. The Col walked back
to us, and we heard no more from the
boastful coward."
5 On a cavalry raid from the vicinity of
Atlanta into central Georgia, Major General George
Stoneman led his division to the
outskirts of Macon, where he was turned away by the state militia.
Shortly afterward he was surrounded and
taken prisoner, with many of his men. Mark Mayo
Boatner, III, The Civil War
Dictionary (New York, 1959), 801-802.
6 It was evidently at this point that
Captain Rathbone concluded his narration of the events of
the first two and a half months of his
captivity. The daily entries quite obviously begin with
September 19.
7 Beyond Rathbone's notation in the back
of the diary that he received two hundred dollars from
"Blockade Runner," Quinby is
unidentifiable. Obviously he was buying drafts on northern banks
with Confederate money. He appears again
in the diary on two occasions.
8 O.P. Fairfield was an old acquaintance
from home.
9 General Early's two defeats were at
the hands of Major General Philip Sheridan in the
Shenandoah Valley. The first was at
Winchester on September 19, and the second at Fisher's Hill
on September 22. Richard B. Morris, ed.,
Encyclopedia of American History (New York, 1953),
243.
10 Major General George B. McClellan was
a prospective candidate for the nomination for the
presidency on the Democratic ticket in
1864. At their national convention late in August, the
Democrats repudiated the war by putting
a "peace plank" in their platform calling for an imme-
diate cessation of hostilities.
McClellan was nominated, but he subsequently rejected the peace
plank. Morris, Encyclopedia of
American History, 244.
11 John would appear to have been an
orderly put at Captain Rathbone's service, though the
insertion of the statement at this point
makes it rather puzzling.