THE FIRST DIVISION LEAVES CAMP OGLETHORP--PLANS FOR ESCAPE--THEIR
DESTINATION, CHARLESTON--THIRTY UNION OFFICERS AND FOUR OF THE "REB" GUARD
ARE MISSING ON THEIR ARRIVAL AT CHARLESTON--THE STORY OF THE LIEUTENANT IN
CHARGE OF THE TRAIN AS TOLD TO MAJ. LYMAN--DEPARTURE OF THE SECOND
DIVISION--STOPPED AT SAVANNAH, THUS FOILING OUR PLANS FOR ESCAPE.
At roll call on the 27th of July, the first division was notified to be
ready to move to Charleston that evening. The prison camp presented a
lively appearance all that day, baking, washing, packing up and getting
ready to move.
About six p. m. we bid them good bye, and went back to our now half
deserted quarters, to await our turn.
Plans of escape between Savannah and Charleston were freely discussed, and
an organized break was agreed upon, when they came to the point nearest
our forces.
This organized plot fell through in some way, but not being aboard of this
train, I only know what I learned afterwards about the failure. About
thirty officers did escape, by sawing through the floor of the cars, and
were not missed until the train arrived at Charleston.
The following account of the affair, told by Lieut. Rogers, of the
Confederate army to Maj. H. H. Lyman, this summer, however, throws a
little light on the subject.
Lieut. Rogers said: "I was very young at the time, though a Lieutenant in
the Confederate service, and was detailed to transport the Yankee
prisoners from Macon to Charleston. I was very particular to instruct my
men to be very vigilant, as the prisoners they were guarding were no
ordinary fellows, but were a shrewd, sharp lot of Yankee officers, and
would need a heap of watching; for if there was any chance to escape, they
would improve it, and they must be constantly on the alert to prevent any
of them getting away. Savannah was passed without any trouble, the Yankees
seeming to enjoy themselves, singing, laughing and joking, and they and
the guard seemed to be on the best of terms. Charleston was reached, and I
proceeded to turn over my prisoners and turn them into the jail yard. I
had been congratulating myself upon the successful accomplishment of my
mission, when, upon counting them into the jail yard, what was my horror
to ascertain, that I was thirty-four Yankee officers, and four guards
short.
Instead of going to headquarters and reporting the situation, I sat down
upon the curbstone in front of the jail to collect my thoughts, and
consider what I should do.
While I was sitting there brooding over the affair, and feeling about as
blue as though I was myself a prisoner, a Captain rode up and inquired if
I was Lieut. Rogers and was in command of the guard, that brought the
Yankee prisoners from Macon. I told him I was, and he told me I was
ordered to report to the General's headquarters under arrest. I went up
to headquarters, not knowing whether I was to be shot or sent to prison,
but concluded to make a clean breast of it, and tell all there was about
it.
The General listened to my story, and after keeping me in suspense for
what seemed to me to be a long time, released me from arrest, and told me
to go back to Macon with the balance of my men, and be careful that I
didn't lose any on my way back.
The Lieutenant continued, I never afterwards heard from either the
prisoners or my men. I didn't care so much about the Yankee prisoners
getting away, but would like to have got my guard back.
He did not know whether they were killed by the Yankee prisoners or had
been induced by them to desert, the latter however, is the most probable,
but as I have never heard from any of them since, I am equally in the dark
concerning the affair, and, like the Lieutenant, can only guess at what
took place.
The next day we were notified to be ready that evening, and that night we
were counted out and placed on board the cars. Instead of taking us to
Charleston, as we had been told they would, we were stopped at Savannah,
and placed in the United States marine hospital yard, around which a
stockade had been built, thus spoiling our plans of escape. "The best laid
plans of mice and men aft gang aglee." This was a yard of about two acres,
quite well shaded with live oak trees, some of which grew to enormous
dimensions, one on the south side, spreading over nearly or quite a
hundred feet of ground. Here we drew rations of fresh beef, the first in
many months, and our rations were generally better than we had heretofore
received. We were strictly guarded, but, with few exceptions, were well
treated. Colonel Wayne, of the 1st Georgia Regulars, was in command, who
designated Colonel F. C. Miller, 147th New York, as senior officer of the
camp, and all communications were forwarded through him.
Of course almost the first thing to do when we had got fairly settled in a
new prison, was to commence a tunnel. Two were started, and had progressed
nearly to completion, when as in Macon, these were both discovered and
filled up. Another was soon started in a different direction, and was
already to open, which would have given egress to half the camp, when, by
a most unfortunate accident, it was discovered on the morning preceding
the night we were to make the break. We had reached within a few inches of
the surface, and ten minutes' work would complete the opening, but it was
so near daylight we thought we would be already that night, and get a good
early start the next.
That morning, however, as the sentry was watching a cow cropping the grass
just outside the camp, what was his surprise to see her suddenly break
through and nearly disappear. Of course an investigation showed what had
been done, and again had our toil been in vain--no, not in vain, for it
had kept us employed, and diverted our minds from the misery of our
situation.
While in Savannah, we built ourselves what is known as the old fashioned
Dutch oven, in which we could bake our pomes. To the younger readers a
description of this oven may be interesting. A flat stone was secured
about two feet square, for the bottom, and around and over this stone was
erected an oven of stone, brick and mortar, capable of holding about four
good sized pomes. Wood was then split up fine, and a good rousing fire
built, and kept up until the oven was thoroughly heated, when it would be
filled to its capacity with pomes, the different messes taking turns to do
their baking, and in half an hour after closing the oven up tight, they
would be taken out nicely baked, and when properly made, afforded a very
palatable meal. In order to have them light, we would mix up a quart or so
of corn meal in cold water, and set in the sun to sour. The pome was then
mixed in the same way, stirring in a little of this sour rising and adding
a little soda. This sour meal was kept on hand, so as to have enough for
three or four days ahead.
A corn dodger was made in the same way, but was made the size of a large
biscuit, and was baked in a skillet with an iron cover, a fire being built
both over and under the skillet, and when not made light by the use of
this sour rising and soda, would make a dangerous missile to throw at a
man or dog.
Having now served an apprenticeship of about four months as cook for the
mess, I flattered myself that I was qualified to take charge of any first
class restaurant as chief cook and bottle washer, and I would bring my
corn pome on the table, with all the pride with which a young wife, would
present her best efforts at cooking to a tea party. And when I had wheat
flour, I would be just a little put out, if my biscuit did not receive the
fulsome praise I thought they were entitled to. Our rations in Savannah,
were more liberal than they had been during our captivity, and by buying
such things as were not issued to us, we always had a little ahead.
Colonel Wayne issued an order after the discovery of this first tunnel,
that in order to give a better chance for inspection, tents must be raised
three and a half feet from the ground. This order was usually complied
with, but some claiming that they had no lumber, neglected to do as
directed, and the result was that a detail was sent in, and removed
sixteen tents that had not yet been raised, causing much inconvienence and
suffering to those former occupants, as that night a severe storm came up,
and being without shelter, many were drenched to the skin. These tents
were returned in a day or two however, by recommendation of the surgeon in
charge. Platforms were built at different points, upon which were built
fires at night, to better enable the guard to see what was going on
inside. Around these fires we would gather and sing old army songs, which
served to put a little spirit into us.
[Illustration: WASHING CLOTHES AT SAVANNAH, GA.]
These fires, while they were not built for our comfort or convenience,
really were both to us. They drove away the musquitoes and purified and
warmed the chill, night air, thus making it more comfortable sleeping than
it would otherwise have been. On the 2d of August an order came for our
two Chaplains and seven surgeons to be ready to leave for parole. It was a
day both of joy and gloom. We had learned to love those two earnest
christian soldiers, who had been so faithful to us, and were sorry to part
with them, though we rejoiced at their good fortune and fondly hoped that
it might be our turn soon. Most of them took with them only what they were
sure to need, and freely gave to their most intimate comrades all else
that could be of any value to them. But to show the difference in the
dispositions of people, I wish to refer to two cases as illustrations of
distinct sides of human nature. Dr. Robert Rae had a fine case of surgical
instruments, which, although valuable to him, even after he was free, he
gave to Adjutant H. H. Lyman, 147th New York, telling him they could be
sold for money enough to subsist him for some time.
The other case is that of Dr. Brets, who had a mattress and some other
camp property, that would be of no earthly use to him and which he could
not take with him, so he magnanimously consented to sell them to the
highest bidder, which happened to be Captain Hock of my mess. This
mattress was quite a comfort to us and we were glad to get it, even at the
exorbitant price we were obliged to pay. We did not begrudge the generous
Doctor the greenbacks we paid him, and hope he is still living to enjoy
them, for to such a generous soul, a few dollars, more or less, must be a
great source of comfort. If I could find out his address, I would donate
him a copy of this volume, just to show my gratitude. Before leaving, the
Chaplains had a rousing farewell meeting, and each delivered a brief but
eloquent address, and amid hearty hand-shakings and fervent God bless
you's, they took their way out of the camp. Only one officer escaped while
we were at Savannah--Captain Sampson, 2d Mass. H. A., and he was soon
recaptured and brought back.
He escaped by crawling out through a hole under the high board fence and
tried to reach the fort on the coast about six miles away, but the swamps
were simply impassible, and after wandering about through water and mud
nearly knee deep for two or three days, was obliged to abandon the attempt
to reach the coast, and was arrested by a patrol, who accidentally run
upon him while he was trying to extricate himself from the impassible
swamp.
He said that at one time he was in sight of the fort, but the water
deepened so fast as he approached the shore, that he was obliged to
retrace his steps.
It was a source of some little comfort to us to be once more within
hearing of the morning and evening guns of a Union fort, but surrounded as
we were by the guard of a hostile enemy, how long a distance that six
miles seemed.
While at Savannah we were also furnished kettles, in which to heat water
for washing our clothes; and as we had no extra changes of clothing, some
ludicrous scenes were witnessed while the washing and drying was going on.
Lieut. Abbot, while boiling his clothing, tied a blanket around his waist
until they were dry enough to wear again, making him look like an old
woman, and while thus employed was sketched by an artist named Dahl, and
presented with his own picture.
On the 13th of September we were placed on board the cars and arrived at
Charleston the same evening, where we were placed in the jail yard, to be
knocked out by General Gilmore's batteries on Morris Island. This was
without exception the most filthy, lousy, dirty place I ever saw. There
were only fifty A tents for six hundred prisoners, and scarcely any wood
with which to cook our rations. At Charleston occurred the first death by
starvation that I had witnessed, the deceased being a member of my
company.
Soon after we entered the jail yard Capt. Hock and myself were greeted by
two skeletons, whom we never would have recognized had they not made
themselves known to us. They were reduced to mere skin and bone, and
neither could walk, being on the very verge of death from starvation. As
soon as possible I made them some gruel and tried to nurse them back to
life. We fed them sparingly through the evening and then left them a pot
of food to eat during the night, being particular to caution them not to
eat too much, Sergeant Sweet, who was the stronger of the two, promising
to be careful of his comrade, who could not be depended upon to control
his craving for food. In the night this poor fellow crawled near enough to
reach the pot of food while the Sergeant was asleep and ate it all.
It was his last meal on earth, for his poor starved stomach was too weak
to endure so much, and the next morning he was dead. The guard carried him
outside the dead line, where he lay all day, festering in the sun, and
would not let me approach near enough to spread a blanket over his dead
form, to hide the sight from our gaze.
There were a number of negroes belonging to some Massachusetts regiment,
confined in jail, but were not allowed to come down into the yard. They
were beautiful singers, and entertained us almost every evening while we
remained there. This, with one exception, was the only sound that gave us
any pleasure.
We could hear the boom of Gilmore's guns on Morris Island, and watch the
course of the shell he was every fifteen minutes tossing into the doomed
city. Two or three times pieces of shell fell inside the yard, one piece
cutting off a limb of the locust tree that was at the time affording me
shade, while I was reading one of those old Harper's that I brought along.
The only escape made from the jail yard was by Lieut. H. Lee Clark, 2nd
Mass. H. A., who bought a reb lieutenant's uniform, and walked out without
a question. He was subsequently brought back, however. Upon his return to
the jail yard he gave the following narrative of his escape:
As he passed out of the gate, the sentry seeing his uniform and insignia
of rank, faced and came to a present arms, which he answered by a salute,
and passed on. Being now free from the prison, he started off, but being a
stranger in the city, he did not exactly know what direction to take.
He had wandered about for some time, trying to think of some plan to reach
our lines, when his attention was attracted by two ladies who seemed to be
watching his movements, from the stoop of a house that looked as though it
was occupied by people in moderate circumstances. After passing and
repassing the house two or three times, he concluded to try to get
something to eat there, and for this purpose approached the ladies. They
asked him into the house and set a lunch before him, and thinking he would
be safer here than in the street, he concluded to stay as long as
possible. He found the conversation of the ladies entertaining, and by
cautiously drawing them out in conversation, he found them to be strongly
tinctured with union sentiments. Finally after satisfying himself that it
would be safe to do so, he told them who and what he was, and appealed to
them for shelter and protection, until he could devise some plan for
leaving the city.
This they cheerfully promised, and also agreed to assist him to the utmost
of their ability. They kept him at their house two or three days, until
they could exchange his officer's uniform for that of a private, and then
procured him a pass, as their brother, to visit Sullivan's Island, which
was opposite Morris Island, and at one place was only separated from it by
about three hundred yards.
This Island was reached by steamer and was strongly fortified. The bay
between there and Morris Island was full of torpedoes to prevent attack by
water.
He roamed about the Island all day, trying to find some means of crossing,
but could discover no boat, not even a plank that would sustain his
weight.
He staid on the Island all night and tried again the next day to find some
means to get across the short belt of water to Morris Island. He could not
swim, and not a board was to be found that would assist him in his
extremity.
He was without food and was now taken ill, and was finally obliged to go
back to Charleston, and give himself up, when he was placed in the
hospital, and after his recovery, sent back to prison.
September 26th, we were told that if we would give our parole not to
attempt to escape, good quarters would be furnished us, and as escape
from here seemed impossible, we gladly accepted the proposition.
Upon giving our parole eighty of us were sent to a house on Broad Street,
which looked out on the bay. It was a three story, white house, with wide
piazzas facing the water, and just across the street were bath houses,
that we were permitted to use whenever we pleased. Here for the first time
since we were placed in the pen at Macon, we had the facilities for
cleanliness so necessary to insure good health. Then in the evening we
could sit out on the piazza, and, looking down the bay, see the flash of
the guns five miles away, anon hearing sharp quick reports, and then watch
the course of the shell by the trail of fire, as it pursued its course
into the city, while we amused ourselves by singing and commenting upon
the bombardment.
We were visited almost daily by the Sisters of Mercy--God bless these
brave, noble women--who brought in delicacies for the sick, and tobacco
for those that used it, which they gave freely to those without means to
buy, or sold to those who were able to pay. They also traded Confederate
money for our greenbacks, giving us better rates than we could get
elsewhere. Then they would take the greenbacks to the reb prisoners on
Morris Island, for they had free access through both lines in prosecuting
their christian duty, and they were worthy of the confidence of both
governments, as they never acted the part of spy for either. Braving every
danger, and only intent on doing service for the Master, and relieving
suffering wherever they could find it. How many of our poor boys, who were
brought there from Andersonville, and were suffering from disease and
starvation, were soothed, nursed and comforted by those noble women. May
God reward them for all their self sacrifice, all their tedious
pilgrimages, from one camp to another, all their weary watching beside the
squalid pallets of the wretched suffering heroes, despite the hurtling
missiles of death, that were flying in every direction about the city;
nothing daunted or deterred them from making their regular daily visits,
though I know of one instance, (and it was probably only one of many,)
where a shell struck and burst only a few feet in front of the carriage
that was bringing them to our quarters.
They were frightened badly, and what woman would not be, but this did not
deter them from making their daily visits to the sick and suffering
soldiers of both armies, and doing all in their power to alleviate
distress, feeding the hungry, and watching by the bedside of the dying,
administering the consolation of Christian faith and hope to those who
were passing away, their only reward the consciousness of a duty well
performed. "Verily they shall have their reward."
On the 5th of October we were again on board a train, and this time our
destination was Columbia, the capital of South Carolina. We were placed in
box cars, with two guards at each door, some of the same men who had been
guarding us while in Charleston, and with whom we had been on terms of
intimacy, we having been allowed many privileges while on parole, and had
not been under as strict surveillance as heretofore, being permitted to go
in and out during the day, whenever we pleased, and had gained the
confidence of our guardians to such an extent, that they did not think it
necessary to watch us very closely. This we thought would be a good chance
to escape. It was agreed between us that Captains Cady, Hock and Eastmond
and Lieut. Masters should jump from the car, which was running only about
ten or twelve miles an hour, and I was to go on to Columbia with our
baggage, of which we had considerable, so that in case of recapture, they
would not lose all of this, to us, valuable property, but would again be
in condition to commence housekeeping. Cady and Masters sat in the door
with their legs hanging out, and I sat beside the guard, and after dark
got into conversation with him. I had a pine stick which I was whittling,
and as he would frequently bring his gun to an order beside me, I managed
to remove the cap from his gun, and insert this pine stick into the tube.
This I communicated to my comrades. I then went back, and, standing
alongside of this verdant reb, soon had him in good humor by getting off
some funny yarns, joking, laughing and keeping him amused by swapping lies
with him, until he thought I was one of the jolliest Yanks he had ever
seen. And I did feel jolly, for I had a dead sure thing on _him_. We
finally got on such friendly terms that he asked me to hold his gun while
he took off his shoe to see what in h--l it was hurt his foot so; some dog
gone thing was pestering him awfully; he reckoned it was a dog gone peg
sticking up thar. Now was their time, and if I only had his belt
containing the caps and cartridges, it would have been my time, too. We
were passing through a swampy piece of woods, and none of us knew how deep
it was or how far to high ground; but Capt. Cady and Lieut. Masters took
in the situation and jumped. To show myself worthy of the confidence he
had reposed in me, I snapped the old musket, but that only served to drive
the pine plug more securely into the tube, and by the time he had put on a
new cap they were out of range, even if the gun had been discharged. He
exploded the cap, however, in the direction of the fugitives, and then
relieved himself by cursing the d--n old gun; but my zeal was duly
recognized, and our friendship was more firmly cemented than ever, as I
was so mad to think they would play such a scurvy trick, especially while
I was on guard. It was not long before the frequent report of arms told us
that others were making a "jump for life and liberty."
About one hundred and fifty jumped from the cars and escaped into the
swamp that night, and amidst all the firing there was not one hurt that I
ever heard of. After Cady and Masters jumped, the guard at the opposite
door was so watchful that Hock and Eastman could not get a chance to
escape.
Had I not promised to stay on board and take care of the baggage, I should
have taken the gun and followed Cady and Masters, which I think would more
than ever convince my reb friend that I was zealous in the performance of
military duty. I could see from my position in the door, dark objects
leaping from the car in front, followed by a streak of fire from the gun
of one of the guards, showing that the caps had not all been replaced with
pine plugs, though I was told afterwards that a number of caps had been
removed. I think the safest way, however, to prevent a gun going off, is
when you remove the cap, to insert a plug into the tube. We were a jolly
crowd that night, that passed through the swampy country between
Charleston and Columbia, for it was fun to see our comrades getting away,
and witness the frantic efforts of the guard to prevent them. Officers
were shouting to their men to shoot the d--n Yankees, and the guards were
doing their level best to obey orders.
But they had been deceived by the apparent submissiveness of the Yankees,
and as I heard the fellow say whose gun I had fixed, "I didn't think they
would do such a dog gone trick on me, when I'd used them so well." He
seemed to lose confidence in all but me, and was mad all through, to think
that the fellows he had treated like gentlemen should thus abuse his
confidence.
We could have easily captured the whole force and taken the train if we
had made an organized effort. But the great trouble was to get officers to
obey orders and follow instructions; all wanted to be bosses. I would
rather go into action with one regiment of enlisted men than with a whole
division of brigadiers.
This fact probably accounts for the rebs always keeping the officers and
enlisted men in separate prisons.
We arrived at Columbia October 6th, about 4 p. m., and were at once turned
into a field of about five acres, on a sort of side hill. We had not drawn
any rations during the day, and having had no opportunity to cook the raw
rations we brought from Charleston, or buy anything to eat on the road, we
were half starved.
There had been no preparation made for our coming, and the bakers were
obliged to fire up and bake bread to feed this unexpected addition to
their customers. This, of course, took time, and to men with empty
stomachs the hours seemed like days. Women come to the fence that
surrounded our camp, with pies, cakes, biscuits and other provisions to
sell, and done a thriving business while provisions lasted; but the stock
was soon sold out, and yet only a few had been fed. They only had to come
to the fence with what they had to sell, and it was bought at whatever
price was placed upon it.
I had just bought some bread of one of these venders, when Lieutenant H.
Lee Clark, 2d Massachusetts H. A., came up and asked a woman the price of
a pie, which she told him was five dollars; he handed her the five
dollars, and was reaching through the fence for the pie, when one of the
guard that had been placed in the camp, gave him a bayonet thrust in the
back, without a word of warning or an order to fall back. It was a
terrible thrust and made a wound three-fourths of an inch wide and one and
a half inches deep, near the spine. A number of us saw it and watched for
this fellow to come on guard again that night, but fortunately for him and
perhaps for us, he was relieved and did not again make his appearance. If
he had, we had determined to settle him quietly with a stone. An old
wooden freight house formed the west boundary of our camp, and under it
was stored a quantity of bacon. A number of hams were fished out by means
of a hook attached to a long pole, and some even crawled under it to get
their rations. Finally about dark, rations of white bread, warm from the
ovens, were served and this, with the stolen bacon, made us a good hearty
supper.
About this time a terrible rain storm came up, accompanied by a cold
northwest wind, which caused intense suffering to those who had no
shelter; and as none had any except such as could be made with blankets,
nearly all were all that night exposed to one of the worst storms I ever
experienced. As was my custom on going into camp, the first thing I did
was to gather some boards and improvise a tent from our blankets, using
some for a floor on which to place our mattress. This afforded but slight
protection from such a terrible storm of wind and rain as that night swept
down upon us, but over one thousand of the twelve hundred officers were
destitute of even this slight protection, and many were suffering from
wounds and disease. To those it was a night of terrible suffering such as
few ever experienced before or since. In such a drenching rain fires were
impossible, and there was nothing for them to do but tramp all night long
in the wind and rain, to keep from perishing. Yet above the howling
tempest and amid the drenching rain, could be heard the cheering chorus,
"Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching."
Water was running down the slope in torrents, forming miniature rivers as
the storm progressed, cutting deep furrows in the soft clay soil, and
covering the whole camp with water and mud nearly ankle deep. Few who
passed that night of the 6th of October, 1864, in the prisoners' camp at
Columbia, will ever forget it while they live.
The next day we were asked to again give our parole, in which case we
would be placed in a beautiful grove about three miles out, where we would
have all the facilities for cleanliness and comfort that we could desire.
We rather thought we would first see this haven of bliss, and then decide
for ourselves about the bargain.
We hung our wet blankets up to dry in the sun which had come out once more
to cheer us, and made ourselves as comfortable as possible during the day,
not knowing where we were to go next. About four o'clock, teams were
brought up to the fence along the road, and we were ordered to load on our
traps and get ready to move into camp. Not having much baggage, we were
soon ready and the line was formed, and we were again on the march. We had
not gone more than half a mile, when we passed the building where was
manufactured the Confederate money with which to carry on this great
_rebellion_.
The windows were illuminated with the bright faces of about a hundred
young ladies, who were employed in this great printing house, and some of
the boys failed to keep step as they cast furtive glances in the direction
of the upper story windows, some even going so far as to give a salute
that was made a good deal like throwing a kiss, while a few cheeky
fellows, who seemed to have forgotten their manners during their long
imprisonment, actually had the audacity to sing out: "Say, sis, chuck me
down a roll of _Confed_. Got any new issue to spare? Give us a bundle; you
can make more." But what surprised me most, the girls seemed to enjoy all
this chaffing, and some of them actually attempted to get up a flirtation
with the detested Yankee prisoners, waving handkerchiefs, throwing kisses,
and making such remarks as: "Ain't he handsome? Oh! look at that fat
fellow; ain't he a daisy," &c., keeping up a chatter loud enough for us to
hear until the whole column had passed.
After a march of three miles, we turned into a ploughed field that was
bounded on three sides by what new settlers in the back woods call a
slashing. There was not a tent or shelter of any kind, and this was the
place that we had been told would afford us every facility for cleanliness
and comfort, and for which we had been asked to give our parole.
A guard was formed around this field and we were turned in like so many
mules into a corral. For fear of losing our mattress and other camp
equipages, if we loaded them on the cart, we fortunately decided to lug
them, not knowing how much of a tramp we had to make, and although it was
a hard lug, we were well repaid for our labor when we reached the camp,
for while many lost things that were invaluable to them, in that they
could not be replaced, we were ready to go to housekeeping at once, when
we were ordered to break ranks.
Like squatters in a new country, each man was permitted to select his
location, and I at once pre-empted a dry knoll, under the shade of a pine
tree, as a suitable place to squat and, dumping our household goods there,
proceeded at once to improvise a shelter and skirmish around for something
for supper.
Again, thanks to DOCTOR BRETS' generosity (?) our mattress, which we had
tugged on our shoulders for three miles, came into play to make us a
comfortable bed on the ground, and, after such a supper as we could pick
up, and a good smoke, we curled up in our blankets and lay down to dream
of home and sumptuous dinners. While we were thus comparatively
comfortable that night, there were a thousand of our less fortunate
comrades who spread their still damp blankets on the cold wet ground, and
almost supperless, passed a night of sleepless misery. The next week I
spent in building a brush tent. I received permission to take an axe and
go outside the camp, under guard, and cut brush and limbs to build it
with. I cut six posts and planted them firmly in the ground, putting poles
across to make a ridge tent, and then thatched the steep roof with pine
boughs, making it water proof. It required a good deal of labor to
complete the quarters, but when done it was warm and comfortable. Having
completed our quarters, and got everything snug, I made up my mind that I
would like to move North.