DANVILLE PRISON--A COLD WINTER--DOUBLE-QUICKING AROUND THE ROOM TO KEEP
WARM--EXCITEMENT CAUSED BY THE ARRIVAL OF FRESH TROOPS--THEY STACK ARMS IN
FRONT OF OUR PRISON--PLANS FOR ESCAPE.
Danville in 1864-5 was a town of considerable importance to the
Confederacy, being the base of supplies for the Confederate army at
Richmond and Petersburg. There were three or four military prisons there,
in which were confined about two thousand enlisted men, captured from the
Union forces, and four hundred officers. They were all confined in tobacco
warehouses in different parts of the city, the officers being separate
from the enlisted men.
The prison in which the officers were confined, was a three story tobacco
warehouse, 40x100 feet, near the River Dan. The windows were securely
grated with iron bars, and the whole building was rendered secure by heavy
oaken doors.
The building faced the east, and a street ran in front and, also, one on
the south side. In front, and on the south side, sentries were pacing up
and down, night and day; and there were also two sentries stationed on
the ground floor, inside, one along the south side, and the other across
the west end.
The sinks used by the prisoners, were just outside the west end of the
building, and were surrounded by a high board or plank fence. The second
and third floors were occupied by the prisoners, and at the time I was
there--the winter of 1864-5--were each supplied with two large Peckham
stoves, to furnish warmth to the building. On the ground floor where the
guard was stationed, there was no stove; and during the winter, the cold
air from below was anything but comfortable, as it found its way through
the wide cracks in the floor, and came in contact with the thinly clad
bodies, of those especially, who were sleeping on the second floor.
The winter of 1864-5, in Virginia, was extremely cold. The river that
winter was frozen over solid enough to make a safe crossing on the ice;
and the officers were frequently obliged to get in line and double quick
around the room to keep from freezing. This could not be done unless all
or a large proportion joined in the exercise; for if one or more attempted
it while the rest were lying down, they would be obliged to step over the
bodies of their recumbent comrades.
During the daytime, the ground floor was used for exercising, twenty being
allowed down there at a time, and as there was plenty of room, it was no
uncommon thing to see that number, or even more, down there at a time
taking their exercise.
The rule of the prison was, that no one should approach within less than
six feet of a sentry, or hold any conversation with them; and although
there was no dead line in this prison, an imaginary line six feet from the
sentry, was pretty generally observed. We were obliged to pass the sentry
at the back end of the building, in going to and from the sink; but as he
was continually pacing back and forth, it was his lookout that we did not
come within the prescribed distance of him.
The prisons in which the enlisted men were confined were of the same
description, or at least some of them were. Two or three of them were in
sight of our front windows, one being just across the street.
Some of the enlisted men were detailed in the cook house, for which
service they received extra rations.
This brief description of the Confederate prisons in Danville, is
necessary, that the reader may more easily understand some of the
incidents that follow.
In the last chapter I spoke of the conference between Col. W. C. Raulston,
Gen. A. N. Duffie, and myself, as to the prospects of getting through to
our lines if we should escape from prison. Many difficulties lay in the
way of a general break being successful.
Danville at this time was guarded by quite a large force; and even should
we be successful in getting out of prison, we would be obliged to
overpower this armed force, and then make our way through the enemies'
country in order to reach the Union lines; and on the march we would be
liable to be intercepted by large bodies of Confederate troops. The
nearest point at which we could reasonably expect to reach the Union
forces, would be the Shenandoah Valley; and this would be to us a long,
and difficult march, unless we could be well supplied with arms and
rations before we started.
All this time however, a sharp lookout was kept up, for anything that
looked like a favorable opportunity for a strike for freedom and home.
On the 9th of December, about sixteen days after my arrival, the
opportunity seemed to present itself. On that day, a company of
Confederate soldiers were drawn up in front of our prison, where they
stacked arms. They were new comers, and of course at once attracted our
attention.
Shut up as we were in a tobacco warehouse, with absolutely no knowledge of
what was transpiring in the outside world, except such information as we
could pick up from our guard, whose ignorance of passing events seemed
almost as great as our own, the arrival of new troops was something to
excite our curiosity, and give us something to think about.
Anything to excite our curiosity and relieve the monotony of the daily
routine of prison life, acted upon us much the same as a band of music in
the streets to-day affects the street idlers of the city. All who could do
so, gathered at the windows to inspect the new comers, and speculate upon
the occasion that brought them there. We judged them to be troops who had
seen service, by their rough and ready appearance, and their well-worn
and, in some cases, shabby uniforms.
Various were the speculations as to who they were, where they came from,
and the reason of their appearance in Danville at this time. Had they come
to relieve those who had thus far been our guards, and with whom we had
became somewhat familiar?
Had they come to take us to Richmond to be exchanged? (This word exchange
was ever uppermost in our thoughts while awake, and mingled in our dreams
while sleeping.) Or had they been merely sent here, to more securely guard
against any attempted outbreak?
All of these questions suggested themselves to our minds, and were freely
discussed, while they were being formed into line in front of our prison,
where they stacked arms.
Soon the order came, break ranks, and they dispersed without taking the
precaution of leaving a guard over the stacks of arms. Soon there was a
buzz of excitement throughout the building.
Longing eyes were directed towards those stacks of arms; if we could only
get the door open upon some pretext, how easy it would be to gobble those
forty guns, and the well filled cartridge boxes that hung from the
bayonets, and before the old guard could be called out, overpower them,
take their arms, capture Danville and be in the field once more. Groups
assembled throughout the building, and excitedly discussed the chances of
success or failure, if we should make the attempt. Some were for making an
immediate sally down stairs, call the Sergeant of the guard, and as he
opened the door to see what was wanted, seize him, fling wide open the
door, make a rush for the arms, and let circumstances govern our actions
afterwards. Others more cautious, counciled delay and a thoroughly
organized attack.
A council of field officers was immediately called, and it was decided to
make a perfect organization of the entire prison, having each arm of the
service, Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery, in separate detachments,
commanded by sets of officers of their own choosing, the whole to be under
the command of Colonel W. C. Raulston, 24th New York Cavalry, Brig.
General Duffie waiving his rank and being second in command.
This advice was finally accepted, and the work of organization was
immediately commenced. Colonel Raulston was known to be a gallant Cavalry
officer, whose coolness and courage could be relied upon, and whose
military ability was well understood by all. Officers were chosen for the
different detachments, the others all promising to cheerfully obey all
orders, and perform all duties assigned them.
This necessarily occupied considerable time, and before the organization
was completed, the guard, who were all unconscious of our plans, came out,
took their arms and marched around to the shed on the north side of the
building, that was used for the men's quarters, where they were out of
sight, as there were no windows on that side of the building.
Thus the golden opportunity had been allowed to pass. The hour we had
spent in perfecting our organization, and maturing our plans, while it was
well employed, was the hour of our great opportunity, and had now gone, to
be added to the many hours of great opportunities lost.
The work of organization went steadily forward however, hoping for another
favorable opportunity to occur.