INCIDENTS OF CAMP AND PRISON LIFE.
SOLDIERS IN PRISON.--A soldier belonging to an army in war times
necessarily lives a strenuous life, and if unfortunately captured by
the enemy and has to be incarcerated in prison it makes life to the
average soldier almost unendurable. A soldier obliged to obey strictly
army rules and regulations enforced by officers fighting for the same
cause he is contending for surrenders seemingly about all of his
liberties, but when reduced to the humiliation of having a sentinel
standing over him all of the time to see that he does not violate
orders given by an enemy reduces him to the most abject slavery. Many
Northern and Southern soldiers were captured and placed in prison,
and a judicious and rapid system of exchange of prisoners would have
alleviated much suffering among these poor fellows.
EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.--The Federal authorities perhaps were dilatory
in effecting exchanges because their captured men could be replaced
by others, and they had not only the Northern states but the world to
draw from, and knew the soldiers taken out of line in the Southern army
could not be replaced with others on account of the scarcity of men.
It is said that everything is fair in war, but the peremptory demands
of war ought not to suppress every vestige of feeling of humanity. An
experience in prison however humiliating that experience may be, cannot
fail to convince anyone that implicit obedience to orders from the
powers that be is the only safeguard as a shelter or protection from
unreasonable punishment.
PUNISHMENT.--Severe punishment such as bucking and gagging, hanging
up by the thumbs, walking the beat carrying heavy loads, sometimes
whipping and even shooting, to the death practiced in the army and
prison almost invariably falls to the lot of a soldier who wilfully
disobeys known rules and regulations, but these punishments are
sometimes administered by tyrannical officers, puffed up with a little
brief authority, to gratify their own personal spites and prejudices.
Strict adherence to discipline will nearly always screen the victim
from such suffering. In prison officers may be exacting, but from their
arbitrary rulings there is really no appeal.
RATIONS.--Much complaint was made by soldiers in Southern prisons
about the scarcity and quality of rations, perhaps these complaints
in some instances were well founded, for the Southern soldier in camp
or on the march did not have an abundant supply. The same complaint
was made against the Northern prison and it was argued that the
Federal authorities had the means to provide more and had no moral
right to retaliate upon the South for a deficiency in prison that was
unavoidable. Many Southern soldiers in Northern prisons went to bed
of nights and could not sleep on account of being hungry. Prisoners
captured a short time before the surrender of Lee, soon heard of the
surrender, and of the assassination of Lincoln and were frightened by
a report circulated in the prison camp that Southern soldiers would
be kept as hostages and perhaps executed in retaliations for the
assassination of the president. The personal experience of soldiers
incarcerated in the prisons of the late war would make interesting
reading to coming generations but perhaps it is better to let this part
of the history pass into oblivion. Contending armies engaged in battle
would fight to the finish, damaging each other in every honorable way
they could even to extermination, but when a soldier surrendered and
became a prisoner he was treated courteously by his captors on either
side. A soldier that would offer an insult or indignity to a prisoner
was looked upon with contempt and his conduct regarded as cowardly by
his own comrades.
CAMP LIFE.--To undertake to portray the multiplicity of phases of
soldier life as exhibited in the Southern army would be a herculean
task from which the stoutest heart, best equipped mind and most
experienced hand would shrink. It is enough for one to record the
doings, transactions, incidents, and reflections drawn from historical
facts connected with the section and army, the one undertaking the
task was familiar with, on account of being present to witness much
that occurred, and in a position to gather items of information from
parties who were eye witnesses. Every day on the march, in camp, on
the battlefield or in prison was replete with thrilling, interesting,
ludicrous or pathetic scenes which were worthy of notice and ought to
be handed down to posterity in a more durable way than by tradition.
Duty, patriotism and an earnest desire to rescue from oblivion much
of the war history ought to appeal to the few old soldiers now living
whose passing from the stage of action must necessarily cut out forever
any chance of a correct history. The certainty that they will soon
be gone ought to be an incentive to induce each one to contribute
his part. An army like our Southern army presents to the mind of the
curious an inviting field for study and investigation.
In camp the home life of the soldier is clearly delineated and by
associating in the camp soldiers learn more about each other than
anywhere else.
SOLDIER ON INSPECTION.--There was in camp a little scrawny fellow that
took the world easy when things went his way, but when he got wrong he
was very much wrong and was at war with everybody and seemed to think
that everybody’s hand was raised against him. He was a faithful, loyal
soldier and would have died rather than play off to screen himself from
a fight. He was always out of clothing, rations, money and everything
that a soldier needed and was out with everyone who would not divide
with him, but was liberal and honest and would pay his debts if it took
his last dollar. At pay day it usually took all he received to pay his
debts and then he was borrowing again. He paid very little attention
to cleanliness, consequently no one cared to tent or bunk with him and
he was often by himself although socially inclined. At such times he
would sing songs sometimes a little smutty and whistle popular airs.
He would say some very harsh things about officers and some of them
very much wished for a chance to get even with him. On one occasion
on inspection, the inspecting officer complained that his gun was not
properly cleaned and ordered him to his quarters, putting on him the
punishment of thirty minutes work cleaning his gun. He returned to his
quarters with the rest of the company, feeling resentful, and with an
oath slammed the gun to the ground, consigning it with the inspector
to a region supposed to be hot and heavily charged with the odor of
sulphur. He gloomily sulked for thirty minutes and in sheer desperation
picked up his gun and reported as ordered to the inspector, expecting
to be sent to the guard house, but was surprised when told by the
officer that his gun looked much better, admonishing him to hereafter
do as the others did and he would not have to do extra work on his gun
and pleasantly excused him.
RECRUIT ON GUARD.--On one occasion the officer of the guard around
camp was a young lieutenant who had a very exalted opinion of himself
and was glad of an opportunity to show his authority. One of the
guard was a recruit detailed for the first time to do guard duty. He
had fallen on the third relief and had lain down to rest until his
time came. Nothing unusual occurred the first two hours, but after the
second relief was posted the lieutenant made his rounds and returned
to the camp fire and had a big laugh with the old soldiers present.
He had taken the gun from a timid recruit, had the poor fellow badly
scared and boastingly said that he would take every recruits’ gun that
belonged to the guard. The third relief was placed and the recruit
stationed at his post, walked his beat and kept a sharp lookout,
especially for the lieutenant. Finally he heard the rattle of his
sword as he approached and when he got in challenging distance, said:
“Halt who comes there?” The lieutenant answered: “Friend with the
countersign.” The sentinel then said “Advance friend and give the
countersign.” The officer corrected him saying “Advance friend with
the countersign,” and was briskly walking right up to him. The recruit
quickly brought his gun to the position of charge bayonets, and again
demanded the countersign. He was then almost in bayonet reach, gave the
countersign and expecting to throw the sentinel off his guard, made
a movement as if to pass on but really intended to take his gun. The
sentinel made him pass around him at a distance not in bayonet reach
which he did without further parley. After he had passed he said, “If
you don’t mind you will get in the guard house.” The recruit replied
saying, “I know my duty,” but was getting some thrilling experience
while being initiated.
AN ECONOMICAL SOLDIER.--A quiet careful soldier for several days saved
of his rations scraps of beef and scrapings of flour until he collected
enough to make a beef pie which was regarded as a luxury in camp.
The pie was nicely made and spicely cooked,
And the boys at it greedily looked;
The soldier happy with a broad grin
Commenced taking the rich pie in.
Near by in the crowd was a hungry boy looking about
As if he could breed a famine and starve it out;
He stood the test for a little while
Then stepped up to the soldier on his face a smile
Saying, “If you please I would like your pie to taste;”
“Help Yourself” said the soldier with very good grace.
For a second invitation he did not wait
But commenced eating pie at a rapid rate,
At last he suddenly quit eating and said with a sigh,
I guess I have taken enough of your pie.
“Have some more” said the soldier polite as could be;
The boy said, “Thank you, if you insist I will--it tastes good to me,”
The hungry boy hung on while others stood by
And saw the two together finish eating the pie.
A SOLDIER’S RETORT.--On the Maryland march on account of marching
for many consecutive days, soldiers were ragged, dirty and some of
them barefooted. An army in such a plight does not present a very
attractive appearance. In the column was a brave, faithful soldier
always ready to fight to the finish. He had just passed through a
series of battles and looked very much worsted, wearing old clothes
and limping on account of old shoes making his feet sore. The army was
marching through a town whose inhabitants were of very decided Union
proclivities. A crowd of pretty, well dressed ladies were conspicuously
standing on the sidewalk, indulging in cutting remarks, using such
expressions as rebel and traitor very freely. One of them pointed
out this uncouth looking soldier saying, “Look at that ragged, dirty
rebel.” He coolly retorted looking her in the eye saying, “Madam, we
always put on our old clothes when we go out to kill hogs.” His retort
was not very courteous, but it put a quietus on the use of any further
uncomplimentary remarks. The soldiers were usually treated very nicely
by the ladies, even when invading the enemy’s territory, and were in
turn as courteous as could be.
A BOISTEROUS SOLDIER.--In camp there was a boisterous fellow whose
early education and training had been very much neglected, and although
illiterate he was fully convinced that he was a man of considerable
importance. His quaint sayings and doings furnished no small amount
of amusement for the officers and men. He did not mean to exaggerate
but apparently looked at things through magnifying glasses. He was a
fearless, brave soldier and was never happier than when called upon
by an officer to perform some task. He did not hesitate to go or try
to go anywhere his commanders ordered or requested him to go. On one
occasion he was detailed as a picket to reconnoiter and ascertain some
points about the position and strength of the enemy’s forces. Under the
direction of the officer in command of the picket line, he with others
stealthily approached as near as possible to the enemy’s line to get
the desired information. In their eagerness they crossed the danger
line and were saluted with a volley of shot and shell and of course
were obliged to hastily retreat. The soldier came rushing back to camp
puffing and blowing, burdened with the weight of responsibility that
had been entrusted to him and hurried up to the colonel’s headquarters
to report the result of the investigation. The colonel listened to him
attentively while he excitedly gave his report and seriously asked his
opinion about the strength of the enemy’s force. With forceful gestures
and placing strong emphasis on his answer he replied: “About two
hundred thousand!” The colonel amused at his estimate of the enemy’s
strength, and his earnestness in reporting, respectfully thanked him
and excused him. The same soldier incensed at his brother, seventeen
years old, joining the army wished with an oath that the boy would
get killed in the very first engagement he got in. In a few days
the command got in a fight and the poor boy was killed. The wish was
thoughtlessly made and the soldier felt sorry for the fate of his
brother. One day glibly talking to the boys he pointed out a place on
his arm and expressed the wish that a minnie ball would strike him
there the next battle he got in and the bone would have to be resected
so he could get on the retired list. In the very next fight a minnie
ball struck the identical place pointed out and the bone had to be
resected. He could have been placed on the retired list, but preferred
to remain in service.
RECRUIT DETAILED.--Early one morning a recruit who had just been
enrolled, while he was at breakfast, was informed by the sergeant
that he was on guard for the day and told to report at once to the
colonel’s headquarters. Very much to the amusement of the old soldiers
he replied: “All right, wait till I eat a bite” and leisurely finished
his breakfast, prepared for duty and reported to headquarters without
realizing that he had subjected himself to the danger of being
disciplined for not at once reporting.
It was very embarrassing to recruits especially when joining a command
already in the service. A recruit reporting for duty was dazed at the
array of stripes, bars, stars and wreaths, being assigned to a certain
regiment was asked if he had any reason to give for being assigned to
any special company, stammeringly replied that he had a second company
in cousin I. The boys laughed at his mistake, but the officers kindly
let him join the company of his choice.