EXPERIENCES OF PAROLED PRISONERS OF WAR—A DISORGANIZED
REGIMENT—A HANDSOME TURNOUT—CLOSE QUARTERS—A FAITHFUL
SERVANT—PRESENT, OR ACCOUNTED FOR—IN CAMP AT MERIDIAN.
During the negotiations for the surrender, Gen. Banks refused to grant
terms permitting the release of the prisoners on parole, on the ground
that orders from Washington positively forbade it. On the day of
surrender, however, he suddenly changed his mind and decided to parole
all enlisted men, retaining the officers. Gen. Dick Taylor’s capture
of Brashear City, and his nearly successful attack on Donaldsonville,
threatening communication with New Orleans, may have had some influence
in causing the change of purpose. Gen. Wirt Adams’ audacious dash into
Springfield Landing and his destruction of a large amount of commissary
supplies stored there, seriously embarrassing the Federal commander
in feeding his own troops, also made the paroling of the prisoners
advisable. There is no doubt, however, that Gen. Banks was influenced
by an honest admiration of the gallantry and fortitude of the garrison,
and this was his avowed reason for paroling them. Blanks were at once
printed, Private J. C. Rogers, of Co. K, acting as the printer, and on
Saturday, July 11th, the giving of the paroles began.
The paroling of the First Alabama was completed Tuesday forenoon (the
14th), and in the afternoon the regiment, with the exception of those in
the hospitals, bade farewell to their officers and marched out of the
fortifications. Of Co. K, but one was left behind—James Herndon, who died
a few days later. Altogether, about 500 enlisted men of the garrison were
left behind in the hospitals, sick and wounded.
The regiment kept well together till they were fairly outside the enemy’s
lines, and then, in the absence of the commissioned officers, all
organization was at an end. About eight miles from Port Hudson the main
body of the regiment encamped, but some of the men marched on, and all
through the night squads were leaving. No attempt was made in the morning
to keep the men together. Maj. Knox, who escaped, and who joined the
regiment after it was outside Gen. Banks’ lines, rode forward to secure
rations for the regiment, but failed, and we did not see him again till
we reached Shubuta, where he made arrangements for our transportation to
Mobile.
Most of Co. K, and of the First Alabama, took the direct road to Shubuta,
a station on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. At Clinton, Privates J. H.
Byrd and A. J. White went to the hospital, where both died on July 25th.
The writer can only give the experiences of a party of eight, of which he
was one, on the homeward trip, but all probably fared about alike. Our
party consisted of Orderly Sergt. Cameron, Sergt. Fay, Corp. Blaylock,
Privates Bledsoe, Hurd, Lamar and Smith and a youth named Dennis, who
was with the company but not mustered in. On the second day after
leaving Port Hudson, members of the squad purchased a horse, mule and
Jersey wagon, with which to carry our baggage and sick. The wagon had
well-worn wooden axles which constantly broke; the horse was sore back
and skeletonized, but the mule was a very fair animal. With this team we
left Clinton on the morning of the 16th, but just before night halted for
repairs, having made fifteen miles. On Friday, the 17th, after the wagon
had been overhauled at the wayside smithy, we marched to Tangipahoa,
eighteen miles. Two of the party, with the wagon, left early the next
morning for Summit, Miss., while the others remained at Clinton till
Sunday afternoon, and then took the train on the N. O. & J. Railroad,
arriving at Summit at 9, P. M. So soon as we got off the Confederate
cavalry burned the train, to prevent it falling into the hands of the
enemy. The wagon detail arrived just before the train, having broken down
on the road, necessitating the making of two axles. On Monday morning we
started due east for Monticello, and camped after marching twenty-two
miles. At 11, A. M., Tuesday, we reached Monticello, where we found Gen.
Logan’s command (Confederate) crossing Pearl river. At Tangipahoa we
drew rations, and at Monticello Gen. Logan’s commissary honored Sergt.
Cameron’s requisition. From Monticello we took the Williamsburg road
through the piney woods, scoring for the day twenty-one and one-half
miles. Now began daily skirmishes for something to eat, as those who
were ahead of us had cleaned the section adjoining the road like a cloud
of locusts—there was little left to beg, buy or steal. On Wednesday we
scored nineteen and one-half miles, dining, for a consideration, with a
probate judge. A shower coming up, we stopped at dusk one mile west of
Williamsburg at a log cabin—one room and a shed. The family consisted
of a man, his wife, two sons and two daughters. The paroled soldiers
who had been passing for two days had nearly drained them of everything,
but they treated us very cordially, gave us supper and breakfast of
corn-bread and bacon, and spread us a pallet of quilts across the floor
in front of the fire. With difficulty could they be induced to accept
even a trifling compensation. In addition to our party of eight, there
were three other soldiers. The lady (poor and ignorant, she was a lady)
occupied the shed room with her two daughters, while the host, his two
sons and eleven guests slept in the main room. It was our experience all
along the route that, while there was no cause of complaint against any,
the poor were the more hospitable. Friday night our party went supperless
to our blankets in a roadside camp.
Saturday afternoon we arrived at Shubuta, where we found collected a
large number of the paroled prisoners awaiting transportation. It was
about midnight when the train going south came along. As it was already
full to overflowing, those at Shubuta had to climb to the second deck
and take passage upon the roofs of the freight cars. It was a ticklish
position, but we lay down, secured ourselves as best we could and went to
sleep. At 9, A. M., Sunday, the train arrived at Mobile, and the smoke
and dust begrimed deck passengers of Co. K wandered down to the river and
performed ablutions in rain water collected in a lot of iron salt-boilers
lying on the wharf. At 1, P. M., we took the train for Montgomery, whence
the members of Co. K soon made their way home.
As illustrating the faithfulness of the negro, it is worthy of record
that Lamar’s colored boy Floyd, who was with him at Port Hudson, and
who soon after the surrender was missing, was awaiting his master with
a horse at Washington Landing. He had got into a fight with a Federal
negro soldier, knocked him down and then fled, fearing that he would be
conscripted into the Federal army, and had made his way home.
John Tarleton died on his way home, near Monticello. Seven men, Jesse
Adams, M. Deno, — Haley, M. Hern, — Merritt, J. Schein and J. Shoals
never afterwards reported to the company: Jesse Adams was known to have
made his way to Mobile.
The other members of Co. K succeeded in getting to their homes, where
they remained, enjoying a well earned furlough, until Oct. 12, 1863, when
the First Alabama was ordered to report at Cahawba, Ala.
Of Co. K, according to such imperfect records as the writer has at
his command, the following men reported at Cahawba, or soon after at
Meridian, Miss.: Orderly Sergeant, Norman Cameron, J. L. Alexander, E.
L. Averheart, O. M. Blaylock, J. Boggan, T. M. Boggan, G. R. Bledsoe, C.
W. Brown, Wm. Douglass, Wm. Dubose, George M. Durden, J. Durden, W. L.
Ellis, W. H. Fay, W. Farmer, Henry Fralick, P. G. Golsan, John Gorman,
John Griffin, J. Hamilton, J. C. Hearn, G. W. Hearn, E. Hearn, Joseph
Hurd, W. H. Hutchinson, E. Jenkins, J. Killough, V. Kirkpatrick, M. D.
Lamar, E. Leysath, J. Lewis, G. F. Martin, J. W. May, Wm. Moncrief, J.
Owens, James D. Rice, Junius Robinson, C. H. Royals, G. H, Royals, E.
T. Sears, J. H. Shaver, J. L. Simpson, D. P. Smith, A. C. Smyth, A. J.
Thompson. John S. Tunnell, Josiah Tunnell, Wm. Vaughn, John Williamson
and T. A. Wilson. J. J. Stuart and J. P. Tharp reported not very long
after, and R. H. Kirkpatrick was received as a recruit, total 53. There
were absent at the hospitals or invalided: R. H. Callens, at Selma,
and J. Hays, at Montgomery, both of whom soon after died; S. Glenn, J.
C. Rogers, B. L. Scott and F. Wilkins, all of whom soon after received
discharges for disability. Clark had been transferred to the navy during
the summer.
The officers of Co. K, Capt. Whitfield and Lieuts. Pratt, Tuttle and
Adams, were taken by boat to New Orleans, and quartered on Rampart
street. Here they remained till Sept. 20th. They were then transferred to
Johnson’s Island, Lake Erie, where they arrived on Oct. 1, 1863. Lieut.
Adams was exchanged in the spring of 1864, rejoining his company in May.
Lieut. Pratt was paroled Sept. 16, 1864. Capt. Whitfield and Lieut.
Tuttle remained at Johnson’s Island till the close of the war.
Of the regiment 610 enlisted men reported at the Parole Camp, and about
100 were absent, sick or unaccounted for. Of the regimental officers Maj.
Knox was the only one present, the others being at Johnson’s Island.
There were about a dozen company officers present; each company, with the
exception of _K_, having one or more representatives.
On Nov. 10th the regiment arrived at Meridian, Miss., having been
assigned to Polk’s Corps, Army of the Mississippi, Gen. Joseph E.
Johnston, commanding. Some of the non-commissioned officers of
Co. K having requested to be restored to the ranks, the following
reorganization was ordered: O. Sergt., Norman Cameron, 2d Sergt., Wm. H.
Fay, 3d Sergt., C. Hardie Royals, 4th Sergt., M. D. Lamar, 5th Sergt., D.
P. Smith, Corporals, E. L. Averhart, O. M. Blaylock, G. Hearn and J. D.
Rice.
Lieut. Haley of Co. G was assigned to the command of Co. K, but was in a
few weeks replaced by Lieut. Johnson, of Co. F.
The regiment was armed with new Austrian rifles, and the old routine
of drill was once more resumed. Co. K made rapid progress and was
complimented by Maj. Knox, by being excused from evening drill after Nov.
26th on account of its proficiency.
On Nov. 25th the regiment received two months’ pay to April 30th, and
on Dec. 4th, was paid to Oct. 31st, with all arrearages, including
$50 bounty and commutation for clothing; about $125,000 was disbursed
to the regiment at this time. A limited amount of clothing was also
issued, and some shoes, but the latter were scarce, only 15 pairs to the
regiment. Rations were of good quality, and much more plentiful than ever
afterwards, consisting of corn meal and a little flour, beef, bacon,
sweet potatoes, salt, vinegar and soap. Early in November orders were
issued to build log barracks for winter quarters, 18 by 22 feet each
designed for 25 men.
The regiment had been declared exchanged on Oct. 16th, but it was soon
known in camp that the Federals had denied the validity of the exchange,
disputes having arisen in regard to the cartel. In camp the subject was
discussed with much interest, especially the question what would be our
fate if recaptured by the enemy. Political questions of the day now crept
into our camp fire discussions, especially the acts of the Confederate
Congress relative to the army. The act restricting furloughs and other
privileges and offering in lieu thereof increased pay, also the act
forcing men who had put in substitutes to report for duty were subjects
of debate, and the former was bitterly denounced.