PRISONS***


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[Illustration: C. M. PRUTSMAN.]


A SOLDIER'S EXPERIENCE IN SOUTHERN PRISONS

by

C. M. PRUTSMAN

Lieut. in Seventh Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers

A Graphic
Description of the Author's Experiences
in Various Southern Prisons


[Illustration]






New York
Andrew H. Kellogg
1901

Copyright, 1901,
By C. M. Prutsman,
Lexington, Neb.




CONTENTS.


  CHAPTER I.

  Events preceding my capture--The last day of freedom--A
  major's folly--My picket line captured--Warrenton--I
  lose a valuable pair of boots--Culpepper--Farewell
  to the boots--A disappointing test of good faith                  5


  CHAPTER II.

  Libby--Now I lose my money--"Fresh fish"--Quarters and
  rations--Boxes from home--Two majors escape--A general
  conspiracy--Bad news and new prisoners--General
  Butler saves two Union officers by threatening to hang
  Captains Fitzhugh Lee and Winder--Two female prisoners
  discovered in male attire in Belle Isle--We secure
  their release                                                    13


  CHAPTER III.

  Sick in the smallpox ward--A new plan of escape--Over a
  powder mine--The plan fails--Filling the roll, one hundred
  and nine men "short"--Shot at through windows--"Bread!
  bread!"--Hopes of exchange--May 1st--Boxes
  which had passed in the night--Brutes--More boxes--Danville,
  May 8th--Two weeks later, Macon                                  20


  CHAPTER IV.

  A tunnel spoiled by the rain--Captain Tabb's cruelties--Corn
  pone bakers--July 4th squelched--Beyond the "dead
  line"--Caught--Sherman sixty miles away--Charleston--<DW64>
  regimental prisoners--In the gallows' shadow--Whipping-post--Paroles
  --Money exchange drafts--The Anderson men                        29


  CHAPTER V.

  Sherman devastates Northern Georgia--Columbia "Camp
  Sorghum"--A "dug-out"--I get away--Free--An unexpected
  plunge--Trouble ahead--Recaptured--A meal--The
  "debtor's cell" at Abbeville--Back to "Sorghum"                  41


  CHAPTER VI.

  An "underground railway"--More paroles--Bloodhounds--Bribing
  the guard--Bloodhound steaks--Two hundred
  and fifty prisoners "short"--Back to Columbia--Building
  barracks--A good tunnel started                                  50


  CHAPTER VII.

  Five of us have a narrow escape from the train--Friendly
  <DW64>s--A good old "shakedown"                                  57


  CHAPTER VIII.

  Surrounded by rebel forces--Undiscovered--Skirmishing for
  food--<DW71>--<DW71>'s schemes--<DW71> brings succor--At
  headquarters--<DW71>'s reward                                     65


  CHAPTER IX.

  General Logan--General Sherman--Clean at last--General
  Hobart's hospitality--Luxurious ease--A ghastly reminder
  of horrors escaped--Washington "short"--Ordered
  back to my regiment--An honorable discharge                      74




A SOLDIER'S EXPERIENCE IN SOUTHERN PRISONS.




CHAPTER I.

 Events preceding my capture--The last day of freedom--A major's
 folly--My picket line captured--Warrenton--I lose a valuable pair of
 boots--Culpepper--Farewell to the boots--A disappointing test of good
 faith.


My enlistment in the service of the United States as a soldier to
aid in putting down the rebellion of 1861-5 bears the date, August
2, 1861. I was mustered into the service as a second sergeant of Co.
I, 7th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, August 28, 1861, which regiment
afterwards formed a part of the famous "Iron Brigade." I was afterwards
promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant, serving as such until April
15, 1863, when I was commissioned second lieutenant, and finally on May
4, 1863, received my commission