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diff --git a/old/54065-8.txt b/old/54065-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a667694..0000000 --- a/old/54065-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3552 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Four Months in Libby and the Campaign -Against Atlanta, by I. N. Johnston - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Four Months in Libby and the Campaign Against Atlanta - -Author: I. N. Johnston - -Release Date: January 28, 2017 [EBook #54065] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY *** - - - - -Produced by John Campbell and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been - corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within - the text and consultation of external sources. - - More detail can be found at the end of the book. - - - - - FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY, - - AND THE - - CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. - - BY - - CAPT. I. N. JOHNSTON, - - CO. H, SIXTH KENTUCKY VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. - - - CINCINNATI: - PRINTED AT THE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN, - FOR THE AUTHOR. - - E. P. THOMPSON, PRINTER. - 1864. - - - - - Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, - - BY I. N. JOHNSTON, - - In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern - District of Ohio. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -I might plead, with truth, "the solicitations of friends" as my -apology for appearing in print; but as mine is an unpracticed pen, -the public, perhaps, may demand a better reason. Without any crime -I have been an inmate of the foulest of Southern prisons, and a -companion of the brave men whose condition and treatment has called -forth the sympathy of the nation, and which will yet call forth the -condemnation of the civilized world. I was one of the party that -planned and executed one of the most remarkable escapes known to -history--the record of which will be enduring as that of the war -itself. The labors and perils of which I was a partaker will, I am -well assured, give an interest to these pages which the charm of -style can never impart to a tale wanting in stirring incident. I -write, then, simply because I have a story to tell, which many will -take pleasure in hearing, and which, I doubt not, in after years -will employ a more skillful pen than mine. - -Those with whom I have sat around the camp-fire, shared the -weariness of the march, and the dangers of the battle, will like -my story none the less for being plainly told; and my companions -in Libby, and the partners of my flight, will think of other -matters than brilliant sentences and round periods, as they read -these pages. I claim no leadership in the enterprise of which I -write--the time has not yet come to give honor to whom honor is -due; the reason of my silence in this respect will appear in the -course of my narrative. - -When I began these pages I had no intention of carrying the reader -beyond my escape from Libby. I have, however, been induced to add -an account of Sherman's great campaign against Atlanta; and while -this will, perhaps, have less interest for the general reader, it -will possess more for those who were with me in that memorable -march. My friends, I am sure, will be indulgent; may I express the -hope that all others will have their sympathies too much aroused -for our brave boys, still in prison, to be critical? - - I. N. JOHNSTON. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. - - ENTERING THE SERVICE. - - Character of the age--My own experiences--Object of my - book--Entering the service--Elected Captain--The 6th - Kentucky--Its deeds PAGE 9 - - - CHAPTER II. - - SHILOH AND STONE RIVER. - - My first battle, and how I felt--Wounded and left on the - field--Disasters of first day and final triumph 21 - - - CHAPTER III. - - CHICKAMAUGA. - - The battle--Am taken prisoner--Trip to Richmond--Incidents - on the way--Star-Spangled Banner sung in Dixie--Kind - treatment--Arrival at Richmond 33 - - - CHAPTER IV. - - FAILURES. - - Richmond--The prison--Treatment of Prisoners--Plans of - escape--Sad Failures--Prospect of success 46 - - - CHAPTER V. - - THE TUNNEL. - - A new plan adopted--Nature of the task--In the tunnel--Maj. - M'Donald's adventure--My own disappearance--Given - up as escaped--Fislar's story 65 - - - CHAPTER VI. - - CELLAR LIFE. - - My home and company--Great alarm--Still safe--The work - renewed--Success--Last night in Libby--Words on leaving 81 - - - CHAPTER VII. - - THE ESCAPE. - - The last night--Farewell to Libby--Sufferings and dangers - --The North Star our guide--The faithful negro--A false - friend--Almost retaken--The contrast 95 - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - UNDER THE FLAG AGAIN. - - In the swamp--Meeting our pickets--Warm welcome--Kind - treatment--Interview with General Butler--Arrival at - Washington 113 - - - CHAPTER IX. - - RETURN TO THE FRONT. - - Return home--How I spent my furlough--Join my regiment - --Changes--Forward movement--Tunnel Hill--Rocky - Face--Resaca 127 - - - CHAPTER X. - - ON TO ATLANTA. - - Confidence in our leader--Tunnel Hill and Rocky Face - Mountain--Pursuit of the enemy--Johnston's strategy--In - command of my regiment--Battle near Dallas--Night on the - battle-field--Reflections 142 - - - CHAPTER XI. - - MARCHING AND FIGHTING. - - Reminder to the reader--Sherman, Howard, and Thomas in - council--The attack and repulse--The Sixth Kentucky in - front again--In the trenches--Guarding train--Forward - march 155 - - - CHAPTER XII. - - SHERMAN STILL FLANKING. - - Pine Mountain and death of Gen. Polk--Georgia scenery - --Before Kenesaw--The unreturning brave--Marietta ours - --Across the Chattahoochee 167 - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - BEFORE ATLANTA. - - Intrenching all night--Gallant exploit of the First and - Third Brigades--Atlanta in view--In the trenches before - the city--The Sixth Kentucky ordered to Tennessee--Turning - over my command--A parting word 180 - - - - -FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -ENTERING THE SERVICE. - - Character of the age--My own experiences--Object of my - book--Entering the service--Elected captain--The 6th - Kentucky--Its deeds. - - -I am a soldier, a plain, blunt man; hence, what I have to say -will have the directness of a soldier's tale. The age in which -we live is a heroic one; boys who four years ago were at school -or guiding the plow are now heroes; we have battle-fields enough -for all time, and names on the page of history eclipsing those -of the great captains of the past--names that the world will not -willingly let die. Reason as we may, there is a charm about the -story of a great war that few are able to resist; grave scholars go -into ecstasies over the tale of Troy; and the youth, whose reading -is confined to the old family Bible, devours with avidity those -portions which tell of the exploits of Samson or the triumphs of -David; and it is the fearful conflicts which they describe that -give such interest to the Paradise Lost and Bunyan's Holy War. What -boy's blood has not been stirred by the story of Bunker Hill, the -exploits of a Marion, and the fall of Yorktown? What youth has not -wept as he read the story of Warren's death, or the sadder story of -the execution of Hale, the proud young martyr of liberty? and in -generations to come the youth of this land, with burning cheek and -tearful eye, will read how Ellsworth fell, just as he had torn down -the emblem of treason; and how the gallant young Dahlgren died, -almost in sight of the sad captives whom he desired to deliver. Who -has not been thrilled with horror at the cruelties inflicted by -the minions of the British King upon the colonists taken in arms -for a cause the most noble, and consigned to the living grave of -the prison-ship? and yet these cruelties have been repeated, with -even increased malignity, at Belle Isle and Libby Prison. - -I have experienced nearly all the fortunes of a soldier, and can -therefore speak from my own personal observation. I have felt that -ardent love of country which has taken so many from the peaceful -pursuits of life to the tented field. I know something of the stern -joy of battle, the rapture of victory; I am familiar with the long, -weary march, want of food, and thirst, which amounts to agony; -nay, I have been stretched almost lifeless on the battle-field, -know something of the long, weary hours of slow recovery from -painful wounds, and, harder than all, long months of sad, weary, -and almost hopeless captivity, and the joy, too, of escape from -what almost seemed a living tomb. And though young, wanting the -large experience of some, and the culture of others; yet my plain, -unadorned story, I feel well assured, will not be told in vain. - -I shall make no apology, then, for any literary defects; the work -I propose is not one of art or imagination, but a record of facts; -and in whatever other respects it may fail, it will, at least, have -the merit of truth. Moreover, I write mainly for my companions -in arms, my comrades by whose sides I have fought, and with whom -I have suffered; and if, in fighting over again our battles, -rehearsing our common dangers, privations, toils, and triumphs, I -can minister to their pleasure, my task will not be a useless one, -and my little book will long be a link to bind together hearts that -danger has only endeared. - -Nor am I without hope that I shall be able to awaken an interest -for the soldier in the minds of those who never have passed through -scenes such as I describe. He who unselfishly bares his breast to -the storm of battle, who stands between peaceful homes and danger, -who suffers that others may be safe, certainly deserves well of his -country; and never have any soldiers established a better claim on -the gratitude of their country than the soldiers of the Union. As a -nation, we have honored the men who achieved our independence: we -ought never to forget those who struck for home and native land, -when all that the heart holds dear was imperiled, and the very life -of the nation threatened by armed traitors. - -If a man's acts are regarded as the exponents of his patriotism, -mine, I feel assured, will not be questioned, and yet at the same -time I feel at perfect liberty to honor kindness, truth, and -magnanimity in a foe; and wherever these are found, even in an -enemy, I shall not be slow to acknowledge it. Having now, as I -trust, established a good understanding between myself and readers, -I shall proceed to cultivate still further their acquaintance by -a free and unreserved statement of whatever may seem to be of -interest prior to my life in Libby. - -Like thousands of my fellow-soldiers, I am a farmer's son. The -only college with which I have had any acquaintance is the -old-fashioned log school-house; and a few years ago I as little -dreamed of being an author as I did of being a soldier; my only -literary achievements heretofore have been sundry epistles to the -fairer portion of creation, and in that department I am not able to -declare positively that the pen is mightier than the sword, as I -rather incline to the opinion that few things have more influence -with that portion of humanity than soldierly bearing and a suit -of Federal blue. And had I rested my claims to their favor upon -authorship, I fear it would have proved but a broken reed. My -military career, however, I have not found to be an impediment, and -even an unsightly wound was not a deformity in the eyes of her who -was dearest to me. - -You will be disappointed, kind reader, if you expect from me a -history of the causes of the war. I am not sufficiently skilled in -the political history of the country for such an undertaking, and, -indeed, there is no necessity for it, as it has already been done -by far abler hands than mine. Still, in a contest like the present, -every man should have reasons for his course, especially when that -course involves personal danger and sacrifices the greatest a man -can make--sacrifices which, if need require, must not stop short of -life itself. - -My own reasons are those of thousands of others, but they are not -those of the mere politician; they are the reasons of the man and -the patriot who loves his country with an unselfish love, and loves -that country most, not in the days of peace and prosperity, but -when the clouds are darkest and perils and trials beset her round. -A milder, freer Government than ours the world never saw; we knew -not that we had a Government, by any burdens that it imposed upon -us; it was only by the constant flow of blessings we enjoyed that -we were conscious of its existence. Our history, though short, was -glorious; our future full of the brightest promise, and the hopes -of the toiling and oppressed millions of Europe were bound up in -our success. - -Though not an adept in the theory of government, I could not be -blind to its practical workings; though no politician, I could -not be insensible of the manifold blessings which it secured. -I remembered the wisdom of those men who gave shape to our -institutions; I remembered the price at which independence was -purchased; I remembered that it was not without blood that those -blessings were gained; and now that all that the wisdom of a -Franklin, Hancock, and Adams had devised--all that for which a -Washington had fought, for which Warren had bled, was in jeopardy, -I felt that in such a cause, and for such a country, it would be -sweet even to die. - -No love of war and bloodshed led me to the field; the charter of -our independence was sealed with blood, the very blessings of civil -and religious liberty which we enjoy I felt to be purchased by -noble lives freely given; and to preserve them for generations yet -to come I felt to be worth as great a sacrifice. God grant that -the effort may not be in vain! God grant that the fierce struggle -which has filled our land with weeping may be followed by all the -blessings of a lasting peace! - -Under the influence of the sentiments just expressed, no sooner was -the flag of my country insulted, and an attempt made by bold, bad -men to pull down the fairest fabric ever devised by human wisdom -and cemented by patriot blood, than I determined to do my utmost to -uphold the starry banner; and seeking no position save that of one -of my country's defenders, I volunteered for three years. Nearly -one hundred young men, mostly from my own locality--Henry county, -Ky.--enrolled themselves at the same time, and became soldiers of -the Union. We all had much around us to render life pleasant, and -home dear; but the call of our country in her hour of need sounded -in our ears, and we could not permit her to call in vain. After -the organization of our regiment--the Sixth Kentucky Volunteer -Infantry--the young men from my part of the county selected me as -their captain, and I have had the honor of commanding Company H, -of the Sixth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, till the present time. -I have been with that company in several of the bloodiest battles -of the war, and in a number of severe skirmishes; and having seen -its members time and again under the enemy's fire, I take pleasure -in saying that a better and braver band of men never shouldered -muskets or faced a foe upon the battle-plain. Indeed, the Sixth -Kentucky has a record of which it may well be proud; its steady -endurance in resisting an attack, and its fiery valor when hurling -its ranks on the foe, has covered it with well-deserved renown. -Shiloh, Stone River, and Mission Ridge have witnessed its prowess; -its ranks have been thinned in many a fierce and bloody assault, -and of those who yet follow its flag to victory, and of those who -fill a soldier's grave, it shall be said, they were heroes, every -one. - -And yet it checks our exultation, brings tears to the eyes and -sadness to the heart to think of the sad ravages that war has -made in the ranks of those noble men. Where are they now? Some -have met death on the field, and fill unmarked graves far, far -from home; others escaped death on the field to perish by slow, -wasting disease in camp and hospital. Some, with mutilated limbs -and features disfigured with ghastly wounds, have sought the rest, -quiet, and sympathy of home; while others in rebel prisons drag -out a wretched existence, feeling all the pain and heart-sickness -of hope deferred. On earth many of them will meet no more; yet, -when the survivors meet in the years which are to come, when the -sounds of strife have ceased, they will speak in low tones of the -cherished dead, and drop a tear to their memory, and remember with -pride that they themselves were on many a well-fought field with -the Sixth Kentucky. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -SHILOH AND STONE RIVER. - - My first battle, and how I felt--Wounded and left on the - field--Disasters of first day and final triumph--Return home--In - the field again--Battle of Stone River--Wounded again--Appearance - of the country. - - -My first battle! What a strange sensation it was when I knew that -I must soon engage in the deadly strife! The thoughts came thick -and fast--thoughts of home, friends, and loved ones crowded upon -me with a vividness and distinctness I had never known before. My -past life came up in review, and the anxiety to know the result of -the next few hours was painful. Should I fall on my first field, or -should I escape? Should I share the joy of victory, or experience -the sadness of defeat? be a prisoner in the hands of the foe, or, -wounded, lie helpless among the slain and dying? make myself a -name, or fill a nameless grave, were questions that would force -themselves upon my attention. Fearful I was not, but excited, as -every one doubtless is when about to enter for the first time the -field of carnage and blood. - -I can imagine a young soldier gradually becoming accustomed to -warfare by engaging at first in slight skirmishes at long range, -then in closer encounters, till he is, in a measure, prepared for a -general engagement; but my first battle was none of those, but one -of the great conflicts of the war, in which thousands went in tyros -in the art of war, and came out heroes, ever after confident and -bold--it was the bloody field of Shiloh. - -It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to describe a battle; one pair -of eyes can see but little of a conflict ranging over miles of -territory; but there is something common to all battles which every -brave man sees and hears, such as the shrieking of the shells, -the blaze which accompanies the explosion, the whistling of minie -balls, the clash and clang of steel, the roar of the artillery, -the rattle of musketry, comrades falling, riderless steeds dashing -hither and thither, the shout of officers, the hurrah of the -charging line, the ghastly forms of the dead, the piteous cries of -the wounded, the clouds of smoke pierced by the quick flashes of -flame--with all these every true soldier is familiar. - -Our regiment was not in the battle the first day, but came up the -following night, and found Gen. Grant, who had been hard pressed -the preceding day, in grim silence awaiting the coming light to -renew the contest. Early in the morning we were engaged, and the -battle raged with great fury till the middle of the afternoon, when -the enemy, after a stubborn resistance, were routed, and a shout -of triumph went up from the victors who had changed threatened -disaster into glorious success. - -In that shout of joy I took no part--nay, I heard it as if in a -dream; for about twelve or one o'clock a minie ball, striking me -on the left cheek, passing through and coming out an inch behind -and below the ear, laid me for a time unconscious on the field -amid the dead and the dying. Reviving after awhile I slowly made -my way to the rear amid a shower of leaden and iron hail. The -loss in my company was one killed and fifteen or sixteen wounded, -several of them mortally. This battle, as most readers are aware, -began on Sunday, the 6th of April. Early in the morning the -Confederate forces, in greatly-superior numbers, under Generals A. -S. Johnston and Beauregard, attacked Gen. Grant with great fury, -the divisions of Sherman, M'Clernand, and Prentiss were driven -back, and their respective camps fell into the hands of the enemy. -They were stubbornly resisted, however, by Gen. Wallace's division, -already weakened by having sent a brigade to assist in another -portion of the field. These brave fellows nobly repulsed four -different attacks made upon them, each time inflicting a heavy -loss on the foe; but when night fell much ground had been lost, -and many a heart was anxious concerning the morrow. During the -night, however, Buell came up, a heavy burden was removed from many -minds; for those who had hitherto contemplated nothing more than a -stubborn resistance now felt confident of victory. Nor were they -disappointed; the arrival of new troops infused fresh vigor into -those wearied with the desperate struggle of the preceding day, and -ere the sun had set the enemy had scattered before their resistless -advance, the lost ground was all recovered, the lost camps retaken, -and the roads southward thronged with a fleeing foe. Johnston, the -rebel commander-in-chief, was killed upon the field on the first -day; and though Beauregard claimed a complete victory on the 6th, -and the rebel capital was wild with joy on the reception of his -bulletin, he was compelled the next day to retire in disorder and -seek safety within his fortifications at Corinth. - -As soon as I was sufficiently recovered to be removed, I was sent -home to Kentucky for treatment. I reached there faint and weary, -was seized with typhoid fever, which, together with wounds, came -very near terminating my life. My first battle, however, was -not destined to be my last, and, by skillful treatment, careful -nursing, and the interposition of a kind Providence, I was finally -restored. - -As soon as I was able I rejoined my company; was with it during -Buell's march through Tennessee and Kentucky to Louisville; bore -its privations well; was in hearing of the battle of Perryville, -but our regiment was not engaged. From Perryville we marched -through Danville, skirmishing with Bragg's rear-guard; thence to -Crab Orchard and Stanford; harassed him as far as London, Laurel -county--turned back, marched to Glasgow, thence to Nashville, where -we arrived about the 1st of December, 1862. - -My first battle, as I have already stated, was under Grant and -Buell, against Johnston and Beauregard; my second was against -Bragg at Stone River, under Rosecrans. Here, again, it was my fate -or fortune to be wounded--this time in three places; but none of -my wounds were severe enough to make me leave the field. Both my -arms were bruised by fragments of bombshells, another piece struck -my pistol which hung by my side, tearing the stock to atoms and -bending the iron nearly double. I was knocked down by the violence -of the blow, and received a pretty severe wound in my side, and I -have no doubt but the pistol saved my life. I had my blanket over -my shoulders during the engagement, and at its close I found that -four or five balls had passed through it, several bullets also had -pierced my coat, and in looking at them I seemed to realize how -near to death I had been, and felt devoutly thankful that I had -escaped the dangers of another fierce struggle. Soldiers look with -pride at the flag, pierced by the bullets of the foe, which they -have proudly borne through the din and smoke of battle, and in -that feeling I have often partaken; but I shall ever feel grateful -to a kind Providence whenever I look at my bullet-pierced blanket -and coat; and if I fall before the war closes, I wish no more -fitting and honorable shroud than these will afford; if I survive, -they shall be preserved as relics of that eventful day, as silent -monitors to teach me thankfulness to Him whose hand protected me in -the hour of danger. - -The battle of Stone River began on the 31st of December, 1862, and -continued till the evening of the 2d of January. On the first day -our left wing was driven back, and we lost about thirty pieces of -artillery; but the attack of the enemy on our center was repelled -with fearful slaughter, being subjected to a terrible cross-fire -of double-shotted canister from two batteries, and the day closed -with the contest undecided. The next day the battle was renewed, -our line being restored to the position it had occupied on the -morning of the previous day, but without any very decisive result, -the spirit of our forces remaining unbroken. On the third day -attempts were made by the enemy along our whole line, but it was -not till about the middle of the afternoon, however, that the -crisis of the battle came; both sides were using their artillery -with terrible effect; at last the line of the enemy began to give -way; Gen. Davis was ordered to charge across the stream from which -the battle takes its name; the Colonel of the 78th Pennsylvania, -with his hat on the point of his sword, led the way with a hurrah, -a charge perfectly irresistible was made, the enemy's line was -broken, the divisions of Beatty and Negley came up rapidly, our -whole line advanced and the day was won. - -My wounds gave me some inconvenience for a few days; but as I had -been much more severely wounded before, I did not regard them much, -having learned to look upon them as the necessary accompaniments of -a soldier's life; indeed, they were soon forgotten, and I was soon -again ready for the duties of my position. It is truly wonderful -with what facility man adapts himself to circumstances; one would -think that such constant exposure to danger and to death would -beget great seriousness in every mind, and yet the reverse seems -to be the case; after having been under fire a few times, the -soldier goes into battle with an alacrity and cheerfulness that is -astonishing; he becomes inured to the sight of wounds and death, -and though his comrades fall on either side, and he has a sigh for -them, he thinks not that he, like them, may fall. On the march, -however, sad thoughts often come. - -The country between Murfreesboro and Nashville is a beautiful -one, but the rude hand of war has despoiled it of much of its -loveliness. Fire is a necessity to the soldier, and no fuel is so -ready to his hand as fence-rails, and wherever the army marches -the fences rapidly disappear; thousands upon thousands of fertile -acres are thus left without any protection, beautiful shrubbery -and choice fruit trees are ruined, every green thing is taken -from the gardens, fowls and domestic animals are killed, and the -country which lately bloomed like a garden becomes as desolate as a -barren desert. Little mounds by the roadside tell that those dear -to some hearts are buried there; dead horses, broken wagons tell -of the waste of war; traces of fire and solitary chimney-stacks -bring up images of homes once pleasant, and cause the wish and -prayer for the return of peace. Soldiers are sometimes thought to -exaggerate the scenes through which they pass; but let any one -who has seen Tennessee in the days of its prosperity travel from -Nashville to Chattanooga now, and he will confess that no pen can -describe, much less exaggerate, the scenes everywhere presented -to the eye. But a truce to moralizing. After the retreat of the -foe the monotony of camp life began to be oppressive; a desire -for active operations, no matter by what dangers attended, became -general, and in this feeling I confess I shared. The desired change -came at length, and with it a disaster greater far than sickness -or wounds--the sufferings of a long and painful captivity, such -captivity as the dwellers in that synonym for all that is foul and -loathsome--Libby Prison--alone have known. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -CHICKAMAUGA. - - The battle--Am taken prisoner--Trip to Richmond--Incidents on the - way--Star-Spangled Banner sung in Dixie--Kind treatment--Arrival - at Richmond. - - -The battle of Chickamauga, one of the most stoutly contested of -the war, may be said to have commenced on Friday, the 18th of -September, 1863; but the heaviest fighting took place on Saturday -and Sunday. We were outnumbered, as is well known; but, by the -persistent courage of Gen. Thomas and his brave associates, -the enemy were foiled in their purpose--which was to retake -Chattanooga--and the army saved from the disaster which at one time -during the fight seemed inevitable. Bragg, it is true, claimed -a glorious victory; but if battles are to be judged by their -results, his victory was a fruitless one, the prize which was at -stake remaining in our hands. True, we lost many brave men, and -much of the material of war; but Chattanooga, the key of Georgia, -was not wrested from our grasp; the valor of the troops, too, was -never more nobly illustrated; for the stout men under Thomas stood -unshaken on Mission Ridge as the wave-washed rock, against which -the hitherto invincible legions of Longstreet, like fierce billows, -madly dashed themselves, to fall back, like those broken billows, -in foam and spray. - -Men fell upon that field whose names never will perish, and others, -who still live, there gained immortal renown. There fell Lytle, the -poet-hero; sweet was his lyre, and strong was his sword. There the -modest yet brave Thomas displayed the qualities of a great general, -firm and undismayed amid carnage and threatened disaster; and there -Garfield, the gallant and the good, won richly-deserved honor. - -But to my own story. I had been unwell for several days, but the -excitement of the conflict aroused and sustained me. Late on the -evening of Saturday our brigade was ordered to retreat, and, unable -to keep up with the main body, I was overtaken and captured. I was -taken in charge by two lieutenants, and regret that I did not learn -their names or command, as they treated me with marked kindness, -as brave men ever treat a conquered foe. They saw, moreover, by my -appearance, that I was quite ill, and this doubtless excited their -sympathy. Soon another lieutenant came up; he was a Georgian, and -drunk; he took away my sword-belt and haversack. Being cautioned -by the others to take care of my watch, I slipped it down my back -unobserved by my Georgia friend, and saved it for the time being. -My captors conducted me about a mile and a half to the rear, and -kept me there all night. We had to pass over the ground that had -been fought over during the day; it was thickly strewed with the -dead and wounded of both armies; their dead seemed to be in the -proportion of three to our one. I saw Gen. Bragg for the first -time at a distance. The night was intensely cold for the season, -and I suffered severely, having lost my blanket; moreover, I was -exhausted from hunger, having eaten nothing for two days. I was -fortunate enough, however, to meet with a prisoner of the 9th -Indiana, who generously gave me a cup of coffee and a cracker, -after which I felt greatly refreshed. This noble fellow also shared -his scanty covering with me, and I trust he may ever find a friend -as kind as he proved to me. By morning the number of prisoners was -quite large, most of them nearly starved; the men guarding us were -very kind, and said they would gladly give us food, but they were -as destitute and as hungry as ourselves. To prove their sincerity -they marched us to a sweet-potato patch, and all hands, prisoners -and guards, in army phrase, "pitched in." We then made fires and -roasted the potatoes, and often since have made a worse meal. We -were then marched across the Chickamauga River to a white house, -where we found another lot of prisoners collected; our names were -taken, and every man was relieved of his haversack; they were -taken by a Texas captain, who distributed them to his own men. -This was Sunday, the 20th. About ten o'clock in the morning the -battle commenced again, and we prisoners were ordered into rank and -marched in the direction of Ringgold. After an hour's march we were -halted till about two in the afternoon, during which time there was -another squad of prisoners marched to the rear and added to our -number. During all this time the battle was raging furiously, and -as the sound of the fierce conflict came to our cars there was the -greatest anxiety on the part of our guard as well as ourselves. -I had heard that Rosecrans had been heavily reënforced, and -believing it to be true, was sanguine of success. - -At two o'clock the captured officers, now numbering about one -hundred and fifty, were ordered to fall in according to rank, -non-commissioned officers and privates to follow. In this order we -marched, stopping a few minutes to rest at the end of every hour, -stimulated by the promise that we should draw rations as soon as we -reached Ringgold. On our way we met one of Longstreet's brigades -hurrying to the front; they were fine, soldierly-looking men, the -very flower of the Confederate army, better drilled and equipped -than any Southern troops I had seen, either at Shiloh or Stone -River; they were confident, too, from their successes in Virginia; -but they found their equals, at least, at Mission Ridge in the -gallant men of the West. We reached Ringgold about nine o'clock at -night, but failed to draw the promised rations, and were told if -we would march four miles further we should come to the camp of a -brigade of Longstreet's men, who were guarding a railroad station, -and be sure to find the much-desired rations there. Many of us -had been nearly worn out marching previous to the battle, and had -passed through one day's fight; nevertheless, so hungry were we, -that we were glad to drag our weary limbs four miles further, and -in that distance wade the Chickamauga three times, in the hope of -finding food, fire, and rest. - -When within a short distance of the camp we were ordered to take -rails from a fence to make fires to dry our clothes and make -ourselves comfortable for the night. We were eager to avail -ourselves of the liberty thus granted, and soon a column of men, -about two thousand in number, each with from three to five rails on -his shoulder, were marching on. About two o'clock in the morning, -wet, dispirited, and weary, we reached camp, wincing somewhat under -the burden of our rails, which grew heavier every step. Again we -were doomed to disappointment; we found nothing there to relieve -our hunger; so we kindled our fires, stretched ourselves near them, -and strove to forget the pangs of hunger and the bitterness of -captivity in sleep. - -On the morning of the 21st we were marched to Tunnel Hill, a -distance of five miles. We remained there till two P. M., in which -interval the long-desired rations of corn meal and bacon were -issued. We asked for time to bake our bread and divide the meat, -and were assured that we should have the opportunity we desired. -Men were detailed to bake the bread and cut up the bacon, and in -imagination we saw the long-expected and welcome meal prepared; but -scarcely were our fires lighted and the meat divided, before we -were again ordered into ranks, and obliged to leave nearly all our -uncooked rations lying on the ground. To famishing men this was a -severe trial; but orders were imperative, and with sad hearts we -marched to the depot, where we found a train of cars awaiting our -arrival. We got on board and reached Kingston, where we remained -till morning. Here we met a brigade of Longstreet's men, who -treated us with great kindness, many of them dividing their rations -with us. - -The same day we moved forward to Atlanta, which place we reached -at five, P. M. We found an immense crowd awaiting the arrival of -the Yankees, and were stared at and criticised in a manner far -from agreeable. Pity for our condition dwelt in the hearts of -some, but they were forced to restrain any expression of sympathy; -while those who came to jeer, and laugh, and to show their mean -exultation, gratified their feelings to the fullest extent. We -were marched to a dirty hill-side a short distance from the city, -and surrounded by a strong guard. Our camp inclosed a spring in -its limits, but had very little wood for fuel; the absence of this -we felt keenly, as the nights were cold, and we without tents or -blankets, and many of us having lost our overcoats, and thus left -without any thing to protect us in our dismal quarters beneath the -open sky. Some time after nightfall we received a small ration of -bread and beef, the first which we had been permitted to cook and -eat for four days, during which time we had subsisted on raw corn -and elderberries, which we gathered at the different points at -which we had stopped on our way from the battle-field. The officers -in charge of us said that the reason we were not supplied with food -before, was, that they were nearly destitute themselves, which was -doubtless true, as our guards fared just as we did. - -We remained at our dirty and disagreeable camp till the afternoon -of the next day, when we were removed to the barracks, where we -were searched. Many citizens, both male and female, gratified -their curiosity by calling to see us, doubtless expecting, from -the reports they had heard, to see a race of beings far different -from themselves. The next morning we were ordered to take the cars -for Richmond. Previous to starting for the depot we had selected -several stirring National songs, which we sung as we passed through -the city. This demonstration attracted great attention; windows -were thrown up, doorways thronged, and soon even the streets -crowded with citizens, who came rushing from every direction to -hear those unusual strains. Many scowled upon us as we went singing -by, while some smiled approvingly, as if delighted to hear once -more the songs of the Union; and for my own part the Star-Spangled -Banner fell more sweetly upon my ear, though far down South, a -prisoner and among the enemies of that flag, than ever before. -Strange to say, we were not interrupted; and as the boys joined -in the swelling chorus, with heads erect and hearts high beating, -they seemed more like victors returning from glorious fields, than -captives on their way to a gloomy prison, to be exchanged by many -of them for an untimely grave--nay, not untimely; for those who -perished there were no less heroes and martyrs than those who laid -down their lives on the field of honor--not one of them has died in -vain. - -Leaving Atlanta, we reached Augusta about twelve o'clock at night, -and were marched to a church-yard, in which we camped till next -morning. We were well treated by the citizens; many of them visited -us, and showed us such kindness during our stay, that we could not -but conclude that many of them, at heart, were lovers of the Union -still. Nor was this the only occasion, while passing through the -South, that we discovered strong symptoms of a Union sentiment -among the people; many have secretly cherished the sacred flame, -and will yet welcome the army of the Union as their deliverers. -Leaving Augusta, we crossed the Savannah River into South Carolina, -passed through Raleigh, Weldon, and Petersburg, and on the 29th of -September, about seven o'clock in the evening, we reached the depot -at Richmond, and were marched to our Libby home. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -FAILURES. - - Richmond--The prison--Treatment of prisoners--Employment--Plans - of escape--Sad failures--Prospect of success. - - -During our trip from Chickamauga to Richmond the weather was clear -and beautiful, but the nights were cold, and many of us, having -lost our blankets, suffered much; for, in addition to the want of -our usual covering, we were hungry nearly all the time. Many of -the cities and towns through which we passed presented a pleasing -appearance; but the country, for the most part, had a desolate -look; few men were to be seen, save such as were too old for -service, and the farming operations bore marks of neither care nor -skill. - -The officer who had the prisoners in charge was kind and -gentlemanly, and rendered our situation as agreeable as was -possible under the circumstances; that we suffered for food was no -fault of his, and when we were turned over to the authorities at -Richmond we parted from him with a feeling akin to regret. - -All the private soldiers were sent to Belle Isle, a place which -has become infamous on account of the cruel treatment to which -they were subjected; but the officers had quarters assigned them -in Libby Prison. Before being shown to our apartments we were -requested to give up our money and valuables, under the assurance -that they should be returned when we were exchanged; at the same -time we were given to understand that we should be searched, and -whatever was then found in our possession would be confiscated. -Nearly all gave up what they had; some secreted a portion, which -was found to be clear gain, as those of us who escaped had not time -to call for our money and watches before leaving for the Federal -lines. - -This now world-famous building presents none of the outward -characteristics of a prison, having been used in peaceful days -as a warehouse; but none of the castles and dungeons of Europe, -century old though they be, have a stranger or sadder history than -this. There many a heart has been wrung, many a spirit broken, many -a noble soul has there breathed out its last sigh, and hundreds -who yet survive will shrink in their dreams, or shudder in their -waking moments, when faithful memory brings back the scenes enacted -within its fearful walls. The building is of brick, with a front -of near one hundred and forty feet, and one hundred feet deep. It -is divided into nine rooms; the ceilings are low, and ventilation -imperfect; the windows are barred, through which the windings of -James River and the tents of Belle Isle may be seen. Its immediate -surroundings are far from being agreeable; the sentinels pacing the -streets constantly are unpleasant reminders that your stay is not -a matter of choice; and were it so, few would choose it long as a -boarding-house. - -In this building were crowded about one thousand officers of -nearly every grade, not one of whom was permitted to go out till -exchanged or released by death. To men accustomed to an active -life this mode of existence soon became exceedingly irksome, and -innumerable methods were soon devised to make the hours pass less -wearily. A penknife was made to do the duty of a complete set of -tools, and it was marvelous to see the wonders achieved by that -single instrument. Bone-work of strange device, and carving most -elaborate, chess-men, spoons, pipes, all manner of articles, useful -and ornamental, were fashioned by its aid alone. If a man's early -education had been neglected, ample opportunities were now afforded -to become a proficient scholar. The higher branches of learning had -their professor; the languages, ancient and modern, were taught; -mathematics received much attention; morals and religion were -cared for in Bible classes, while the ornamental branches, such as -dancing, vocal music, and sword exercise, had had their teachers -and pupils. Indeed, few colleges in the land could boast of a -faculty so large in number or varied in accomplishments, and none, -certainly, could compare in the number of pupils. - -But truth must be told; the minds of many of those grown-up, and, -in some instances, gray-headed pupils, were not always with their -books; their minds, when children, wandered from the page before -them to the green fields, to streams abounding in fish, or pleasant -for bathing; or to orchards, with fruit most inviting; but now the -mind wandered in one direction--home. Others were deeply engaged -in the mysteries of "poker" and "seven-up," and betting ran high; -but they were bets involving neither loss or gain, and the winner -of countless sums would often borrow a teaspoon full of salt or a -pinch of pepper. Games of chess were played, which, judging from -the wary and deliberate manner of the players, and the interest -displayed by lookers-on, were as intricate and important as a -military campaign; nor were the sports of children--jack-straws -and mumble-peg--wanting; every device, serious and silly, was -employed to hasten the slow hours along. But amid all these various -occupations, there was one that took the precedence and absorbed -all others--that was planning an escape. The exploits of Jack -Sheppard, Baron Trenck, and the hero of Monte Cristo were seriously -considered, and plans superior to theirs concocted, some of them -characterized by skill and cunning, others by the energy of despair. - -One of these was as follows: After the arrival of the Chickamauga -prisoners, a plot was made which embraced the escape of all -confined in Libby, and the release of all the prisoners in and -about Richmond. The leader in this enterprise was a man of cool -purpose and great daring; and success, I doubt not, would have -attended the effort had it not been that we had traitors in our -midst who put the rebel authorities on the alert only a few days -before the attempt was to have been made. - -Prisoners, it is true, have no right to expect abundant and -delicious fare; but when the rations served out to rebel prisoners -in our hands are compared with the stinted and disgusting allowance -of Union prisoners in rebel hands, a truly-generous and chivalrous -people would blush at the contrast. It is not saying too much to -assert that many of the rebel prisoners, from the poorer portions -of Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi, have, at least, as -good fare, and as much of it, as they ever enjoyed at home, and -much better than the army rations which they were accustomed to -before capture; while it is equally true that the Union prisoners -have been compelled to subsist on a diet loathsome in quality, and -in a quantity scarcely sufficient to support life. True, it may be -urged that the scarcity of provisions in Richmond, and elsewhere, -rendered it out of the question to remedy this to any great extent; -but all candid men will decide that no army could be kept, in the -physical condition of Gen. Lee's, upon a Libby ration; and if such -a miracle as that were possible, it would not justify the denial -to prisoners of the Union army the provisions that the United -States were ever ready to furnish their own men while prisoners in -an enemy's hands, much less the appropriation of the stores sent -to those sufferers by benevolent associations and sympathizing -friends. That vast quantities of food and clothing sent to our -prisoners has been thus diverted from its object, is susceptible of -the clearest proof. If it be asked, how can a people, professing -to be civilized, act thus? the answer is simply, that the war, as -far as the South is concerned, is a rebellion. The Libby ration -nominally consisted of about ten ounces of corn bread--of meal just -as it came from the mill--beef, and rice; but really less often -than this; for it often took two rations of beef to make a single -tolerable meal, and frequently we would fail to get any beef for -from one to eight days; at such times we would receive sweet or -Irish potatoes; and I state the case very mildly when I say the -food was at all times insufficient. Of wood for cooking purposes -we had a very small allowance; and during the Christmas holidays -we had to burn our tables in attempting to make palatable dishes -out of very scanty and unpalatable materials. One thing, however, -we did not lack; the James River was near at hand, and we had -plenty of water; it was brought by means of pipes into each room; -and had it possessed any very nutritious properties, we might have -fattened. I must do the officers of the prison the justice to say, -that as long as we did not violate the rules of the house, they -permitted us to enjoy ourselves in any way that suited our taste. -Prayer meetings and debating societies were tolerated, laughter and -song in certain hours were not prohibited, and bad as our condition -was, it might have been even worse. - -Our first plan of escape being thwarted, no time was lost in -devising another, which, after many delays and interruptions of -a very discouraging character, was finally crowned with success. -Captain Hamilton, of the 12th Kentucky Cavalry, was the author -of the plan, which he confided to Maj. Fitzsimmons, of the 30th -Indiana, Capt. Gallagher, of the 2d Ohio, and a third person, whose -name it would not be prudent to mention, as he was recaptured. -I greatly regret to pass him by with this brief allusion, as he -had a very prominent part in the work from the beginning, and -deserves far more credit than I have language to express. As this, -however, is one of the most wonderful escapes on record, when -its complete history is written he will not be forgotten. John -Morgan's escape from the Ohio Penitentiary has been thought to have -suggested our plan, and to have equaled it in ingenuity and risk. -His difficulties, however, ended when he emerged from the tunnel by -which he escaped, while ours may be said to have only begun when -we reached the free air, and every step till we reached the Union -lines was fraught with great danger. - -After Capt. Hamilton's plans had been intrusted to and adopted by -the gentlemen above named, a solemn pledge was taken to reveal them -to none others, and at an early date in December, 1863, the work -was begun. - -In order to a perfect understanding of it, a more minute -description of the building is necessary. It is not far from one -hundred and forty feet by one hundred and ten, three stories high, -and divided into three departments by heavy brick walls. The -divisions were occupied as follows: The two upper east rooms by -the Potomac officers, the two middle upper rooms by those captured -at Chickamauga, the two west upper rooms by the officers of Col. -Streight's and Gen. Milroy's command; the lower room of the east -division was used as a hospital, the lower middle room for a -cook and dining-room, and the lower west is divided into several -apartments which were occupied by the rebel officers in command. -There is also a cellar under each of these divisions; the east -cellar was used for commissary stores, such as meal, turnips, -fodder, and straw--the latter article was of vast benefit in -effecting our escape. The rear and darker part of the middle cellar -was cut up into cells, to which were consigned those of our number -who were guilty of infractions of the rules of prison--dungeons -dark and horrible beyond description. The portion of it in front -was used as a workshop, and the west cellar was used for cooking -the rations of private soldiers who were confined in other -buildings, and as quarters for some negro captives who were kept -to do the drudgery of the prison. - -As the plan was to dig out, it became necessary to find a way -into the east cellar, from which to begin our tunnel, which was -accomplished as follows. Near the north end of the dining-room was -a fireplace, around which three large cooking stoves were arranged. -In this fireplace the work began. The bricks were skillfully taken -out, and through this aperture a descent to the east cellar was -effected. This part of the work was intrusted to Captains Hamilton -and Gallagher, who were both house-builders, and in their hands -it was a perfect success. The only tools used were pocket-knives; -consequently their progress was slow, and fifteen nights elapsed -before the place was reached where the tunnel was to begin. The -stoves mentioned above aided greatly in the prosecution of the -work, screening the operators from observation. Immediately in -front of them the prisoners had a dancing party nearly every -night, and the light of their tallow candles made the stoves throw -a dark shadow over the entrance to the newly-opened way to the -cellar, and the mirth of the dancers drowned any slight noise -that might be made by the working party. Considerable skill was -necessary in order to reach the cellar after the opening was made; -and on one occasion one of the party stuck fast, and was released -only by great efforts on the part of his associates. Poor fellow! -though fortunate enough to escape detection in this instance, and -afterward to reach the free air, he was recaptured and taken back -to a confinement more intolerable than before. - -The cellar being reached, a thorough examination was made in order -to decide upon a route which would be most favorable for our -escape; and it was determined to make an attempt in the rear of a -cook-room which was in the south-east corner of the cellar. The -plan was to dig down and pass under the foundation, then change -the direction and work parallel with the wall to a large sewer -that passes down Canal-street, and from thence make our escape. -The attempt was accordingly made; but it was soon discovered -that the building rested upon ponderous oak timbers, below which -they could not penetrate. Determined to succeed, they began the -seemingly-hopeless task of cutting through these; pocket-knives -and saws made out of case-knives were the only available tools; -and when this, after much hard labor, was effected, they were met -by an unforeseen and still more serious difficulty. Water began to -flow into the tunnel; a depth below the level of the canal had been -reached, and sadly they were compelled to abandon the undertaking. -A second effort was made; a tunnel was started in the rear of the -cook-room mentioned above, intended to strike a small sewer which -started from the south-east corner, and passing through the outer -wall to the large sewer in front. Some sixteen or eighteen feet -brought the tunnel under a brick furnace, in which were built -several large kettles used in making soup for prisoners. This -partially caved in, and fear of discovery caused this route to be -abandoned. - -With a determination to succeed, which no difficulty could weaken -or disappointment overcome, another attempt, far more difficult -than the preceding, was made. A portion of the stone floor of the -cook-room was taken up, and the place supplied by a neatly-fitting -board, which could be easily removed; and through this the working -party descended every night. The plan was to escape by the sewer -leading from the kitchen, but it was not large enough for a man to -pass through; but as the route seemed preferable to any other, it -was determined to remove the plank with which it was lined; and -this out of the way, the tunnel or aperture would be sufficiently -large. The old knives and saws were called for, and the work of -removing the plank was continued for several days with flattering -success, till it was concluded that another hour's work would -enable us to enter the large sewer in front, into which this led, -and thus escape. So strong was the conviction that the work would -be completed in a little time, that all who knew the work was going -on made preparation to escape on the night of the 26th of January. -After working on the night of the 25th, two men were left down in -the cellar to cover up all traces of the work during the day, and -as soon as it was dark to complete the work--to go into the large -sewer, explore it, and have every thing ready by eight or nine -o'clock, at which time the bricks would be removed from the hole -leading into the cellar, which had to be placed carefully in their -original position every night, from the beginning to the completion -of the work. When the last brick was removed, a rope-ladder, which -had been prepared for the occasion, was passed down and made fast -to a bar of iron, placed across the front of the fireplace. Now -came long moments of breathless silence and agonizing suspense, -all waiting for the assurance from one of the men below that all -was ready. He came at last; but, alas! his first whisper was, "bad -news, bad news;" and bad news, indeed, it proved. It was found -that the remaining portion of the plank to be removed was oak, two -inches thick, and impossible to be removed by the tools which had -heretofore been used; moreover, the water was rapidly finding its -way into the tunnel, and all the labor expended had been in vain. -The feelings of that little band who can describe!--from hopes -almost as bright as reality they were suddenly plunged into the -depths of despair. - -Nearly all the work above mentioned was performed by Captains -Hamilton and Gallagher, Maj. Fitzsimmons, and another officer. -As a natural consequence, they were worn-out by excessive labor, -anxiety, and loss of sleep, that being the thirty-ninth night of -unremitting toil. They were, however, still unconquered in spirit, -and declared that another attempt must be made as soon as they were -sufficiently recruited to enter upon it. Noble fellows! hard had -they toiled for liberty, and it came at last. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE TUNNEL. - - A new plan adopted--Nature of the task--In the tunnel--Maj. - M'Donald's adventure--My own disappearance--Given up as - escaped--Fislar's story. - - -While the party last named were resting, there were others not -inactive. Capt. Clark, of the Seventy-Third Illinois, Maj. -M'Donald, of the One Hundredth Ohio, Capt. Lucas, of the Fifth -Kentucky, Lieut. Fislar, of the Seventh Indiana Battery, and -myself, proposed to the originators of the plan of escape, that -we would commence at some other point, and push on the work till -they were sufficiently recruited to unite with us. This meeting -with their approval, on the following night Maj. M'Donald and Capt. -Clark went down and commenced operations. - -The plan was to begin a new tunnel in the cellar on the east side, -near the north-east corner of the building. The first thing to be -done was to make a hole through the brick wall, which they effected -in one day and night. This was done by picking the cement from -between the bricks with a penknife, and then breaking them out -with an old ax. This, of course, made considerable noise, and was -calculated to arrest the attention of the guards; but it happened, -providentially, as it seemed to us, that just at that time the -authorities of the prison determined to place iron grates in all -the windows, to render the escape of the Yankees impossible. This -was accompanied by great noise; and while they were thus engaged -our boys thumped away with a will, and made their way through -the wall without exciting the least suspicion. The night after -the breach was made, Lieut. Fislar and myself went down to work; -but having nothing but a small penknife, our progress was, of -necessity, very slow. In spite of all difficulties, however, we -made an excavation of about two feet, and felt that we were that -much nearer freedom. We remained in the cellar all the next day, -and at night were relieved by two others; and thus the work was -continued from night to night, till its completion. One of our -number remained in the cellar every day to remove all signs of the -previous night's work, and to replace the bricks in the cavity made -in the wall, to avoid discovery, as some of the prison officials -or laborers came into the cellar every day, either bringing in or -taking out forage or commissary stores. - -I have been asked a thousand times how we contrived to hide such -a quantity of earth as the digging of a tunnel of that size would -dislodge. There was a large pile of straw stored in the cellar for -hospital use; in this we made a wide and deep opening, extending -to the ground; in this the loose dirt was closely packed, and then -nicely covered with straw. - -As the work progressed from night to night, and our hopes increased -with the length of our tunnel, the number of laborers was -increased, till the working party numbered fourteen. This was the -more necessary, as the work of removing the loose dirt increased -with every foot we advanced. I have often been asked how we managed -to get the dirt out of the tunnel, which was too narrow to permit a -man to turn round in it. As the whole process was somewhat novel, -one in all probability never attempted before, I will describe it -for the benefit of the readers. - -Our dirt-car was a wooden spittoon, with holes through each end -opposite each other, through which ropes were passed; one of these -ropes was used by the one engaged in digging, to draw the empty -spittoon from the entrance to the place where he was at work; and -when he had loosened earth enough to fill it, he gave a signal to -the one at the mouth of the tunnel by jerking the rope, and he -drew the loaded box out, and the miner recovered it by pulling -the rope attached to the end of the box nearest him; thus it was -kept traveling backward and forward till wagon-loads of earth were -removed. After penetrating some distance the task became very -painful; it was impossible to breathe the air of the tunnel for -many minutes together; the miner, however, would dig as long as -his strength would allow, or till his candle was extinguished by -the foul air; he would then make his way out, and another would -take his place--a place narrow, dark, and damp, and more like a -grave than any place can be short of a man's last narrow home. -As the work approached completion the difficulty of breathing in -the tunnel was greatly increased, and four persons were necessary -to keep the work moving; one would go in and dig awhile, then -when he came out nearly exhausted another would enter and fill -the spittoon, a third would draw it to the mouth of the tunnel, a -fourth would then empty the contents into a large box provided -for the purpose, and when it was full, take it to the straw pile -and carefully conceal it, as before stated. This labor, too, it -must be remembered, was not only extremely difficult in itself, -and especially so when the imperfect tools and means of removing -the earth are taken into the account; but in addition to this -was the constant anxiety lest the attempt we were making should -be discovered. Moreover, the fact that all previous attempts had -failed was calculated at times to fill our minds with fears lest -some unforeseen obstacle should occur to prevent the success -of our enterprise. On the other hand, however, the hard fare -and confinement of our prison, the monotony of which had become -unendurable, and the possibility of escape at last roused us up to -exertions almost superhuman. Under any other circumstances the work -would have been deemed impossible; but there are no impossibilities -to men with liberty as the result of their labors. Before the work -was completed, those who had been engaged in the previous attempt -had recovered from their exhaustion, and were able to take part -in this, which, in the end, proved successful. But what is to be -most regretted is, that though all of them regained the liberty for -which they so patiently toiled, one of them was recaptured--the -one, too, who, of all others, the rest confidently believed would -escape, if escape were in the power of man. What he has since -suffered we can only conjecture; but the disappointment must have -been most sad to his great heart--to have gained the free air, and -almost in sight of the flag of the Union--to be recaptured and -borne back to a captivity more hopeless than before. - -I have also been asked frequently since my escape, how it was -possible for a man to be left down in the cellar every day without -being discovered. Such a thing seems strange; but the entire work -was a marvelous one, and this was a necessary part of it; and -though the officers, or other persons employed about the prison, -visited the cellar every day, yet for fifty-one days one or another -of our company was down there without being discovered. The duty -of the one left there was to remove all traces of the work of -the previous night, as soon as it became light enough to do so; -he would then conceal himself for the day in the straw, of which -there was a large quantity there, and but for which our undertaking -must have been discovered nearly as soon as begun. To account for -the absence of those persons required some ingenuity, as two of -our number were sometimes on duty at once in the cellar. This was -managed as follows: the officers were drawn up in four ranks, and -the clerk counted them from right to left; one, two, or three, as -the case might be, would change their places so as to be counted -twice; the number being all right, the clerk was deceived. - -This, however, was suddenly brought to an end. Some of the officers -had succeeded in obtaining citizens' clothes, and passed the -guards without suspicion and escaped; one or two also escaped by -disguising themselves in the Confederate uniform. After this we -were all collected into the two east rooms, and required to answer -to our names. - -About the time the change was made Major M'Donald and Lieut. M'Kee -were on duty in the cellar, and failed to answer to their names; -this caused quite a stir, and for some time it was thought that -they had escaped by a trick similar to that of the others. The next -day they were reported by some one as being present--perhaps the -clerk, who knew that the Major, particularly, would bear watching. -The consequence was they were both called down to the office to -render to Maj. Turner the reasons for their absence on the previous -day. The Lieutenant, with an air of perfect innocence, stated that, -feeling quite unwell, he had wrapped himself up in his blanket, -had fallen asleep, did not hear the order for roll-call, and was -overlooked. His excuse was deemed valid, and he was immediately -sent back to his quarters. The Major was not so fortunate; the fact -is, he was regarded as a suspicious character, and in consequence -had a severer ordeal to pass. The question, "Major, your reason for -non-attendance at roll-call yesterday," was put quite laconically. -Said he, "I happened to be in Col. Streight's room, and failed to -get back in time." - -"In Col. Streight's room, indeed! How did you get in there, sir?" - -That I may be understood better, it is necessary to state that -some time previous some of the officers of Col. Streight's command -had given much trouble to the authorities of the prison, by being -in our room at roll-call; and, in order to prevent a similar -occurrence, had nailed up the door between the rooms occupied by -the Chickamauga officers, and those captured with Col. Streight. -The door had not been nailed up half an hour before some -quick-witted fellow sawed the door completely in two below the -lock, extracted the nails, placed some benches near the door so as -to conceal the crack, and we were thus able to pass in and out at -pleasure. The occupants of the other room took good care that the -traces of the saw should be concealed on their side, and thus free -intercourse was kept between both rooms without being suspected. - -The Major, with great seeming candor, explained the trick which -accounted for his presence in the forbidden room; and the next -question was, "How did it happen that the officer of the day -and the clerk did not see you there when they came in to see if -that room was cleared before commencing to call the roll?" This -would have been a poser to many--not so to the Major, who readily -replied, that, being in the wrong room, not wishing to be found -there, and being compelled to disclose the means by which he -entered, he had climbed up on the plate or girder that passed -through the room; "and when the search for me began," said he, -"I laid there close to the timber for ten hours, and would have -melted, drop by drop, before I would discover myself, and subject -the officers in that room to censure, and cause all intercourse -between the two rooms to be cut off." - -His questioners seemed rather to doubt his excuse, ingenious though -it was; but as they were ignorant of the true state of the case, -and he reaffirmed his story so positively, he was dismissed to his -quarters with a reprimand and an admonition. - -The day after this occurred it was my turn to stand guard in the -cellar. At quite an early hour the roll was called, and there being -no one willing to run the risk of answering for me, my absence was -discovered. There were several, it is true, who would willingly -have answered for me, but they were so well known, and somewhat -suspected, which would have rendered it dangerous to them, and of -no benefit to me. The fact of my absence made it necessary for the -calling of the roll several times in succession; all the officers -were kept in rank, confined in one room, till three o'clock in -the afternoon, and diligent search was made for me in every room -in the building; and it was finally concluded that I had made my -escape. At night, when the working party came down, they informed -me of what had taken place; and upon consultation it was thought -best that I should remain down in the cellar till the tunnel was -completed. To remain in this cold, dark, and loathsome place was -most revolting to my feelings; but the fear of being handcuffed -and put in the dungeon if I returned to my room, and the hope of -gaining my liberty shortly, induced me to stay. After agreeing to -stay down, it was suggested that I might with safety go up to my -quarters after lights were out, and sleep till four o'clock in the -morning, and go down again when the working party came up. I did -so; but the first night I was seen, either by some traitor, or very -careless prisoner, not acquainted with our secret, who stated at -roll-call the next morning, that I was in the house, as he had -seen me go to bed the night before--which was really the case. The -result was that the roll was called several times, and another -careful search for me was instituted. Great excitement prevailed -through the prison; those of our own men who knew nothing of the -plan of escape, and the place of my concealment, thought that I was -hiding in some of the rooms, and thought it very wrong in me to -do so; they even said that I ought to come out of my hiding-place -and give myself up, as they, though innocent, were suffering on my -account. On the contrary, those who knew where I was declared that -it was impossible that I could be in the building, after the strict -search that had been made for me; and as others were known to have -made their escape recently, it was more than likely that I had done -the same. - -This was corroborated by Lieut. Fislar, who improvised a -story to fit the case. He said that he was my messmate and -sleeping-companion--which was true; but that I had been missing -from my usual place for some time, and he had no doubt but that I -had escaped. He said, moreover, that two of my cousins were among -our guards--that I had been courting their favor for some time, and -that they had finally furnished me with a rebel uniform--that I had -made a wooden sword, a tin scabbard, and a belt out of a piece of -oil-cloth, and that they had eventually passed me out as a rebel -officer. - -This story was taken up and so stoutly confirmed by all who knew -where I was, that the point was yielded by most of the opposite -view, though a few still contended that I must be in the prison -still. - -All this was related to me by the working party when they came down -at night, and I then resolved to make my appearance at my quarters -no more. This resolution I have kept faithfully. I never saw my -room again, and never desire to do so, unless it be as the bearer -of freedom to those who are pining there still. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -CELLAR LIFE. - - My home and company--Great alarm--Still safe--The work - renewed--Success--The last night in Libby--Words on leaving. - - -The cellar was now my home. I was fed by my companions, who nightly -brought me down a portion of their own scanty fare. Had I been -discovered by the authorities of the prison it would have gone hard -with me; and knowing this, the greatest sympathy was manifested by -my associates, who felt that this danger was incurred not less for -their advantage than my own. - -Every thing moved on as well as could be expected. I had plenty -of company--little of it, however, agreeable, as it consisted -of rebels, rats, and other vermin. With the former I had no -communication whatever; whenever they made their appearance I -leaped quickly into a hole I had prepared in the straw, and pulled -the hole in after me, or nearly so, at least, by drawing the straw -over me so thickly that I could scarcely breathe. The rats gave me -no annoyance, save when making more noise than usual, they startled -me by making the impression that my two-legged enemies were near; -the remaining nuisance, which shall be nameless, was one which all -prisoners will ever remember with loathing, and from which there -was neither respite nor escape. - -The night of the seventh of February came, and it was thought that -our tunnel was long enough to reach the inside of a tobacco-shed on -the opposite side of the street, under which it passed. We made our -calculation in the following manner: Captain Gallagher had obtained -permission to go to a building across the street, where the boxes -sent from the North to the prisoners were stored, to obtain some of -the perishable articles; and while crossing the street he measured -the distance, as accurately as possible, by stepping it both ways, -and came to the conclusion that fifty-two or fifty-three feet would -bring us to the shed. On measuring the tunnel it was found to be -fifty-three feet long, and we fondly hoped that our labors were -ended, with the exception of a few feet upward to the light. So -confident were we that the work could be completed in an hour or -two, that we had our rations already prepared in our haversacks, -fully expecting to begin going out at nine o'clock--nay, we even -went so far as to communicate the success of our plan to many -who had not been partakers in the labor or the secret of the -undertaking, but whom we invited to become the companions of -our flight. When all were thus expectant, all thinking that the -long-wished-for hour had come, Capt. Randall, of the Second Ohio, -was appointed to open up the way to light and liberty. - -It was agreed that the mining party, who had labored so faithfully, -should go out first, and that our friends should follow; and we -stood anxiously awaiting the return of Capt. Randell, with the news -that the way was open. There are times when minutes seem lengthened -into hours--this was one of them. The suspense began to be painful; -it seemed as if we could hear the beatings of each other's hearts, -as well as feel the throbbings of our own, and the unspoken -question on every lip was, Will he succeed? At length he emerged -from the tunnel, and, in answer to the question, "What success?" in -an excited tone and manner he replied, "All is lost!" We gathered -round him, and when he became somewhat calmer he spoke as follows: -"I have made an opening, but a large stone which lay on the surface -fell into the tunnel, making considerable noise; the hole, too, was -on the outside of the shed, and within a few feet of the sentinel -who was on guard; he heard the noise, and called the attention of -the other sentinel to it; the light from the hospital shone upon -the side of the shed; I could see both the guards walking toward -the spot; I have no doubt they have discovered the tunnel, and -perhaps will soon be in here to arrest us." - -Imagine, if you can, our feelings; our bright hopes so suddenly -crushed, and every one in expectation that the guard would soon be -upon us. Great excitement prevailed, yet no one was able to suggest -how to act in this sudden and unexpected emergency. - -Amid all the excitement, however, incident to such an occasion, -there was much sympathy felt in my behalf. I had been missing -for some time, and was supposed to have made my escape; to be -discovered now, as seemed inevitable, would be proof that I had -much to do with the attempt to escape, and would subject me, at -the very least, to the dungeon and handcuffs. In a few moments the -cellar was nearly cleared, most of the party returning to their -quarters in the different rooms above; but Maj. M'Donald and Capt. -Hamilton remained with me, determined, if they could not aid me, at -least to share the same fate. Noble, self-sacrificing men! their -conduct proved that disinterested friendship and high, chivalrous -feeling have not yet departed. - -After all was quiet the Major determined to go up stairs and make -what discoveries he could. He soon returned, saying he had been up -to the upper east room, from which he could see the sentinels very -distinctly; and, from all appearances, he concluded that they had -not discovered the hole. I advised him to go into the tunnel and -examine the breach, and stop it up if possible, as it was not at -the right place to render our escape at all likely, being outside -of the shed instead of inside, as was intended, and within a few -feet of the guard. If the hole could not be stopped, of course it -exposed us to certain discovery in the morning; and I proposed to -go in and enlarge it, and, great as was the risk, try to make my -escape at all hazards; for if I should fail, I would rather be -caught in the attempt than wait to be found in the cellar or my -quarters. When the Major returned he reported favorably, saying -that the breach might be repaired. An old pair of pantaloons were -procured and stuffed full of earth; some dirt, too, was put on the -outside of them, so that the cloth could not be seen, and thus -excite suspicion. These were forced into the aperture, and earth -pressed in beneath; and he returned greatly elated with the hope -that all danger was past, and that in one or two more nights our -labors would be crowned with success. - -After a few minutes' consultation it was agreed that I should -remain in the cellar till the next night. All the next day a close -watch was kept, by some of our number in the east room, on the -guards who were stationed near the place where our tunnel ended. -There was no token, however, that any discovery had been made, and -the next night the mining operations were resumed, and between two -and three o'clock in the morning an opening was made to the free -air, this time inside of the shed, at the very point we desired, -at a distance of fifty-seven feet from the point of starting. The -tunnel was about two feet wide by two feet and a half deep; it was -arched above; and Lieut. Davy, who is a practical miner, declared -that it was done in a workmanlike manner. We found a very hard, -compact sand all along the route; the loose earth was disposed of -as I have before stated, till within about ten feet of the end, -when it was strewn along the entire length, thus reducing very -considerably the size of the passage. Near the terminus it was -rather a close fit for a large man, and when I was passing through -I stuck fast, and had to call on Maj. Fitzsimmons to pull me out of -a very tight place. - -The principal tool used in this work was a chisel, which was found -among some rubbish in the cellar, a handle for which was made from -a piece of stove-wood. - -When the surface was reached there was too little of the night -remaining to effect our escape; two of our number, however, passed -out and explored the lot, and planned the course to be taken after -emerging from the tunnel. The shed in which our labors terminated -fronted the canal; between them was a brick building, through -the center of which there was a passage into the lot, closed by -a gate; and the route fixed upon was through this passage. The -question then arose, who shall go out first? Some thought that I -was entitled to that honor, as I had been confined so long in the -cellar, and had incurred more risk than the rest. Others thought -that, though to go out first might be esteemed the post of honor, -it was also the post of danger, as the first would run more risk -than those who should follow. It was finally agreed that I should -be the fifth to pass out, and that Lieut. Fislar should be my -partner in flight. Then arose the question, how the aperture -through the surface should be concealed till the next night; -for should any one go into the shed during the day, as was most -probable, our plan might yet be frustrated. A piece of plank was -found, and Capt. Hamilton dispatched with it to the outer end of -the tunnel, over which he placed it, being careful, however, to -bury it just below the surface, and to cover it with dry earth. He -soon returned, having successfully accomplished his task; and all -retired to their quarters, leaving me in the cellar to cover up all -traces of their work--cheered by the thought that with night would -come liberty. - -The ninth of February was a long day, and long to be remembered; -never was my anxiety so great as for the setting of that day's -sun; and more than once during its long, dreary hours I feared -that the cup of happiness, now so near our lips, would be rudely -dashed away. Business often brought those connected with the -prison into the cellar, as it contained articles constantly needed; -but on that day it was visited much oftener than usual. One party -brought a dog in with them, and hissed him after the rats; and -in his search after them he passed over and around me, and every -moment I expected to be drawn from my place of concealment; but -I was too large game for him, and I escaped. Soon after a rebel -sergeant came in, with some negroes, after some empty barrels that -were stowed in the back part of the cellar. In one of the barrels -they found a haversack full of provisions, left there by one of our -party the preceding night. This I thought would certainly awaken -suspicion, and give rise to a strict search; the negroes, however, -took the food and ate it, without the question being raised how it -came there. But the danger had not yet passed; for, in carrying -out the barrels, one of the negroes stepped over my feet, almost -touching them. Night came at length, and never was sunlight hailed -more gladly than darkness, for it brought an end to our fears and -captivity. - -The path to freedom is now open; but pardon me, kind reader, -if I delay a moment on the threshold, as it were, of a prison -that I trust soon to leave forever, to look over the sad hours -spent in its walls, and the methods taken by its inmates to make -the hours seem less weary. Much of my own time, and that of my -fellow-laborers, was so taken up with our project, that we suffered -less than the great body of prisoners, whose time and thoughts -were not thus occupied. To them the routine of prison life became -intolerably oppressive, and every device was employed to pass away -the long, long hours. Books and fragments of books were eagerly -devoured; newspapers were read till they would scarcely hold -together. At times shouts of uproarious laughter would be heard; -and a casual observer would have thought that a more careless, -light-hearted band could not be found; but, alas! much of the -laughter rang above a sad heart; and to those who knew the thoughts -of those so outwardly gay, there was something in that laughter -sadder far than tears. Many were anxiously exercised upon the -questions, what shall we eat? what shall we drink? and wherewithal -shall we be clothed? but their solicitude never led them to a -satisfactory conclusion. Others would go through the forms of -fashionable life, and invitations to parties, and to dine, were -frequent; but the rich viands and sparkling wines, like those of -the banquet recorded in the Arabian Nights, existed only in the -imagination of the guests. - -Wealth is only a relative term at last. He was well-off in Libby -who had two pewter spoons, an extra tin cup or plate; rich who -possessed a ham and a box of crackers--a millionaire if, in -addition to these, he had a pound or two of tobacco. The silver -ware in our wealthiest mansions is never looked after as carefully -as were the extra spoons, forks, or plates, which a man or mess -claimed; and when they disappeared, as they sometimes would, as -much skill and craft would be employed to recover them as a corps -of detectives would display when a bank has been robbed, or a -palace plundered. Many pined away with melancholy, and the history -of the hearts which have been crushed would be a sad one; many left -us during my stay for the hospital--from thence it was not far to -the grave. There were, however, stout hearts which would not yield -to discouragement--men who never for a moment yielded to despair; -they had faith in their Government, in the justice of the cause for -which they were suffering, and, best of all, some of them had faith -in God. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -THE ESCAPE. - - The last night--Farewell to Libby--Sufferings and dangers--The - north star our guide--The faithful negro--A false friend--Almost - retaken--The contrast. - - -It came at last--the last night, the night of release; and the -working party was assembled in the cellar for the last time. There -was a shade of sadness on many a brow; for we were about to go -forth two by two, to separate to meet again--when? Perhaps never! -The party consisted of - - COL. ROSE, 77th Pennsylvania Infantry. - MAJ. FITZSIMMONS, 30th Indiana Infantry. - CAPT. HAMILTON, 12th Kentucky Cavalry. - CAPT. GALLAGHER, 2d Ohio Volunteer Infantry. - CAPT. CLARK, 79th Illinois Vol. Infantry. - CAPT. LUCAS, 5th Kentucky Vol. Infantry. - MAJ. M'DONALD, 100th Ohio Vol. Infantry. - CAPT. RANDELL, 2d Ohio Vol. Infantry. - CAPT. I. N. JOHNSTON, 6th Ky. Vol. Infantry. - LIEUT. FISLAR, 7th Indiana Battery. - LIEUT. SIMPSON, 10th Indiana Infantry. - LIEUT. MITCHELL, 79th Illinois Infantry. - LIEUT. DAVY, 77th Pennsylvania Infantry. - LIEUT. STERLING, 29th Indiana Infantry. - LIEUT. FOSTER, 30th Indiana Infantry. - -It was agreed that ten minutes should elapse after the first two -passed out, before the second couple should start. Lieut. Fislar -and myself were the third couple. After emerging from the tunnel -we faced to the right, and passed across the lot to the passage -through the brick building, already described, into the street; and -in doing so we passed within forty feet of the sentinels. We were -not observed, and you may be sure we did not linger, and soon we -were out of sight of the hated place. - -One hundred and nine persons thus escaped from eight o'clock at -night to three in the morning, notwithstanding that the night was -clear and beautiful, and all had to pass between two gas lights; -of these, however, only about one half succeeded in reaching the -Federal lines. - -As my comrade and myself were passing through the city, two ladies, -who were standing at the gate of a house which stood back from the -street, observed us; one of them remarked to the other that we -looked like Yankees. We did not stop to undeceive them, and met -with no further trouble till the city limits were passed. We then -changed our course and traveled north-east, and soon came to the -rebel camps, which stretched round a great portion of the city. We -were excited, of course, and bewildered for the first hour, not -knowing whether we were in the path of safety or danger. All at -once I became perfectly composed, and told my comrade to follow me -and I would conduct him safe through. I then started due north, -taking the north star for my guide, changing my course only when -we came near any of the camps, sufficiently to avoid them. After -traveling three or four miles we saw another camp ahead, and -thinking that the camps possibly did not connect, we determined to -attempt to pass between them. As we approached, however, we found -out our mistake--the camps were connected by a chain of sentinels, -and this chain must be passed before escape became even probable. - -We advanced cautiously, and when we reached a small ravine we could -hear the sentinel, on his beat, on the other side. We saw his fire, -too, which we, of course, avoided; and at one time only a few -small bushes were between us and the guard; the wind, however, was -blowing briskly, causing quite a rustling among the dry leaves, and -we succeeded in getting by safely. We moved on rapidly, and soon -came near the cavalry pickets; these we passed without difficulty. -After continuing our course north for some time, we changed to -north-east, and passed over four lines of the rebel defenses. It -was our intention to strike the Chickahominy above the railroad -bridge; but, to our surprise, we struck the railroad on the -Richmond side. - -We then traveled down the road about a mile, and as day began to -dawn we left the road a short distance to find a hiding-place, -expecting that with the coming of light there would be a keen -search made for us. The rebel fortifications were near; in front -of them all the timber had been felled, and among this timber was -our hiding-place the first day--all the safer, too, no doubt, for -being within a few hundred yards of the rebel guns. The weather was -excessively cold; we had walked during the night over bad roads, -through mud and water, and our pantaloons were frozen stiff up to -our knees. We did not dare to make a fire so near the rebel camp, -for fear of discovery; but our suffering was greatly lessened by -the thought that we were free. - -As soon as it was light enough to see, we made the rather -unpleasant discovery that there was a picket-guard not more -than one hundred and fifty yards from the place where we had -taken refuge; and soon two working parties came out from the -fortifications, and began to cut cord-wood. These two parties, with -the picket-guard, formed a triangle--the wood-choppers on each -side, the guards in front; so that we were obliged, half frozen -though we were, to lay very close to the ground till kind and -merciful Night, who kindly lends her mantle to escaped prisoners, -should come. - -This, the first day of our escape, was a long one, full of anxiety -and fears, lest, after all our toils, we should be retaken and -subjected to a captivity far worse than we had experienced before. -About sundown the working party withdrew, and soon after nightfall -we resumed our journey, again toward the north star. We had -scarcely got fairly started before our ears were saluted by the -tramp of horses and the clank of sabers; we immediately left the -road and lay down behind some brushwood. It proved to be a scouting -party, perhaps in pursuit of us; but we let them pass unchallenged. -We continued our course till we reached the Chickahominy River; -going up the stream a short distance we found a log across it, -passed over and kept our course for several miles, then changed our -course north-east, and traveled till nearly daylight. We camped -for the day by the side of a swamp, under a large pine-tree, near -the foot of which was a thick cedar bush, whose shade we found -most welcome, as it afforded us concealment and shelter from the -bleak wind. The night had been very cold, and having crossed -several swamps in our journey, our feet were wet, and our clothes -frozen, as, indeed, was the case, day and night, till we reached -the Union lines. During the night we were able to keep the blood -in circulation by active exercise; but being compelled to lie -still during the day for fear of discovery, we came very near -perishing from cold. That day I thought our feet certainly would -freeze; and as necessity will often set the wits to work, I fell -upon an expedient which doubtless saved us from such a disaster. -Before leaving the prison I had taken the precaution to put on two -shirts--one of them a woolen one; this I pulled off; and having -taken off our shoes and socks, we lay down close together, and -rolled our feet up in it, and found great relief. About noon some -cows came around us; and as the spot was a sheltered one, they -seemed inclined to remain. Fearing that some one would soon be in -search of them, we got up and drove them away; and very soon a -woman came, evidently looking for them. We lay very close to the -ground as long as she was in sight, and breathed more freely when -she disappeared. A celebrated traveler says that he was invariably -well treated by women in the various countries through which he -traveled; much as we regard the sex, we fear that it would be a -dangerous experiment for an escaped prisoner to trust even the -gentlest and fairest in rebeldom. - -On the night of the eleventh we traveled east, and crossed the -railroad about half-past eight o'clock; we also crossed the main -road from Richmond to Williamsburg, and two or three other roads, -all leading into the main road from the Chickahominy, and just -before day went into a hiding-place near one of these roads. As -soon as it was light we saw that our place of rest was not well -chosen; that scouts, or any one in pursuit of us, could come close -upon us before we could see them; we therefore sought another -place, from which we could see to a considerable distance in every -direction. We then pulled off our shoes and socks, and wrapped our -feet up in the flannel shirt, as before, and endeavored to get a -little sleep. It was so cold, however, that we could sleep but -little, and then never both at once; we were still in such danger -that one would watch while the other rested. Sometimes in our night -marches we would become so tired and sleepy that we would throw -ourselves down on the ground and sleep a short time, till awakened -by the excessive cold, and then rise and walk briskly till our -chilled blood began to move faster in its channels. - -We were careful to shun every thing in the shape of a man, whether -black or white; but after traveling through swamps and thickets, -on the fourth night we came to a path along which a negro man was -passing; we stopped him and asked a number of questions, and were -convinced, from his answers, that he was a friend, and might be -trusted. We then told him our condition, and asked him if he could -give us something to eat. He said that he was not near home, or he -would do so cheerfully; but pointing to a house in the distance, to -which he said he was going, assured us that friends lived there, -and if we would go with him our wants should be supplied. He said -the people who lived there were Union folks, and that we need not -fear; but we had suffered so much that we did not feel inclined -to trust strangers; however, I asked him to go to the house and -see if any rebel soldiers were there. This he did readily, and -soon returned, telling us to come on, that the way was clear, and -supper, such as they had, would soon be prepared for us. I then -asked him if he would stand guard while we went in, as I was still -fearful of being retaken. He agreed to do so. We then entered the -house, found a good fire, and some friendly faces; and the inmates -set about preparing supper for us with all speed. We happened to -have a little coffee with us, the very thing of which they seemed -most in need. We added this to their store, and soon we had the -first good meal we had taken for months before us, and a cheery -cup of hot coffee, which made it seem a feast. After the meal was -ended, being fully satisfied that the people were friends, and our -black friend outside faithful, we rested awhile, which we certainly -needed, if ever men did, and gave to our kind entertainers all that -we could--our heart-felt thanks. When we were ready to start, the -faithful negro sentinel, who had stood guard for us, offered to -be our guide, and conducted us about four miles on our journey; he -advised us to cross to the north side of the road, as we should -meet with fewer swamps, and consequently make better progress. He -added other directions which we found to be valuable, and we never -shall forget the kindness of the warm heart which beat in that -black man's breast. - -We then traveled on till daylight, and stopped, as usual, for the -day; but our clothes were so wet and frozen that we were obliged to -travel on to keep from being perfectly benumbed with cold. We had -not traveled any in the daytime before, and began to think that we -were out of danger; still, we kept a vigilant watch, but met with -no interruption, and we gradually became bolder. About sundown we -saw before us a negro chopping wood; and as he was directly in our -line of march, and our adventure of the previous night had given -us confidence in those having black skins, we walked directly -toward him, intending to inquire about the roads, the position of -the rebel pickets, the movements of scouting parties, and other -matters of interest. Judge of our surprise, however, when we came -within a few paces of him, to find a white man with him, seated at -the foot of a tree! It was too late to change our course, as he -evidently saw us; so we went up to him and inquired how far it was -to Barnesville, a small town we had passed a few miles back. He -answered us civilly, and we asked several other questions, which -he replied to satisfactorily. He gave us to understand, however, -that he recognized us as Union soldiers. We told him that was not -the case, but that we were Confederate scouts in disguise, and -asked him if he had, during the past few days, seen any Yankees in -that vicinity. He said that he had not, and insisted that we were -Federal soldiers ourselves. At length I told him we were, and that -we had escaped from Libby Prison. He protested that he was glad -to see us, had heard of the escape of the Libby prisoners, but -did not credit it--but must believe it now, as he had the living -witnesses before him. He talked freely with us, saying, among other -things, that he was a citizen, and had taken no part whatever in -the war, and even expressed the wish that we might make our escape. -I told him that I expected, as soon as we were gone, that he would -go to the nearest picket-post and inform his rebel friends what -course we had taken. He declared that he had no such intention, -and repeated the wish that we might have a safe journey. I then -asked him if he knew of any pickets near. He replied there were -none nearer than Burnt Ordinary, which was some miles distant, and -that he had not seen a Confederate soldier for three weeks--in -fact, that they seldom came in that direction. The truth was, as -we soon discovered, there was a picket-post not more than half a -mile from the place where we stood. This he well knew, and did his -utmost to betray us into their hands. He advised us to follow a -certain path, by doing which he said we should avoid a swamp that -it was difficult and dangerous to cross, and even went with us a -short distance to see that we did not take the wrong path. I could -not, however, resist the conviction that he was treacherous, and -did all I could to impress him with a salutary fear, telling him -that if he informed on us, there was a certain Gen. Butler, of -whom he had doubtless heard, who had a way of finding such things -out; and if any thing happened to us he would doubtless send out a -detachment that would destroy every thing that he had. If, however, -he conducted himself as a quiet, peaceable citizen, he and his -property would be respected. He assured us that no harm should come -to us through him, shook hands with us, and wished us again a safe -journey. - -We had not gone over a hundred yards, when happening to look back, -I saw our friend traveling at a pace quite unnecessary for one so -friendly, and the whole matter flashed on my mind. I turned to my -comrade and said, "We are gone up; that scoundrel, I feel certain, -has gone to report us to the nearest picket-guard!" - -So well assured did I feel of his treachery, that I proposed -that we should change our course from south to east, which we -did immediately--and then almost too late. We had not pursued -our new course more than half a mile when we heard voices of men -talking in a low yet earnest tone; we stopped and listened; it -was even as I had suspected--the professed friend, from whom we -had recently parted, had gone to the nearest pickets, informed -the rebels who we were, and how we might be intercepted; and the -officer was now placing his men on the road near where we were -expected to cross, and we were now within fifteen or twenty paces -of them--they, aware of our coming, wary and watchful. It was a -moment of fearful suspense; we were screened from view, however, -by the bushes; and our only chance was to change our course; we -started, but the rustling of the dry leaves beneath our feet -betrayed us, and we were sternly ordered to come out of the brush. -We hesitated, and the order was repeated in fierce, quick tones, -which was accompanied by a volley of musketry. On this we came -out at a double-quick, but in a direction opposite to that which -we were thus rudely invited--in other words, we broke away and -ran for life. With a shout our enemies joined in the pursuit, and -pressed us so closely that I was obliged to throw away my overcoat, -and Lieut. Fislar lost his cap. On came our pursuers, nearer and -nearer, till, at length, in order to save ourselves, we had to take -refuge in a large swamp. Orders were given to surround it, and we -could hear men on every side calling to each other, and giving -direction how to prevent our escape--and all this when liberty -was almost in our grasp; for we were then but three miles from the -Federal lines. - -While thus lying concealed in the swamp our reflections were not -of the most agreeable character. We had almost reached the reward -of much toil and suffering; we had even begun to think and talk -of home and the loved ones there; and now, by the baseness of one -of our fellow-beings, to lose the prize almost in our grasp, was -too painful a thought to be calmly endured. We contrasted the -duplicity--nay, almost perjury, of the civilized white man who had -betrayed us into the power of our enemies, with the fidelity of the -African slave who had proved so kind and true, and felt that under -the dark skin beat the nobler heart. The one, of our own race, in -violation of promises the most solemn, would have given us back to -a fate worse than death; the other, of another and despised race, -did all in his power to restore us to freedom and home. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -UNDER THE FLAG AGAIN. - - In the swamp--Meeting our pickets--Warm welcome--Aid to the - fugitives--Kind treatment--Interview with Gen. Butler--Arrival at - Washington. - - -Thus encircled by our enemies, our only hope of escape lay in -crossing the swamp in front of us, which was a most perilous -undertaking, as all who have any acquaintance with the swamps of -the Chickahominy well know. The remembrance of the prison we had -left, and the fear of one even worse if retaken, urged us on; and, -after many difficulties, our efforts were at last successful. We -attempted to cross four or five times before we were able to do -so, and more than once we were ready to despair. In one of our -attempts I stepped from a log and went down into mud waist-deep; -every motion I made only served to carry me down still lower; but -my true friend Fislar was at hand, and saved me from a horrible -fate. He came to the end of the log, and I roused every energy and -threw myself toward him; he was just able to reach my hand, which -was eagerly stretched out to him, and he drew me exhausted from the -mire. - -Never can I forget that kind, generous friend--a truer man to -country and friends does not live; the trials through which we -passed only served to develop his noble nature, and he will ever -seem dear as a brother to me. He is a noble specimen of a man, -physically; has dark hair, brown eyes, and light complexion--is -six feet high, well-proportioned, and has an agreeable face--is -possessed of fine natural abilities, is twenty-three years of -age, brave, active, and daring, ready for any emergency--and, to -crown all, has as noble a heart as ever beat in human breast; and, -for friend and companion, at home or abroad, in prosperity or -adversity, there is no one that I have ever known that I would -prefer to him. - -After I was thus rescued we sat down awhile to rest; and when -somewhat refreshed made another attempt to cross. We found a place -where a number of dead trees stood in the swamp, from which the -branches had fallen; and by jumping from one to the other of these, -and occasionally slipping into mud knee-deep, we reached the middle -of the swamp; and in looking both before and behind us, it really -seemed as if we were the first human beings who had ever penetrated -to that dismal and solitary place. A stream, narrow, dark, and -deep, now lay before us, and checked further progress; but the kind -Providence which had aided us on so many occasions did not desert -us now; for we found near the spot a slab that had been washed -down from a saw-mill, which afforded us the means of crossing, and -we were soon safely on the other side. Now that we were over the -stream, a large portion of swamp had still to be traversed; but we -felt that every step brought us nearer to friends and safety, so we -plodded on cheerfully, and late at night struck the high ground on -the other side. - -Being exhausted by our journey through a swamp, which would have -been deemed impassable had we not been urged on by hopes before -and fears behind, we stopped for a time to gather strength for new -efforts, hoping before sunrise to be beyond the reach of successful -pursuit. Again we began our march, and near midnight we saw the -picket-fires near Burnt Ordinary, but supposed them to be those -of the rebels, as we had been told by the man who had betrayed -us, that the rebels had a picket-guard at that place, which was -true; but that evening, before we reached there, the Union cavalry -had driven them away, and the fires we saw were those of our own -pickets. Our narrow escape had rendered us very cautious; and -having every reason to believe that the fires in sight were -those of the enemy, we passed around them at what we thought a -safe distance, and then struck out for Williamsburg, then, as we -afterward learned, about twelve miles distant. We had not gone far -before we were halted. Inquiring of the sentinel who he was, and -where we were, he informed us that he belonged to the Eleventh -Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was under Gen. Butler's command. As -we had tried to play Confederate ourselves, we were not certain -but that this might be one of them trying to play Yankee. After -questioning him very closely, and being fully satisfied that he was -"all right," we advanced. When we got up to him he told us that he -and his comrades had been sent out on that advanced post in order -to meet and aid prisoners who were said to have escaped from Libby -Prison; and, added he, "I guess you are some of them." We told him -we were, and he expressed great pleasure at meeting with us, and we -felt what words never can express--a joy which can never be felt -save by those who, after privations and anxieties like ours, feel -that they are safe at last. - -The sentinel then conducted us to the reserve-post, where we were -warmly greeted, every one proffering aid in one way or another. -After warming ourselves at the camp-fire, the officer in command, -seeing our need of food and rest, proposed to send us on to the -camp; and asked his men if any of them would furnish us with -horses. "You can have mine! you can have mine!" was heard on -every side, all seeming eager to help us; and soon we were well -mounted, and on our way to the main body. We were conducted to -Capt. Akerly's quarters, who gave us a hearty welcome; and though -it was now after midnight, he soon had a good supper, with the -luxurious addition of a cup of hot coffee, prepared for us, and -congratulations on our good fortune poured in on all sides. After -giving him a brief account of our trials, we informed him that it -was reported through the country that the Federal pickets were -advanced as far as Barnsville, which we now had learned was not the -case; and we feared that some of our friends who had escaped might, -on hearing this, venture in there and be recaptured. The Captain -told us that he was about sending a company in that direction just -before we got in--that they were now preparing to start, and he -would have them keep a sharp lookout for our friends. Just then -Lieut. Palmer reported to the Captain for orders, saying that the -detachment was ready to move. The Captain put in his possession all -that he had just learned from us; and he was about leaving, when -my comrade, Lieut. Fislar, sprang up, asked to be furnished with a -horse and saber, and to be permitted to accompany him in search of -our companions, who were still subjected to the dangers which we -had so narrowly escaped. His request was granted, and he was soon -in the saddle and away. - -This act was characteristic of the man; and when it is remembered -that he had been on the march near thirty hours, had just been -hunted by the rebels like a pack of hounds in full cry, had just -crossed a swamp which most men would have deemed madness to -attempt, it must be regarded as noble and chivalrous in the highest -degree. Most men, under similar circumstances, would eagerly have -embraced the opportunity offered and needed for rest; but with -a most unselfish devotion he forgot past dangers and present -weariness, in his great desire for the safety of those, his former -companions, who, cold, hungry, and half clad, were struggling still -through forests and swamps to freedom. - -The next morning, having been furnished with horse, sword, and -pistol, I moved forward with the column, which was composed of -picked men from three companies of the Eleventh Pennsylvania -Cavalry. My position was in front with the Captain--every man with -eager eyes on the look-out for the late inmates of Libby. We had -not advanced more than two miles before we saw two men emerge from -a thicket and regard us anxiously; they were immediately recognized -as escaped prisoners; but O, what emotions filled my heart when I -saw and knew the well-known forms and faces of Maj. Fitzsimmons and -Capt. Gallagher, of the old working party--companions in suffering, -and soon to be partakers of joy such as mine! Spurring my horse -in advance of the rest, and swinging my hat and cheering as I -went, I hastened to meet my old companions--and seldom is so much -joy pressed into a few brief moments as was ours when we met; we -wept, we laughed, we shouted aloud in our joy, and warmer, gladder -greetings will never be exchanged till we meet in the land where -there are no partings. Our men came up and welcomed the fugitives -warmly--not a man in the band who was not willing to dismount and -let the wearied ones ride; and together we rode in search of others -whom we doubted not were near; and during the day eleven more were -added to our number--each one of them increasing our joy. I have -known hours in my captivity when I have almost lost faith in man; -but that day my faith in humanity was restored. To see those poor, -hunted, suffering, wearied ones treated with all the tenderness and -affection of brothers, by men whom they had never met till that -hour, was sufficient to convince the most skeptical that earth yet -abounds in warm, unselfish hearts. As we rode along we talked of -our past trials, and the dangers we had passed since the night we -parted in the cellar of Libby Prison, and speculated concerning the -fate of others, whom we trusted would be as fortunate as ourselves, -and to whom we would have borne aid, could we but have found them, -at the risk of life itself. - -During the day we had several skirmishes with the rebel scouts, -and captured a few horses and accouterments, and returned the same -evening to Williamsburg, when another detachment was sent out on -a mission similar to that in which we had been engaged; and I need -not say they bore with them our warmest wishes for their success. - -With regard to the officers and men of the Eleventh Pennsylvania -Cavalry, I can say, with truth, that they are the most daring, -energetic, and enterprising men that I have met with since I have -been in the service--the bravest of the brave; and the work which -they fail in will be left undone. But this is not their highest -praise--since I left my mother's care I have never felt so much -like a baby as I have since I fell into their hands; nothing that -could minister to the comfort of myself and comrades was left -undone; they are as kind and tender as they are brave and true. -God bless them, every one! The sutler of the regiment is worthy -of special mention. When we reached our lines we were nearly all -destitute of shoes and socks, and some even of other articles of -clothing. Whatever we needed he readily furnished, and refused to -receive any thing at our hands in return; but he can not refuse, I -am sure, the heart-felt gratitude which will spring up in every one -of our breasts at the recollection of the kindness shown by George -M'Alpine. - -During our stay at Williamsburg most of us remained with the -Eleventh Pennsylvania--a few, however, were with the First New York -Mounted Rifles; and they really seemed to strive to see which could -treat us best. Our party had now increased to twenty-six--every -new arrival was loudly and warmly greeted; the adventures of many -of them were strange and stirring. May they live to tell their -wondering grandchildren the story of their sufferings in Libby, and -their marvelous escape! - -We were all furnished with transportation to Yorktown. From thence -we went by boat to Fortress Monroe, and were conducted by Gen. -Wistar to head-quarters, and introduced to Gen. Butler, who -expressed the greatest pleasure at our escape, and only regretted -that some of our number had again fallen into the hands of the -enemy. We had, of course, to go over the story of our treatment -while in the hands of the rebels, and our perils on the way to the -Union lines; and were made to feel the contrast by the attention -bestowed upon us. Every heart seemed full of sympathy, and every -tongue had a kind word. For ourselves, words were powerless to -express the gratitude we felt for such constant kindness. The -General ordered dinner to be prepared for our entire party, -and authorized us to draw upon his quartermaster for any thing -we needed; every wish seemed to be anticipated, every desire -gratified--save one, the earnest longing for home. Even this was -soon granted, by furnishing us transportation to Washington; from -which place we started to our various homes; and O, how glad was -our welcome! Many had mourned us as dead, and our return was like -the grave giving up those it had once claimed as its own; and we -were unutterably glad to be under the old flag and at home once -more. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -RETURN TO THE FRONT. - - Return home--How I spent my furlough--Join my - regiment--Changes--Forward movement--Tunnel Hill--Rocky - Face--Resaca. - - -With the preceding chapter it was intended that my story should -end; but in the judgment of others, whose opinions it would be -improper to disregard, it was thought best that I should add a -short sketch of Sherman's celebrated campaign, which resulted in -the capture of Atlanta. The part taken by my regiment in this, -one of the most arduous and successful enterprises of the war, is -worthy of remembrance, and will be of no less interest to my brave -companions in arms than the scenes already described; and being in -actual command of the remnant of that noble band of men known as -the Sixth Kentucky, whose deeds of daring in that memorable march -should never be forgotten, my position gave me ample opportunity to -know how uncomplainingly they bore the fatigue and privations of -the march; how firmly they held the post of honor and danger; how -gallantly they charged the foe, and how nobly they fell. - -It is a sad thought, that many who entered the service with me in -this regiment three years ago, will never read these lines; for -they are sleeping in quiet, nameless graves, over which loved ones -will never come to weep; their deeds and generous self-devotion to -their country in her hour of peril shall never be forgotten; and -sorrowing friends will take a melancholy pleasure, as they read -these pages, in remembering that those whom they shall see on earth -no more were not victims in a useless and wicked struggle, but -martyrs, rather, in a cause for which it is glorious to die. - -To resume, then, the thread of my narrative. On reaching -Washington our party was extremely anxious to visit their homes -before again entering active service; and in order to do this -furloughs and back pay were necessary. There was such a pressure -of business at the War Office that we found great difficulty in -having our wishes gratified in the particulars above named. At -length, however, we found in Mr. Montfort, agent from Indiana -to attend to the interests of the soldiers of that State, a -friend whose sympathies were not bounded by the Ohio River, but -one who was ever ready to aid all who wore the uniform of our -common country. Our recent escape, and the dangers we had passed, -enlisted his liveliest regard; and being familiar with the forms of -business, he soon procured for us the desired furloughs, and the -not less necessary pay. Nor did we confine our gratitude to empty -expressions alone; before leaving for our homes we presented him -with a very handsome testimonial in the shape of a beautiful cane, -with gold head and appropriate inscription; and we feel greatly -his debtors still, and trust that when declining years shall render -necessary the staff to support his feeble steps, that his mind may -be consoled by the reflection that his unselfish exertions on our -behalf are gratefully cherished. - -Home was now in immediate prospect; yet, so endeared had we become -by association in Libby, and the perils attending our escape, that -our parting was not without emotion. But soon there came to us all -glad meetings--the embracings and welcomes of loved ones, and the -cup of our joy was full. I made my way to Carrollton, Ky., the -residence of my brother, the Rev. J. J. Johnston, and soon forgot -the perils of the past in the joys of the present. - -The days of my short furlough of thirty days passed rapidly; -another of fifteen days was granted, and they, too, I need not say, -passed sweetly and swiftly away; for in the first weeks of my home -life I gave myself up to the delicious reveries of Love's young -dream, and changed that dream only for the honeymoon, by giving my -hand to Miss Annie Nash, in whose keeping my heart had long been. - -Furloughs, however, like all things else on earth, have an end; -and leaving friends--a nearer friend now than all the rest--my -wife--behind, I hurried to the front, and joined my regiment -between Knoxville and Chattanooga, a few days before the campaign -against Atlanta began. My comrades gave me a hearty welcome; but -there were faces that I missed, and well-known voices that I heard -not--faces that I shall see and voices that I shall hear on earth -no more. I had been spared amid all the dangers and sufferings of -captivity; but they, amid the perils of the field and diseases of -the camp, had gone to their rest. - -On the third of May, one of the loveliest days of Spring, Hazen's -Brigade, of the Third Division, Fourth Army Corps, was encamped -near Cleveland, on the railroad leading from Chattanooga to -Knoxville. Early in the day orders were received for a forward -move; camps were broken up; all surplus baggage sent to the rear; -the troops put in light marching order, one wagon only being -allowed to each regiment, which was to transport officers' baggage -and ten days' forage for the team. Thus prepared, at twelve -o'clock, M., the _assembly_ was sounded, which was soon succeeded -by the _forward_, at which time the First Brigade moved on, full -of glee and cheerfulness, as if on the way to some high festival, -instead of the field of danger and of death. In a few moments the -Second Brigade, with its distinguished and gallant leader, Hazen, -at its head, moved on with that elasticity and precision of step -so characteristic of that command, with the watchword, "On to -Atlanta!" upon every lip. O, it was a grand sight to behold an army -of veterans, whose courage had been proved on many a well-fought -field, under the eye of brave and vigilant leaders, with banners -frayed and torn in many a deadly struggle, under the cheering -notes of the sounding bugle and the inspiration of past success, -marching on to dangers greater and fields more glorious than those -already won. The day was warm and the march long, and when night -overtook us we camped in an open field, wrapped up in our blankets, -our only tent the arch of blue, with its glorious stars above. - -On the morning of the fourth the boys sprang up at dawn, took their -coffee, and were soon ready for the day's march. At six, A. M., -the signal to advance rang from the bugles, and the whole command -moved forward, but with more caution than on the previous day; our -advance-guard had come up with the enemy's pickets, and slight -skirmishing continued nearly the whole day. We camped that night -near the Catoosa Springs, on the dirt road leading to Tunnel Hill, -advanced our pickets, and established our lines within a short -distance of the outposts of the enemy. - -We remained in camp till the morning of the seventh, during which -time some picket firing was kept up, with but little damage to -either side. At five o'clock, on the morning of the seventh, our -baggage having been further reduced and the surplus sent back to -Ringgold, our line moved forward, the Sixth Kentucky in the rear, -having been on picket the night before. Our advance-guard soon came -in contact with the enemy's skirmishers, who were driven back as -far as Tunnel Hill, when, being reënforced, they formed in line of -battle and awaited our approach. We did not permit them to wait -long; and as our advance moved upon them they opened a heavy fire -with artillery and musketry; but finding that they were being -flanked on the right by a part of the First Division of the Fourth -Army Corps--the Ninth Indiana, I think--they retired in great -confusion from their line of works on the top of the hill. - -We gained the hill about one o'clock, P. M.; and during the -evening a brisk cannonading was kept up along our lines against -some of the enemy, who could be seen across the valley at the base -of Rocky Face Mountain, and in the road leading to Buzzard Roost. -Our pickets were stationed at the foot of Tunnel Hill, while the -Fourth Army Corps camped on its summit--and the rest was all the -sweeter for the toils and dangers of the day. - -On the next morning all was calm and beautiful, and many of us -desired that this quiet, which so well became the Sabbath, would -continue through the day; but war is stern work; we had only to -look before us in order to see the enemy and their intrenchments -upon the summit of Rocky Face. About nine, A. M., our line was -formed for a forward movement, which commenced half an hour -later--the Sixth Kentucky in the front line. In a few moments the -Second Brigade had descended Tunnel Hill, and were rapidly crossing -the valley toward Rocky Face. Our advance was resisted, and soon -the quiet of the Sabbath was broken by the sounds of battle. We -steadily drove the foe across the valley, and camped for the night -at the foot of Rocky Face, the enemy occupying the hights above in -rifle range of our camp. The evening passed with but little firing, -and when night came our boys gathered around the camp-fires as -cheerful as if our march were but a pleasure excursion, till the -tattoo reminded them of rest needed after the toils of the day, and -necessary to prepare them for the conflict of the morrow. Pickets -were posted on the mountain-side to watch the movements of the -enemy while the army slept; but as soon as day began to dawn the -sleepers were aroused by quick, sharp reports from the rifles of -the rebel sharp-shooters; their fire called forth corresponding -activity on the part of our men, who fired on them with great -effect. At eight o'clock, A. M., the Sixth Kentucky advanced as -skirmishers; and passing up the mountain-side drove the enemy into -the first line of their works upon its summit; which line it would -have been madness to attempt to storm, as it was a strong position -by nature, and so well fortified in addition that a single line -would be amply sufficient to keep an army in check. Our brigade, -however, held its advanced position till late in the evening, when -it retired slowly and in good order to the foot of the mountain, -where we encamped for the night. We lost several men during the -day, and next morning were so annoyed by sharp-shooters that we -were compelled to move our camp to a more secure place across the -valley, near the base of Tunnel Hill. Here we remained till the -afternoon of the eleventh, during which time constant cannonading -and active skirmishing was going on, and matters now began to -assume an exciting appearance; a heavy rain fell that day, which -made the movement of troops very disagreeable. - -In the mean time Sherman, with his flanking columns, was hard at -work; and on the night of the twelfth the enemy were compelled -to evacuate Rocky Face and Dalton, and pursuit of the retreating -foe began the next morning. We marched six miles south of Dalton, -and went into camp for the night. Early next morning our line of -battle was formed, and the enemy were reported to be awaiting us -about three miles from where we stood. Our column moved forward -at nine, A. M., and at eleven our advance-guard came up with the -rebel skirmishers, who fell back slowly till half-past one, when a -general engagement ensued, which lasted till night, and resulted -in driving the enemy into his main line of works in front of -Resaca. As usual, the Sixth Kentucky held the front rank in the -line of battle. During the day our brigade captured a number of -prisoners, among them a rebel colonel, and the night was spent in -throwing up breast-works, within close rifle range of the enemy's -intrenchments. On the morning of the 15th skirmishing commenced, -and continued during the day; at times there was considerable -artillery firing, with but little effect, however, on either side. -In the afternoon a charge was made on the rebel works by the -Second Brigade, which was repelled, with heavy loss on our part. -This charge was considered a blunder; it was led by the Colonel -of the Fifth Kentucky--a brave man and a good officer. Both men -and officers acted nobly in the affair; yet it was a bloody and -fruitless attempt to break the rebel lines without assailing their -flanks, and should never have been made by a single brigade. It -was understood that Gen. Hazen did not favor the movement. Who -was in fault may never be known; yet nearly all felt "that some -one had blundered;" but wherever the fault may be, it was not -with the Second Brigade. That night was one of great and unusual -excitement; the enemy evidently was in motion, and thought to be -meditating mischief. At one time the impression was that he was -advancing upon our camp, and our men stood to their arms--and, to -tell the truth, some were fearful; they could fight in daylight, -but were somewhat nervous with regard to a night attack. Morning -came, and the commotion of the previous night proved to be caused -by the enemy abandoning his strong position, and seeking, if not -a stronger, at least a safer one further south. We learned then, -but, alas! too late, that all the advantages which we gained might -have been secured without the loss of the brave men of the Second -Brigade; for if compelled to abandon his position after repulsing -our attack, he would most certainly have done so had no assault -been made. We pursued as soon as we learned of the enemy's flight; -but were unable to come up with him, and went into camp six miles -south of Resaca. - -The town of Resaca is situated on the south side of the Oostanaula -River, is surrounded by strong natural defenses, and had been -rendered almost impregnable, perhaps entirely so to any army but -ours, by admirably-constructed fortifications; but Sherman is -such a great fellow for the flanks, or, as the Georgians say, "for -coming at them endways," that the army of Johnston was compelled -to retire from position to position, till it was only necessary -for us to advance in order to insure his retreat. He may be a good -general, and unquestionably held some strong positions; but it is -now quite evident that a better general was in his rear. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -ON TO ATLANTA! - - Confidence in our leader--Tunnel Hill and Rocky Face - Mountain--Pursuit of the enemy--Johnston's strategy--In - command of my regiment--Battle near Dallas--Night on the - battle-field--Loss of an officer--Reflections. - - -With some slight reverses our march up to this time was that of -a victorious army, and the temporary checks we had met with only -served to make us more vigilant for the future. We had the utmost -confidence in our leader, which was justified by almost daily -successes; while that of the rebels in their chief was daily -becoming weaker, in consequence of his failing to make good his -promises by a successful stand. And, indeed, when we gained the -works which he time after time abandoned, we could not but wonder -at the policy which led to the abandonment of works and positions -which we felt we could have held against any army that could have -been brought against us. In our southward march we were able to -understand how it was that the first Napoleon was able to lead -an army across the hitherto impassable Alps--it was by infusing -into every soldier his own inflexible purpose; the same power is -possessed in a high degree by Gen. Sherman; his soldiers think -themselves able to execute whatever he commands. - -We began our march with the cry, "On to Atlanta! Tunnel Hill and -Rocky Face Mountain, deemed impregnable, are already ours! Resaca -has fallen into our hands; and there are no difficulties to be -surmounted greater than those we have already overcome. Cheer up, -cheer up, boys! Atlanta shall soon be ours!" - -With such feelings as those just expressed, on the morning of the -17th our army moved on in its conquering march, the men all in -fine spirits, and confident of victory whenever the enemy would -hazard a general engagement. We passed through Calhoun at eleven, -A. M.--skirmishing began about three in the afternoon. We drove -the enemy steadily as far as Adairsville, where they had a strong -line of works. We began to throw up intrenchments to protect us -during the night; the rebels began to shell us furiously while -thus engaged; but failing to get the proper range, they did us no -harm--our boys laughing gleefully and working zealously as the -missiles went shrieking over their heads. We expected hot work in -the morning; but when we awoke all was quiet, and we soon made -the discovery that the enemy had departed during the night. Our -lines were advanced; we entered Adairsville without opposition, -and halted there for a few hours--moved forward again five or six -miles, and went into camp for the night. - -At seven o'clock the next morning we resumed our march, and reached -Kingston at ten, A. M., where we rested an hour or two--the enemy -still retreating, hotly pursued, however, by our advance, which had -constant skirmishing with their rear-guard. - -About one o'clock the enemy made a stand, and our artillery opened -upon their line of battle, which was drawn up, apparently in force, -in an open field. Our own lines being completed, we advanced upon -them and took some prisoners, and drove them till night brought -an end to our operations, having during the day driven them past -Cassville, and compelled them to take refuge within a strong line -of works, where it was reported that they intended to make a final -stand. This intelligence was received with great satisfaction by -our boys, who began to think that the enemy's strategy was to tire -them to death by running after them, and many of them preferred -fighting to marching. The Sixth Kentucky was thrown forward into -the advance line, where they erected temporary works and spent -the night on picket, expecting a battle with the coming light. -Day came, but no battle; for, somewhat to our astonishment, after -the reports we had heard, Mr. Johnston, as our boys termed the -rebel chief, had again executed a night movement, for which he had -already become famous--and will you believe it, reader, many were -greatly disappointed because there was to be no fighting that day? -We remained here two days to rest and replenish our haversacks, -as rations had been brought up for a further advance. Our boys -enjoyed the rest greatly--especially as they had begun to regard -the campaign as a race rather than a conflict, and many were the -jests at the expense of our fleet-footed foe, and a general, whose -drummer-boys could not say, like the Scotch bagpiper, when asked to -play a retreat, "that he had never learned to play _that_." - -Up to this time my company had been acting as Provost Guard at -head-quarters, in accordance with the expressed wish of Gen. -Hazen; but in consequence of some changes in the regiment, I was -sent back to it, with my company, and placed in command; and as -this was by order of my brigade commander, Gen. Hazen, under whose -eye I had been so long, I could not but esteem it as a great honor; -and if I had any ambition to gain the praise of the good and the -brave, it most certainly was gratified by an official paper, from -which the following is an extract: "Capt. Johnston has always -performed duty efficiently; has been in all the battles of the army -till captured at Chickamauga; he was shot through and left for dead -at Shiloh. He was, with one exception, the most active officer -in preparing for, and effecting the escape of a large number of -officers recently from Libby Prison." These, and other words still -more complimentary, were signed, "W. B. Hazen, Brig.-Gen.;" and it -would be affectation in me to say that I was not gratified by the -approval of this noble gentleman and good soldier. - -Previous to the commencement of the campaign Gen. Hazen had -consolidated his brigade into four battalions, each composed of -two regiments--each of which, when on the march and in battle, -was commanded by the senior officer of the two regiments. The -Twenty-Third Kentucky and the Sixth Kentucky were together, and -commanded by Lieut.-Col. Foy. Being now in command of the regiment, -I shall not attempt the task of giving a full history of the -operations of the army during the remainder of the campaign; but -content myself with those matters which came under my own eye, in -which my own command was concerned. - -In obedience to orders, on the 23d of May we broke up our camp -before Cassville, and resumed our march southward. The day was very -warm, the marching heavy, and we were glad to go into camp, about -nine o'clock at night, in a most beautiful country, about five -miles south of the Etowah River. Next morning we moved forward and -reached the Allatoona Mountains at midday. We rested long enough -to make our coffee, then ascended the mountains and camped on the -top. Heavy rains fell during the night; the Sixth Kentucky went on -picket, and was not relieved till eleven o'clock the next day, at -which time the _assembly_ was sounded, and the column, on account -of the bad roads, moved slowly forward till about six o'clock in -the evening, when the sound of cannon was heard, denoting that -there was fighting ahead. Our march during the day, though slow, -was a pleasant one; the rain of the previous night had cooled -the air, the scenery was varied and romantic, and little met our -eyes that was suggestive of the terrible ravages of war. But our -thoughts were soon diverted from the quiet beauty of the woods and -the majestic grandeur of the mountains, by the dread sounds of -distant battle. The sounds came from Hooker's Corps, which was in -the advance of the flanking movement; and from the cool and tried -valor of its veterans, we were prepared to hear of a desperate -struggle and fearful carnage. It was even so; this army corps, -on its way to Dallas, was met by the enemy in force, and a heavy -battle ensued. Hooker suffered greatly; but the steady valor of -his men enabled him to hold the field. Our column had orders to -push forward; and, through rain and mud, on we pressed till near -midnight, meeting on our march sad evidences of the fight--the -ambulance and wagon trains, filled with wounded, on their way to -the rear, from which, ever and anon, came cries of pain and agony -that could not be repressed. We were wet and weary when we received -orders to halt, and we lay down in our wet clothing and slept the -remainder of the night upon the battle-field, amid the dead and the -dying who had fallen in the evening's conflict; yet the thought, -I doubt not, passed through many a mind ere slumber came--may I -not to-morrow night be like many of those around me who sleep -that sleep which knows no waking? Soldiers are generally gay and -thoughtless, even in the midst of danger; but they have also their -serious moments, and the lightest heart feels sad in the solemn -night on the battle-field thickly bestrewn with the dead. - -At four in the morning we rose, expecting a hard day's work; for -picket firing was kept up all night, and increased after daylight. -At seven o'clock we were in line of battle--the Sixth Kentucky in -front. Companies D and F were thrown forward as skirmishers, while -the rest of the regiment was building breast-works, and while thus -engaged suffered considerably from the enemy's sharp-shooters. -Selecting a number of the best shots in my command, I assigned -them the task of silencing them, which was soon accomplished. -At one o'clock the whole regiment advanced, driving the enemy's -skirmishers within their works, and established our own lines in -close rifle range of them, and during the night, by dint of hard -labor, we intrenched ourselves securely. During the evening, -while on the skirmish line, and occupying the extreme left, we -were threatened by the rebel cavalry, against which I sent a few -men under the charge of a lieutenant, and dispatched a messenger -to Gen. Hazen, notifying him of my condition. On his way back the -messenger was wounded by a rebel sharp-shooter, and was taken to -the rear; but the message he was bearing was brought to me--it was, -that Gen. Schofield's command would soon join me on the left, and -that I must hold my advanced position till he made his appearance, -which I did till near sundown, when the Twenty-Third Corps came up, -and my weary flankers were relieved. - -Early on the morning of the 27th the regiment was relieved from -duty on the front line, and moved back a short distance to rest, -which was greatly needed; and while preparing some coffee, a man -belonging to the battery was wounded. Lieut. William Furr, myself, -and two others, were placing the wounded man in a litter, and -while thus engaged Lieut. Furr received a wound which in a few -days proved fatal. He was a brave man and good officer, and his -loss was much regretted. Such incidents are the frequent and sad -episodes in a soldier's life, and make an impression deep and -lasting--the very dangers and toils through which they pass bind -them together with a power only understood by those who have been -partakers of this fellowship of suffering. The soldier often seems -gay and light-hearted in immediate prospect of a battle; and I have -seen a regiment express as much joy when the loud guns announced -the approach of a fierce conflict, as school-boys would at an -unexpected vacation; and yet those same men will at other times -be as tender and tearful as women. When they look down the lines, -thinned in many a battle; or, by the nightly camp-fire, talk of -comrades gone; or wrap in his overcoat or blanket the remains of -one who has borne with them the fatigues of the march or the perils -of the fight, and make his grave in a land of strangers, the bosom -heaves, the tears fall, and every look and tone proclaims that -under the soldier's garb a true human heart is beating still. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -MARCHING AND FIGHTING. - - Reminder to the reader--Sherman, Howard, and Thomas in - council--The attack and repulse--The Sixth Kentucky in front - again--In the trenches--Guarding train--Forward march. - - -I must remind the reader that I did not set out with the intention -of giving a history of the grand campaign in which I took a -humble part--a task of such magnitude and responsibility must be -reserved for the future historian of one of the greatest and most -complicated struggles that the world has witnessed. Indeed, the -thoughtful reader, a thousand miles from the scene of strife, may -have a better conception of a great battle than many of those -engaged in it. The former, by the aid of maps, and the accounts -given by various writers who beheld the different parts of the -great struggle, may get a good general idea of it as a whole; while -he who takes part in it, of necessity, sees only that portion -of the battle in which he is engaged--and that generally is but -a small part. Moreover, he is prone to judge of the result by -the success, or suffering, of the regiment or brigade with which -he is connected; while all are aware that a portion of an army -may meet with great disaster, and yet the general result may be -most glorious; but glorious it certainly does not seem to that -portion of the army which has suffered most severely, although its -suffering may have been the salvation of the rest. For instance, -the celebrated charge made by Marshal Macdonald against the -Austrian center at Wagram; although it turned the day in favor of -the French army, yet it was most disastrous to the charging column, -which is said to have lost in the proportion of ten out of every -eleven men who composed it, not having as many hundreds in its -ranks when the task was achieved as it had thousands when the word -to charge was given. Thus, in some of the battles of this campaign, -a brigade, and even a division, at times suffers terribly, and yet -the battle was not lost, and the enterprise, as a whole, was a -splendid success. - -This view of affairs is absolutely necessary with regard to some -matters in the present chapter which it is necessary to mention, -as I am not attempting a general view of the campaign, but the -part played in it by the brigade to which I was attached, and more -particularly by my own regiment; and while not writing a history, I -am preparing materials to be used by others in framing a full and -perfect account of this truly-wonderful march. I write chiefly from -what came under my own notice--those who were in other scenes than -those in which I took part will do the same; and the truth must be -gathered, not from any one account, taken separately, but from -all the accounts in the aggregate. If, then, I speak of a success, -do not think it was one achieved by the whole army; if I mention a -disaster, let no one think that I regard the whole army as involved -in it; for seldom has an expedition of like proportions met fewer -reverses, or more glorious success. - -About seven o'clock, on the morning of the 27th of May, a group of -officers were assembled in front of the Sixth Kentucky, engaged in -deep and earnest conversation. Although we could not hear their -words, their looks and manners indicated that matters of grave -import were occupying their attention. One of the group, though -his garb indicated no great rank, had the look of one born to -command; his face lighted up with unmistakable tokens of genius -as he spoke, and his words seemed most convincing. Another had a -calm, quiet face, with a look that showed great goodness of heart; -yet he was evidently a good soldier, as his empty sleeve showed -that he had lost an arm in defense of his country's flag. A third -was a plain, unpretending-looking personage; yet the lines of -determination upon his rugged face showed there was, under that -quiet exterior, an invincible will. They were in the order I have -described them--Sherman, one of the greatest military geniuses of -the age; Howard, the man without fear and without reproach; and -Thomas, who stood up so stoutly at Chickamauga, and many other -well-fought fields. These, with other general officers, were -planning the operations of the day; and having decided upon the -course to be pursued, the interview ended, and each one returned to -his respective command. - -I was informed by a member of Gen. Howard's staff that we might -look for hot work, as a general advance would soon be made upon -the rebel works. Our brigade was immediately moved about a mile to -the left, and formed in two lines of battle--the Sixth Kentucky -forming the extreme left of the rear line. At ten o'clock the -advance was sounded. With the belief that we should engage the -enemy at once, my orders were to support the regiment before me in -the front line of battle. Our lines advanced slowly, and we had -not gone far before skirmishing began. But instead of a general -engagement, as was expected, it seemed more like a brigade drill; -for, as we passed over the broken country which was the scene of -operations, every movement was preceded and indicated by Willich's -brigade bugles, which must have intimated to the enemy what we were -about. It was soon whispered that we were searching for the enemy's -right flank. About three o'clock we reached what was thought to be -the desired point; here the column halted till Johnson's Division -moved up and formed in our rear, making four lines of battle. When -we first came up we found a picket-post of the enemy established -at that point, which was fired upon by our advance and driven -back, and no enemy was now in view. The "attention" was sounded, -all were ready in line of battle, and in a moment more the order -"double-quick" rang out. All moved forward; the front line changed -direction to the right, while the second line moved forward, which -soon brought it into the front line of battle--the Sixth Kentucky -being on the extreme left, and in the second line of battle, -with orders to support the front line--which orders had not been -countermanded. I had not been informed that the front line had -been changed; nor could I see, on account of the dense thickets -through which we were moving, that the change had been made; and -the first thing that apprised me of the change was passing over the -skirmish line amid a perfect storm of rebel bullets, and finding -myself and command in the front line of battle. On we pressed till -we came to an open field, on the opposite side of which the rebels -were strongly posted. The right of our brigade was to cross this -field, while part of the Twenty-Third Kentucky, and the right wing -of the Sixth Kentucky was formed diagonally across it, and the -left wing of the Sixth was formed front to rear to meet a flanking -column of the enemy that was moving to our rear. This movement on -the part of the enemy would have been successful had I not at that -moment formed my left wing so as to return the flanking fire he was -already pouring into us. The battle now raged furiously along our -line, and, under a murderous fire, the rebels were pressed back to -their works, our troops following, in some instances, to within -fifteen or twenty paces of the intrenchments; but exposed as they -were in an open field to the deadly volleys of a protected foe, and -a fierce fire upon the flanks--shattered, torn, and bleeding, yet -in spirit unconquered, they fell back to the shelter of the woods. -Taking a position there, the battle was renewed, and an attempt was -made on the part of the enemy to dislodge them, but the failure was -most signal. Some idea of the dreadful carnage may be formed from -the fact, that in a space of time nearly as brief as it has taken -to pen these few lines, our division lost nearly fifteen hundred -men. Our division went into the fight alone, and was not supported -by the division formed in its rear. After reaching the point of -attack the fight was put off two hours; and when it began the enemy -had time to mass three divisions against one of ours. I am of the -opinion that had the attack been made at once the day would have -been ours. - -Great as was our loss, it proved but a barren victory to the enemy. -We were repulsed, it is true, and many of our brave men sealed -their devotion to their country with their blood. The enemy also -lost heavily, and their success was due to their greatly-superior -numbers; and whatever advantage they gained that day, it was not -sufficient to check the advance of our army; for they were soon -again on the retreat, and our army on the march to victory. - -But I must return to my own command. After our repulse I was at -the extreme left with a few men who were still firing, when Lieut. -Clark, Acting Adjutant, came up and told me that the brigade had -been relieved, and was now assembling at the place where the charge -began. I knew nothing of its withdrawal, and replied that he must -certainly be mistaken. He said there was no mistake about it, that -all the brigade colors were at the place he had mentioned--that -we were relieved beyond a doubt. Still uncertain, I asked, "Where -are the troops to relieve us? I don't see them; but if relieved I -will go down to the left, where I have some men placed; and after -relieving them will go back." Lieut. Clark, who is a brave young -officer, went with me, and told them to go back, as our brigade had -gone to the rear; and on our way we passed the relief, which was -lying down, and had not come to our relief at all--a mere handful -of us had remained on the field, and the wonder is that we were not -captured to a man. - -When we reached the brigade we found it formed and ready to march -to the rear, with Gen. Hazen at its head; but O, how changed! In a -few hours it was so cut down as to be not larger than a regiment. -We were moved down to Pumpkin Vine Creek; but were not suffered to -remain there long, being ordered to the front, and to the right of -where the battle had taken place; and though we had been engaged in -skirmish duty nearly two days before the battle, we took our place -in the front, and began building works within rifle range of the -enemy's lines. - -At this point we remained till the 6th of June, during which time -nothing took place of interest, save the usual picket duty, of -which our regiment did its full share. Our position, however, was -very unpleasant on account of the heavy rains which fell, and being -compelled to lay close in our trenches to shelter ourselves from -the rebel sharp-shooters, who were always on the alert. - -On the night of the 5th of June the rebels evacuated their works in -front of us, Gen. Sherman having executed another flank movement -which rendered it necessary for them to retreat. By sunrise the -next morning we advanced again over roads rendered very bad by -the recent rains, and on the next day were detailed, with the -Twenty-Third Kentucky, to Carterville, to guard a train down to the -army. We were absent till the morning of the 10th, having marched -all the previous night in order to get the supplies through as soon -as possible. When we reached camp we found the army ready to march; -but it was delayed till two, P. M. We then moved forward about -three miles, and halted for the night. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -SHERMAN STILL FLANKING. - - Pine Mountain, and death of Gen. Polk--Georgia scenery--Before - Kenesaw--The unreturning brave--Marietta ours--Across the - Chattahoochee. - - -On the morning of the eleventh all was quiet. At an early hour we -advanced one mile, and formed in line of battle in front of the -enemy; and no demonstration having been made against us, we were -withdrawn at night, and went into camp till the 14th, during which -time nothing of interest took place, save the arrival of the cars -at Big Shanty with rations; and it made all feel better to know -that we were not expected to march and fight upon empty stomachs. - -At noon on the 14th our division struck camp and marched to the -left three miles, formed our line of battle, and remained there -till the next day. Some skirmishing took place in front of Pine -Mountain, on which the rebel Gen. Polk was killed on the evening of -the 14th. He was one of the Bishops of the Episcopal Church before -the war, and possessed great influence in the South. In the army he -had attained the rank of Lieutenant-General, and was esteemed an -able officer. In company with some other commanders he had taken a -position on the mountain to observe our movements, when one of our -batteries opened upon them; they withdrew for a time, but curiosity -drew them back; and while engaged in conversation with his -companions, a shell struck him on the left arm, and passed through -his chest; of course he was killed instantly. These particulars -were obtained from a rebel officer who fell into our hands a few -days after. - -On the 17th I ascended the mountain, the enemy having evacuated it, -and visited the spot where he fell. While there I had a fine view -of Lost and Kenesaw Mountains; and when I looked at their steep -sides from which their batteries were belching shot and shell, -it really seemed madness to think of attempting to make them our -own. Others might have looked at them with the eye of a tourist; -but I looked at them with reference to the difficulties which they -presented to our advance. Viewed as mere scenery, they present a -grand and imposing spectacle; but I thought of Tunnel Hill and -Rocky Face, and the struggle they had cost us, and then thought of -the lives that must be sacrificed before those embattled hights -which frowned before me could be ours. Mountains are beautiful, -sublime, and all that; to ascend them with pleasant company and -in delightful weather, and gaze from the summit at the lovely -landscape below, is full of delight; but we soldiers think of the -sheets of flame and the storm of bullets through which we must -press our way before those summits, standing out so boldly in the -sunlight, can be gained. - -On the 17th we advanced over two lines of rebel works which were -evacuated the previous night; but soon were compelled to form in -line of battle, having come up with the enemy's pickets in front of -their strong fortifications--the Sixth Kentucky in the front line -as usual. We advanced slowly till night, driving the skirmishers -into their works, and advancing our own lines within close range -of the enemy's rifle pits, and spent most of the night in throwing -up works to protect ourselves, our position being quite an exposed -one in an open field. Next morning the rain began to fall, and -continued without intermission during the day; this, however, -did not prevent constant skirmishing and cannonading. About two -o'clock the enemy opened a battery which enfiladed our line of -works, rendering our position rather a warm one, notwithstanding -the drenching rain to which we were exposed. We remained here till -sundown, and were relieved only to take a position still further -to the front, where we had to build another line of works during -the night, in an open field, within close range of the rebel -sharp-shooters. I do not remember ever having known as much rain -to fall in a single day as on the preceding one; we had been two -days in the front line without being relieved, and were obliged -to cut green corn and weeds to keep us out of the mud and water -of the trenches, when we lay down for a few moments' rest. Early -next morning our skirmishers were thrown forward, who soon returned -and reported that the enemy had left during the night; a number of -deserters came into our lines during the day, and we also captured -a number of prisoners. - -The enemy were driven that day to their works at the foot of -Kenesaw Mountain, and troops were in motion, and cannonading kept -up all night. In the morning the Sixth Kentucky was relieved from -picket, and formed in the front line, working at the intrenchments -till two o'clock, P. M., having been on picket duty the -twenty-four hours previous; and then, wearied as we were with labor -on the breast-works, were ordered into the front line of battle. -All this, however, was done cheerfully, and the rebels were driven -into their rifle pits, and our line of battle established within -six hundred yards of their works. Here we fortified ourselves -and remained till the second of July, when Kenesaw Mountain was -evacuated. - -During all that time we had fighting, more or less, every day; our -picket lines were within seventy-five yards of the enemy's, and it -was dangerous for a man on either side to show his head above the -works. Our regiment was on picket every other day, as was every -regiment in our brigade--our lines being weakened to enable Gen. -Sherman to feel the enemy's flanks. - -On the 23d of June Companies H and K were on picket, when it -was ordered to make a demonstration in our front; the line was -to advance at five. P. M., supported by the Ninety-Third Ohio -Volunteer Infantry. In obedience to orders the advance was made. -Capt. Owen was in command of the picket; but before they moved I -was ordered to send another officer to his assistance, and sent -Capt. Nierhoff. Our boys had scarcely got from behind their works -when the enemy opened a galling fire upon them; they advanced the -line, however, to the rifle pits, but with the loss of fifteen -men out of the thirty-five that were engaged--among the killed -was Capt. Nierhoff. Company H had four killed and eight wounded; -Company K had two wounded; the Ninety-Third Ohio lost forty-three -in killed and wounded. We held the position which we had gained at -such a sacrifice till dark, when our lines were withdrawn to their -original position. The bravery of the men was put to a severe test -by this movement; but it was, beyond doubt, ill-advised, as every -man knew that we were in full range of the rebels' main line of -works. - -Several fierce contests took place while we were in front of -Kenesaw Mountain--one of the bloodiest of which took place on our -left, the sad and sickening traces of which remained till the enemy -retreated. On the night that the enemy evacuated their stronghold, -our brigade was ordered to relieve some troops on our left, and my -regiment was placed in the front line, so close to the enemy that -each party did picket duty from the main line of their respective -works, which were not more than one hundred yards apart. Across -this narrow space two charges had been made--one by the rebels, the -other by our men, in each case with severe loss to the charging -column; and the intervening space was now, several days after the -battle, thickly strewn with the swollen, disfigured, and putrefying -bodies of the gallant dead upon the very spot where they fell--blue -jackets and gray all intermingled, all silent and peaceful in their -last sleep, presenting the saddest spectacle I had witnessed amid -all the dreadful scenes of the war. The carnage must have been -terrible; but the gray uniforms far outnumbered the blue on that -sad field of the slain. The reason why they were left unburied is -said to have been the refusal of the rebel officer commanding that -part of the line to receive a flag of truce--such a wretch deserves -neither a soldier's grave nor a soldier's tear. - -On the 3d of July the army moved in pursuit of the retreating foe; -and after marching ten miles went into camp near the railroad south -of Marietta. All was quiet for the first time for two weeks. The -evacuation of Kenesaw threw Marietta into our hands, which was -occupied immediately as a depot for supplies, and for the use of -our sick and wounded. This is said to be one of the most beautiful -of Southern cities, the town being well built, and the suburbs -adorned with dwellings eminently suggestive of comfort within, -and they certainly are outwardly beautiful. The Georgia Military -Institute occupies a beautiful and commanding situation south of -the town, and the inhabitants are a much superior class of people -to any we had as yet met with in our march through the State. - -The scenery in the vicinity possesses the great charm of -variety--lovely valleys and mountains sublime--Kenesaw, Altoona, -and Lost Mountains being all in full view. Before the war this was -quite a manufacturing point. Churches and school-houses are more -abundant than in most portions of the South through which I have -passed, and I am convinced there are also not a few Union men. - -On the morning of the 4th of July our brigade moved a mile to the -left, the enemy being near at hand. Line of battle was formed, with -the Sixth in the front line; fighting all day, the foe before us -in force and strongly fortified. We held our position till next -morning, when it was ascertained that Sherman had again succeeded -in his favorite flank movement, and the enemy was again forced to -leave his strong-holds and fall back, this time over Chattahoochee -River, into the first lines of his strong works for the defense -of Atlanta--only eight miles distant. The pursuit then began--my -regiment in the advance. During the day we came up with their -rear-guard, had some fighting, and captured some prisoners, and -reached the river in time to prevent the rebels from destroying -the bridge over which they crossed near Vining's Station. After -a little fighting, with the river between us, we were ordered to -fall back and pitch our camp. We remained there till the 10th, -our pickets on the north bank and the rebel pickets on the south. -Here we stopped five days; our batteries were located at the best -points, and the most furious cannonade that I had yet heard was -kept up both day and night. The sharp-shooters, too, were busy; nor -did the rebels permit us to do all the shooting with the big guns; -but planting their batteries, they fired with great precision--at -one time obtaining such a good range on the camp of the Sixth -Kentucky as to wound several of my men. At some points on the river -some of our boys and the "rebs" would get up an armistice, and gray -jackets and blue jackets would meet and mingle in the greatest -harmony, and in an hour or two would be pouring a deadly fire into -each other's ranks. - -Our next move was to the left, and up the river, to effect a -crossing. We marched seven miles, and went into camp. The next day -we were ordered to cross; but when we reached the river we found -the bridge was not completed, which delayed us several hours. We -got over at length, marched about a mile and a half, and went into -camp. Next morning we changed our position, moving forward, and to -the right, upon an elevated point, upon which we soon erected a -strong line of works, behind which we lay till the 17th, when the -Third Division of the Fourth Army Corps was ordered to move down -the south side of the Chattahoochee as far as Vining's Station, -to dislodge the enemy, who was then in front of the Fourteenth -Corps, and hold the crossing till the pontoons were laid and the -army across. This we accomplished without the loss of a man, and -succeeded also in capturing some prisoners; and having finished our -work, returned the same night to our camp. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -BEFORE ATLANTA. - - Intrenching all night--Gallant exploit of the First and Third - Brigades--Atlanta in view--In the trenches before the city--The - Sixth Kentucky ordered to Tennessee--Turning over my command--A - parting word. - - -Early on the morning of the 18th marching orders were received, -and at eight o'clock, A. M., our brigade moved forward over a -rough road, our advance constantly engaged with the pickets of -the enemy, who retired before them. On reaching the Cross Roads -we effected a junction with Hooker's Corps, and formed in line of -battle, the rebels being in force in our front. We went to work -and threw up intrenchments; but the position assigned to the Sixth -Kentucky did not suit the commanding officer, and we were obliged -to advance and erect another line of works, which occupied us most -of the night. This is a kind of work under which soldiers often -become restive; and, indeed, it is far from agreeable, after a hard -day's marching and fighting, to find, after some hours of toil in -throwing up works, that the line has been improperly located, that -a new one must be chosen, and the balance of the night spent in -work that might have been avoided by a little care in the selection -of the position. When the second line also fails to please, as -is sometimes the case, the remarks of the soldiers are not very -complimentary to the skill and military sagacity of the officer -whose blunder has cost them so much labor and loss of necessary -sleep; and the wish is often expressed that Gen. ---- had the -selection of the position, as his eye never fails to see the proper -place at the first glance. - -On the morning of the 19th our brigade moved to Peach Tree -Creek, in support of the First and Third Brigades, while they -attempted to cross the stream. This they did handsomely in the -face of a heavy fire, forcing the enemy to abandon a strong -line of works--possessing them so hastily as to capture a -lieutenant-colonel, several line officers, and nearly an entire -regiment in the trenches. This, in high military circles, is -regarded as one of the most brilliant achievements of the campaign, -and reflects the highest credit on the noble men by whom it was -accomplished. - -While the First and Third Brigades were engaged in converting the -rebel works just gained by their valor into Federal defenses, our -brigade, under Gen. Hazen, was employed in constructing two bridges -for the artillery and wagons to cross upon. After dark we passed -over and relieved the troops in the front line, after a hard and -exciting day's work, which was attended, however, with but little -loss. On the next day our division was relieved from this portion -of the line by Newton's Division, of the Fourth Army Corps, and -moved some ten miles to the left, on the north side of Peach Tree -Creek, and, for the first time in a long while, enjoyed the luxury -of a quiet night's rest--there being troops in our front, which -relieved us of any fears of a night attack. - -On the 21st we advanced to Peach Tree Creek, built a bridge and -crossed, soon after which we came up with the enemy strongly -intrenched. Our column halted, formed line of battle, and began -throwing up defenses in front. This, however, was done under a -sharp fire, and before our works were completed several men of -my now greatly-reduced regiment fell. We occupied this position -till the next day, when we found the enemy had decamped, Sherman -having rendered such a movement on their part a necessity. Gen. -Wood ordered us to advance at once, adding that we must throw out -a strong line of skirmishers, move on, and stop for nothing till -we had reached Atlanta; and had we been able to carry his order -out, we should have been ere nightfall possessors of the Gate -City. There was one difficulty in the way, however--the enemy was -unwilling that we should do so, and had only left one line of -works to occupy another stronger one, behind which they thought -themselves more secure from the encroaching Yankees. I was ordered -to move the Sixth forward as skirmishers, and did so till we came -upon the enemy strongly intrenched, and established our picket line -in close rifle range of the enemy. This position I held till our -battle line advanced, during which time the rebels gave my line a -most terrific shelling; but this was no novelty to the brave boys -of the Sixth; they swerved not for a moment, and before the sun -went down the line of our brigade was strongly intrenched, our -batteries in position, and hurling their deadly volleys upon the -lines of the foe, and upon Atlanta itself. - -Now, for the first time since the campaign began, the Sixth -Kentucky was permitted to rest for a season. Our boys dug pits in -the ground to protect themselves from the shells and minie balls -which the enemy distributed profusely, waiting anxiously for the -fall of the city which had been the object of so much labor and -suffering, but which seemed to be in our grasp at last. Here we -remained, with but little change in our position, and that an -advanced one, for over three weeks; and yet, as the fox-hunters -say, we were not in at the death; for, on the 21st of August, I -received orders to report the regiment to Gen. Rosseau, at Decherd, -Tenn., having been transferred from the Fourth Army Corps to the -Twentieth. - -During the time we were in front of Atlanta, we were almost -constantly under the enemy's fire, both musketry and artillery. -Our lines were in an open field, while those of the rebels were in -the timber on the opposite side, the pickets from each side being -advanced into the open field, and at close range, especially after -we had driven them from their first line of forts and occupied them -ourselves. - -Though enjoying comparative rest when contrasted with our toils -on the march, we were by no means idle; we were engaged in picket -duty, in building and strengthening our defenses, skirmishing, and -making demonstrations against the enemy; and toward the close of -our stay, when our works were completed, we drilled twice a day in -an open field, within range of rebel sharp-shooters. - -In obedience to General Orders of the War Department, I made -application for Companies A, B, and C to return to the rear -preparatory to being mustered out of service, as the regiment will -have served three years on the 1st of October--and that, too, -in the front, from Shiloh to the Gate City of the sunny South; -but, for want of being mustered at the proper time, they will -have to serve till the 23d of December, 1864. I requested that -the remaining seven companies should be sent to Eminence, Ky., -where they were partly organized, to watch after the notorious -rebel Jessee, and his gang. This, however, was not granted; but, -as already stated, we were transferred to the Twentieth Army -Corps, to report at Decherd, Tenn. On the 23d of August we reached -Chattanooga, and I turned over the command to an officer who -certainly did not owe his place in the regiment to his faithful -discharge of duty; for he knew little, practically, of the dangers -through which it had passed, not being with it in the campaign -in which it had played so distinguished a part. The regiment was -drawn up in line, and I returned thanks to officers and men for the -faithful discharge of their duty in the campaign against Atlanta, -and referred to the imperishable record they had made. Cheers arose -all along the line; scarcely a man in the regiment was silent; and -never shall I forget this warm expression of their confidence and -regard. To my own company, in particular, I feel deeply indebted; -to them I owe the position I occupied through the most remarkable -campaign of the war; and with them I shall remain, if life be -spared, till we reach home again. The day for our return is not -far distant; but O, how few of those who started with me, nearly -three years ago, will return! Many parents will weep over sons, -and wives over husbands, who will return no more; but they died -in a holy cause, and have left a name which those who mourn their -loss may cherish with pride. During the campaign against Atlanta -alone the regiment lost, in killed and wounded, fifty-eight out of -one hundred and forty who were engaged; and when mustered out the -ranks will be thin, the numbers few. Not many regiments have seen -harder service than ours--none have borne themselves more nobly; -and I cherish the thought that my little book may be useful to the -historian of the war in Georgia and Tennessee, as the record of the -doings of the noble Sixth Kentucky. - -I regret my inability to give a full list of the losses sustained -by the regiment; a few names, however, which now occur I will -mention. Lieut.-Col. Cotton was killed at the battle of Stone -River, on the 30th of December, 1862. Adjutant Middleton died in -the hospital--an accomplished Christian gentleman, and soldier -brave and true. Orderly-Sergeant W. H. Harper was badly wounded at -Chickamauga; and among the killed of my company were Sergeant G. W. -Lindsey, James Downs, and John H. Hall. On the 24th of December my -time, and that of my company, will expire; and I trust, ere that -day dawns, that bright-winged, dove-eyed peace, with the olive -twig just plucked off, will return. But if this may not be, I -shall not feel that I am discharged from further duty. The feeble -efforts I have made in my country's cause have been made freely; I -regret not the wounds I have received, or the cruel imprisonment I -have endured; and if peace, an honorable peace, be not obtained, -I am willing to pass through yet greater perils that my country -may triumph. That triumph will come at last, I can not doubt; the -justice of our cause and the spirit of our soldiers assures me of -this. We have met with defeat and disaster on some occasions, it -is true; yet our cause has ever been advancing. We have had many -cases of individual suffering, and yet those who have suffered -most have never despaired. Amid the privation and starvation of -Libby Prison I never found any who regretted the part they had -taken in this struggle, or who for a moment doubted the glorious -result. As Paul and Silas sang praises at midnight in the recesses -of the Philippian jail, so did they nobly bear all they suffered, -sustained by the firm conviction that the cause in which they had -periled all was a just one, and would prevail at last. - -And now, reader, we must part; and if I have awakened in your -breast a stronger sympathy for the soldier in the field, and the -captive in prison, we have not met in vain. Should peace speedily -come, you may conclude that I have turned the sword into the -plowshare; but if the war must go on, you may safely conclude that -I am a soldier for the Union still. - - - - - TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been - corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within - the text and consultation of external sources. - - Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, - and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained. For example, - worn out, worn-out; inclosed; reënforced; intrenched; hights; tyros. - - Pg 7, 'Across the Chattahooche' replaced by 'Across the Chattahoochee'. - Pg 88, 'all the route' replaced by 'all along the route'. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Four Months in Libby and the Campaign -Against Atlanta, by I. N. 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