Wednesday 5th:
Started at daylight and marched all day and night. I was so tired
that I could scarcely walk.
Thursday 6th:
At 2 AM was taken with a chill near the road. ALF. Lowe stopped
with me. Turned out at daylight with a severe fever and headache,
blankets wet for it had been raining on us all night. Marched on
trying to come up with our command but could not. At 12 M heavy firing
commenced ahead of us and we found ourselves cut off so we struck through
the woods and marched all day in hopes of flanking the Yankees and getting
to our command. Crossed the Appomattox River at 5 PM on trees that
some of our men had felled across the river for there was no bridge.
Stopped at an old tobacco house all night.
Friday 7th:
Started at daylight and marched all day. Gave a pair of shoes
to a negro for as much corn bread as we could eat for we were starving.
Started again and marched till night when we stopped at a house and got
a little corn bread and turned in at a barn. Heavy firing ahead of
us all day, ceased at dark. Slept on some straw and rested well.
Saturday 8th:
Started at sunrise and traveled about 3 hours when we fell in to the
hands of some Yankees who treated us very kindly. Traveled with them
until sunset when they turned us over to the P.M. Remained in lines
with many more prisoners until about 8 PM when we started with a cavalry
guard and marched and reached Farmville. Arrived there at Midnight,
camped there for the night, tired, sore, and hungry for I had eat but one
scant meal during the day.
Sunday 9th:
Started at daylight and marched until nearly sunset when we arrived
at Burkeville where we turned over to the P.M. at that place. Many
of our men are here prisoners but I knew no one. No rations.
Turned in but my back ached so badly that I could not sleep. Commenced
raining about 11 PM, turned out and stood up with my blanket over me till
morning. I thought of my dear old home with all its comforts and
my mother, how it would make her fond heart bleed to see me standing in
the rain a prisoner, hungry, tired, and worn out. But its no use
fretting about such things now, too late.
Monday 10th:
Raining all the morning. Drew some beef and some salt.
Cooked it. Great cheering in the Yankees camps, official dispatch
from Grant states that Lee has surrendered his whole army. I fear
it is to true. Three train of cars came up today from Petersburg.
Rain all day and night. Slept in a fly with some prisoners that I
became chums with.
Tuesday 11th:
Raining all day. Drew a little beef and some salt. No bread,
have had none since I’ve been captured. Our men are exchanging tobacco
and Confederate money with the Yankees, ½ bread for $10.00 and $20.00
bills. I was fortunate enough to get 6 small crackers for $2.50 all
the money I had. The Yankees won’t give us any bread, can’t imagine
the reason, their men have plenty. 500 more of our prisoners came
in at dark.
Wednesday 12th:
Pleasant morning, nothing to eat. Drew 2 days rations of bread
and beef in the afternoon. Rain all night.
Thursday 13th:
Hot and unpleasant. At 10 ½ AM all hands fell in and were
counted off, for what purpose I can’t tell. All the troops from each
state fell in separately and their names taken down. I and Alf. Lowe
put ours with the Fla. troops. All to paroled to Va. and some
N.C. troops were paroled and started for home. I am in hopes to get
off tomorrow. Drew some bread and pork. Rain all night.
Friday 14th:
Pleasant day. Was paroled at 2 PM, started and marched 8 miles,
stopped at water station for cars, built a fire and turned in at an old
field.
Saturday 15th:
Commenced raining at 2 AM and rained all day. Got on a platform
car at 9 AM and rode to City Point, arrived there at 4 ½ PM wet
and hungry. Drew some bread, pork, and coffee. Slept in a shed
and rested well.
Sunday 16th:
Drew rations, went to P.M. and got paroles stamped, then to the transportation
office and after waiting in line 3 hours got transportation and started
for Fortress Monroe in a steamer. Arrived there at 4:30 PM, remained
there about 15 minutes. Most of the paroled men went on shore.
I remained on board at the str. is going to Washington. Arrived
at Point Lookout in the night.
Monday 17th:
Saw two of my old shipmates. They are not paroled yet, the went
on shore at Point Lookout this morning. Quite cold. Left Point
Lookout at 9 ½ AM and arrived at Washington, D.C. at 4 ½
PM/ Went to P.M. office but it was closed, then went to the Soldier’s
rest and got supper. This place is crowded with negro and white soldiers
all mixed together. There are also many Southern soldiers, the most
of them deserters who have taken the oath and waiting for transportation.
There was much noise that I have slept but little during the night.
Tuesday 18th:
At 3 AM we were aroused and told to get up to make room for 12000 negro
soldiers who were expected. Remained out doors in the cold till daylight.
The niggers arrived at daylight, a very impudent sight. After they
had got through their breakfast we got ours, a slice of bread, a thin slice
of boiled pork, and a cup of coffee. I forgot to mention that President
Lincoln and some of his cabinet were assassinated on Saturday night.
On our arrival we saw all the houses decorated with crope and flafs half-masted,
guns fired every half hour, etc. I am informed that we cannot go
out of this place but will have to stay here (until) they bring us our
transportation. No one got it today. Lincoln’s funeral will
come off tomorrow and then we may get it. Everything is at
standstill at present. Nearly every man here has taken the Oath of
Allegiance and I am afraid that the paroled men will have some trouble
to get away from here. I don’t want to take the Oath but if they
send me to prison I will take it for I am satisfied that the South is gone
up the spout and it is no use for me to linger for a long time in prison
for no purpose.
Wed 19th:
The President’s funeral took place today and all business suspended
for the day. Minute guns fired all day. I am in hopes of going
away tomorrow for I am sick and tired of this place. Can get no sleep
for there are a lot of rowdies and penitentiary birds among us that go
prowling around at night stealing whatever they can and making such a noise
that it is impossible to sleep. I find a great difference between
the officers and soldiers here and those that are in front. The latter
treated us kindly and never insult us but those that have been in cities
and all the war treat us like dogs, can’t speak civil to us, way we ought
to be hanged, etc. The term Rebel son of b-tch is as gentle name
as they can call us. Pleasant day.
Thursday 20th:
Pleasant morning. The house that we are in is full of lice,
counted five on me this morning, had none yesterday. If I have to
remain here long will be eat up by them for I have but little suit of clothing
that I have on. There are but 3 or 4 of us paroled prisoners in the
house I am in, the balance are deserters who have taken the oath.
Many of them went off yesterday. Raining all the afternoon and night.
God only knows when we will get away from this place for I hear so many
reports. Some say they will not allow paroled men to leave but keep
them prisoner of war. But I will find out tomorrow.
Friday 21st:
Damp and chilly day. At 9 AM went to P.M. office, were put in
the yards in rear of the office under guard. Remained there until
near sunset when they took our names and where we wanted to go and then
sent under guard to the soldier’s Rest and put into a building with 1200
negro soldiers and a lot of white deserters and bounty jumpers and a few
of our paroled men. Was very unwell all day and night, severe
cold and light fever. Slept but little during the night. |
