Michael Hileman Memoirs, part 10

	transcribed by Harold D. Hileman, hhileman@ix.netcom.com
	November, 1999

	Copyright (c)1999 by Harold D. Hileman

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8 - ANDERSONVILLE

Soon we were to have the awful experiences of the worst of the prisons. We were 
ordered to get ready to go to Andersonville. At this time Andersonville wasn't 
the awful place it was after a few months later. We considered it good news, 
having heard of it being a large roomy lot, midst the pine forest, where frost 
and snow were almost unknown. There were about fifteen hundred of us in the 
Danville prison. At Danville we were joined by three carloads, and at Bell 
Island, one carload. After we had passed Charlottesville the weather became 
uncomfortably warm, and we were eight days on the journey. When we had gone 
about a half the distance the filth that accumulated made it almost unbearable 
for us, so I succeeded in getting permission from the officer in charge to allow 
us to clean the car out. 

We were all happy over the change to the sunny climate of the south; the cold 
weather and confinement at Danville had become very distressing to us, though we 
were under some anxiety as to whether we were to have as good treatment as we 
had in Danville. Our next stop was at Macon, where we were stopped overnight and 
waited further orders, and also to avoid getting to Andersonville in the 
nighttime. Andersonville was about one hundred miles further on. 

Arriving at Andersonville, we found to our surprise, that it was a very small 
place - two log buildings, the railway station and a log cabin, the dimensions 
of which were probably about sixteen by twenty feet. The 5th Georgia was the 
regiment to take care of us until we were safely within the stockade. The 
headquarters of Captain Wirz were beside the gate. Here we were all lined up and 
counted and compared with the descriptive list which had been sent to him in 
advance of us. Captain Wirz's house was a very humble log structure. He was the 
most conspicuous man in the crowd. A tall, thin, homely, and ornery looking man 
- the homeliest man since God made little green apples. We were marched in two's 
from the car to the prison gate. Here we were counted off into divisions of 
ninety, under the charge of a Sergeant.

When the time arrived for our Company ninety two, to enter, Captain Wirz called 
for a Sergeant. At this call my antagonist at Danville stepped forward to take 
command. "Who are you?" he gruffly commanded. Instantly there was such a storm 
of protest went up from the men that Wirz demanded the man who had, or rather 
the Sergeant who had charge of this division, or the main part of them at 
Danville, step forth. So at this command it became my duty to show myself to the 
ruffian. "Who are you?", he demanded in the same gruff tone. "Hileman, sir" I 
answered as shortly as I could, for I had already hated the man. "Do you like 
him?" he asked turning to the men. They replied favorable to myself. So I was 
appointed to resume charge of the Division in our new prison. While I was not at 
all anxious for the duty imposed upon me, I was satisfied to see my late 
adversary sat down upon as he was by the men.

As soon each Division was prepared for admission to the prison, was taken inside 
and allotted its position upon the ground, indicated by a stake driven in the 
ground, with the number of the division upon it. As we passed through the gate, 
two by two, we were again searched for our possessions. We advised them that it 
was a waste of time because we have been stripped of everything worth taking 
long since. The only thing I had left in my possession was the knife that I used 
to divide the rations with in Danville. I implored them to leave that with me, 
to be used only for such a purpose here. They very reluctantly consented to do 
so.

Our allotment of ground was bordering upon hospital ground near the East end of 
the stockade. The space was almost one hundred and forty feet long and wide 
enough to allow men to lay feet-to-feet. But as the prison got crowded later we 
had to just reduce the space about one half. There were three main paths 
extending through the enclosure, they were about three feet in width. The "dead 
line", which was marked by posts driven in the ground, and a board nailed across 
the top of them about three feet from the ground, separated the stockade from 
the inside by a strip of ground about ten feet wide. This "dead-line" extended 
around the edge of the whole enclosure. Besides this space set off by the dead-
line, there were about three and one half acres of marsh which was impossible of 
use. Up the dead-line every two hundred feet was a sentry box occupied by a 
guard. These guards were relieved from duty every three hours.

The prison contained, at first, fifteen acres. The stockade that surrounded it 
was made of pine logs which were driven, or dug, into the ground many feet. They 
stood about ten feet above the surface and were put in as close together as 
possible. The soil was almost pure white sand. The whole stockade was surrounded 
by a very heavy pitch pine forest. There was not a farm in ten miles of the 
prison, I should judge. A small creek ran through the enclosure, or a prison, as 
it was. It was a nice little stream. When we came there, there were perhaps 
fifteen thousand prisoners here, and they represented most of our regiments. 
They had succeeded in making a good many little places of shelter. One crowd had 
made a shanty that would shelter about eighteen or twenty men. So things didn't 
look so awful bad at that time, for there was room to keep kind of a half decent 
for such a place - but as our numbers rapidly swelled later, our troubles 
rapidly increased.

The refuse of the whole place was expected to be dumped nearer to the east end, 
where the creek made it's exit, in order to avoid as much as possible the 
contamination of the water. There was no semblance of anything to conceal the 
men in their duties of nature. The cook house was built upon the north side of 
the of the creek; it was nothing more than a shack. The refuse of this 
establishment must go into the creek - and contaminate it's water in much of 
it's course through the prison. 

It was almost impossible to determine the color of those who had been in the 
prison for some time before we arrived. They were almost as black as the 
Negroes, being so much covered by smoke and grime - they of course had no soap. 
When the weather was rainy and cold, in the earlier part of the season, they had 
built fires to dry their clothing and it was this smoke, no doubt, that added 
much to the blackness of their skin. 

The prison was made the 1st of February, we arrived there the 22nd of the same 
month. They said they established this big prison in the far south to be near 
the chief source of their supplies. But they had, no doubt, another more vital 
reason for placing it there - to be a safe distance from the Union armies. 
Before the transfer of the prisoners from Richmond, that city was in much danger 
of being taken by the Union forces. Most of the men taken before we arrived, had 
been taken from McClellan's and Buell's armies. 

It was really amusing to watch the poor fellows giving each other a bath. Sand 
was used as a substitute for soap. They were surely aware of the harsh treatment 
they heaped upon men who had already suffered so much from the men and the 
elements, but there was no question of it being the most effective cleaner 
provided by nature in this region. Of course there were great many who could not 
submit to such a cleansing. They were certainly hard to distinguish as white 
men. 

We were restricted to our allotted space of ground only at ration time and 
during sleeping time. When the bread wagon time came around we must be on hand 
if we expected to get our share. Some of the early settlers had made slight 
places of shelter of the hewing's of pine trees. But there was no protection 
afforded by the Confederate authorities for the owners of these frail 
structures. As far as they were concerned anyone had a right to clandestinely 
make away with such for firewood purposes, at their own risk of punishment, from 
the rightful owners. 

For the first day or two the newcomers had little chance to do anything for 
themselves, on account of the pressing eagerness of the earlier prisoners to 
learn the news of the outer world. The upper most thought was - when are we 
going to be exchanged? and next, where are our armies? We were besieged, as 
others before us had been, with such questions. Whenever a group learned of 
where we were from, they eagerly sought us to know of the news from the north. 

The first performance of the day was roll call which was done by the sergeants 
of Captain Wirz's headquarters. We all answered "here" to our name, at least we 
were supposed to do so. But sometimes we drew rations for dead men. If the 
Sergeant was hurried he didn't look to see the one answering the name, hence the 
deception worked upon him. At other times he wouldn't take the time to take the 
roll call and just merely asked "your men all here?" which question was directed 
to the Sergeant of the ninety. He would do this when he saw not any dead men 
around. 

The dead were carried to the dead line and laid near the gate to be convenient 
for the dead wagon, that brought our rations also. You see, the one trip of this 
wagon served two purposes. The dead were laid upon the ground without any 
covering other than that of which they died in. They were loaded into the wagon 
just like so many dead hogs, taken to a partly cleared field which was known as 
Andersonville cemetery. 

There was a young man of the Michigan Cavalry Regiment who had been a preacher. 
He was a bright persuasive talker and he became very much disgusted and 
discouraged, and in fact, despaired of living much longer, and was very anxious 
to get out and see what disposition of our dead was being made. Lieutenant 
Reese, of the 5th Georgia, had commanded the guards, and fortunately, I was well 
acquainted with this whole soul'd man, even though he was a Confederate, more 
from circumstances than from choice. So I made known to him the desire of the 
young preacher-soldier with the result that he was granted a parole of honor. He 
visited the burial ground, and his report of what he witnessed there, was indeed 
sickening. He said holes are dug about the size of a mans body, and then the 
bodies are thrown in until the hole is nearly full, one body upon another. He 
added also, sometimes the grave is left uncovered for two or three days until 
the stench is almost unbearable - then Negroes were compelled to cover them. 

The report aroused to it a degree that called for immediate action in the 
matter. The result was that we sent word to Wirz that we must have a conference 
with him immediately. The next morning he rode in on his gray horse. We all knew 
him and there was a great shout went up - "Ahhh, there goes the organ grinder's 
monkey - that was the name given to him by our men. It must be said however, 
that those within range of his great pistol didn't take the risk of saluting him 
in those words. He always carried with him two pistols, one in his hand and the 
other in his belt. He never entered the prison afoot. When that derisive shout 
went up most of us despaired of receiving any consideration from this austere, 
cold hearted and cruel man. But we met with him and made our plea, which was 
that he allow some of our men to go out on parole of honor, being pledged by the 
others of us, to help in giving our dead a more decent burial.

Surprising to all it was what when he agreed to our request. Our plan was to 
bury in a trench, as we did in the battlefield, in such a way as the bodies 
would be separated by laying pine brush between them - so that in the event of 
moving the remains in the future, the difficulty would be lessened as much as 
possible, after such a manner of burial. One of those to go out was a young 
fellow from New York who was an expert engraver. He was to engrave upon the 
headboard the name, company, and regiment of the deceased. There was much 
rejoicing in this being allowed to us. It lifted a heavy cloud from over us, 
though it was sentimental.

At this time there would be five or six dead some mornings, at other times there 
would be none. In a short time the old pieces of boards, which we had in hand, 
were all used for the headboards on the graves - while we didn't halt in our 
work on that account. Through the courtesy of Lieutenant Reese, I was allowed to 
go out to the burial field also. Then I used my experience in wood cutting to 
good advantage. We cut down pitch pine trees, divided them into sections of 
about three feet in length, then we split these into slabs. Upon these slabs our 
expert engraver cut up on them the name, company, and regiment of each one as 
his body was brought for burial in this, his last resting place.

Our trouble was not altogether with the Confederates. About the first of June 
the prisoners came in very fast from the wilderness, and among them were many 
from New York - ruffians and villains. These fellows were entirely without 
sympathy or brotherly love, and worse, took every mean and low advantage to get 
from the weak, and almost helpless ones, who had suffered here for months, their 
rations or anything had a chance to possess which would add to their 
satisfaction or comfort. 

Our allotted space was still more limited as the newcomers came crowding in. The 
oppressiveness of the heat became awful. We were fast losing hope of being 
relieved of our indescribable misery by being released from this hellish hole. 
Our rations were cornbread twice a week, and soft beans which were raised for 
cattle feed, were served to us once a week. These beans could be cooked for a 
whole day and still been not be fit for human food. The remainder of the time we 
got raw cornmeal, which was left in a tub for the division or company. Then the 
Sergeant had to see that his company was served before the wagon came around for 
the empty tub. Once in a week or two meat was brought to us, but this was so 
full of maggots, that the Johnny's couldn't think of eating, though they were 
half starved. Most of our deaths seemed to be from diarrhea, though once in a 
while one died of pneumonia caused by exposure. 

At this time raiders came in very fast. These men were bounty men from New York 
mostly. We called them wharf rats. These men got from several hundred to several 
thousand dollars in bounty money. And it looked as though they planned to let 
themselves be captured as soon as possible after getting into the service, 
thinking they would only have a short confinement when the war would be over. 
That is the way it appeared to the rest of us anyway. These bounty men who came 
into the Andersonville prison at that time, were the most disreputable men 
imaginable, whoever pretended to fight for their country. 

We were now getting still more and more crowded. The hospital had to be moved 
from within the enclosure of the prison. They also took several hundred of the 
sickest men and put them in the hospital. There were several of we sergeants got 
together and decided upon a proposition to put to Captain Wirz, which was; we 
would furnish about six men from each company; the strongest and the best men, 
who would go out on parole of honor to cut pine slabs in the forest to make 
sheds for the hospital grounds. This plan had the approval of the Doctor in 
charge of the hospital, but Wirz was made of a very different mind on the 
subject - "no! no!, the more damned Yankees who die the better" he said in a 
cruel and vengeful voice. 

There were now about thirty five thousand prisoners and gaining in numbers 
rapidly. About the last of June the raiders got to be desperately bad, they 
killed several of our own boys most cruelly. It was about this time that two 
whole regiments were captured at Wilmington and sent here with the understanding 
that they should keep their equipment with the exception of guns and ammunition. 
The prison companies were filling out their quota by these men. Then the 
remainder were put into the hospital grounds. 

I got fifteen of these new men in my company, one of them by the name of Dowd 
had a fine gold watch. The watch and chain had cost him five hundred dollars he 
said. Many of them had considerable money and other valuables. Dowd had about 
three thousand dollars worth of valuables. It was not long before the raiders 
were busy planning on a raid on the newcomers. I saw some of the raiders in our 
midst, and immediately after the coming of the new men, asking the time of the 
day and etcetera just to see as nearly as possible what their possessions might 
be. 

The raiders were thoroughly organized. About the third day they made their fatal 
raid. This was the first time that my company had been molested by them. They 
commenced their operations by approaching our men to have a gambling game. This 
man Dowd, a man of splendid physique and general appearance, promptly declined 
their invitation as did the others. The next move was they asked the time of 
day, and Dowd unsuspectingly took out his watch to accommodate the villain. Some 
grabbed hold of him while others took his watch and chain. Then the fight 
commenced. But our men being unprepared for such an occasion, was soon worsened 
to the extent that many were knocked down and robbed of everything of value. The 
tent was knocked over, and in the strife a couple of the raiders were severely 
cracked on their heads by some of us who rushed to the assistance of our boys. 

Though these fellows had been reported time and again for their deviltry, Wirz 
paid no attention to our complaints. But this affair, being so much worse than 
anything previously, we couldn't endure it further without a strenuous protest 
to Wirz. Dowd and myself soon managed to secure an audience with him, with the 
result that he promised us there would be a full investigation of the trouble. 
The following day we were made very happy with the sense of great relief by the 
appearance of Wirz accompanied by a strong squad of guards. He called upon all 
those who had been robbed to report their losses and to assist him by 
identifying those who had taken part in the robberies. 

A squad of Negroes were put to work in building a stockade to separate a part of 
the prison enclosure for the confinement of the guilty ones. A number of days 
passed before we succeeded in finding all of them. Finally about two hundred of 
the raiders were picked out. Wirz then said to us - "now you fellows must go 
ahead and try those devils yourselves, I'll have nothing to do with that".

There were many lawyers, good lawyers, and other experienced in the procedure of 
law in our number. So lawyers were appointed to represent both sides, a judge 
appointed, and a jury was impaneled. All of which required considerable time. 
Many men were thrown out before a jury was secured - so many had been mistreated 
by the Raiders. The trial proceeded with all the regularity of the criminal 
court. None but witnesses and guards, besides the necessary persons, were 
allowed to be present at the trial. The pleas of the Lawyers were as good as any 
court, in spite of the fact that the men were sadly weakened by the awful 
privations of this terrible place. 

When the trial was ended, Captain Wirz, accompanied by a strong squad of guards, 
entered the prison to represent the Confederacy in finally disposing of the 
case. The jury found six men guilty of murder - the Colonel, Captain, a 
Lieutenant and three Sergeants. They were found guilty directly and indirectly, 
the latter in taking the rations and causing starvation. Quite a number were 
found guilty of maltreating the prisoners. 

Those guilty of murder were sentenced to be hung, quite a number to the ball-
and-chain, the others were to run the gauntlet - which was a lane two or three 
hundred yards in length formed by a line of prisoners on either side, and to 
execute the sentence to the utmost of their ability by beating the Raiders over 
their backs with the most effective sticks they could procure . 

When the verdict was announced Wirz said "now I deliver you up to your men, I 
guarded them, I fed them, I allowed your men to try em, now you find em guilty". 
Turning to the wretches, under the sentence of death, he said "now all I say is 
- that God have mercy on your damned souls". And before he could turn and ride 
away, one of the prisoners, way back in the crowd, shouted "that's more than God 
will give you, you old man". He ignored the taunt and sullenly rode away from 
the hell on earth.

A gallows had been erected a little east of the south gate to hang the six men 
simultaneously. The Colonel, and leader of the gang, was a powerful and large 
Irishman. When they dropped, his rope broke, and little stunned by the terrible 
ordeal, he rushed away toward his Division, tramping down and knocking aside all 
those who were in his way. He succeeded in making his escape. Finding a dead man 
lying in a hole, he pulled him out of it, crawled into the hole himself, and 
then pulled the corpse over himself. In this way he avoided detection for about 
a couple of hours. He was roughly dragged back to the scaffold while he cowardly 
pleaded for his life to be spared, but the next drop he was sent into eternity. 

The whole affair was too horrible, but the men deserved their fate. The running 
of the gauntlet had a very salutary effect upon those evily disposed. 

Most of the valuables which had been stolen by the Raiders had been disposed of. 
Some traded or sold to the guards with out a doubt, others perhaps buried for 
future recovery. But Dowd fortunately recovered his gold watch and chain which 
were worth five hundred dollars. 

After this, Lieutenant Reese allowed us to make laws to punish any of our men 
for theft or evil doing; we were to punish by lashing with nine tails, bucking, 
and gagging. One fellow in the Company next to ours had his cup stolen while he 
was cooking his meal. The thief was given nine lashes in the presence of 
thousands of his fellow prisoners. Gagging was performed by tying a stick of 
wood in the mouth of the man who had done wrong, was overly boisterous, and 
etcetera. Bucking was done by sitting the thief on the ground and drawing his 
knees up until his feet were near his chin, then tying his hands together over 
his shins, then placing a stick under his knees and over his arms. The only way 
he could move was to fall over on his side. It was a most humiliating punishment 
and caused much amusement to the onlookers.

Most of the stealing done now was over the rations which was about all that was 
left after the Raiders had cleaned us out of what we were allowed to have. Our 
being allowed to punish the offenders had the desired effect. Although there 
were those who were born thieves, and to who punishment was not sufficient to 
stop them, abandoned their disposition entirely. Another mild punishment was to 
deprive the thief of the rations for a day for stealing another's rations. This 
had a very good effect.

About the middle of July disease was taking off about one hundred of the 
prisoners. The heat was terrific and heavy thunderstorms nearly every day, which 
were indeed a godsend to us as it washed great quantities of filth away. And 
every Company dug a well near the creek. Around the wells dirt was ridged up to 
prevent the water from running in on the surface. The heavy rains improved our 
water, which had been polluted by the awful amount of filth, by washing it away. 
The condition of nearly all by now was chronic diarrhea. It was awful to behold, 
words cannot describe the situation. We had nothing in the shape of scissors or 
razors but a small pair of pocket scissors owned by John W. January, a drummer 
boy, who used them to cut off the bones and tendons of his feet which were eaten 
off by gangrene. So one might imagine the way the appearance of this thirty 
thousand starved, and nearly naked men, the majority who hadn't had a haircut or 
a shave in six months - he vermin was simply indescribable.

About this time our numbers were increased by two Regiments which were captured 
at the Battle of Atlanta, from General Sherman, by Joe Johnson. The first hour 
enclosure had to be extended, so they were held in North Carolina until this was 
accomplished. In the meantime many of us were scheming desperately to escape. 
Meetings were held wherever we had the room to congregate, and plan ways of 
escape and further movements, after that was accomplished. We knew of the later 
prisoners who had come in, of the whereabouts of Sherman and  Joe Johnson. So 
our plan was to carefully avoid Johnson and all Join Sherman's army. When safe 
within his lines, we expected to soon redeem our health and strength, and help 
in tearing up railroads and etcetera. 

The greatest difficulty we anticipated, was of course, in making our getaway 
from the stockade. We decided to tunnel under the stockade as near to the creek 
as we could, so in the event of pursuit by the bloodhounds, we could escape much 
easier along the streams and over the marshes. We were well organized in a 
military way. Our Brigadier General was a man well trained in military tactics. 
He was from New York. He was to be Commander-in-Chief of our forces. We had 
carefully planned for, and selected, the foraging parties. The first work of 
tunneling was to be done from our wells to the stockade, one tunnel on each side 
of the creek. The object of this was to get under the stockade and undermine 
that, so that when all was ready, a rush of three hundred picked men against it, 
the great fence, would go down and take with it three guard posts - and make a 
gap wide enough to let our twenty thousand men through in a few minutes.

Our plan was to get the arms of the guards who fell when part of the stockade 
went down. There were about one hundred guards in all, many of them being gray 
haired old men, others mere boys - this was especially so after the Battle of 
Atlanta. During the night every guard called out his number and "all is well". 
So you can see how there was almost a constant call of the guards around the 
stockade. Sometimes a prisoner would yell an answer - "yes all is well, and the 
Confederacy's gone to hell". In answer to this the guard would indignantly 
retort "you-uns should shut-up, or we-uns will shoot". I remember of only once 
of them carrying out there threat, the bullet striking an innocent man who was 
standing near the daring patriot.

We had almost completed our work of undermining the stockade, and our plans all 
laid for storming the wall of the stockade, disarming the falling guards, and 
also make the remaining ones prisoners, which would have been an easy matter 
because they were desperately sick of their task. I do believe that there would 
have been very few shots fired at us. But fate decreed that our plans should 
fail - the night before our plans were put into execution, the heavens opened 
and poured out one of the greatest rainstorms I have ever seen. In a few moments 
the creek was a raging torrent. All of those who were able to stand were 
compelled to be upon their feet, and those who were too weak to stand were 
carried to the highest ground in our power to reach. This excessively heavy rain 
was proceeded by about ten days of wet weather, the ground was thoroughly soaked 
when the weather culminated in a cloudburst. Everyone was of course awake, who 
could possibly hold his eyes open. 

I had gone after one of our boys who was in very bad condition and was located 
about half way down to the creek, and was returning with him in an attempt to 
put him away from danger of the water overcoming him, when there was a terrific 
yell came from the direction of the creek at the stockade. Excitedly looking 
around to see what had caused the yell, I soon saw, by the bright lightening, 
that the creek had taken out about six rods of the stockade, and there were 
three or four guards struggling in the raging torrent for their lives. 
Immediately there was an excited rush began for the gap by the prisoners, but 
they were abruptly halted by the great flood sweeping through the gap in the 
stockade. None would care to risk their lives in that raging torrent which was 
about ten feet deep. In a short lapse of time there were guards on hand to 
prevent any escapes when the flood subsided.

The next morning there were about a hundred and fifty Negroes at work repairing 
the stockade. Our work in tunneling and undermining was revealed that day. Wirz 
was nearly crazed with anger. He stationed a battery of eighteen pieces of old 
brass cannon on a commanding position and said "We'll sweep the whole stockade 
with grape and canister if the devils make a move to get out". For along time 
after this Negroes, accompanied by officers, made an examination of the prison 
grounds by driving iron bars down into the sandy soil to see if there was any 
tunneling any more. The Negroes said later "we sometimes pretend to find a 
hollow place just to see the officers get down and dig". 

Previous to the heavy rains the lice were so thick that by raking aside the dust 
with ones foot they could plainly be seen crawling up the leg, thick as they 
could be, and traveling with great speed. But the heavy rains greatly relieved 
us of this awful pest. Very often in digging wells we used the dirt to cover a 
spot where one had lain in sickness or death, for in such places that the vermin 
would be swarming thick. The filth of the sink of the cook house was all taken 
away by the flood. This was a Godsend to us because a portion of our water is 
supplied by it. It was principally for this reason that we dug wells for 
drinking water. 

After the storm it became very necessary to have our firewood replenished. So 
several men from each Company, accompanied by guards, went out to get a supply 
where the woods had been invaded by the Confederates for posts and other items. 
While out on this expedition we got a slab of pitch pine, about five feet long 
and a foot wide, to hew into a trough for the great spring that had 
providentially broken through the ground in the prison enclosure - but just 
inside the dead-line. It was gushing out a stream of cold clear water as large 
as a man's thigh. We had to divert its flow from directly into the creek, to 
another way, by which we could have better access to it, and also to confine the 
flow into a stream instead of being spread out. Lieutenant Reese came into the 
prison and supervised us as we put our trough into position. We had to have 
special permission from headquarters to work on the deadline, which was 
necessary in doing this work.

The Confederates, or at least many of them, were awed by this intervention in 
our behalf of providence, it seemed. Wirz put quite a force of men to work 
beyond the prison to find, by digging down, the source of the spring - but his 
efforts were all futile. In preparing for our assault upon the stockade, and the 
escape to follow, we had used much of our best wood for shillelaghs. These we 
secreted in a cave. Our tunnels and cave led us away from our wells, in fact, 
that was the only way we could succeed in accomplishing this thing without 
detection. 

About this time we were visited by a party of Confederates; five surgeons, a 
Major, and two others, who were sent to investigate the conditions of the 
prison. Reports had been sent to Congress describing the awful conditions of the 
Confederate prisons and no doubt it was a result of such reports that the Rebels 
did this. There was a party of us out there in the woods where we were met by 
this party of officials. As we heard them coming by the patter of the horses 
hooves, I said "who's coming?". They said " oh they are gentlemen coming to 
inspect the prison", and most likely, as we had been expecting them for some 
time, but the wet weather must have stopped them. "Well if that is the case we 
better get out of sight - they'll not care to see a lot of naked and starving 
men such as we" I said. "Never mind, you're the ones they've come to see" said a 
guard determinedly. "My God man, we're not fit to be seen by civilized man" I 
said, my breast was heaving with emotion. 

When we had finished speaking, the party came into view a short distance from 
us, all on horseback. Following the immediate excitement of the occasion, we had 
a quiet and dispassionate discussion of the situation as regard to the Union and 
the Confederacy. "Well what do you really think of our having the advantage of 
the situation?" asked one of the officers. "No indeed, you did have the 
advantage I believe, but now judging from what we have heard from the new 
prisoners, I should unhesitatingly say that we have the advantage. We have the 
Mississippi, and that is a very important advantage" I continued with the 
firmness of true conviction. He underestimated the resources of the Union, and I 
could see the desperate weakness of the Confederacy - and we hadn't received the 
news of the Battle of Gettysburg by this time. 

One of the party, an officer, said to me "well what do you people in the North 
think of our Confederacy anyway?". "Probably it wouldn't be safe for me to say 
just what we do think of it", so I answered. " I am a gentleman sir, and give 
you my word that I am such here as I would be anywhere" He answered audibly. 
"Well then I'll tell you" - "we believe that it is a foul scheme hatched in the 
very depths of hell", I said with all the emphasis that could be put into the 
few words. My interrogator immediately drew his pistol while his whole being 
trembled with anger. "Down with that you dirty coward, and you pretending to be 
a gentleman. I'll see that you are severely punished for this dastardly act" 
said the Major as he intervened.

We were held back for some time to wait for another squad to return to prison 
with us, they had also been out for wood. We saw nothing of the party of 
investigators in the prison. We are told that they passed through, taking notes 
of the general arrangements of things only. They gave more time to the hospital, 
which was situated out in the woods. They made out a report and sent it to the 
Federal General who had charge of the exchange of prisoners. They proposed to 
exchange our sick men for good sound Confederates, but of course that was 
promptly disagreed to. 

Soon after this we again commenced to dig another tunnel for escape. We were 
determined to make another attempt to escape, but in another way. It was to 
start our tunnel about five rods distance from the stockade. Then go under it, 
come up just beyond the large pitch pine trees that were a few yards from the 
stockade. Beyond this the timber was so thick it covered almost completely from 
view of the guards on the stockade, even in the daytime. 

There were about a dozen of us who were chiefly interested in the scheme and did 
most of the tunneling work. As a reward, we were have the first chance for 
escape. The arrangement provided that one at a time should go through the tunnel 
at two minute intervals. The tunnel led away from the well and was about twenty 
feet deep. As a means of ascent and descent it had a pole notched to use as a 
ladder. For hoisting the dirt we used a tent canvas made into a rope, also had 
the receptacle of the dirt was of the same material.

The tunnel started at a depth of about ten feet from the surface. We had to be 
extremely careful about who we took into confidence in our scheme because there 
were some who would betray us on a promise of parole. There were several tunnels 
which had been nearly completed when the workers were betrayed by one of 
themselves. One in particular I remember of, was on the other side of the creek, 
it was a short and wide one aimed to come up at the battery. A hundred prisoners 
could have gotten out of there in a few minutes. The scheme was to take the 
battery, and get arms, them proceed to take the guards by surprise after which 
the gates would soon be swung open. Then every man fight to the death if 
necessary. 

This was all prevented by a scoundrel by the name of "Chestnut" of Kentucky. He 
revealed the plot the night before the tunnel was to be finished, and he was the 
leader of the scheme. He secured his liberty - had he ever been returned to 
prison, he would have surely been killed. It was reported that he joined the 
Rebel army, but we never found out if whether it was so. 

So we went to work with split canteens, for dirt scrapers, in our new tunnel. 
The hole was large enough to admit a man on his hands and knees, and the soil 
was almost pure sand. The work was all done in the nighttime. We worked in three 
shifts first, but the further we got in the more men was needed. 

It so happened that when the stockade was reached, I was busy elsewhere, one day 
drawing rations. The other day I was at the burying grounds to identify a former 
Mason who had been buried the day previously. Lieutenant Reese told me to go out 
and edify the body and have it re-interred with the head toward the east. We 
found the body and wrapped it in an old piece of tent cloth, and was buried as 
ordered. For this service I was given a chunk of cornbread and a sack of sweet 
potatoes - these things made a veritable feast for us. Lieutenant Reese happened 
to go through the prison while we were enjoying our feast and saw us. He looked 
at me rather inquiringly and said, "no wonder you are starving, when you do get 
a chance to feed up a little, you give most of it to those around you". "Well 
Lieutenant I never could be satisfied to take it all in myself when there are 
others around me who are needing it as badly as I was". He earnestly replied " 
yes I can plainly see that is so, but you must do justice to yourself" he added.

One day shortly after this time there were several of us sitting upon the ground 
talking when Lieutenant Reese came by, we invited him to have a chair with us. 
The only thing that there was around to sit upon the dirt was a pine slab laying 
not too far off. During the conversation that followed, I said " there are not 
many of your men who like Wirz, are there?"... "No indeed, not one of us - why 
there is the Colonel Ives, he hates him worse than the devil does holy water". 
There never was a nobler man in the Confederate uniform than that Lieutenant 
Reese. He was only twenty five years of age, he had servants to wait upon him in 
his father's house, but with all of that he was entirely unspoiled by the ease 
and luxury of his earlier life.