C. D. GIBSON, Camp Ford, 14 April 1911, Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by John & Cindy McCachem - mccachern@worldnet.att.net 5 February 2001 ***************************************************************** From Tyler Daily Courier-Times, 14 April 1911 Tells of Life in Camp Ford Mr. C. D. Gibson of West Liberty, Iowa, who is spending several days in the city, gave the Courier-Times a short interview concerning his stay in the old Confederate stockade, five miles north of Tyler, during the latter days of the war. He served in the Eighteenth Iowa Regiment, and was left a prisoner in the hospital at Camden, Ark., where he was taken by the Confederates. From Camden he was carried to Shreveport, and from that place was brought to Tyler. He was placed in the stockade in February, 1865, April 30 he, with two other companions, escaped and started toward the Sabine River. Bloodhounds were put on their trail, and the three men were taken prisoners, near Winona. From the best information the Courier-Times can gather, Mr. John Wiggin, father of Mrs. George Kennedy, was in charge of the party that captured Mr. Gibson. He says he was carried to a big farm house, the old Wiggins homestead, about ten miles north of Tyler, and served with supper, sleeping on the front gallery. The supper consisted of sweet potatoes and fresh port, and Mr. Gibson says it was the best supper he ever ate. Returning to Tyler, the three prisoners were confined in the county jail, which was then located where the Palmore and Dean Lumber Company now does business. Seventeen other prisoners were confined in the jail, and the cells were so crowded that Mr. Gibson was compelled to sleep on top of the Iron cages. These cages are now used at the old county farm. The old soldier visited the farm while in the city for the purpose of investigaing whether the bolts are just as hard now as they were when he slept on them nearly fifty years ago. Mr. Gibson says the fare given the soldiers in Camp Ford consisted of boiled beef and meal, and while he thought it was insufficient at the time, he has since concluded that it was the best to be had. When peace came, there were 2,800 Union soldiers in Camp Ford and in the Tyler jail. On being released a large per cent of them went to New Orleans, Mr. Gibson being among the number. It has been a great delight to Mr. Gibson to visit the scene of the old stockade, and to talk with the old Confederate soldiers of this city. He is delighted at the reception tendered him. He predicts a great future for this section, and believes that our citizens do not yet half realize the possibilities that lie out before us in the way of industrial development. During his stay in Tyler, Mr. Gibson has been shown over the city by Mayor Bonner, and he is charmed at the hospitality extended him by Tyler's Mayor. He expects to return to his home in Iowa within the next few days.