CHAPTER IX.
INCIDENTS OF CAMP AND PRISON LIFE.
Soldiers in Prison.—A soldier belonging to an army in war times necessarily lives a strenuous life, and if unfortunately captured by the enemy and has to be incarcerated in prison it makes life to the average soldier almost unendurable. A soldier obliged to obey strictly army rules and regulations enforced by officers fighting for the same cause he is contending for surrenders seemingly about all of his liberties, but when reduced to the humiliation of having a sentinel standing over him all of the time to see that he does not violate orders given by an enemy reduces him to the most abject slavery. Many Northern and Southern soldiers were captured and placed in prison, and a judicious and rapid system of exchange of prisoners would have alleviated much suffering among these poor fellows.
Exchange of Prisoners.—The Federal authorities perhaps were dilatory in effecting exchanges because their captured men could be replaced by others, and they had not only the Northern states but the world to draw from, and knew the soldiers taken out of line in the Southern army could not be replaced with others on account of the scarcity of men.
It is said that everything is fair in war, but the peremptory demands of war ought not to suppress every vestige of feeling of humanity. An experience in prison however humiliating that experience may be, cannot fail to convince anyone that implicit obedience to orders from the powers that be is the only safeguard as a shelter or protection from unreasonable punishment.
Punishment.—Severe punishment such as bucking and gagging, hanging up by the thumbs, walking the beat carrying heavy loads, sometimes whipping and even shooting, to the death practiced in the army and prison almost invariably falls to the lot of a soldier who wilfully disobeys known rules and regulations, but these punishments are sometimes administered by tyrannical officers, puffed up with a little brief authority, to gratify their own personal spites and prejudices. Strict adherence to discipline will nearly always screen the victim from such suffering. In prison officers may be exacting, but from their arbitrary rulings there is really no appeal.
Rations.—Much complaint was made by soldiers in Southern prisons about the scarcity and quality of rations, perhaps these complaints in some instances were well founded, for the Southern soldier in camp or on the march did not have an abundant supply. The same complaint was made against the Northern prison and it was argued that the Federal authorities had the means to provide more and had no moral right to retaliate upon the South for a deficiency in prison that was unavoidable. Many Southern soldiers in Northern prisons went to bed of nights and could not sleep on account of being hungry. Prisoners captured a short time before the surrender of Lee, soon heard of the surrender, and of the assassination of Lincoln and were frightened by a report circulated in the prison camp that Southern soldiers would be kept as hostages and perhaps executed in retaliations for the assassination of the president. The personal experience of soldiers incarcerated in the prisons of the late war would make interesting reading to coming generations but perhaps it is better to let this part of the history pass into oblivion. Contending armies engaged in battle would fight to the finish, damaging each other in every honorable way they could even to extermination, but when a soldier surrendered and became a prisoner he was treated courteously by his captors on either side. A soldier that would offer an insult or indignity to a prisoner was looked upon with contempt and his conduct regarded as cowardly by his own comrades.
Camp Life.—To undertake to portray the multiplicity of phases of soldier life as exhibited in the Southern army would be a herculean task from which the stoutest heart, best equipped mind and most experienced hand would shrink. It is enough for one to record the doings, transactions, incidents, and reflections drawn from historical facts connected with the section and army, the one undertaking the task was familiar with, on account of being present to witness much that occurred, and in a position to gather items of information from parties who were eye witnesses. Every day on the march, in camp, on the battlefield or in prison was replete with thrilling, interesting, ludicrous or pathetic scenes which were worthy of notice and ought to be handed down to posterity in a more durable way than by tradition. Duty, patriotism and an earnest desire to rescue from oblivion much of the war history ought to appeal to the few old soldiers now living whose passing from the stage of action must necessarily cut out forever any chance of a correct history. The certainty that they will soon be gone ought to be an incentive to induce each one to contribute his part. An army like our Southern army presents to the mind of the curious an inviting field for study and investigation.
In camp the home life of the soldier is clearly delineated and by associating in the camp soldiers learn more about each other than anywhere else.
Soldier on Inspection.—There was in camp a little scrawny fellow that took the world easy when things went his way, but when he got wrong he was very much wrong and was at war with everybody and seemed to think that everybody’s hand was raised against him. He was a faithful, loyal soldier and would have died rather than play off to screen himself from a fight. He was always out of clothing, rations, money and everything that a soldier needed and was out with everyone who would not divide with him, but was liberal and honest and would pay his debts if it took his last dollar. At pay day it usually took all he received to pay his debts and then he was borrowing again. He paid very little attention to cleanliness, consequently no one cared to tent or bunk with him and he was often by himself although socially inclined. At such times he would sing songs sometimes a little smutty and whistle popular airs. He would say some very harsh things about officers and some of them very much wished for a chance to get even with him. On one occasion on inspection, the inspecting officer complained that his gun was not properly cleaned and ordered him to his quarters, putting on him the punishment of thirty minutes work cleaning his gun. He returned to his quarters with the rest of the company, feeling resentful, and with an oath slammed the gun to the ground, consigning it with the inspector to a region supposed to be hot and heavily charged with the odor of sulphur. He gloomily sulked for thirty minutes and in sheer desperation picked up his gun and reported as ordered to the inspector, expecting to be sent to the guard house, but was surprised when told by the officer that his gun looked much better, admonishing him to hereafter do as the others did and he would not have to do extra work on his gun and pleasantly excused him.
Recruit on Guard.—On one occasion the officer of the guard around camp was a young lieutenant who had a very exalted opinion of himself and was glad of an opportunity to show his authority. One of the guard was a recruit detailed for the first time to do guard duty. He had fallen on the third relief and had lain down to rest until his time came. Nothing unusual occurred the first two hours, but after the second relief was posted the lieutenant made his rounds and returned to the camp fire and had a big laugh with the old soldiers present. He had taken the gun from a timid recruit, had the poor fellow badly scared and boastingly said that he would take every recruits’ gun that belonged to the guard. The third relief was placed and the recruit stationed at his post, walked his beat and kept a sharp lookout, especially for the lieutenant. Finally he heard the rattle of his sword as he approached and when he got in challenging distance, said: “Halt who comes there?” The lieutenant answered: “Friend with the countersign.” The sentinel then said “Advance friend and give the countersign.” The officer corrected him saying “Advance friend with the countersign,” and was briskly walking right up to him. The recruit quickly brought his gun to the position of charge bayonets, and again demanded the countersign. He was then almost in bayonet reach, gave the countersign and expecting to throw the sentinel off his guard, made a movement as if to pass on but really intended to take his gun. The sentinel made him pass around him at a distance not in bayonet reach which he did without further parley. After he had passed he said, “If you don’t mind you will get in the guard house.” The recruit replied saying, “I know my duty,” but was getting some thrilling experience while being initiated.
An Economical Soldier.—A quiet careful soldier for several days saved of his rations scraps of beef and scrapings of flour until he collected enough to make a beef pie which was regarded as a luxury in camp.
A Soldier’s Retort.—On the Maryland march on account of marching for many consecutive days, soldiers were ragged, dirty and some of them barefooted. An army in such a plight does not present a very attractive appearance. In the column was a brave, faithful soldier always ready to fight to the finish. He had just passed through a series of battles and looked very much worsted, wearing old clothes and limping on account of old shoes making his feet sore. The army was marching through a town whose inhabitants were of very decided Union proclivities. A crowd of pretty, well dressed ladies were conspicuously standing on the sidewalk, indulging in cutting remarks, using such expressions as rebel and traitor very freely. One of them pointed out this uncouth looking soldier saying, “Look at that ragged, dirty rebel.” He coolly retorted looking her in the eye saying, “Madam, we always put on our old clothes when we go out to kill hogs.” His retort was not very courteous, but it put a quietus on the use of any further uncomplimentary remarks. The soldiers were usually treated very nicely by the ladies, even when invading the enemy’s territory, and were in turn as courteous as could be.
A Boisterous Soldier.—In camp there was a boisterous fellow whose early education and training had been very much neglected, and although illiterate he was fully convinced that he was a man of considerable importance. His quaint sayings and doings furnished no small amount of amusement for the officers and men. He did not mean to exaggerate but apparently looked at things through magnifying glasses. He was a fearless, brave soldier and was never happier than when called upon by an officer to perform some task. He did not hesitate to go or try to go anywhere his commanders ordered or requested him to go. On one occasion he was detailed as a picket to reconnoiter and ascertain some points about the position and strength of the enemy’s forces. Under the direction of the officer in command of the picket line, he with others stealthily approached as near as possible to the enemy’s line to get the desired information. In their eagerness they crossed the danger line and were saluted with a volley of shot and shell and of course were obliged to hastily retreat. The soldier came rushing back to camp puffing and blowing, burdened with the weight of responsibility that had been entrusted to him and hurried up to the colonel’s headquarters to report the result of the investigation. The colonel listened to him attentively while he excitedly gave his report and seriously asked his opinion about the strength of the enemy’s force. With forceful gestures and placing strong emphasis on his answer he replied: “About two hundred thousand!” The colonel amused at his estimate of the enemy’s strength, and his earnestness in reporting, respectfully thanked him and excused him. The same soldier incensed at his brother, seventeen years old, joining the army wished with an oath that the boy would get killed in the very first engagement he got in. In a few days the command got in a fight and the poor boy was killed. The wish was thoughtlessly made and the soldier felt sorry for the fate of his brother. One day glibly talking to the boys he pointed out a place on his arm and expressed the wish that a minnie ball would strike him there the next battle he got in and the bone would have to be resected so he could get on the retired list. In the very next fight a minnie ball struck the identical place pointed out and the bone had to be resected. He could have been placed on the retired list, but preferred to remain in service.
Recruit Detailed.—Early one morning a recruit who had just been enrolled, while he was at breakfast, was informed by the sergeant that he was on guard for the day and told to report at once to the colonel’s headquarters. Very much to the amusement of the old soldiers he replied: “All right, wait till I eat a bite” and leisurely finished his breakfast, prepared for duty and reported to headquarters without realizing that he had subjected himself to the danger of being disciplined for not at once reporting.
It was very embarrassing to recruits especially when joining a command already in the service. A recruit reporting for duty was dazed at the array of stripes, bars, stars and wreaths, being assigned to a certain regiment was asked if he had any reason to give for being assigned to any special company, stammeringly replied that he had a second company in cousin I. The boys laughed at his mistake, but the officers kindly let him join the company of his choice.