Andersonville Prison - John Ransoms Civil War diary: notes from inside Andersonville, the Civil Wars most notorious prison

John Ransoms

Notes from Inside

Andersonville, the Civil Wars Most Notorious Prison

Dover Publications, Inc.

Mineola, New York

Bibliographical Note

This Dover edition, first published in 2017, is an unabridged republication of the work originally issued privately by the author in Auburn, New York, in 1881, under the title Andersonville.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Ransom, John L., author.

Title: John Ransoms Civil War diary : notes from inside Andersonville, the Civil Wars most notorious prison / John L. Ransom.

Other titles: Andersonville diary

Description: Dover edition. | Mineola, New York : Dover Publications, Inc., 2017. | Originally published under title: Andersonville diary. Auburn, N.Y. : John L. Ransom, 1881.

Identifers: LCCN 2016035943| ISBN 9780486809045 | ISBN 0486809048

Subjects: LCSH: Ransom, John L.Diaries. | United StatesHistoryCivil War, 18611865Personal narratives. | United StatesHistoryCivil War, 18611865Prisoners and prisons. | Andersonville PrisonBiography. | Prisoners of warGeorgiaAndersonvilleDiaries. | Andersonville (Ga.)Biography.

Classifcation: LCC E612.A5 R2 2017 | DDC 973.7/81092dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016035943

Manufactured in the United States by LSC Communications
80904801 2017
www.doverpublications.com

The book to which these lines form an introduction is a peculiar one in many respects. It is a story, but it is a true story, and written years ago with little idea that it would ever come into this form. The writer has been induced, only recently, by the advice of friends and by his own feeling that such a production would be appreciated, to present what, at the time it was being made up, was merely a means of occupying a mind which had to contemplate, besides, only the horrors of a situation from which death would have been, and was to thousands, a happy relief.

The original diary in which these writings were made from day to day was destroyed by fire some years after the war, but its contents had been printed in a series of letters to the Jackson, (Mich.) Citizen, and to the editor and publisher of that journal thanks are now extended for the privilege of using his files for the preparation of this work. There has been little change in the entries in the diary, before presenting them here. In such cases the words which suggest themselves at the time are bestthey cannot be improved upon by substitution at a later day.

This book is essentially different from any other that has been published concerning the late war or any of its incidents. Those who have had any such experience as the author will see its truthfulness at once, and to all other readers it is commended as a statement of actual things by one who experienced them to the fullest.

John L. Ransom

A Rebel Ruse to Gobble Up Union TroopsA Complete SurpriseCareless OfficersHeroic DefenceBeginning of a Long Imprisonment

And the Place it Finds UsApples to Eat and an Old Comrade Joins UsMatters Getting Worse, with Occasional Rumors of Exchange

A Good-bye to Belle IsleGood Place to be Moved FromAstor House Mess on its TravelsNew ScenesThe Raid on Richmond and Consequent ScareAlls Well, if it Ends WellMen Shot

Arrival at the Worst of all PrisonsBeginning of a Summer that Killed Thirteen Thousand MenBad Water, Bad Food, and Most Inhuman TreatmentIn the Clutches of Wirtz and His Picked Out Rebel AidsThe Truth and Nothing but the TruthA Season of Intense Suffering

The Astor House Mess Still Holds Together, Although DepletedAll More or Less DiseasedAs the Weather gets Warmer the Death Rate IncreasesDying Off Like SheepThe End is Not Yet

Andersonville on Its MetalLeading Raiders Arrested, Tried and HungGreat Excitement for a Few Days, Followed by Good OrderDeath Rate Increases, HoweverThe Astor House Mess as Policemen

Removed from Andersonville to the Marine Hospital, SavannahGetting Through the GateBattese has Saved UsVery Sick, But by no Means Dead YetBetter and Humane Treatment

A Gradual Improvement in HealthGood Treatment Which is OpportuneParting With Relics to Buy LuxuriesDaly, the Teamster at Andersonville, KilledA Visit From Battese, the Indian

Another Change, and not a Bad OneAlmost a Hostage of WarElection Day, and a Vote for Little MacOne Year a Prisoner of War

Moved from Camp Lawton After a Sojourn of Twenty DaysDestination Blackshear, GeorgiaJump Off the Cars and Out from Rebel Guard for Six DaysA Hungry Time, but a Good OneCaptured and Make the Acquaintance of Two Other Runaways, with whom I Cast My Fortunes

Home Guards Gobble Me UpWell Treated and Well FedTaken to Doctortown and From Thence to BlackshearThe Two Buck Boys as RunawaysRide on a Passenger Train Prospects Ahead

Jump Off the Cars Near SavannahFind Friendly NegroesTravel by Night and Rest by DayGood Times with Many AdventuresA Morning BathAlmost Run into Rebel Pickets

Once More See the Old Flag and the Boys in BlueMr. Kimball and Mrs. Dickinson RecompensedFind the Ninth Michigan CavalryInterviewed by Genl KilpatrickAll Right at Last

A Brief Description of What Became of the BoysRefused Permission to go HomeA Reference to Capt. WirtzReturn Home at the End of the War

Michael Hoares EscapeRebel TestimonySummaryWhat Became of John Ransom

John Ransoms

Civil War Diary

A Rebel Ruse to Gobble Up Union TroopsA Complete SurpriseCareless OfficersHeroic DefenceBeginning of a Long Imprisonment

Belle Island, Richmond, Va., Nov. 22, 1863.I was captured near Rogersville, East Tennessee, on the 6th of this month, while acting as Brigade Quarter-Master Sergt. The Brigade was divided, two regiments twenty miles away, while Brigade Head-Quarters with 7th Ohio and 1st Tennessee Mounted Infantry were at Rogersville. The brigade quarter-master had a large quantity of clothing on hand, which we were about to issue to the brigade as soon as possible. The rebel citizens got up a dance at one of the public houses in the village, and invited all the union officers. This was the evening of Nov. 5th. Nearly all the officers attended and were away from the command nearly all night and many were away all night. We were encamped in a bend of the Holston River. It was a dark rainy night and the river rose rapidly before morning. The dance was a ruse to get our officers away from their command. At break of day the pickets were drove in by rebel cavalry, and orders were immediately received from commanding officer to get wagon train out on the road in ten minutes. The quarter-master had been to the dance and had not returned, consequently it devolved upon me to see to wagon train, which I did, and in probably ten minutes the whole seventy six mule army wagons were in line out on the main road, while the companies were forming into line and getting ready for a fight. Rebels had us completely surrounded and soon began to fire volley after volley into our disorganized ranks. Not one officer in five was present; Gen. commanding and staff as soon as they realized our danger, started for the river, swam across and got away. We had a small company of artillery with us commanded by a lieutenant. The lieutenant in the absence of other officers, assumed command of the two regiments, and right gallantly did he do service. Kept forming his men for the better protection of his wagon train, while the rebels were shifting around from one point to another, and all the time sending volley after volley into our ranks. Our men did well, and had there been plenty of officers and ammunition, we might have gained the day. After ten hours fighting we were obliged to surrender after having lost in killed over a hundred, and three or four times that number in wounded. After surrendering we were drawn up into line, counted off and hurriedly marched away south. By eight oclock at night had probably marched ten miles, and encamped until morning. We expected that our troops would intercept and release us, but they did not. An hour before daylight we were up and on the march toward Bristol, Va., that being the nearest railroad station. We were cavalrymen, and marching on foot made us very lame, and we could hardly hobble along. Were very well fed on corn bread and bacon. Reached Bristol, Va., Nov. 8th and were soon aboard of cattle cars en-route for the rebel capital. I must here tell how I came into possession of a very nice and large bed spread which is doing good service even now these cold nights. After we were captured everything was taken away from us, blankets, overcoats, and in many cases our boots and shoes. I had on a new pair of boots, which by muddying them over had escaped the rebel eyes thus far, as being a good pair. As our blankets had been taken away from us we suffered considerably from cold. I saw that if I was going to remain a prisoner of war it behooved me to get hold of a blanket. After a few hours march I became so lame walking with my new boots on that the rebels were compelled to put me on an old horse that was being lead along by one of the guard. This guard had the bed spread before spoken of. Told him I was going into prison at the beginning of a long winter, and should need a blanket, and couldnt he give me his. We had considerable talk, and were very good friends. Said he rather liked me but wouldnt part with his bed spread. Didnt love me that much, treated me however with apple jack out of his canteen. I kept getting my wits together to arrange some plan to get the article in question. Finally told him I had a large sum of money on my person which I expected would be taken away from me anyway, and as he was a good fellow would rather he would have it than any one else. He was delighted and all attention, wanted me to be careful and not let any of the other rebels see the transfer. I had a lot of Michigan broken down wild cat money, and pulled it out of an inside pocket and handed him the roll. It was green paper and of course he supposed it greenbacks. Was very glad of the gift and wanted to know what he could do for me. My first proposition to him was to let me escape, but he couldnt do that, then I told him to give me the bed spread, as it might save my life. After some further parley, he consented and handed over the spread. He was afraid to look at his money for fear some one would see him, and so did not discover that it was worthless until we had become separated. Guards were changed that night and never saw him any more.