Chapter I: Front Matter

Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
file which includes the original illustration.
See 57440-h.htm or 57440-h.zip:
(https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/57440/pg57440-images.html)
or
(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/57440/57440-h.zip)

Images of the original pages are available through
Internet Archive. See
https://archive.org/details/soldiersexperien00prut

A SOLDIER'S EXPERIENCE IN SOUTHERN PRISONS

by

C. M. PRUTSMAN

Lieut. in Seventh Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers

A Graphic Description of the Author's Experiences in Various Southern Prisons

New York Andrew H. Kellogg 1901

Copyright, 1901, By C. M. Prutsman, Lexington, Neb.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Events preceding my capture--The last day of freedom--A
major's folly--My picket line captured--Warrenton--I
lose a valuable pair of boots--Culpepper--Farewell
to the boots--A disappointing test of good faith 5

CHAPTER II.

Libby--Now I lose my money--"Fresh fish"--Quarters and
rations--Boxes from home--Two majors escape--A general
conspiracy--Bad news and new prisoners--General
Butler saves two Union officers by threatening to hang
Captains Fitzhugh Lee and Winder--Two female prisoners
discovered in male attire in Belle Isle--We secure
their release 13

CHAPTER III.

Sick in the smallpox ward--A new plan of escape--Over a
powder mine--The plan fails--Filling the roll, one hundred
and nine men "short"--Shot at through windows--"Bread!
bread!"--Hopes of exchange--May 1st--Boxes
which had passed in the night--Brutes--More boxes--Danville,
May 8th--Two weeks later, Macon 20

CHAPTER IV.

A tunnel spoiled by the rain--Captain Tabb's cruelties--Corn
pone bakers--July 4th squelched--Beyond the "dead
line"--Caught--Sherman sixty miles away--Charleston--Negro
regimental prisoners--In the gallows' shadow--Whipping-post--Paroles
--Money exchange drafts--The Anderson men 29

CHAPTER V.

Sherman devastates Northern Georgia--Columbia "Camp
Sorghum"--A "dug-out"--I get away--Free--An unexpected
plunge--Trouble ahead--Recaptured--A meal--The
"debtor's cell" at Abbeville--Back to "Sorghum" 41

CHAPTER VI.

An "underground railway"--More paroles--Bloodhounds--Bribing
the guard--Bloodhound steaks--Two hundred
and fifty prisoners "short"--Back to Columbia--Building
barracks--A good tunnel started 50

CHAPTER VII.

Five of us have a narrow escape from the train--Friendly
negroes--A good old "shakedown" 57

CHAPTER VIII.

Surrounded by rebel forces--Undiscovered--Skirmishing for
food--Sambo--Sambo's schemes--Sambo brings succor--At
headquarters--Sambo's reward 65

CHAPTER IX.

General Logan--General Sherman--Clean at last--General
Hobart's hospitality--Luxurious ease--A ghastly reminder
of horrors escaped--Washington "short"--Ordered
back to my regiment--An honorable discharge 74

A SOLDIER'S EXPERIENCE IN SOUTHERN PRISONS.