The Dispatch Carrier and Memoirs of Andersonville Prison

go five miles below Jacksonport and watch for the boat. In the meantime the camp moved to the piece of land that divides the Black from the White river. We went below Jacksonport to the plac

ebel gunboat was coming up they altered their tune and called us all the mean names they could think of. Our officers had even put guards over their wells so as to keep the soldiers away. One woman in particu

ched the town she sent a shell over our heads. We soon got in shelter of the town, and the citizens commenced to yell at us. Some said one thing and so

e of our men turned in his saddle and said some

us. The first shell went over us; the next struck the water a hundred yards from us, and the third struck close and threw the water all over us. Our horses became unmanageable. One jumped ove

ot. But I know this much about it, we were ordered to mount and get out of there. We went back about eight or ten m

heads and spilt the sugar in the middle of the road. Our horses waded knee deep in sugar for t

izens had a little more manners when we came back; there were no more guards put over well

"dear life." We passed them and came up to where our men had formed a line. The rebels had also formed a line about three hundred yards in advance, and were crowding our men back, but as soon as we reinforced our men it turned the tide of the skirmish. We drove them back. I do not think it lasted over ha

les below Jacksonport two companies of rebels came up on the other side. As soon as they came in sight of one another they opened fire. The river at this po

ve a fair, open stand up and fight with me, and

g and looked on with interest. Jim was a splendid shot, and as cool as if shooting a

arned sight

l right

tened up, Jim's gun was loaded. He brought it to his shoulder, took steady aim and fired. The rebel brought his hand to his breast with a slap and down he went. Just at this moment the rebels got a large reinforcement with artillery, and we were forced to fall back.

a small company of Union soldiers whom they could overpower by numbers, and take them prisoners, they would march them out into the woods and shoot them. Such fellows never came out in an open fight, but were always sneaking around in the brush, and that is what gave them the name of bushwh

nd them, and at the same time rebel planters would call on our generals for protection. As sure as they found out that our army was coming

rs. As I came up in front of headquarters tent, Col.

hite river to a planter's house and to guard the property while some

use and dismounted. There were two men sitting on the porch, one a gray-headed man and the other a young man. They proved to be father and son. As I went in the gate two young ladies came out on the porch, followed by a colored woman

ed it and examined it a long time, and fi

and see if you c

an't make it

t may be, stranger, that you can read this

ds his compliments to you and sends guards to prot

are the

were taken care of. As they disappeared around the house the old man invited me to take a chair which old aunty had provided for me. No soo

son here is also, and of c

. The house was the double log kind, with a kind of hall between the two houses, and a porch runnin

cornfield we could see the dust rolling up over the

hey are confederates

ght. I'll see that

Rebs; for be it known that there was not a Union man in the south but what

interest. One of the girls jumped to her feet and went in and brought out

federates," s

the house, and the planter and his family all walked out to the fence. The rebel Colonel dismounted, and we could see that they were talking earnestly about us, for they cast glances

do you belong,"

the Ninth Ill

ou stationed

oned at Ja

are ther

me for a fo

e sent as a protection guard, and I want to tell you that you are perfectly

now anythin

getting late in the afternoon, and away off in the west could be heard distant thunder. The Colonel ordered th

he lightning was something fearful to behold, and the deep bass thunder shook the earth to its very foundation. The negroes were running i

followed so closely that it seemed more like the noise of a cannon. One of the horses rose up on his hind feet and struck the darkey with his front feet and sent him sprawling on the ground. At that all three started up to the rebel camp on a run and di

, I is dun

and made for a place of shelter. We all went into the house. It was getting quite dark. They wer

and you federals to come and eat at the same table, and

and the rebel Colonel and the two girls sat opposite us. Every time that the Captain who sat next to me had anything to say it was a s

nks alone. I know I could if they

he old gentle

you and your family a

man, "I am very sor

e probably thought he could get away with twenty Yankees too, but, Mr. Reb, I went out and had a fair fight with him and got away with him, too, so if you th

leman jumped

ant it distinctly understood that

lence, and as we were rising

ighting you want before to-morrow night;"