Part 4

_7th day, 9th mo. 3d._ Was cloudy and pleasant to-day. I am rather bad yet. No news about the exchange to be relied on. Griffith has a lame back; complains of the rheumatism.

_1st day, 9th mo. 4th._ I am very ill indeed; lay quiet all day.

_2d day, 9th mo. 5th._ Seemed to be the warmest day; suffered terribly from the heat; lay in the tent most all day; am very weak. Drew bread, pork, a large ration of molasses, and boiled rice.

_3d day, 9th mo. 6th._ My disease is better. Lay in the tent most all day. Eighteen detachments were ordered to be ready to leave at any moment--commencing at the first, going up to the eighteenth.

_4th day, 9th mo. 7th._ Lay in the tent most of the day and am better. They commenced at the first detachment at seven o'clock this morning and by night got as many as six, and gave orders up as high as eighteen to be ready to leave at a short notice. They ordered at first eighteen detachments to be ready, but could not find transportation for all to-day. They say they are ordered to Charleston to be exchanged.

_5th day, 9th mo. 8th._ Lay in the house most of the day. Helped Dr. Buckley all I could. Drew beans, boiled beef, salt and corn meal. They send off prisoners as fast as they can get transportation; have not got more than twenty detachments away yet; they took some of the higher detachments after getting up to the eighteenth--seventy-six to eighty. Mathews got off.

_6th day, 9th mo. 9th._ Was extremely warm to-day. Helped to carry Buckley up to the barracks; was busy waiting on him until near noon; he is very ill; at noon he was admitted to the hospital; I went outside the gate with him; the rebel sergeant would not allow me to stay out with him. The barracks were vacated and filled up with the sick of the detachments which have left. The Drs. commenced and admitted large numbers into the hospital. I have the diarrhoea very bad. About two thousand more were taken away; they ship them off as fast as they can.

_7th day, 9th mo. 10th._ Had a severe spell of chills and fever last night; being so bad the day before, was the cause of it; drank plenty of water, which soon stopped the chills, and threw me into a fever. Was so weak to-day, could hardly go about. About the same number as yesterday were sent off; they mostly started in the night. Drew bread, boiled rice, molasses and salt.

_1st day, 9th mo. 11th._ This was a very warm day. There was not so many got away except this morning. About all the old prisoners are gone. Yesterday evening, all from 19 to 23 were ordered to be ready. About three, o'clock this afternoon, all from 23 to 33 were ordered to be ready. No sooner was the order given than the "boys" packed up and moved off to the gate. Each detachment took up its position, ready to go. Here we lay, anxiously waiting for the cars to come, which were expected at five o'clock, but they did not come. We lay down on the ground. Drew boiled rice this forenoon. After getting to the gate, got boiled beef. I am some better, but so weak and thin, I can just get along. Griffith has such a lame back, he cannot get along much better than I.

_2d day, 9th mo. 12th._ We lay ready to go until almost five o'clock. Drew rice, molasses, and bread, for two days rations. I am very weak, hardly able to walk. At five the trains began to come in; we moved out and got in the cars; sixty to a car. About six o'clock they gave us two days rations of corn bread and pork; started about dusk and arrived at Macon about the middle of the night.

_3d day, 9th mo. 13th._ Lay in the cars until daylight; then started and got to Augusta by evening; stopped there about two hours, then changed cars and started again about dusk.

_4th day, 9th mo. 14th._ Kept on all night, going on the Columbia road, and came to a junction which went to Charleston; and, at noon, came to another junction, one leading towards Wilmington, which we took, after changing cars, and started about five o'clock, and continued going on pretty steady all night.

_5th day, 9th mo. 15th._ Arrived at a village called Florence, South Carolina, and encamped here. Arrived here about two o'clock last night; lay in the cars until eleven o'clock to-day, then were moved out about a mile from the place. Clark, Joice, Griffith, and I, put up a snug tent of two blankets. The day, and, in fact, the weather, has been very warm since we started; we are almost worn out.

_6th day, 9th mo. 16th._ Slept very cold last night; have the diarrhoea very bad, and am so weak that I can hardly go about; did not get any rations until twelve o'clock at night, and then only a pint of meal and a little piece of pork. The rebel Captain called the roll this evening. The camp is divided into messes of one hundred, and detachments of three thousands. I am in mess sixth of our detachment.

_7th day, 9th mo. 17th._ Was a very warm day; I got no better; am so weak, can hardly help myself. Last night was so cold I could not sleep until we took down the blankets and put them over us. Drew a pint of rice for two days' rations.

_1st day, 9th mo. 18th._ Drew a pint of beans, pork and salt. Had roll call; all that were sick and not able to go, were excused; and, after roll call, were ordered to the hospital. I was put on the sick list. About noon we were taken outside of the camp for the purpose of drawing better rations. In the evening drew a good ration of sweet potatoes, a leaf of cabbage, a little beef and salt. I have Griffith's overcoat, which is the only shelter I have. Close, Roberts, Clark and I are together.

_2d day, 9th mo. 19th._ Lay under our tree, and sit by the fire all night; it was very cool. Drew same rations as yesterday, excepting the cabbage; got a square inch of pumpkin. About noon got orders to move to the opposite side of the camp, when the most able men, the nurses, and those who wished, were sent back to camp; the rest put in detachments of one hundred. I am in the seventh detachment; are in the woods, with water handy.

_3d day, 9th mo. 20th._ Had a cool night of it last night; lay in the woods until five o'clock; then were taken up to the shedding, in the field. Clark and I went back to the woods to sleep. It was cloudy all night, and in the evening rained. Drew same rations as yesterday.

_4th day, 9th mo. 21st._ Lay under our tree all night and were up at daylight; had a cold night of it. The nurses put up some boughs over poles for us, but they made poor shelter, excepting from the sun. We were worse off here excepting the rations. Drew a sweet potato, five spoonfuls of flour, the same of rice, and half a tablespoonful of salt. My diarrhoea is almost checked, but my strength is poor yet.

_5th day, 9th mo. 22d._ It rained last night, but I lay in my overcoat and kept dry. Drew the same rations of flour as yesterday, two spoonsful of corn meal, rice, salt and a mouthful of bacon. Make gruel and rice soup mostly for Close and I. Am decidedly better to-day. Had a good deal of rain this evening.

_6th day, 9th mo. 23d._ Was cloudy all day; rained in the fore-part of the night; made out to sleep a little. Got some dead pine leaves and spread on the ground for my bed. My overcoat kept me from getting "wringing wet." Got everything dry to day, and went to the creek and took a bath. All who were able were sent to the creek to bathe, and before they got back the doctor sent three hundred and fifty of them back to camp. I cannot gain strength. Drew hominy, rice, flour and a pinch of salt.

_7th day, 9th mo. 24th._ Lay about all day and cooked. Had a heavy rain in the evening. Drew corn meal, rice, fresh beef, and a pinch of salt. My old complaint is back on me as bad as ever.

_1st day, 9th mo. 25th._ Was a clear, warm and windy day. My diarrhoea gets no better. Drew fresh beef, a good ration, and salt only. Made soup of rice. I cook for Close. All who could walk were sent back to camp; I was left out, being able to walk only a little. Clark was sent in. Had a cool night.

_2d day, 9th mo. 26th._ Last night was very cold--cold enough for frost. To-day was fine and clear, but rather cool. Am very weak and prostrated. There are some rumors of an exchange going on.

_3d day, 9th mo. 21th._ Was warm; last night was cold. All excepting the worst cases were sent to camp. I got some medicine this evening--a pill of camphor and opium; some with dysentery got oleum ricini and spirits of turpentine. The scurvy cases, a decoction of Sumac berries, which was pleasant to drink. Some kind citizens sent some boiled sweet potatoes, ham, cabbage and bread for the worst cases. The steward, who seems to notice me considerably, gave Close and I some of all the above named articles, so we wanted no supper. Drew corn meal, fresh beef and salt. I cooked beans until eleven o'clock at night for our breakfast. Am no better, but have a good appetite.

_4th day, 9th mo. 28th._ Was very warm all day; spent the day as yesterday. Drew meal, beans and salt.

_5th day, 9th mo. 29th._ Was a warm night; I slept well. My complaint is no better; am very weak. Drew meal, rice, salt, molasses, and some sweet potatoes; the molasses is of the worst sorghum. They give us medicine once per day.

_6th day, 9th mo. 30th._ Spent the day laying in my shed. My disease is on the mend. Got to the creek and took a bath this forenoon. Drew fresh beef, rice, meal and salt. Got medicine to-day. The men die pretty fast.

_7th day, 10th mo. 1st._ Lay quiet as possible. Drew one-half of a large hard tack, eight spoonsful of molasses, and salt.

_1st day, 10th mo. 2d._ Was busy pottering around all day. Drew one half of hard tack, eight spoonsful of molasses, salt, corn meal and flour. The men are dying off very fast all around me. Griffith was put in the third Ward. Got my cap and gum blanket.

_2d day, 10th mo. 3d._ Spent the day as yesterday. Had some rain in the evening. Drew fresh beef, beans, flour and salt. My health is better.

_3d day, 10th mo. 4th._ Lay quiet; my complaint is some better. Drew molasses, rice, flour and salt--a good ration.

_4th day, 10th mo. 5th._ Lay quiet. Took a dose of olium vicini last night. Did not eat much to-day; am getting stouter. Drew meal, beans and salt. Was a warm and pleasant day. Edward Roberts died in the afternoon. I went down to see how he was, and found him only breathing.

_5th day, 10th mo. 6th._ Am getting better; walked around a good deal to-day. Sold my knife for six dollars in Confederate money; also, five pearl buttons for fifty cents. Partly cooked some beans after ten o'clock this evening. Had a heavy rain.

_6th day, 10th mo. 7th._ Am better to-day than I have been for some time. Bought seven sweet potatoes for fifty cents and ate the half of them. Drew fifteen small crackers, sent to us by the Sanitary Commission, and some flour and salt. Wrote a letter for Close to his father; he has given up all hopes of recovery.

_7th day, 10th mo. 8th._ Was clear and cold all day. Drew fifteen small crackers, a small spoonful of beef tea, some condensed milk and coffee. Two rations made only a pint of coffee; I gave all to Close--he seemed to relish them. Shirts and drawers were issued to those who needed them; they were sent by the Sanitary Commission. I feel better and stouter to-day, and made out to draw three buckets of water and carry it. Sold a knife for Close for one dollar, and bought one dollar's worth of sweet potatoes.

_1st day, 10th mo. 9th._ Was very cool all day. Drew the usual rations. The men are dying off very fast.

_2d day, 10th mo. 10th._ Last night it was so cold that it was as much as I could do to keep from freezing. It was clear and cool all day. Drew thin half-blankets for those who had none, also socks, hats and drawers, from the Sanitary Commission.

_3d day, 10th mo. 11th._ Spent the day, which was very cool, as yesterday. Drew same kind of rations.

_4th day, 10th mo. 12th._ Was warm to-day. Have been troubled with a sore mouth, arising from a bad cold. Medicine does no good. Drew medicine, got drowsy and went to bed.

_5th day, 10th mo. 13th._ Have had a worse attack of that "terrible scourge" to-day than I have had for a long time. Took medicine to no purpose.

_6th day, 10th mo. 14th._ I am no better; worse if anything. Drew "Sanitary stuff" for the worst cases, and fresh beef, flour and corn meal.

_7th day, 10th mo. 15th._ Was a fine day; lay quiet most of the time. Sanitary stuff for Close, and the worst cases, were issued. Drew some crackers with a ration. Put Close's and mine in soup. My complaint seems to be better.

_1st day, 10th mo. 16th._ A pleasant day. Close about the same. Drank concentrated coffee and sconce. I feel better, but cannot get my disease checked. Took three cathartic pills this evening. Drew no rations.

_2d day, 10th mo. 17th._ Was the same kind of day to me as others. Close was worse all day; the ward-master got him an egg, some beef tea and coffee, which he ate and yet seemed hungry. We think he cannot live over night.

_3d day, 10th mo. 18th._ Covered Close up with all the blankets, and got permission to sleep by the nurse's fire. The night was cool. Close kept sinking until four o'clock this morning, when he died. It looks like rain again this morning. Burns, one of the nurses, and I, put up a tent of my gum blanket and one of the new blankets. I am not much better.

_4th day, 10th mo. 19th._ Warm and pleasant; was busy most of the time, but did not do much. The Sanitary Commission has been sending clothing here, but it is rather light stuff, such as red pants, gray drawers, and red and gray shirts.

_5th day, 10th mo. 20th._ Lay as quiet as possible all day. Am better.

_6th day, 10th mo. 21st._ Lay as quiet as possible all day. The nights are very cool.

_7th day, 10th mo. 22d._ Last night was very cool, but I got a good night's rest. To-day was blustery and cold, but clear. At ten o'clock the hospital was moved inside of the stockade, and to the northwest corner of it. All who were able to walk were sent ahead, and after getting in were taken across the creek and put in charge of a corporal. I took a walk around and bought two Confederate dollars worth of sweet potatoes for my dinner; traded all my beans for salt; then took a walk to the hospital grounds, and found our steward and nurses, who told me to bring my things. Burns and I put up a tent as before and prepared for a cold night; ate a little boiled rice. The steward gave me four spoonsful of canned tomatoes and a biscuit for my supper.

_1st day, 10th mo. 23d._ Was cool; lay about, and kept warm in the sun and tent.

_2d day, 10th mo. 24th._ Lay in the tent most of the time. A Mason, ward-master, came to see me. A rebel Lieutenant was looking around for us. The backs of my hands are so badly chapped I can hardly do any thing.

* * * * *

It appears that from inability or some other cause, Charles Smedley was unable to give us any further account of his trials and sufferings; and that the 24th of the 10th month, 1864, was the last day he was able to write. I have deemed it appropriate to add the following account of his last days, (obtained from Richard Dobbins, who was the steward or ward-master, referred to by Charles, and who attended him until near his last moments,) as a finale to his own history, as given in his diary.

JOEL SMEDLEY.

* * * * *

Having had some acquaintance with Charles Smedley--the writer of the foregoing diary--for some time previous to his decease, at the request of his father, I shall endeavor to give some account, from memory, of the last days of his existence; also, a brief account of my own experience while in the hands of the rebels, as their prisoner.

My name is Richard Dobbins, a native of western Missouri. I belonged to Company H, 18th Regiment Iowa Volunteers--was taken prisoner at the battle of Missionary Ridge, Nov. 25th, 1863--was sent to the Libby prison, in Richmond, Va., where I remained a short time--Then I was sent to Belle Island, where I suffered very much from cold and starvation. I often thought of death, which stared me in the face daily; though I was not worse off than the majority of the other prisoners. I remained there until the 16th of March, 1864, when I was sent with others to Andersonville, in Georgia, where I suffered very much; not so much from starvation as on the island, but from the rain and cold; also from smoke, from the burning of pine wood. We were of course thinly clad, some destitute of blankets, some of shoes, some of pants, while others had scarcely any clothes on them. The majority of us had been searched and robbed of all our good clothing, money, watches, boots, &c. It seemed as though we could expect nothing but death to relieve us from our sufferings. Over twelve thousand of the prisoners died at Andersonville.

On the 8th of September, I, with others, was sent from there, and in due time arrived at Savannah. From thence we were moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where the rebels made a kind of military display of us, by marching us through the city, and putting us in the prison, near the officers who were under the fire of our own guns.

We remained there only one day and night, and then were marched to the rear of the city on the race-course track, where we staid but a short time; then I was sent to Florence, South Carolina. Shortly after I arrived there, I was taken out on "parole of honor," and sent to the Federal hospital by the rebel surgeons, as master of one of the wards there.

It was there I became acquainted with Corporal Charles Smedley, of Company G, Ninetieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, (although I had frequently seen him at sick call, while at Andersonville, but did not make his acquaintance,) who was a patient in my ward.

A little incident occurred there that manifested his kind and generous disposition, which attracted my attention, and caused me to feel a deep interest in his welfare. I had prepared some food for him, the best I could get, and took it to him. He immediately gave it all to David Close, (who was a fellow prisoner with him, and very sick,) saying, "you need it worse than I."

When he first came to the hospital, he complained of chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. After a few days the dysentery left him, though he was very weak. He kindly waited on David Close, and seemed willing to do all he could for him, as he considered Close worse than himself. I think he hurt himself by over exertion. He waited on Close all he could, until he died, which appears to have occurred on the morning of the 18th of October.

A few days after the death of David Close, the hospital was moved inside of the stockade, to the North-west corner. Charles, with others, walked in. In the evening Charles came over to the hospital. We told him he had better get his things, and come back to the hospital and stay, which he did. Shortly after he came, his hands became very sore, apparently from a dropsical affection, and were bandaged up.

His walk, from the hospital to the inside of the stockade, appeared to have been too much for his strength. From that day he became worse, though he was able to walk about, almost every day, until the day before he died.

He gave me his watch some time before, saying, "he might drop off any time," and requested me, if it should so happen, to take it home to his father, and tell him all, which I promised him I would do, if it was possible. He seemed cheerful, and manifested no fears of death. In fact, he always appeared cheerful and in good spirits, and seemed confident that he would get home again. He certainly had a very hard and trying time while in prison, but was seldom heard to complain or find fault. _He was a good soldier and a true patriot._

He died on the night of the 16th of November, 1864. He was washed, shaved, and clean clothes put on him, but no coffin was provided for him. His body was wrapped in a sheet and buried in the burial ground, a short distance north of north-west of the stockade. The number of his grave was probably recorded at the rebel headquarters, as is their custom, but I do not know the number. I tried to get the number, but could not, for reasons best known to the rebel officers.

After his death I secured his Bible, diary, a small book in which he kept the photographs of his family, and a few little tools, with which he used to while away the time in making bone rings, &c.; all of which, with the watch, according to my promise, I have succeeded in delivering to his father.

I was paroled on the 29th of November, 1864, and sent from Florence, South Carolina, to Savannah, Georgia, where I was put on shipboard, and brought, with many others, to Annapolis, Maryland, where I arrived on the morning of the 5th of December, and immediately informed Charles Smedley's father of his sad fate.

RICHARD DOBBINS, Co. H, 17th Regiment Iowa Volunteers

FOOTNOTES:

[4] His little tent as described under date of "3d day, 5th mo. 24th."

[5] The term street must be applied to the road in the centre of the stockade. It cannot possibly be a street in the town.

[6] By the term "raiders," the writer designates a set of thieves and cut-throats among the prisoners, who made a practice of robbing newly arrived Union soldiers.

MARCH TO AND BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

SIXTH AND SEVENTH MONTHS, 1863.

On the march into Maryland, _5th day, 6th mo. 25th, 1863_, were called in from picket about nine o'clock; went to the old camp, and joined, or followed the division, which has been on the march for some time. Should have remained on picket, as the column passed the right of the picket line. Followed the road to Edward's Ferry, where we crossed on one of the pontoons; went on, and passed through Poolsville, and then on to Barnesville, where we encamped in a clump of thick, low pines, on the north side of the town; had a difficult time getting into the woods. It had been raining all day, and still continued; Jos. and I put up Clay's tent, and took Chaplin in with us; we were almost "wringing wet" from perspiration and rain. Had a hard march, and were almost worn out.

_6th day, 6th mo. 26th._ Were called up at daylight by the Adjutant, but did not get out until all the other regiments were off. We got ready, and were off by five o'clock, and went on as fast as possible, but did not catch up to the brigade until we had gone several miles. All of our things were wet, which made our load heavy to carry. We crossed the Monocacy river, went through Adamstown, and came to Jeffersonville, where we took up our camp for the night. I gave out about the middle of the day, and fell down; got a pass from the Captain, signed by the Doctor, as I could not keep up, and took my time; got to within a mile of Jeffersonville by the time the division halted. Made some coffee, and went to a cherry tree and got some cherries, which was the most I had to eat to-day. We put up our tent, and went to a stack of straw and got an armful for our bed; took the sergeant in with us. It rained some all night; our clothes were very wet--could almost wring them.

_7th day, 6th mo. 27th._ The bugle sounded about four o'clock, we got up about five, and were packed up by eight. Went to a house near by to get water and wash; then went to a cherry tree and got some cherries. Made some tea for breakfast. By half past eight were in line, and started. Went through the town, and followed the road leading towards Middletown. We made an easy march of it, a distance of eight miles. The roads were hard, which made the marching good. We got to Middletown by one o'clock, passed on through towards the mountains, and encamped. We appear to be in a valley. All of the First and Twelfth Corps are encamped around here. The country we have passed through the last two days is of the best farming land.