Doctortown Station,
No. 5.—Ha! Ha! My boy, you are a prisoner of war again. Once more with a
blasted rebel standing guard over me, and it all happened in this wise: Just
before dark I went up to that house I spoke of in my writings yesterday. Walked
boldly up and rapped at the door; and what was my complete astonishment when a
white woman answered my rapping. Asked me what I wanted, and I told her
something to eat. Told me to come in and set down. She was a dark looking woman
and could easily be mistaken from my hiding place of the day for a negro. Began
asking me questions. Told her I was a rebel soldier, had been in the hospital
sick and was trying to reach home in the adjoining county. Was very talkative;
told how her husband had been killed at Atlanta, &c. She would go out and
in from a shanty kitchen in her preparation of my supper. I looked out through
a window and saw a little darky riding away from the house, a few minutes after
I went inside Thought I had walked into a trap, and was very uneasy. Still the
woman talked and worked, and I talked, telling as smoothe lies as I knew how.
For a full hour and a half sat there, and she all the time getting supper. Made
up my. mind that I was the same as captured, and so put on a bold face and made
the best of it. Was very well satisfied with my escapade anyway, if I could
only get a whack at that supper before the circus commenced. Well, after a
while heard some hounds coming through the woods and towards the house. Looked
at the woman and her face pleaded guilty, just as if she had done something
very mean. The back door of the house was open and pretty soon half a dozen
large blood hounds bounded into the room and began snuffing me over; about this
time the woman began to cry. Told her I understood the whole thing and she need
not make a scene over it. Said she knew I was a Yankee and had sent for some
men at Doctortown. Then five horsemen surrounded the house, dismounted and four
of them came in with guns cocked prepared for a desperate encounter. I said: “good
evening, gentlemen.” “Good evening,” said the foremost, '”we are looking for a
runaway yankee prowling around here.” “Well,” says I, “you needn't look any
farther, you have found him.” “Yes, I see,” was the answer. They all sat down,
and just then the woman said “supper is ready and to draw nigh.” Drawed as nigh
as I could to that supper and proceeded to take vengeance on the woman. The
fellows proved to be home guards stationed here at Doctortown. The woman had
mounted the negro boy on a horse just as soon as I made my appearance at the
house and sent for them. They proved to be good fellows. Talked there at the
house a full hour on the fortunes of war, &c, Told them of my long
imprisonment and escape and all about myself. After a while we got ready to
start for this place. One rebel rode in front, one on each side and two in the
rear of me. Was informed that if I tried to run they would shoot me. Told them
no danger of my running, as I could hardly walk. They soon saw that such was
the case after going a little way, and sent back one of the men to borrow the
woman's horse. Was put on the animal's back and we reached Doctortown not far
from midnight. As we were leaving the house the woman gave me a bundle; said in
it was a shirt and stockings. Told her she had injured me enough and I would
take them. No false delicy will prevent my taking a shirt. And so my adventure
has ended and have enjoyed it hugely. Had plenty to eat with the exception of
the two days, and at the last had a horseback ride. How well I was reminded of
my last ride when first taken prisoner and at the time I got the coverlid. In
the bundle was a good white shirt, pair of stockings, and a chunk of dried beef
of two pounds or so. One of the captors gave me ten dollars in Confederate
money. Now am in an old vacant building and guarded and it is the middle of the
afternoon. Many citizens have visited me and I tell the guard he ought to
charge admission; money in it. Some of the callers bring food and are allowed
to give it to me, and am stocked with more than can conveniently carry. Have
had a good wash up, put on my clean white shirt with standing collar, and new
stockings and am happy. Doctortown is a small village with probably six or
eight hundred population, and nigger young ones by the scores. Am treated
kindly and well, and judge from conversations that I hear, that the battles are
very disastrous to the rebels and that the war is pretty well over. All the
negroes are hard pressed, fortifying every available point to contest the
advance of the Union Army. This is cheering news to me. My escape has given me
confidence in myself, and I shall try it again the first opportunity. A woman
has just given me a bottle of milk and two dollars in money. thanked her with
my heart in my mouth. Having been captured and brought to this place, am here
waiting for them to get instructions as to what they shall do with me. They say
I will probably be sent to the prison at Blackshear, which is forty or fifty
miles away Think I should be content to stay here with plenty to eat. Am in a
good clean room in a dwelling. Can talk with any one who chooses to come and
see me. The room was locked during the night, and this morning was thrown open,
and I can wander through three rooms. Guard is off a few rods where he can see
all around the house. Occasionally I go out doors and am having a good time. Later. — Have seen a Savannah paper
which says Sherman and his hosts are marching toward that city, and for the
citizens to rally to repel the invader. My swollen ankle is being rubbed today
with ointment furnished by an old darky. I tell you there are humane people the
world over, who will not see even an enemy suffer if they can help it. While I
have seen some of the worst people in the South, I have also seen some of the
very best, and those, too, who were purely southern people and rebels. There
are many pleasant associations connected with my prison life, as well as some
directly to the opposite.
SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p.
127-9
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