Cold and wet. Throat
and lungs sore, head and bones ache; I am nearly sick; got no rest. It grew
warmer about 10 a. m. I lay down to get a little ease when orders came to get
ready to leave. After a long parade, a great deal of threatening and ordering
by officers to "slap the bayonet into them," we started out. In
passing the guard we marched by twos. Going up the hill I slipped and fell
behind. The officer that counted us was enraged; seized me by the collar, pushed
me down the hill, then jerking the other way struck me across the shoulders
with his sword a blow that staggered me. Had it not been death I should have
struck him in the face, it was my first impulse. Our eyes met, I wanted to know
him if we should meet again. He flourished his sword and with an oath ordered
me on. It rained hard so there was not many to look at us on the street. Nearly
noon I got aboard the car. It was after dark before we reached Burkville, a
junction of the South Side Richmond & Danville Railroads. The most
important place was Farmville, 70 miles west of Richmond on the right bank of
the Appomattox River, a place of nearly 2,000.
Near this place we
passed a high, long bridge. The car I was in was an old-fashioned coach with
seats, although not cushioned we thought they were doing well by us. Shortly
after dark I got as much out of the way as possible, for the boys were inclined
to be "gay and happy still," and lay down on the floor. I felt much
worn; my throat pained me constantly. Fortunately I had some camphor gum, sent
from home during the winter, a pill of which I frequently took, which gave
relief.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 45-6
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