Belle Island, Richmond,
Va. — I was captured near Rogersville, East Tennessee, on the 6th of this
month, while acting as Brigade Quarter-Master Sergt. The Brigade was divided,
two regiments twenty miles away, while Brigade Head-Quarters with 7th Ohio and
1st Tennessee Mounted Infantry were at Rogersville. The brigade quarter-master
had a large quantity of clothing on hand, which we were about to issue to the
brigade as soon as possible. The rebel citizens got up a dance at one of the
public houses in the village, and invited all the union officers. This was the
evening of Nov. 5th. Nearly all the officers attended and were away from the
command nearly all eight and many were away all night. We were encamped in a
bend of the Holston River. It was a dark rainy night and the river rose rapidly
before morning. The dance was a ruse to get our officers away from their
command. At break of day the pickets were drove in by rebel cavalry, and orders
were immediately received from commanding officer to get wagon train out on the
road in ten minutes. The quarter-master had been to the dance and had not
returned, consequently it devolved upon me to see to wagon train, which I did,
and in probably ten minutes the whole seventy six mule army wagons were in line
out on the main road, while the companies were forming into line and getting
ready for a fight. Rebels had us completely surrounded and soon began to fire
volley after volley into our disorganized ranks. Not one officer in five was
present; Gen. commanding and staff as soon as they realized our danger, started
for the river, swam across and got away. We had a small company of artillery
with us commanded by a lieutenant. The lieutenant in the absence of other officers,
assumed command of the two regiments, and right gallantly did he do service.
Kept forming his men for the better protection of his wagon train, while the
rebels were shifting around from one point to another, and all the time sending
volley after volley into our ranks. Our men did well, and had there been plenty
of officers and ammunition, we might have gained the day. After ten hours
fighting we were obliged to surrender after having lost in killed over a
hundred, and three or four times that number in wounded. After surrendering we
were drawn up into line, counted off and hurriedly marched away south. By eight
o'clock at night had probably marched ten miles, and encamped until morning. We
expected that our troops would intercept and release us, but they did not. An
hour before daylight we were up and on the march toward Bristol, Va., that
being the nearest railroad station. We were cavalrymen, and marching on foot
made us very lame, and we could hardly hobble along. Were very well fed on corn
bread and bacon. Reached Bristol, Va., Nov. 8th and were soon aboard of cattle
cars en-route for the rebel capital. I must here tell how I came into
possession of a very nice and large bed spread which is doing good service even
now these cold nights. After we were captured everything was taken away from
us, blankets, overcoats, and in many cases our boots and shoes. I had on a new
pair of boots, which by muddying them over had escaped the rebel eyes thus far,
as being a good pair. As our blankets had been taken away from us we suffered
considerably from cold. I saw that if I was going to remain a prisoner of war
it behooved me to get hold of a blanket. After a few hours march I became so
lame walking with my new boots on that the rebels were compelled to put me on
an old horse that was being lead along by one of the guard. This guard had the
bed spread before spoken of. Told him I was going into prison at the beginning
of a long winter, and should need a blanket, and could'nt he give me his. We
had considerable talk, and were very good friends. said he rather liked me but
wouldn't part with his bed spread. Didn't love me that much, treated me however
with apple jack out of his canteen. I kept getting my wits together to arrange
some plan to get the article in question. Finally told him I had a large sum of
money on my person which I expected would be taken away from me anyway, and as
he was a good fellow would rather he would have it than any one else. He was
delighted and all attention, wanted me to be careful and not let any of the
other rebels see the transfer. I had a lot of Michigan broken down wild cat
money, and pulled it out of an inside pocket and handed him the roll. It was
green paper and of course he supposed it greenbacks. Was very glad of the gift
and wanted to know what he could do for me. My first proposition to him was to
let me escape, but he couldn't do that, then I told him to give me the bed
spread, as it might save my life. After some further parley, he consented and
handed over the spread. He was afraid to look at his money for fear some one
would see him, and so did not discover that it was worthless until we had
become separated. Guards were changed that night and never saw him any more.
The cars ran very slow, and being crowded for room the journey
to Richmond was very tedious. Arrived on the morning of Nov. 13th, seven days
after capture, at the south end of the “long bridge,” ordered out of the cars
and into line, counted off and started for Belle Isle. Said island is in the
James River, probably covers ten or twelve acres, and is right across from
Richmond. The river between Richmond and the island is probably a third or half
a mile .The "long bridge " is near the lower part of the island. It
is a cold, bleak piece of ground and the winter winds have free sweep from up
the river. Before noon we were turned into the pen which is merely enclosed by
a ditch and the dirt taken from the ditch thrown up on the outside, making a
sort of breastwork. The ditch serves as a dead line, and no prisoners must go
near the ditch. The prison is in command of a Lieut. Bossieux, a rather young
and gallant looking sort of fellow. Is a born Southerner, talking so much like
a negro that you would think he was one, if you could hear him talk and not see
him. He has two rebel sergeants to act as his assistants, Sergt. Hight and
Sergt. Marks. These two men are very cruel, as is also the Lieut, when angered.
Outside the prison pen is a bake house, made of boards, the rebel tents for the
accommodation of the officers and guard, and a hospital also of tent cloth.
Running from the pen is a lane enclosed by high boards going to the water's
edge. At night this is closed up by a gate at the pen, and thrown open in the
morning. About half of the six thousand prisoners here have tents while the
rest sleep and live out of doors. After I had been on this island two or three
days, I was standing near the gate eating some rice soup out of an old broken
bottle, thoroughly disgusted with the Southern Confederacy, and this prison in
particular A young man came up to me whom I immediately recognized as George W.
Hendryx, a member of my own company “A” 9th Mich. Cavalry, who had been
captured some time before myself. Was feeling so blue, cross and cold that I
didn't, care whether it was him or not. He was on his way to the river to get
some water. Found I wasn't going to notice him in any way, and so proceeded on
his errand. When I say that George Hendryx was one of the most valued friends I
had in the regiment, this action on my part will seem strange as indeed it is.
Did not want to see him or any one else I had ever seen before. Well, George
came back a few moments after, looked at me a short time and says: “I believe
you are John L. Ransom, Q. M Sergt. of the same Co with me, although you don't
seem to recognize me.” Told him “I was that same person, recognized him and
there could be no mistake about it.” Wanted to know why in the old harry 1
didn't speak to him then. After telling him just how it was, freezing to death,
half starved and gray backs crawling all over me, &c., we settled down into
being glad to see one another.
SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville
Diary, p. 9-12
