Read Ebook: Life in Southern Prisons From the Diary of Corporal Charles Smedley of Company G 90th Regiment Penn'a Volunteers Commencing a Few Days Before the Battle of the Wilderness In Which He Was Taken Prisoner ... Also a Short Description of the March to and Batt by Smedley Charles Dobbins Richard Contributor Stubbs Charles H Contributor

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Editor: Charles H. Stubbs James. H. Clark Annie Smedley Elwood Smedley

LIFE

SOUTHERN PRISONS;

FROM THE DIARY OF

CORPORAL CHARLES SMEDLEY,

OF COMPANY G, 90TH REGIMENT PENN'A VOLUNTEERS,

COMMENCING A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE "BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS," IN WHICH HE WAS TAKEN PRISONER, IN THE EVENING OF FIFTH MONTH FIFTH, 1864:

ALSO,

A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE MARCH TO AND BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG,

TOGETHER WITH A

PUBLISHED BY THE LADIES' AND GENTLEMEN'S FULTON AID SOCIETY.

PEARSOL & GEIST, PRINTERS, DAILY EXPRESS OFFICE. 1865.

April 7th, 1865. At a regular meeting of the FULTON AID SOCIETY, "New Business" being in order, the following resolutions were offered and unanimously adopted:

In conformity with the above resolutions, the following were appointed the Committee:

CHAS. H. STUBBS, M. D., Chairman. JAMES H. CLARK, ANNIE SMEDLEY, ELWOOD SMEDLEY.

PREFACE

The following pages contain a plain, unvarnished statement of facts that occurred under the notice of one who was so unfortunate as to be taken prisoner by those who sought to destroy and dissever our glorious country. As will be perceived, it is written with great care, hence its reliability.

With these few explanations we offer this little book to our citizens, feeling confident that it will be purchased and read by many of them.

In purchasing this work you contribute your mite towards alleviating the condition of those whose sufferings are so well set forth in its pages.

COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF CHAS. SMEDLEY.

BY CHAS. H. STUBBS, M. D.

On the eleventh of April, 1856, after spending nearly a year at Westtown, he returned home and again assisted his father in superintending the mills and managing the farm. This engaged his attention for the next two years.

In the Spring of 1858 he concluded to commence business for himself. That of a merchant suggested itself; but feeling deficient in knowledge necessary to success if he engaged in this business, he resolved to prepare himself by taking a mercantile course. With this object in view, on the fifth of May, 1858, he entered the Lancaster County Normal School at Millersville. While at Millersville he became an active an influential member of the Page Society--a noted literary association connected with the Normal School.

Having remained one term at the Normal School, he returned to his native place in the Fall, and on the thirteenth of October, 1858, entered into an agreement with his father to take the grist and saw mills "on the shares." He continued to have charge of the mills for two year, and met with good success. During these two years he took an active interest in every movement that would have a tendency to improve the moral condition of society.

Believing strongly in the influence to be exerted by example, he joined several associations, whose object was of a reformatory character. Uniting himself with the Odd Fellows and Good Templars, he took an active part in the business of both of these orders. In these associations he was among the first to see that the rules were implicitly obeyed and kept inviolate. On one occasion a fellow member of the order of Odd Fellows was on trial for violating one of the sworn conditions on which he entered the lodge, by persisting in getting intoxicated whenever he felt disposed. The member who was most opposed to continuing this habitual drunkard in the lodge was Charles Smedley. In his little speech made in opposition, he boldly and fearlessly asserted that it was immaterial what position the person on trial might occupy--by his late actions the accused had unfitted himself to be continued any longer in the association, and in his opinion should be expelled.

In the Order of Good Templars Chas. Smedley attained the highest position in the Lodge of which he was a member. Through his influence many other young men were induced to join and forever eschew that accursed evil which has led to the ruin of many noble youths and caused them to fill premature graves.

On the twenty-first of April, 1862, he gave up his interest in the mills, having in contemplation a visit to some of the northern cities. After traveling several weeks in central New York, and spending a few days in the great Eastern Metropolis, young Smedley returned to Pennsylvania on the twenty-first of May.

The great rebellion had now been in progress for a year. Throughout the sections of country visited by him, the young men of the North were rapidly volunteering for their country's defense. Thinking it was not right for him to travel now and spend his time, he came home with the determination of serving his country in her hour of peril.

Well knowing that the consent of his parents could not be obtained, he bid them adieu and started for Philadelphia, where, on the 29th of May, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company G, 90th Regiment Penna. Volunteers.

In a letter written to the author of this sketch, soon after he enlisted, dated "Front Royal, 6th mo. 16th, 1862," he says: "After traveling through the different parts of the country and witnessing the state of things caused by this rebellion, I, by degrees, made up my mind that the larger the force that we could put in the field, the sooner would this rebellion be crushed, and it was the duty of every person, who could, to volunteer. Having no business to require my attention, that I liked, and believing that if ever I lent my aid in suppressing this rebellion, now was the time, hence my present situation."

In a letter dated "6th mo. 19th, 1862," addressed to one of his relatives, in answer to the question, "how he liked soldiering?" he replied: "If I were at home, perhaps I would find more pleasure; but to take everything into consideration, it is every man's duty to try and put down this rebellion. I did not expect to like a soldier's life when I left home, but can honestly say that I like it better than I expected to."

In a few days he was paroled and forwarded to our lines, and then sent by the Federal authorities to Annapolis, Maryland. He arrived home on the 29th of October, 1862, and remained until the 18th of February, 1863, when he was regularly exchanged.

Joining the regiment a second time, he continued with it over thirteen months. While in the service he participated in the battles of Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run, Rappahannock Station, Chancellorsville, Thoroughfare Gap, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness. In all these battles young Smedley performed his duty nobly. In the first day's fight at Gettysburg he narrowly escaped with his life--a ball grazing him on the neck and another on the hip. In the second and third day's fights the 90th Regiment was engaged on the memorable Cemetery ridge. After the defeat of the rebel hordes on the heights of Gettysburg, our army followed the remainder of the enemy's forces to the banks of the Rapidan. While encamped on this stream, the subject of our sketch received the sad news of affliction among "the loved ones at home." His mother, brother and sister being dangerously ill--the two former dying soon afterwards.

From a letter written to his sister on the reception of the sad intelligence, we copy the following: "It is a great trial to me to have to be separated from you when I think of the present state of things. Perhaps all is for the best, and we should not complain. We are but poor creatures and must submit to the Almighty Ruler who holds our fate in the "hollow of his hand." In the language of the christian, "why should we not put our trust in Him, and pray for Him to bring us out of all our trials and afflictions?" Perhaps we have not been thankful enough for all the blessings we enjoy. Give my love to all my old friends. I often think of the many pleasant times we have had at home. I hope I may again have the pleasure of meeting you all there, and not say, as Byron, of home,

'Fare thee well, and if forever, Still, forever fare thee well.'"

At the battle of the Wilderness, on the 5th of May, 1864, Charles Smedley was captured a second time, and, as we are informed in his diary, was taken by the Confederates to Gordonsville, thence to Danville, from Danville to the prisoners' pen at Andersonville, Georgia, and lastly to Florence, South Carolina. At Andersonville he remained nearly four months in a stockade filled with thousands of Northern patriots. Here he suffered untold hardships, being exposed to the scorching rays of the sun, the cold atmosphere of the night, and to frequent storms of rain. The premeditated, gradual starvation process of his vile captors, together with the constant exposure to all kinds of weather, did its work effectually. His health at last became impaired and his physical constitution forever shattered. On the thirteenth of September, along with many others, he reached the town of Florence, where he was placed in another pen, in every respect similar to the one he had left at Andersonville. Here his sufferings increased. Being much reduced, and possessing hardly sufficient strength to assist himself, he was at last admitted into what was termed a hospital. In this hospital he lingered along for a few weeks, when his system gradually succumbed from the effects of hunger and exposure.

During the night of the sixteenth of November, 1864, the spirit of Charles Smedley left its mortal tenement for other realms. His body was prepared for burial by a few of his fellow soldiers, and was interred in the burying ground a short distance north-northwest of the stockade, in Florence, South Carolina.

In the person of Charles Smedley there were nicely blended many of the noblest traits of human character. As a religious and moral young man he had few equals. From his early youth he had a strong aversion to all those evil habits which have so often been the stepping stones to vice in its most hideous forms. Profanity and the use of that filthy narcotic weed, proved harmless as tempters to him. Still less powerful was that subtle enemy of mankind, which "quickeneth and giveth color to the cup, and stingeth like an adder."

In all his transactions his rule was to do that only which his conscience told him was right. His goodness of heart, his amiable disposition, gained him many friends, and wherever known, whether at home in his native township, or in the army of his country, none knew him other than the noble young man and soldier.

To-day the remains of Charles Smedley, along with those of thousands of other patriotic martyrs, lie in the trenches near Florence. No marble pile or grass covered mound will, in all probability, ever mark his last resting place, but his name will be ever cherished and held in remembrance by his friends, as one who was willing to offer up his life that his country might live.

FOOTNOTES:

Reference is here made to the Friends' discipline--he being a member by birthright.

I think it was the 29th of August, 1862, the second battle of Bull Run occurred, and he was made prisoner.

In a letter to his father, dated 8th mo. 16th, 1863, written while the army was at Rappahannock Station, we find the following extract: "When I enlisted, I made a resolution that I, as long as I was in the service, would neither use profane language, smoke or chew tobacco, or drink intoxicating liquors. This resolution I have strictly adhered to, and I believe I am a happier man for it."

DIARY.

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, 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.

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