Description:

Andersonville Prison Fantastic Account of Union Soldier's Time Spent There

17pp, measuring 5.75" x 8.75", No place, undated. A handwritten account of the experiences of Charles W. Homsher while a prisoner at Andersonville Prison. Homsher (1839 -1893) enlisted as a Private in August 1862 in the Union Army. He was mustered into Co. H, 5th Cavalry, 90th Regiment of the Indiana Volunteers, and was captured near Clinton, Georgia on July 31, 1864. Homsher spent nine long months in Andersonville prison before he was released. He completed his military service in June 1865, and moved back to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he married and had five children. Below are highlights from his harrowing account of his imprisonment:

"…We were put in Box cars for Andersonville and were packed like hogs. We arrive at the station. We form a line and was searched from head to foot. We first was commanded by Gen. Winder to take our pants and hand them to the guards to go through them. Then our drawers and then our shirts and our blankets and every package in every form that was about us. Some of the guards wanted to keep our blankets but by appeal to Genl Winder made them give them up. They found on me 4 postage stamps and Masonic Pin and 10¢ piece whitch they kept and photograph of my lady friend which it had carried from home. The guards said I stole it out of house which I denied point blank and was finally allowed to keep it but the masonic pin & 10¢ piece I never got back…I will never forget the remark made by Comrade Law Sammons who said 'Boys we shall never forget this 2nd day Aug. and this grub and what we have passed through today.'…We soon found out in a few days that we were glad to get that kind of meat also received corn bread some time you would bite into mouth full of meal that had not been baked and pull out pieces of corn husk and pieces of corn cob. After understand the laws of the camp we were issued 1/2 pint corn meal with pieces of corn cob not sifted sometimes sold, and oftener without salt, 1/2 pint peas that full of bugs, 3oz of fresh meat…we were permitted to go out under heavy guard to bring in some wood (20 men at a time)…"

"…The Rebel Sergeant came in every morning to count us that was left in each section of 100 men if any had died through the night…The last of august 1864 I have counted as high 60 who died through the night and was carried to the gate. They lay there till 9AM without any clothes of any kind on them. Some of our men would ask the guards for permission to take their clothes to mend what was handing on us…After being there a month or so I traded with the rebel guards at night, my first trade was with a silver pencil for one quart of corn meal, 1/2 plug of Cavendish Tobacco, and when every new prisoner would come in I would trade a one chew of tobacco for a U.S. brass button…"

"…on the side of the hill of the Stockade could see the train stop at the station and we watch if they left of any prisoners then you could see marching towards the gate…The boys would get around them and dine out what our army was doing and if could hear anything about being exchange of prisoners or if it was so that Rebels won a victory every time that they reported…Capt. Hertz would ride in camp and state their army had won a great victory and wanted the prisoners to go in their army and take the oath to Confederacy. Some of the prisoners went out to go…One day Capt. Hertz came in camp stated that we were all to be exchanged as fast as they could procure transportation for us at last it came our time. We were taken to Millen where they had made a new prison pen and kept us there about two months…While there they exchanged the sick prisoners. Comrade John Sammons of our Co and we always tented together. There was a Comrade of 7 Ohio Inf and who was so sick that he could not walk to gate and Sammons and I were at the gate and when the Rebel Sergeant called the man's name to go, Comrade of 7 Ohio Inf was not there to answer to his name. So Sammons answered to his name Co & Regt and went out. He waved his hand at me and that was the last I have seen of my friend. I went back to my tent and felt sorry that my friend had left me and wondered if Genl Sherman would ever reach this place and set us free…"

"We remained there about two months and then was taken back to Andersonville again and remain there a month. And then was sent to Savannah, Ga. And from there to Lake City, Fla. And parole on the 28th of April 1865…the boys at the first site of our Glorious old flag commenced to holler and some of so weak we had to set down by road side and cried for deliverance from the retched condition we were subject to for nine long months…Two poor fellows died that night from eating too much…" On the last page is a pencil sketch of what appears to be a wall of the prison. The pages are lightly toned throughout, with some wear at the edges and corners. There is significant chipping to the last page, but none of the text is affected. Overall, very good.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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