FIVE DAYS A PRISONER.–

3. June 2009 by admin.

Lieutenant Charles O. Phillips was captured, with his orderly, on the morning of the 3d of April, 1865, during the advance on Richmond, and while under orders from General Weitzel, upon whose staff he was serving. “I was taken to General Geary,” said he, “and questioned closely by him; he finally concluded by telling me I was ‘a d—d intelligent staff officer,’ because I could not tell him the strength of our corps, who commanded it, nor even what troops were entering the city when I was captured.

“The first day’s march was twenty-eight miles on foot, with nothing to eat. I tried to escape that night, but was caught. The second day we marched twenty-three miles, and the rebels promised to feed us at night, but did not. The third day we marched twenty-six miles, Sheridan after us. He took a train of three hundred wagons, with stores, and destroyed the whole. At night (the third) I found so much fault that they gave me two ears of corn to eat. This night I got permission to go to the river and bathe, my feet being very sore and chafed badly. I made arrangements with the guard to desert, but was caught, when the provost marshal told me he would shoot me if I attempted to escape again, at which I suggested whether it might not be as well to shoot me as to starve me to death.

“The next day we marched twenty-five miles, and at four P. M. Sheridan was very close to us. I was so completely exhausted that I thought life was not worth much; so down I sat in the road, my orderly doing likewise, determined not to march farther without rest. The Captain threatened to shoot me again, and I told him to act his pleasure, as Uncle Sam knew how, and had as many of their men as they had of ours. He finally chose what he thought was his best and most reliable man to leave as guard over myself and orderly, giving instructions to keep us within their lines at all hazards. Soon I got on the right side of Johnny, and made arrangements to desert with him, whenever an opportunity could be gained.

“At dusk we found ourselves in a little pine grove with rebels all around us. The bright moon plagued me considerably, and I feared my plan for escape would not result favorably; but anything, I thought, was preferable to my present condition. At a time when no one was watching us, I succeeded in concealing myself with my two comrades in a deep ravine, under a large cedar. Soon I heard voices, and looking out carefully, I saw a lieutenant and several men pass along. Creeping out, I followed them, and saw the officer post his men on picket surrounding the ravine. I then followed him to his reserve, ascertained at the next relief that the positions of the men were not changed each time, and then returned to our hiding-place to communicate the good news to the orderly and the Johnny. The latter began to be a little shaky, and I a little doubtful. It was a long time to wait till the moon went down, and finally the guard fell asleep. He had previously agreed to let us go, and he would return to his company, I demanding that he should wait till we had started. Seeing him asleep, I changed my tactics, quietly took his rifle, &c., gently shook him by the shoulder, and informed him that during his short nap affairs had changed. He was now my prisoner, and would do precisely as I said, or his brains were worthless. He looked very much surprised, but saw there was no help for him.

“At half past four A. M. it was a little cloudy, and I quietly informed Johnny that he was to take the lead, on his hands and knees, my orderly would go next, and myself with Johnny’s musket in the rear. In this way we escaped through the enemy’s picket line, and reached our friends in safety at half past six o’clock on the morning of the seventh. I turned the rebel guard over to Major Stevens, provost marshal of this (Twenty-fifth) corps, and he immediately took the oath, thanking me for bringing him over.”

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