Charles Wiley Fisher

Commander,

My experience as a prisoner of war was more of a nature 
of a picnic when compared with the experiences of quite 
all of my comrades.  Its duration was brief and the only 
interesting feature, out of the ordinary connected with 
it, was the manner in which was made, the greater part of
the journey from near the place of capture to Richmond, VA.

On the retreat from the second battle of Bull Run, Saturday 
August 30th, 1862, I was disabled and captured and arrived 
under guard near the field during the night.  At day break 
the following day, passed over the portions of the ground 
in which we had been engaged.  This being my only view of 
the field of battle directly after our engagement, I was 
deeply impressed with the grim horror of war, a lasting 
impression.  Was taken to Gainesville, about six miles 
from place of capture, into the front yard of a farmhouse 
6th of September.  As the yard in which we were confined 
was on the main highway and the Confederate troops constantly
passing during the day, we saw the greater part of their army.  
The guards would point out and name the general officers.  
The rations furnished us during this time consisted of fresh 
meat, corn meal and flour.  We had the use of camp kettles 
and prepared the food by boiling the meat and making dumplings 
of the flour.  The enlisted men captured were paroled.  We 
were informed that we would not be so favored, that they were 
awaiting a home guard sent for, to escort us to Richmond.  I 
have always thought that the home guard part of it was a 
misstatement as they did not want to weaken their force by 
a sufficient guard, they being on their way to the invasion 
of Maryland. Knowing our fate was Richmond and growing tired 
of waiting, it was decided by a majority to adopt a proposition 
which had been made that we would give up parole to report to 
Richmond as prisoners of war which we gave to an officer of
the staff of Gen'l A. P. Hill detailed for the purpose.  I 
have never heard of a like occurrence as this during the war.  
Undoubtedly it was the only one in which a body of officers 
or men gave a like paroling to report at a stated place as 
prisoners of war.  On the morning of the 7th we started on 
our journey with Capt. Randolph Qtr. Mstr. C.S.A. as guide.  
(The captain was a perfect gentleman and in every way treated 
us as such.)  An army wagon was furnished to convey those 
that were disabled and those that may fall by the wayside.  
We were not compelled to march as a body.  The stopping place 
for the night was decided on and as we arrived we reported 
to Capt. Randolph who went in advance, mounted, and such 
undoubtedly notified the detachments of their troops going 
to the front of our coming as we meet a number of such and 
were no way molested. They were loud in their claims of 
marching through Maryland and Pennsylvania, capturing Baltimore, 
Washington and Philadelphia and ending the war and taking 
in consideration the disastrous campaign of Gen McClellan 
in the Peninsula and Gen Popes utter failure, ending in the 
disgraceful route [sic] of his Army at 2nd Bull Run, its [sic] 
no wonder that they were so elated and we consequently depressed.  
Its amusing at this date to recall the curses made against 
officers in high command by a number of our body of prisoners, 
especially against Genl McDowell, who in the campaign wore a
light colored coat and hat.  He was charged with being a traitor 
and wearing this hat as a mark by which he would be known by 
the enemy.  Gen Pope by his braggardness orders [sic], and 
failure to sustain them, was very unpopular.

Our stopping place for the first night was Warrenton, the second,
Culpepper Courthouse.  We entered the hotels in each of these 
cities, registered, giving name, rank, regiment and state as 
if we were doing the like in any hotel at the north, and were 
accommodated with food and lodging as far as their capacity 
would go.  At Culpepper I called upon Adjutant Vance of my 
regiment who had been left in hospital at this place in Gen Popes 
retreat after the battle of Cedar Mountain.  He had been paroled 
and removed to a private house and was very kindly cared for.

Orange Court House was given out as the meeting place for the 
evening of the 9th.  It had been the custom for a number of us 
to make the days journey in the early morning and late afternoon 
to avoid the heat of mid-day, and this morning of the 9th three 
of us started quite early. We followed the railroad track.  The 
bridges over the runs being burned, we crossed at fords.  The 
water in the streams being very low we had no difficulty.  Nearing 
Cedar Run, we saw the hand cars filled with people approaching 
in the opposite side.  They descended and reached the ford at the 
same time was we.  We waited until they crossed their cars being
carried over.  One of this party was the President of the so called
Confederate States, Jefferson Davis.  His Secretary of War and other
officers were of the number.  We learned by the Richmond papers that
they were enroute to the Headquarters of Gen Lee, but on his arrival 
at Culpepper finding that the communications with the army was not 
open, he did not venture beyond that point for fear of capture.  
On the arrival of entire party at Orange Court House, instead of 
remaining over night, we were ordered to load flat cars in waiting, 
taken to Gordonsville where we were placed under guard by the Provost
Marshall [sic] of that place and confined in an old carriage house.  
Orders having been received and no doubt given by Mr. Davis, not to 
recognize our parole. On the next morning, the 10th, we then 
proceeded under guard to Richmond and marched to Libby Prison.  
Except for the vermin that infested this famous place, we had 
nothing in particular to complain of during our stay of fourteen 
days.  There was the usual daily rumors about us that those who 
had served under Gen Pope would be retained in prison and tried 
for horse stealing and other depredations.  What seemed to confirm
this was that a number who had served under Gen. McClellan, and 
were in Libby on our arrival, were paroled a few days after.  The 
rations furnished us daily was a loaf of bread and soup at mid-day.  
We could purchase things through the sutler of the prison, 
vegetables and other eatables.  The colored porters who sweep 
out, would smuggle in the daily papers.  We all had a supply of 
money.

There were one hundred and twenty of us, eighty in our party and forty
who had been captured at Cedar Mountain and minor engagements prior to
Bull Run.  Among those captured at Cedar Mountain was Maj. G. B.
Halstead of our insurrection [?].

We received the news of the battle of Antietam fought on Wednesday the
17th. On the following Sunday the 21st, and on the following Wednesday
the 24th, we were all paroled.  Left Richmond early on the morning of
the 25th by carriage and wagons, each of us paying five dollars for the
ride to City Point ten miles distant, where the flag of a truce boat was
in waiting.  Boarded the boat, steamed down the James River to Fortress
Monroe.  Remained several hours at this place.  Again took boat, our
destination being Annapolis, MD.  Had a fine ride down the Chesapeake
Bay arriving at Annapolis early the next morning.  We reported to the
Provost Marshall of Annapolis and on the next day each of us received a
leave of absence for thirty days with permission to visit Washington.
At the expiration of my leave I reported to the Commanding Officer of
the Parole Camp at Annapolis and was placed in charge of a company of
one hundred men.  The duty required in this capacity was to inspect the
company each morning at ten o'clock and to sign requisitions for rations
and clothing for them.  A duty which required about two hours each day,
the balance of which was spent in the city.  Received notice of my
exchange on Dec 13th and immediately rejoined my regiment in camp near
Belle Plain, VA.

I was wounded at Gettysburgh [sic] on Wednesday July 1st, 1863.  The
division hospital of the 2nd Div 1st A.C. [Army Corps] to which my
regiment was attached, was in the Lutheran church in the city of
Gettysburgh, and as the enemy had position of the city until the morning
of their retreat on the 4th, I again lost a second and was again in
their hands.  But fortunately for me not able to be taken south, as were
my 1st Lieut. John Daily and 2nd Lieut. James Cain and a number of other
officers of my regiment.