Forty-eight years ago on the 10th day of March, as a member of Company I, 17th N.C. Troops,1 and as Courier to Gen. W.W. Kirkland, who commanded General Martin's old Brigade composed of the 17th, 42nd, 50th and 66th N.C. Regiments (50 being detached). I was captured at the fight known as the three days battles of Wises Fork some six or eight miles below Kinston N.C.
On the 8th day of March, as I now remember, General R. F. Hoke, commanding a division of Confederate Troops, composed of Kirkland's and Clingman's N.C. Brigades, as I now recall, Hobgood's S.C. and Colquitt's Georgia, was directed to make an endeavor to get in rear of the enemies' line, by flank movements on the right of said line. We were to some extent successful and drove the enemy from its strong fortification, keeping up the fight until very late that afternoon, capturing a large number of prisoners and guns.2 During the day and about twelve or one o'clock in the maneuver, the 17th N.C. Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Col. Thos. H. Sharp, by some means became detached from the Brigade, and on Gen. Kirkland discovering this fact, called me to him and directed that I should go in search of the Regiment. Remembering where I had last sen the Regiment, I made for the point as well as I could locate it throught he heavy timbered lands in which we had been fighting; I remember very distinctly now of riding two hundred yards up and within one hundred yards of the enemies' line, and crossing a country road at the time, and, when crossing, was in full view of the enemy; why I was not fired at can only be explained in this way - as it occurs to me, all through my service, when the weather required it, I wore a deep blue overcoat (not army fashion) my gray pants always in my long boots, with a dark brown slouch hat, and in this dress I must have been taken for a Union officer. At least I was not on this occasion fired at or hailed. On crossing the road was when I discovered my nearness to the enemy, and but for such crossing I would have soon ridden right into the enemy's line. I then changed my course and soon found Col. Sharp and piloted him to the Brigade.
In my tour through the woods I went just a little further than I had calculated. One incident of this day's doings I will never forget. After finding Col. Sharp, and on our return, riding at the head of the Regiment, we found a large pile of knapsacks, which the enemy, in falling back, had left near a house, presumably not having time, after the attack, to gather them up; I dismounted and made for them. After carefully examining the weight and condition of the knapsacks, I selected one witha a new blanket and rubber, thinking its newness and extra heavy weight was a surety of something good on the inside. I strapped the same on my shoulders and remounted my horse, carrying the heavy stuff all the afternoon and until about dark, when hostilities for the day were over and the respective armies occupying their positions in line, it was then I took up an examination of my treasure. Lo and behold! how mad and mortified I was when I found an old undershirt, a very much worn cap, an old pair of shoes, and a large number of rifle and small cannon balls, with several pieces of shell, which the original owener had gathered up, no doubt, to carry home as trophies of his engagements, and from which he escaped if he did so. Upon viewing my treasure, although naturally a Christian, I could not help thinking d--n it.
On the 9th day of March we made another feint movement, but were not as successful as the day before, and we fell back to our own main line, and made further arrangements for some movement (at that time unknown to we subordinates) for the 10th day. Early in the morn of this day, the call to arms was sounded and we took up our march, being piloted by Col. Neathercutt of the 66th N.C. Kirkland's Brigade being on the extreme right of our Division.
We soon learned that an effort was to be made to get in the rear of the left wing of the enemy's line. After traveling some distance, we came to a stand-still, under the impression that we had reached the point where we could safely flank and attack the enemy in its rear. In this we were sadly mistaken, for upon advancing, we found that a swamp of some width had divided our line and that no firing was heard from Colquitt's sharp shooters on our left, ours having driven in the enemy's pickets, were now just in front of the enemy's line. Gen. Kirkland called me to him, saying, "Tonnoffski, it appears that we have advance too rapidly for Colquitt. You go and see if you can cross the swamp, and tell him that we have driven in the picket line of the enemy and can hear no firing from him and see what is the trouble." I made for the swamp and rode up it until I came to a path through the swamp. Upon reaching this path, I came to a halt and took a survey of the surroundings. In looking through the dense, thick growth, I found that we were in line with the enemy and not in its rear, and that our Brigade was in front of a mass battery of several guns, and so entrenched and formidable the works, that our entire army could not take it. About this time I heard the sharp shooters of Colquitt's Brigade firing. I then immediately retraced my steps and reported the facts to Gen. Kirkland, when he remarked "You go and find Colquitt and deliver my message." I again rode up the swamp to the path and just as I turned my horse to enter it, I found the picket line of the enemy in front of Colquitt's retreating through the said path. Upon their discovery of me, about twenty of them leveled their guns at me, and commanded me to surrender, which under the circumstances I did most gracefully, and at the same time under their further command, I dismounted. Just here I would say that when those guns were leveled at me, the bores looked as large as Howitzers. I was then taken to a General's headquarters whose name I have forgotten, where I found an old Raleigh boy whom I knew well, who had gone through the lines and was then courier to the said General. In going to these headquarters, I was more impressed with the impossibility of success of our troops for this day.
I had not been at the aforesaid headquarters more than an hour before the captured of our Brigade were brought in by the scores until it reached over three hundred, among whom was Major L.J. Johnston of the 17th N.C. Regiment, uncle of our esteemed Mayor, J. I. Johnson and Chas. E. Johnson of this City, also Lieut. Stoddard, Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Kirkland, and from them I learned that nearly our whole Brigade was taken, but most of it managed to escape.3
After remaining in rear of the army for three days on one hard tack cracker, on the morning of the 14th, we were ordered to make ready to take up our march to the railroad some four or five miles distant, that we might be taken to New Bern for disposition as prisoners of war. We arrived at New Bern about twelve o'clock, where we were furnished our dinner. After some delay and for the purpose of making arrangements, we were, late in the afternoon, marched on board a cattle steamer for parts unknown. After two or three days travel we landed at Fortress Monroe, arriving at about 11 o'clock A.M. (exact date I do not now recall). There we were given dinner. We were still ignorant of our final destination until about 5 o'clock P.M. we were told to make ready to board a steamer for Point Lookout. Soon we were aboard and the vessel steamed out for the final resting place. During the night and after all had retired, and about twelve o'clock (and one of the heaviest and most dense fogs known on the bay) a gun boat ran into our vessel sidewise and about the center, cutting the vessel nearly in two, and to the prisoners and all on board, the worst jar they could possibly have had and still survive. The tide being out saved us from a watery grave and as food for sharks. The bay at that point not being very deep, the vessel went down to the bottom, but only about quarter way to upper deck.
After three or four hours of strenuous work and desperate struggle, we were transferred to the gun boat, which took us to Point Lookout, arriving there about three P.M. next day. The prisoners were then lined up and marched up to Major Brady's office (he being in command of this post) for enrollment and delivery to him such relics and valuables we might have for safe keeping during our imprisonment. After this we were marched to our final quarters called "Bull Pen" covering several acres and overlooking Chesapeake Bay. I was assigned to a little fly tent as our future prison place. After depositing my grip, knapsack, blanket, etc., I concluded to take a survey of the premises; in doing so, I met and conversed with several prisoners who had been there for a long while. In giving my place of nativity, I was told that there was in the cook house a prisoner from Raleigh by the name of Smith. After a few minutes of further conversation I excused myself and made for this cook house, where I found an old school mate and friend, Rufus Smith,4 who after his exchange and the surrender of Raleigh, became one of its famous and successful butchers, doing business in the City Market until his death several years ago.
Of course we were surprised and joyful to see each other, being in like captivity. After several moments discussing army movements, prison life, etc., I remarked to Rufus that I had only been in this prison a few hours, that I was weary of it and thought I would make an effort to escape, even if I had to swim the bay. His remark to me was that if I would go up to a certain quarter of the "Bull Pen" and take a view of the poor prisoners shackled with ball and chains for trying to make their escape, I would soon banish such thought from my mind. I told him that I did not care for that, that I was going to watch for an opportunity, and if by any means one presented itself to me that I was going to avail myself of it. We were together for an hour or so when near dark, I wended my way to my little fly tent to meditate over our strange meeting and to lay my plans to escape. I soon retired and fell asleep for I was weary and tired from the trying experiences of the past several days. I slept soundly, awaking early next morning at the sound of the bugle blast and rattle of the drums. I was not long in washing my face and combing my hair, when I again started out for another survey of the premises. Returning to my fly tent I sat down to study the situation and if possible to formulate some plan of escape.
About ten o'clock my friend Smith came to my tent and asked me if I was in earnest about trying to make my escape. I told him that I was never more earnest about anything in my life. "Well," says he, "there is going to be an exchange of prisoners today and I have known men to get out by assuming the name of another, and since we parted yesterday afternoon, I have seen a prisoner, whose parents live in Illinois; he does not intend going back south but intends taking the oath of allegiance and go to his parents. He says he will allow you to use his name for one dollar and a plug of tobacco." "Well", says I, "the terms are all right, but I am minus the dollar and the plug of tobacco." Rufus remarked that he had both and would lend the same to me to be paid when I reached home (if I succeeded). Accepting the terms, Rufus went and saw the party, gave him the dollar and plug of tobacco and obtained from him all the particulars of his capture, when and where, and as I remember now, was at Fisher's Hill and he was a member of Stewar'ts cavalry. I at once began making my arrangements for action. At 12 o'clock sharp, the calling of the roll of those to be exchanged began, and the prisoner's name that I had assumed was called. I answered, was passed, marched out and took position in line before an office in which the names were again called. I had to go into this office and sign the roll entering all the particulars, together with age, place of birth, etc., which, of course, I had been fully posted by the party through my friend Rufus. After this, I was then marched to another "Bull Pen" and name again called and then it was that dinner and rations were given for the journey to City Point. We were then marched to Major Brady's office to get whatever had been left for safekeeping; where they did not call my assumed name and I presume nothing was left, and I was very careful not to call for what I left the day before. After all had been called, we were then marched down to the gun boat awaiting to take us to City Point. We boarded the boat about 5 o'clock P.M., it being Saturday; we reached City Point about 10 o'clock Sunday and disembarked for a tramp to Richmond, passing through Chafin's farm, and near the line where our brigade had been stationed the Fall before.
By the war, when I reached and climbed over the breast work at said farm, a relief came over me which I had never experienced before, for I must confess from the time my assumed name was called until crossing the work I was in a constant dread of being detected and taken back. The ball and chains to which friend Rufus first called my attention were constantly before me, and to drive them out of my mind, I could not. We reached Richmond a short time after 12 o'clock and were marched to the old Libby Prison, where we were given dinner. Some time after which we again took up our march for Camp Lee, where we were to get our paroles and orders for transportation to our respective homes.
A most serious and solemn question confronted me, being an escaped prisoner, my name did not appear on the roll, only that of my assumed name, and to take a parole in that name I knew would be no good to me, as every officer in Raleigh knew me, having served in the quartermaster's department there for eighteen months prior to my entry in the army. Therefore, under all the rules of war, it was my duty to report back to my brigade for duty. After all the risk and strain of mind I had undergone for several days, yet fortune favored me, for when we reached Camp Lee all the offices were closed and we were sitting around waiting for someone to come, to issue our proper papers, being there about two hours, an officer rode up to the building where I was sitting, dismounted, and remarked that if there was one in the crow that could write a good, legible hand, if he would come in and assist him for a while, he could get his parole and order first and could go about his business. Here I saw an opportunity an taking advantage of it, I was soon sitting down at a desk making out paroles and orders for transportation from the list given me. When I had finished the list, the officer asked me if I had mine made out, to which question I replied yes, for I had inserted my own name for that of the assumed: he signed it and told me I could go, and so I did, taking in Richmond the remainder of the afternoon, leaving about 9 o'clcok that evening for Greensboro, reaching Raleigh on Wednesday morning thereafter.
After a few days rest and cleaning up, I concluded to pay a visit to my old command, which was then resting near what was then known as Mitchiner's Deport, about two or three miles this side of Selma as now. Reaching there and finding the headquarters of Gen. Kirkland, who was in his tent and at his desk, I spoke, saluting him as he turned around, addressed me with these words "Well, well, Tonnoffski, where did you come from? We were all under the impression that you were killed at Wises Fork." To which question I replied, "No, General, as you see, I was not. But I am from Point Lookout, by way of Richmond, Greensboro, and Raleigh."
I then related to him my whole story as I here relate it. He said, "Well, you know the rules fo war, you are an escaped prisoner and should report for duty, but I shall not require it of you, for he who would assume and take all the risk that you have and be fortunate enough to obtain a genuine parole as you exhibit, deserves it and should have it. You stay here as long as you want to, make my table your eating place and go back home when you get good and ready."
I remained there for a few days and returned home, being there on the day Raleigh surrendered, the 13th of April, 1865.
I have now in my possession five attached five-cent shinplasters (so called) cut from a sheet which is supposed to be the first piece of money spent in the City of Raleigh on that memorable day.
Thus ended my last days as a Confederate Soldier.
Geo. L. Tonnoffski
Co. I, 17th N.C. Regiment
Detached as Courier to Gen. W.W. Kirkland
1. Tonnoffski was a native of Raleigh, but possibly of Russian or Polish descent. He enlisted in Co. I, 17th Regiment N.C. Troops, at Camp Burgwyn, near Wilmington, on January 22, 1864.
2. Two entire Federal regiments were captured.
3. General Kirkland was censured by General Hoke for this disastrous charge.