LOSS OF THE SULTANA - REMINISCENCES OF SURVIVORS
CHESTER D. BERRY
CHESTER D. BERRY, born August 1, 1844, at South Creek, Bradford county, Pa. Removed, when ten years old to Michigan, thence to Minnesota, and back again to Michigan. Enlisted August 18, 1862, at Marshall, Mich., in Company I, 20th Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Served with that organization in all its campaigns, except Fredericksburg at which time I had typhoid fever, until I was captured June 2, 1862, at Cold Harbor, Va., and taken to Pemberton building, Richmond, Va., where I was confined for a while then taken to Andersonville, Ga., arriving there June 16, 1864. Here the rations, which at first were small enough, kept diminishing, until the 1st of September, 1864, there were but two tablespoonful of very coarse corn meal, the same of stock peas, with about two ounces of fresh beef, and wood enough to about half cook the rations. The beef first, then the peas were eaten raw and the meal made into a gruel and drank. About the last days of October, 1864, we were removed to Millen, Ga., thence to Savannah and down the railroad to Blackshear Station. Were kept here in the woods with a heavy guard around us for about two weeks, then taken to what was at the time the end of the railroad at Thomasville, Ga. Were kept here about two weeks then marched across the country sixty miles to Albany, Ga., there put on board the e cars and taken back to Andersonville, entering the prison the second time on Christmas eve, 1864. Here we remained, with scarcely a ray of hope, till the 25th day of March, 1865, when we were put on board the cars, taken to Montgomery, there transferred by boat to Selma, thence by rail to Meridian. Here we were kept over night, where my pocket diary for 1864 was stolen from me. In it I had recorded the exact amount and kind of rations drawn for every day while in prison. From Meridian we were taken to Jackson, Miss., then marched across the country to the Big Black river, crossing it on the 1st day of April, 1865, lacking one day of ten months that I had been in the hands of the confederate authorities—and I could not say yet that I was out of their hands, for we were put into a camp called "Camp Fisk," which is four miles from Vicksburg, and were under a confederate major, but fed, clothed, and sheltered by "Uncle Samuel." We understood at the time, and I do still, that our government had made a proposition to the confederate authorities that if they would remove their prisoners on to neutral ground, they might still have control of them, but our government would feed, clothe and shelter us. I never experienced a happier day in my life than I did when we marched under the old Stars alp Stripes at the Big Black river railroad bridge and drew my first cup of coffee and a single hard tack. It looked like a stingy way for "Uncle Sam" to do business, but the boys who served us told us that when the first squad of prisoners arrived that they (the cooks) kicked open the boxed hard tack among them, just as they had been in the habit of doing among themselves, and the result was that there as a number of deaths before night; so we were happy with our meager rations, finding more joy in looking up at the old flag, that we loved so dearly, than in anything else, and it seemed to us that the All-Wise Ruler had gotten up a bit of sunshine and a small breeze in order that we might see that
glorious emblem of liberty proudly unfold itself and kiss the sunshine. I have
seen many beautiful things in my life, but never anything that looked more
beautiful than the flag of my country did upon that 1st day of April, 1865. We
remained at "Camp Fisk" for about twenty days, then 1,965 prisoners who had been
exchanged were placed on board the "Sultana," where there were already a number
of passengers and thirty-five exchanged officers, the entire number of persons
being a little over 2,300. You will notice that the number of prisoners,
officers, and men was just 2,000. I understood at the time, and have had no
reason to change my mind, that it was a contrived plan with the United States'
quartermaster at Vicksburg and the captain of the boat. I will explain: At the
fall of Vicksburg Gen. Grant gave many of his men furloughs to go home and
recruit themselves after their unusually hard service. The officers of the
steamers, knowing that the men would pay almost any price, charged exorbitant
rates of fare to Cairo, Ill. The men paid what was charged, but, just before the
boats started, Gen. Grant learned what had been done. He at once sent an officer
to tie up the boats and ordered that all but $5 from each private and $10 from
each commissioned officer be refunded. The government adopted that rule, and
whenever troops were sent by private boats they were allowed $5 per man for
transportation. There were a number of boats at Vicksburg at the time we (the
exchanged prisoners) were to be sent north, but all demanded the $5 per man and
would take but 1,000 men. Finally the quartermaster succeeded in persuading the
captain of the " Sultana" to take the entire 2,000 at $3 per head, that would
give him $6,000 for the trip, whereas, if he only took 1,000 at $5 he would only
make $5,000. The report said that the captain of the "Sultana" signed the papers
for $10,000, and that the quartermaster cashed them on the spot for $6,000. How
true that was I cannot tell, but I know it was believed among the men at the
time. All went gay as a marriage bell for awhile. A happier lot of men I think I
never saw than those poor fellows were. The most of them had been a long time in
prison, some even for about two years, and the prospect of soon reaching home
made them content to endure any amount of crowding. I know that on the lower
deck we were just about as thick as we could possibly lie all over the deck, and
I understood that all the other decks were the same. The main thought that
occupied every mind was home, the dearest spot on earth. I well remember, as the
boat lay at Memphis unloading over one hundred hogsheads of sugar from her hold,
that my thoughts not only wended northward, but I put them in practical shape.
The Christian commission had given me a hymn book. At the time I left home the
song "Sweet Hour of Prayer" was having quite a run. I found this, and before the
darkness had stopped me in the evening I had committed those words to memory and
sang them for the boys, little dreaming how soon I should have to test the power
of prayer as well as the hour when it was held. The last that I remembered that
evening was that the boat was taking on coal, across the river from Memphis,
preparatory to going up the river. There had been considerable talk among the
boys, that it would be a grand opportunity for guerillas. If they only knew that there was such a boat-load of prisoners coming up the river, how they could plant a battery on the shore, sink the boat, and destroy nearly if not all of the prisoners on board; consequently, when the terrific explosion took place, and I was awakened from a sound sleep by a stick of cord wood striking me on the head and fracturing my skull, the first thought I had was that, while the boat lay at Memphis, some one had gone up the river and prepared such a reception for us, and what had only been a talk was now a realization. I lay low for a moment, when the hot water soaking through my blanket made me think I had better move. I sprang to the bow of the boat, and turning I looked back upon one of the most terrible scenes I ever beheld. The upper decks of the boat were a complete wreck, and the dry casings of the cabins falling in upon the hot bed of coal was burning like tinder. A few pailsful of water would have put the fire out, but alas, it was ten feet to the water and there was no rope to draw with, consequently the flasmes swept fiercely up and back through the light wood of the upper decks.
I had often read of burning vessels and flights of horror on the deep, and almost my first thought was, "now, take in the scene," but self-preservation stood out strongest. I went back to where I had lain and found my bunk mate, Busley, scalded to death; I then secured a piece of cabin door casing, about three or four inches wide and about four feet long, then going back to the bow of the boat I came to the conclusion I did not want to take to the water just then, for it was
literally black with human beings, many of whom were sinking and taking others
with them. Being a good swimmer, and having board enough to save me, even if I
were not, I concluded to wait till the rash was over.
The horrors of that night will never be effaced from my memory—such swearing,
praying, shouting and crying I had never heard; and much of it from the same
throat—imprecations followed by petitions to the Almighty, denunciations by
bitter weeping. I stood still and watched for a while, then began wandering
around to other parts of the boat when I came across one man who was weeping
bitterly and wringing his hands as if in terrible agony, continually crying, "O
dear, O dear." I supposed the poor fellow was seriously hurt. My sympathies were
aroused at once. Approaching him, I took him by the shoulder and asked where he
was hurt. "I'm not hurt at all," he said, "but I can't swim, I've got to drown,
O dear." I bade him be quiet, then showing him my little board I said to him,
"there, do you see that; now you go to that pile of broken deck and get you one
like it, and when you jump into the water put it under your chin and you can't
drown." "But I did get one," said he, "and someone snatched it away from me."
"Well then, get another," said I. "I did," said he, "and they took that away
from me." "Well, then," said I, "get another." "Why," said he, "what would be
the use, they would take it from me. O dear, I tell you there is no use; I've
got to drown, I can't swim." By this time I was thoroughly disgusted, and giving
him a shove, I said, "drown then you fool."
I want to say to you, gentle reader, I have been sorry all these years for that
very act. There was little or no rush for the water at that time and had I given
my board to that poor fellow, then conducted him to the edge of the boat and
seen him safely overboard, he might, perhaps, have escaped, while, as it was, I
have no doubt that he was drowned. If he was not, and should ever see this, I
wish he would write me the fact. But some one may ask, "what would you have done
without your board?" I could have got another from the pile of rubbish, which
would have been a very easy matter, and I have not the faintest idea that anyone
would have tried to take it from me, for, as the boys tell about, "I was not
built that way."
After looking at the burning boat as long as I cared to, and as the waters were
comparatively clear of men, I sprang overboard and struck out for some willows
that I could see by the light of the burning boat, they appearing to be about
one-half mile distant. I had gone but about twenty or thirty rods when, hearing
a crash of breaking timbers, I looked back. The wheelhouse or covering for the
wheel, (it was a side-wheel steamer,) had broken away partially from the
hurricane deck, and a poor fellow had been in the act of stepping from the
hurricane deck onto the wheel house. I presume it was then the hurricane deck
fell in. When it reached an angle of about forty-five degrees it stopped, for
some unaccountable reason, till it nearly burned up. He succeeded in reaching
the wheel house but got no further, for it broke and let him part way through,
then held him, as in an iron vice, till he burned to death, and even now, after
the lapse of years, it almost seems as though I could hear the poor fellow's
screams, as the forked flames swept around him. I then turned and pressed
forward towards my haven of safety, but soon became aware that I was not gaining
upon it. The fact was, I was swimming toward a small island and was, in fact,
now swimming upstream but was not aware of the truth. The icy water was fast
telling upon my weak system, and the moment I became aware that I was being
carried away from the timber instead of gaining it I became completely
discouraged, the only time I think in my life.
Being now quite despondent, I had about concluded that there was no use of my
trying to save myself, that I would drown in spite of my efforts; and that to
throw my board away and sink at once would be only to shorten my misery. I was
just in the act of doing so when it seemed to me that I was transported for the
moment to "the old house at home," and that I was wending my way slowly up the
path from the road gate to the house, but, strange for me, when I reached the
door, instead of entering at once, I sat upon the step. My mother was an earnest
devoted Christian, also my father had been, but father was deaf and dumb
consequently the family devotions fell to mother, and I knew that in the years
of my home life, that if one of the family were away from home during the hour
for prayer, nine o'clock in the evening, that one was especially remembered in
the prayer. As I sat upon the step I thought it was nine o'clock in the evening,
and as plainly as I ever heard my mother's voice I heard it that evening. I
cared but little for the prayer until she reached that portion that referred to
the absent one, when all the mother-soul seemed to go up in earnest petition— "
God save my boy." For ten long weary months she had received no tidings from her
soldier boy, now she had just learned that he was on his way home and her
thoughts were almost constantly upon him; and for him her earnest prayer was
made. I fiercely clutched the board and hissed between my now firmly set teeth
"Mother, by the help of God, your prayer shall be answered." I started out for a
grand effort.
Just then I heard a glad cry from the burning boat and looking around discovered
that past the boat, down the river, two or three miles as near as I could judge,
was the bow light of a gun-boat. I turned and was now obliged to swim past the
burning boat, for I was up the river about eighty rods above it; when nearly
past the boat, which I kept a safe distance to my left, I ran into the top of a
tree that had caved off from the bank and whose roots were now fast in the bed
of the stream, upon which I climbed and was nearly asleep when a number of men
from the boat came along and climbed upon it also. Their united weight sank it
low into the water, whose icy coldness coming upon my body again awakened me.
Then, to more fully arouse me, a man got hold of my board and tried to take it
away from me. I remonstrated with him, but he claimed the board belonged to him
and that I was trying to steal it. This fully aroused me—it was the straw that
broke the camel's back. Giving the board a quick jerk I sprang backward and went
swimming down the stream on my back, holding my board high least I might lose
it. I soon turned over and proceeded more slowly. I began again to have an
almost irresistible feeling of drowsiness. I was cold and sleepy. Just then I
came across, or thought I did, a dry black ash sapling about two and one-half or
three inches in diameter at the butt and six or eight feet long, that pronged in
two branches about three feet from the butt end. I put this with my board and
trying them found they would float. I then gave myself up to sleep and did not
awake until long after sunrise. I then stood upon a large snag in the river that
was pronged or forked something like I imagined the black ash sapling was in the
night. I stood on the lower prong which was about a foot under water, while the
upper prong was nearly two feet above the water, and, what to me was stranger
than all, I had, instead of the little board four inches wide and about four
feet long, a two inch plank about four inches wide and about six feet long.
I was out of my head and imagined that some terrible danger threatened me, but if
I could only get that plank upon the upper prong of the snag, all would be safe.
I soon came too enough to know that I was working a useless scheme; then I
realized that it was worse than useless as it would take some of my strength to
hold the plank on the snag while it would do me no good whatever. I then
abandoned the project and began to cry with the pain of my fractured skull, but
I soon stopped that also, saying to myself, crying does not ease pain. Then came
the first clear thought of the morning and I realized what had happened and that
I was but about five rods from the woods upon the Arkansas shore, the shore
itself being under water.
Quickly shoving my plank into the water and starting for the place where the
shore ought to be, which was the most foolish move of all, for when I arrived
there and had pulled myself up a small cottonwood tree I was surrounded by a
perfect swarm of buffalo gnats, which made lively work for me, and although I
had firmly seated myself upon a limb of the tree and employed both hands with
bashes whipping them off my neck and breast—the only parts that were
exposed—which were a solid blotch in less than an hour. Had I remained on a snag
in the river I would have been free from the gnats and nearer passing steamers,
by which I hoped to be carried away. I remained in this tree but a short time,
perhaps an hour or more, when the steamer "Pocahontas " came along, picking up
all the men they could find.
I soon attracted attention and was taken on board the steamer, and soon after
landed at Memphis and was then taken to Washington hospital, where my wound was
poorly dressed, as I remember it, none of the broken pieces of skull being taken
out. I remained here a little over a week, and although I gave my name, company
and regiment to a reporter, and also to the hospital steward, yet about two or
three months afterward my mother received official notice from Washington that
her son was killed upon the "Sultana;" and my name stands today upon the
Michigan Adjutant General's Report for 1865 as killed by the explosion of the
steamer "Sultana." Yet, when in after years, I applied for a pension for that
fractured skull, which was so bad that the surgeon at Washington hospital told
the man in the next bunk to mine that I could never get well, I was obliged to
prove that I was upon the "Sultana" and that I was hurt or had my skull
fractured at that time. Such is the ease with which pensions are procured, and
such the liberality of the government officials when they have the official
evidence in government reports before them. After my brief sojourn in Memphis,
I, with others, was placed on the steamer "Belle Memphis" and taken to Cairo,
remaining there over night, thence via Matoon, where we were obliged to wait a
few hours for cars. Here I was obliged to go hungry, or beg from the citizens,
although I had a meal ticket at the eating house given me by the Christian
commission, but the landlord refused to honor it. From here we were taken to
Indianapolis where another halt was made, then on to Columbus, when I was sent
to Tripler hospital and doctored up for about two weeks; then sent to Jackson,
Mich., to be mustered out of the United States service on special telegraphic
order from the War Department.
My present occupation is Minister of the Gospel. Postoffice address, Tekonsha,
Mich.
(Reminiscences also linked in Full List of Men)
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