Transcriber's Note:
Obvious typographic errors have been corrected.
Your Friend Chas. Smedley
LIFE
IN
SOUTHERN PRISONS;
FROM THE DIARY OF
CORPORAL CHARLES SMEDLEY,
Of Company G, 90th Regiment Penn'a Volunteers,
COMMENCING A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE "BATTLE OF THE
WILDERNESS," IN WHICH HE WAS TAKEN PRISONER, IN
THE EVENING OF FIFTH MONTH FIFTH, 1864:
ALSO,
A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE MARCH TO
AND BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG,
TOGETHER WITH A
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR.
——
"If it is never to be my lot to return to you, remember me only as one who
went to do his duty."—C. Smedley. Letter to parents, dated 8th mo. 14th, 1862.
——
PUBLISHED BY
THE LADIES' AND GENTLEMEN'S FULTON AID SOCIETY.
——
PEARSOL & GEIST, PRINTERS, DAILY EXPRESS OFFICE.
1865.
April 7th, 1865. At a regular meeting of the Fulton AidSociety, "New Business" being in order, the following resolutionswere offered and unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the "Fulton Aid Society" request of the friends of thelate Charles Smedley, that a copy of his diary, kept while aprisoner at Andersonville, Georgia, be furnished for the purpose ofpublication.
Resolved, That a Committee consisting of four members of theassociation be appointed to receive the manuscript, prepare it forpublication, and that it be authorized to have printed an edition offour hundred copies for the use of the Society.
In conformity with the above resolutions, the following were appointedthe Committee:
CHAS. H. STUBBS, M. D., Chairman.
JAMES H. CLARK,
ANNIE SMEDLEY,
ELWOOD SMEDLEY.
PREFACE.
The following pages contain a plain, unvarnished statement of factsthat occurred under the notice of one who was so unfortunate as to betaken prisoner by those who sought to destroy and dissever our gloriouscountry. As will be perceived, it is written with great care, hence itsreliability.
It was thought best to print the author's diary, just as it wasreceived, without any amplification, save that absolutely necessaryfor the press. To the reader we will say that Dr. Buckley was one ofour surgeons who fell into the hands of the Confederates. Corporal Wm.Griffith, of Company G, 90th Regiment P. V., was taken prisoner alongwith Charles Smedley. He is spoken of as "Griffith."
With these few explanations we offer this little book to our citizens,feeling confident that it will be purchased and read by many of them.
In purchasing this work you contribute your mite towards alleviatingthe condition of those whose sufferings are so well set forth in its pages.
COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF CHAS. SMEDLEY.
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