north, and afterwards were regularly
exchanged, thus ending the career of the Sixteenth in prison, with the
heavy loss of over fifty per cent. in deaths, in a period of a few
months. A more detailed account has been published by Sergeant Major
Robert H. Kellogg, in his "Life and Death in Rebel Prisons." Among the
number who escaped from prison, were Quartermaster Sergeant Hiram
Buckingham and Andrew J. Spring, of Company K. An order was received
for the names of all sailors at Andersonville. Sergeant Buckingham
suspecting it was for the purpose of exchange, obtained a suit of
sailor's clothes, and accordingly took the name of Johnny Sullivan, a
sailor who had died in the hospital a few months before. In about a
week after the names had been registered, the sailors were ordered out
of prison. Buckingham answering "Here," to the name of Johnny
Sullivan, passed out without detection. They went to Charleston,
thence to Richmond, and were exchanged, having been in prison just six
months.

Andrew J. Spring in some manner procured money enough to bribe a
guard, who allowed him to escape with two comrades. They were five
days in reaching the Union lines, living meanwhile on sugar-cane,
green corn, and persimmons. Traveling in the woods, they guided
themselves by the moss, which grows heaviest on the north side of the
trees, and successfully passed three lines of rebel pickets.

The shooting of prisoners who came near the "dead line," was of almost
daily occurrence; for if they were near it with no intention of
escaping, the sentinels would fire. The regiment lost one man in this
manner, William Drake of Company A, who was shot December 4th, 1864.

CHAPTER IX.

1865.

NEW BERNE,--HARTFORD, CONN.

Company "H," (Captain Barnum,) who escaped capture at Plymouth, by
being detached and sent to Roanoke Island for duty in April, 1864, was
reinforced now and then by men who had previously been detached for
special service, or were absent sick, also by a few who were exchanged
from time to time, representing every company, and this composed the
16th regiment in actual service. Captain Barnum labored with much zeal
under many difficulties, to preserve the former prestige of the
regiment. During December the regiment proceeded to Plymouth, and went
thence on an expedition to Poster's Mills, about ten miles, destroying
the mills and a large quantity of grain, and returning with various
spoils. On another occasion the regime