Soon after my escape from captivity and my arrival at the home of my father-in-law, at Elmira, New York, where my good wife was, my sister Sarah, who was older than myself, and her husband, came to see me. She sat down by my side and said: "Now Daniel, tell me all about it. How you were captured, how treated while a prisoner of war, how you made your escape and worked your way from Columbia, South Carolina, to Elmira." She held me to a strict account until she had the full story. I then told her that if after that I should be asked about it I would refer them to her (she would have given a good narrative), but unfortunately she is not living now.
I have never been much inclined to talk about my prison life, nor had thought of writing about it until recently when some of my comrades, who had been talking with me about it, suggested and strongly urged that I write it out. The result of which is these reminiscences. Doubtless I could have told this story better fifty years ago, for, as I did not keep a diary or any memorandum, it is entirely from memory, yet the events made a fixed impression on my mind and I believe that what I have herein narrated is correct. I was born January 3rd, 1832.
DANIEL AVERY LANGWORTHY.
Minneapolis, Minn.
April 3rd, 1915.
Narrative
Before the Civil War I was a young physician in New York city, had been brought up a strong Whig and fully believed that slavery was entirely wrong. After the beginning of the war I felt it my duty to go and help and thought that the privates, the men who carried and used rifles were what was wanted; hence I went to Elmira, New York, and enlisted on September 10th, 1861, in the Eighty-fifth New York Regiment, which regiment was being recruited in Allegany County in the locality where my father lived, so that I might be with my former associates. Late in the fall of 1861 the regiment was moved to Washington, D. C., remaining there during the winter. Early in the following spring we went on the Peninsula campaign under General McClellan, our regiment being in General Wessel's brigade. On April 9th, 1862, I was commissioned first lieutenant. On October 17th, 1862, captain.
At the close of the campaign as we came off the Peninsula, General Wessell's brigade was left at Fortress Monroe, where it remained for a time, and was then ordered to Newburn, North Carolina, and from there to Plymouth, North Carolina. In July, 1863, two other officers, some enlisted men and myself were detailed and sent to Elmira, New York, on conscript duty. While in Elmira I was married. In March, 1864, we were ordered to return to our command. We did so, arriving at Plymouth, North Carolina, about April 1st. On April 20th the entire post was captured after a siege of four days.