Residence Morristown VT;
Enlisted on 8/12/1862 as a 1st Lieutenant.
On 9/3/1862 he was commissioned into Co. D, 11th Vermont Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 8/25/1865
He was listed as:
POW 6/23/1864 Weldon Railroad, VA (Escaped 7/1/64)
Wounded 9/19/1864 Opequan, VA
Promotions:
Capt 6/11/1863 (Co. L)
Major 5/23/1865
Lt Col 7/10/1865
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
7/17/1863 from Co. D to Co. L
6/2/1865 from Co. L to Field & Staff
Granted an invalid pension in 1880.
ESCAPE FROM THE REBELS
Capt. D. J. Safford, of Co. L, 11th Vt., who, with others, were taken prisoner on the 23rd of June last, escaped from the rebels, who were taking him south to Macon, Ga., on the 1st of July, and reached Washington on the 28th, and got leave af absence for 20 days, and arrived home, in Cambridge, on the 31st. He gave us a call on Monday, while on his way to see his friends in Morrisville.
The railroad south of Richmond being destroyed by our forces, the prisoners to be sent to Georgia were taken a short distance west, on the Lynchburg road, and then marched across the country to reach the road running south, the Richmond and Weldon road. On this march, Capt. Safford, with 1st Lieut. E. F. Griswold, of Co. L, from St. Johnsbury, and 2nd Lieut. A.G. Fleury, Co. K. of Isle LaMotte, managed to slip away from the guard, which consisted of that kind of troops called reserves, made up of old men and boys. They had just crossed Staunton River, one of the tributaries of the Roanoke, and were resting for a short time. The guards as well as the prisoners were very much fatigued--the guards especially being in no condition for very active operations. The Capt. took a cup and pretended to go after water, but managed to step behind some bushes, wade the river, and hide on the opposite side.
Being out of immediate control of their captors, the next move to be considered was how to reach friendly forces, and not wishing to incur the risk of capture in the direction of Petersburgh, and expecting to find Union troops in Lewisburgh, in Western Verginia, they started in that direction across the Alleghany Mountains.
At Millboro, amoung the mountains, on the 16th, they were seen by some Confederate soldiers acting as provost guard, and fired upon. They immediately seperated, each one to take care of himself, and Capt. Safford has not seen his company since. Lieut Fleury, however, he learned got into our lines the day before himself. Lieut. Griswold, he learned from some of the citizens, was not wounded, as they had seen some of the guard, who said they fired upon some Yankees, but did not hit or capture any of them. Safford first reached our lines at Beverly Court House, in Randolph County, on the 23rd. Communications with Washington by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad being interupted, he kept on in a northerly direction till he struck the Pennsylvania Railroad, and proceeded to Washington by way of Harrisburg and Philadelphia, reaching Washington on the 28th.
The Capt. was in the hands of the rebels eight days. While at Richmond he was quartered at Libby Prison. His daily ration consisted of a piece of bread about two inches square by four in length, a piece of bacon about a big as two fingers, and a third of a cup of bean soup--just enough to keep soul and body together. Others, he learned, had the same fare.
Through the rebel country he passed, he did not see an able bodied man under fifty-five years of age, nor a boy over sixteen. He inquired where the men were, and was told they were in the army. Among the mountains he saw a great many deserters. They skulk about, and live upon a little corn meal which they manage to get from their families, which usually live in the neighborhood, and what game they can shoot. He came across some Union people, but they were obliged to keep still, though hoping the rebellion will be subdued before long. The people are generally tired of the war, and willing to have it ended on any terms.
Agents of the Confederate Government had been in that part of the country, actually begging of the people to contribute as they were able, to the support of the army, asking them to give a little if they could, do more, as the soldiers must have food, or they would starve. He saw appeals to the same effect in the papers of the section. Judging from what he saw and heard, he doesn't believe that to save their souls, the leaders of the rebellion could get 50,000 more men in the whole of rebeldom. He never felt so hopeful of the success of Union arms before.
Speaking of the deserters in the mountains, he learned that at one time a large force was sent to bring them in, but they could not be found. A small force was afterwards sent out, and it was used up and driven back in a very short time.
The captain looks thin, but says he feels first rate.
—The Lamoille Newsdealer, August 3, 1864.
Sources:
http://vermontcivilwar.org/units/11/obits.php?input=5144
http://vermontcivilwar.org/get.php?input=5144
Enlisted on 8/12/1862 as a 1st Lieutenant.
On 9/3/1862 he was commissioned into Co. D, 11th Vermont Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 8/25/1865
He was listed as:
POW 6/23/1864 Weldon Railroad, VA (Escaped 7/1/64)
Wounded 9/19/1864 Opequan, VA
Promotions:
Capt 6/11/1863 (Co. L)
Major 5/23/1865
Lt Col 7/10/1865
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
7/17/1863 from Co. D to Co. L
6/2/1865 from Co. L to Field & Staff
Granted an invalid pension in 1880.
ESCAPE FROM THE REBELS
Capt. D. J. Safford, of Co. L, 11th Vt., who, with others, were taken prisoner on the 23rd of June last, escaped from the rebels, who were taking him south to Macon, Ga., on the 1st of July, and reached Washington on the 28th, and got leave af absence for 20 days, and arrived home, in Cambridge, on the 31st. He gave us a call on Monday, while on his way to see his friends in Morrisville.
The railroad south of Richmond being destroyed by our forces, the prisoners to be sent to Georgia were taken a short distance west, on the Lynchburg road, and then marched across the country to reach the road running south, the Richmond and Weldon road. On this march, Capt. Safford, with 1st Lieut. E. F. Griswold, of Co. L, from St. Johnsbury, and 2nd Lieut. A.G. Fleury, Co. K. of Isle LaMotte, managed to slip away from the guard, which consisted of that kind of troops called reserves, made up of old men and boys. They had just crossed Staunton River, one of the tributaries of the Roanoke, and were resting for a short time. The guards as well as the prisoners were very much fatigued--the guards especially being in no condition for very active operations. The Capt. took a cup and pretended to go after water, but managed to step behind some bushes, wade the river, and hide on the opposite side.
Being out of immediate control of their captors, the next move to be considered was how to reach friendly forces, and not wishing to incur the risk of capture in the direction of Petersburgh, and expecting to find Union troops in Lewisburgh, in Western Verginia, they started in that direction across the Alleghany Mountains.
At Millboro, amoung the mountains, on the 16th, they were seen by some Confederate soldiers acting as provost guard, and fired upon. They immediately seperated, each one to take care of himself, and Capt. Safford has not seen his company since. Lieut Fleury, however, he learned got into our lines the day before himself. Lieut. Griswold, he learned from some of the citizens, was not wounded, as they had seen some of the guard, who said they fired upon some Yankees, but did not hit or capture any of them. Safford first reached our lines at Beverly Court House, in Randolph County, on the 23rd. Communications with Washington by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad being interupted, he kept on in a northerly direction till he struck the Pennsylvania Railroad, and proceeded to Washington by way of Harrisburg and Philadelphia, reaching Washington on the 28th.
The Capt. was in the hands of the rebels eight days. While at Richmond he was quartered at Libby Prison. His daily ration consisted of a piece of bread about two inches square by four in length, a piece of bacon about a big as two fingers, and a third of a cup of bean soup--just enough to keep soul and body together. Others, he learned, had the same fare.
Through the rebel country he passed, he did not see an able bodied man under fifty-five years of age, nor a boy over sixteen. He inquired where the men were, and was told they were in the army. Among the mountains he saw a great many deserters. They skulk about, and live upon a little corn meal which they manage to get from their families, which usually live in the neighborhood, and what game they can shoot. He came across some Union people, but they were obliged to keep still, though hoping the rebellion will be subdued before long. The people are generally tired of the war, and willing to have it ended on any terms.
Agents of the Confederate Government had been in that part of the country, actually begging of the people to contribute as they were able, to the support of the army, asking them to give a little if they could, do more, as the soldiers must have food, or they would starve. He saw appeals to the same effect in the papers of the section. Judging from what he saw and heard, he doesn't believe that to save their souls, the leaders of the rebellion could get 50,000 more men in the whole of rebeldom. He never felt so hopeful of the success of Union arms before.
Speaking of the deserters in the mountains, he learned that at one time a large force was sent to bring them in, but they could not be found. A small force was afterwards sent out, and it was used up and driven back in a very short time.
The captain looks thin, but says he feels first rate.
—The Lamoille Newsdealer, August 3, 1864.
Sources:
http://vermontcivilwar.org/units/11/obits.php?input=5144
http://vermontcivilwar.org/get.php?input=5144
Residence Morristown VT;
Enlisted on 8/12/1862 as a 1st Lieutenant.
On 9/3/1862 he was commissioned into Co. D, 11th Vermont Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 8/25/1865
He was listed as:
POW 6/23/1864 Weldon Railroad, VA (Escaped 7/1/64)
Wounded 9/19/1864 Opequan, VA
Promotions:
Capt 6/11/1863 (Co. L)
Major 5/23/1865
Lt Col 7/10/1865
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
7/17/1863 from Co. D to Co. L
6/2/1865 from Co. L to Field & Staff
Granted an invalid pension in 1880.
ESCAPE FROM THE REBELS
Capt. D. J. Safford, of Co. L, 11th Vt., who, with others, were taken prisoner on the 23rd of June last, escaped from the rebels, who were taking him south to Macon, Ga., on the 1st of July, and reached Washington on the 28th, and got leave af absence for 20 days, and arrived home, in Cambridge, on the 31st. He gave us a call on Monday, while on his way to see his friends in Morrisville.
The railroad south of Richmond being destroyed by our forces, the prisoners to be sent to Georgia were taken a short distance west, on the Lynchburg road, and then marched across the country to reach the road running south, the Richmond and Weldon road. On this march, Capt. Safford, with 1st Lieut. E. F. Griswold, of Co. L, from St. Johnsbury, and 2nd Lieut. A.G. Fleury, Co. K. of Isle LaMotte, managed to slip away from the guard, which consisted of that kind of troops called reserves, made up of old men and boys. They had just crossed Staunton River, one of the tributaries of the Roanoke, and were resting for a short time. The guards as well as the prisoners were very much fatigued--the guards especially being in no condition for very active operations. The Capt. took a cup and pretended to go after water, but managed to step behind some bushes, wade the river, and hide on the opposite side.
Being out of immediate control of their captors, the next move to be considered was how to reach friendly forces, and not wishing to incur the risk of capture in the direction of Petersburgh, and expecting to find Union troops in Lewisburgh, in Western Verginia, they started in that direction across the Alleghany Mountains.
At Millboro, amoung the mountains, on the 16th, they were seen by some Confederate soldiers acting as provost guard, and fired upon. They immediately seperated, each one to take care of himself, and Capt. Safford has not seen his company since. Lieut Fleury, however, he learned got into our lines the day before himself. Lieut. Griswold, he learned from some of the citizens, was not wounded, as they had seen some of the guard, who said they fired upon some Yankees, but did not hit or capture any of them. Safford first reached our lines at Beverly Court House, in Randolph County, on the 23rd. Communications with Washington by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad being interupted, he kept on in a northerly direction till he struck the Pennsylvania Railroad, and proceeded to Washington by way of Harrisburg and Philadelphia, reaching Washington on the 28th.
The Capt. was in the hands of the rebels eight days. While at Richmond he was quartered at Libby Prison. His daily ration consisted of a piece of bread about two inches square by four in length, a piece of bacon about a big as two fingers, and a third of a cup of bean soup--just enough to keep soul and body together. Others, he learned, had the same fare.
Through the rebel country he passed, he did not see an able bodied man under fifty-five years of age, nor a boy over sixteen. He inquired where the men were, and was told they were in the army. Among the mountains he saw a great many deserters. They skulk about, and live upon a little corn meal which they manage to get from their families, which usually live in the neighborhood, and what game they can shoot. He came across some Union people, but they were obliged to keep still, though hoping the rebellion will be subdued before long. The people are generally tired of the war, and willing to have it ended on any terms.
Agents of the Confederate Government had been in that part of the country, actually begging of the people to contribute as they were able, to the support of the army, asking them to give a little if they could, do more, as the soldiers must have food, or they would starve. He saw appeals to the same effect in the papers of the section. Judging from what he saw and heard, he doesn't believe that to save their souls, the leaders of the rebellion could get 50,000 more men in the whole of rebeldom. He never felt so hopeful of the success of Union arms before.
Speaking of the deserters in the mountains, he learned that at one time a large force was sent to bring them in, but they could not be found. A small force was afterwards sent out, and it was used up and driven back in a very short time.
The captain looks thin, but says he feels first rate.
—The Lamoille Newsdealer, August 3, 1864.
Sources:
http://vermontcivilwar.org/units/11/obits.php?input=5144
http://vermontcivilwar.org/get.php?input=5144
Enlisted on 8/12/1862 as a 1st Lieutenant.
On 9/3/1862 he was commissioned into Co. D, 11th Vermont Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 8/25/1865
He was listed as:
POW 6/23/1864 Weldon Railroad, VA (Escaped 7/1/64)
Wounded 9/19/1864 Opequan, VA
Promotions:
Capt 6/11/1863 (Co. L)
Major 5/23/1865
Lt Col 7/10/1865
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
7/17/1863 from Co. D to Co. L
6/2/1865 from Co. L to Field & Staff
Granted an invalid pension in 1880.
ESCAPE FROM THE REBELS
Capt. D. J. Safford, of Co. L, 11th Vt., who, with others, were taken prisoner on the 23rd of June last, escaped from the rebels, who were taking him south to Macon, Ga., on the 1st of July, and reached Washington on the 28th, and got leave af absence for 20 days, and arrived home, in Cambridge, on the 31st. He gave us a call on Monday, while on his way to see his friends in Morrisville.
The railroad south of Richmond being destroyed by our forces, the prisoners to be sent to Georgia were taken a short distance west, on the Lynchburg road, and then marched across the country to reach the road running south, the Richmond and Weldon road. On this march, Capt. Safford, with 1st Lieut. E. F. Griswold, of Co. L, from St. Johnsbury, and 2nd Lieut. A.G. Fleury, Co. K. of Isle LaMotte, managed to slip away from the guard, which consisted of that kind of troops called reserves, made up of old men and boys. They had just crossed Staunton River, one of the tributaries of the Roanoke, and were resting for a short time. The guards as well as the prisoners were very much fatigued--the guards especially being in no condition for very active operations. The Capt. took a cup and pretended to go after water, but managed to step behind some bushes, wade the river, and hide on the opposite side.
Being out of immediate control of their captors, the next move to be considered was how to reach friendly forces, and not wishing to incur the risk of capture in the direction of Petersburgh, and expecting to find Union troops in Lewisburgh, in Western Verginia, they started in that direction across the Alleghany Mountains.
At Millboro, amoung the mountains, on the 16th, they were seen by some Confederate soldiers acting as provost guard, and fired upon. They immediately seperated, each one to take care of himself, and Capt. Safford has not seen his company since. Lieut Fleury, however, he learned got into our lines the day before himself. Lieut. Griswold, he learned from some of the citizens, was not wounded, as they had seen some of the guard, who said they fired upon some Yankees, but did not hit or capture any of them. Safford first reached our lines at Beverly Court House, in Randolph County, on the 23rd. Communications with Washington by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad being interupted, he kept on in a northerly direction till he struck the Pennsylvania Railroad, and proceeded to Washington by way of Harrisburg and Philadelphia, reaching Washington on the 28th.
The Capt. was in the hands of the rebels eight days. While at Richmond he was quartered at Libby Prison. His daily ration consisted of a piece of bread about two inches square by four in length, a piece of bacon about a big as two fingers, and a third of a cup of bean soup--just enough to keep soul and body together. Others, he learned, had the same fare.
Through the rebel country he passed, he did not see an able bodied man under fifty-five years of age, nor a boy over sixteen. He inquired where the men were, and was told they were in the army. Among the mountains he saw a great many deserters. They skulk about, and live upon a little corn meal which they manage to get from their families, which usually live in the neighborhood, and what game they can shoot. He came across some Union people, but they were obliged to keep still, though hoping the rebellion will be subdued before long. The people are generally tired of the war, and willing to have it ended on any terms.
Agents of the Confederate Government had been in that part of the country, actually begging of the people to contribute as they were able, to the support of the army, asking them to give a little if they could, do more, as the soldiers must have food, or they would starve. He saw appeals to the same effect in the papers of the section. Judging from what he saw and heard, he doesn't believe that to save their souls, the leaders of the rebellion could get 50,000 more men in the whole of rebeldom. He never felt so hopeful of the success of Union arms before.
Speaking of the deserters in the mountains, he learned that at one time a large force was sent to bring them in, but they could not be found. A small force was afterwards sent out, and it was used up and driven back in a very short time.
The captain looks thin, but says he feels first rate.
—The Lamoille Newsdealer, August 3, 1864.
Sources:
http://vermontcivilwar.org/units/11/obits.php?input=5144
http://vermontcivilwar.org/get.php?input=5144
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