My Genealogy Hound

HOWELL, A. W., farmer; Sec. 26; P. O. Coatsburg. He was born in Pike county, East Tenn., May 20, 1833; came to this county in 1855. He married Frances Bass, who was born in Adams county, Ill., Feb. 17, 1840. Ten children, four living: Caroline E., Nellie, George S., Albert Lee. He has 100 acres of land, valued at $5,000. Enlisted in Co. F., 78th Regt. Ill. Inf.; mustered into the service at Quincy; was in the battle of Chickamauga, when he, with thirty-three others out of his company, were taken prisoners; was first taken to Richmond, Va., where they were kept five months; thence to Andersonville, where he remained seven months; thence to Millen, Ga., for a short time; thence to Savannah, Ga.; from there to Blackshire, Florida, for a few days; thence to Florence, N. C.; from there to Wilmington, N. C., where he was passed through the lines. Out of the thirty-three that were captured only seven or eight withstood the hardships. Their principal living was stock peas and cornmeal, fat pork and mule beef. The prisoners were so near starving that they got a dog and killed and cooked it; did not eat any of it for the reason that he could not get any. Has also seen them eat snakes. Mr. Howell, when he was passed through the lines, would not weigh more than 100 pounds — his weight usually is 175 to 180; came so near starving while at Andersonville that his comrades thought him dead; had a brother who starved to death there.