Sarah Jane got married to Tunis Taylor and by 1850 John, Samuel, and Sarah and Tunis Taylor moved to Wheatfield, Michigan. Henry stayed in New York and later enlisted in the 26 New York Infantry, where he was injured but survived the war. In Michigan, Samuel and his father John worked on Tunis's farm as hired hands for several years. John died sometime between 1850 and 1860 at approximately 60 years of age, leaving just Samuel and Tunis to care for the farm. In the meantime Tunis and Sarah had several children, William, born in 1845, John, in 1846, George in 1848, Alice in 1851, Levi in 1852, and Mary in 1854. They also had Tunis Jr. in 1857 and little Samuel in 1862, who both died in 1864
Probable house of Tunis Taylor in Wheatfield:
When the War started in 1861, Samuel enlisted into the 3rd Michigan, Company G. He had auburn hair, a light complexion, and stood 6'0" at 31 years of age. He traveled and fought with the 3rd, and when his three years enlistment was up on June 10th of 1864, he reenlisting for another three years or until the war was over. He fought in the battles of Blackburns Ford, 1st and 2nd Bull Run, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Peach Orchard, Glendale, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, Auburn Heights, Kelly's Ford, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Po River, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, and Cold Harbor.
During the war, he wrote a series of letters to his sister and brother-in-law, Sarah Jane and Tunis Taylor, telling them any news he had. Letters and news from the home-front was extremely important to the soldier so far away from home, and the few who didn't have anyone to write to where in a sorry state indeed. We have about 20 of the letters, though it is certain that he wrote many more which have been lost or destroyed though the years.
On June 22, 1864, Samuel was taken prisoner by some Confederate forces near Fredericksburg, VA. He was send to Andersonville and then quickly transferred to Camp Sorghum in Columbia, South Carolina. Camp Sorghum was a 5-acre parcel of land without any buildings or wall whatsoever, besides some boards laid out which made a "deadline" and housed 1,700 men. It earned it's name from the diet they fed the prisoners, cornmeal and sorghum syrup. The conditions were horrible, with a shortage of food, diseases sweeping though the camp, and winter weather.
Camp Sorghum:
Samuel endured 5 months in Camp Sorghum before the CS government transferred 500 of the prisoners, including Samuel, to Camp Asylum (or Camp Lunacy) near Columbia, SC. Camp Asylum was in the back lot of a mental institution, and was separated by a 10 foot high board fence. The prisoners were given materials with which to build shelters but sadly, it was too late for Samuel. It is highly probable that he was suffering from sickness in Camp Sorghum, and the transfer was too much for him. Samuel Mathews died of "barbarous treatment in rebel prison" on January 10, 1864, one month before Sherman freed the prison with his bummers.
Camp Asylum as it appeared to Sherman's troops:
Sketch of Camp Asylum by a POW:
