Allington Alphonso Crandall

                                    1828-1891

         A woodsman from Potter county Pennsylvania; he enrolled at Coudersport, PA, on February 25, 1864; was mustered in at Harrisburg, PA, March 4, 1864 as a Pvt., Co. G, 53rd PVI. 'Forward!!' 'Double-quick!' 'Charge!', the Federals struck the Confederate salient almost at the very tip of its apex in the attack by Hancock's II Corps, Barlow's 1st Division, Brooke's 4th Brigade, of the Army of the Potomac, on the Mule Shoe in the battle of Spotsylvania (Wilderness Campaign), May 12, 1864.

    Crandall suffered multiple wounds and was taken from the trench of the "bloody angle", a prisoner, upon a determined Confederate counter-attack. He was transferred by rail to Andersonville Prison (Camp Sumter) in Georgia. Crandall spent many weeks recovering in the prison hospital and made friends with a captured Union surgeon, Ashley W. Barrows; and his hospital aide, Charles M. Smith, a cavalryman from Massachusetts. The trio were soon entrusted for burial detail due to the large number of daily deaths.

    After much planning and careful arrangements, on October 9th, 1864, A. A. Crandall, Dr. A. W. Barrows, (a surgeon of Amherst, MA, member of the 27th Massachusetts Infantry) and Charles Mather Smith, of Co. E, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, successfully made their escape from Andersonville. With Crandall's experience as a woodsman and stealth as a deer hunter, he guided them to a chance connection with a Union gunboat and safety.

    Due to the results of the wounds received at Spotsylvania, he was no longer capable of service to his country and was eventually given a Disability Discharge on March 7, 1865.

Crandall's contribution has been recognized by the placement of a memorial brick in the walk of valor at the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA

NOTE: Click on any of the yellow links above to see supporting pictures or documents.

End