As the story is told , on Christmas Eve he begged a guard for a pickle while starving .
The Bavarian - born Private John C. Lower had enlisted in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry , but was captured in April 1864 and taken to the prison camp .
As the story is told , on Christmas Eve John C. Lower begged a guard for a pickle while starving .
The Bavarian - born Private John C. Lower had enlisted in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry , but was captured in April 1864 and taken to the prison camp .