Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-05-22

draughts, chess, chequers, and pitch
ing cents.
Many of US wrought ariistically i
bone, making rings, bodkins, and cross
es, and indeed everything that our in
genuity could suggest, and our me
cbanical skill execute. Some made
quite 6 profitable source of amusement
until they 1.-THE rebels) began to ski
the meat from the bones, and charge u
from twenty five to ferty cents, for
piece of bone 3 or 4 inches longl-
Those that had money we're permitted
to buy whatever they needed, conse
quently there was but little Of thei
rations eaten by those able to buy thei
own grub. We bought cakes, pies
bread, and corn meal. and made mush
and we would eat bread and molasses
and mush and molasses. Once in {
while we would buy piece of fresl
meat, and fry nice dish Of steak
make or buy a cup Of coffee, and feas
upon the fat of the land. F..
There was one source of endless ant
increasing annoyance to us, and tina
was the vermin that infested the pris
ons; and notwithstanding all our cleans
ing, washing, and watching, we coulG
not free ourselves of the horrible Rich
mond lice. .....- ..r...
In my last article, I stated that tht
prisons were in charge of Gen. Windel
and Capt. Warner, (who was Captain
of the post as it was called.) This wa:
a mistake; the Captain Of the post was
a man by the name of Gibbs. Warner
was prison commissary; and, by the
way, this same Warner is known in
various portions Of Ohio. particularly
in and about Gallipolis, where he has
obtained (and no doubt JUSTLY the pre-
fix notorious, for it is said that he there
acted the part of swindler, blackleg and
liar; titles that will ensure man pro-
motion in the Southern Conthieveracy
Among the political prisoners, ol
citizens, as they were more usually
termed, want, destitution and misery
with a few exceptions, were stamped
upon every countenance. Many were
captured whilst laboring in their fields
on errands to and from a neighbor':
house; some snatched out of bed al
night, and others from the various pur'
suits of life; all hurried off with precipi'
tation; not being permitted, though
within a few feet of their own doors, to
enter and bid their loved and loving
ones adieu, or to procure single arti
Gle of clothing. Many were old, fee
BILE, and decrepid; some of the tender
age of 19 and IA years, and others i'm
beetle and even idiotic. Little of chez
and vivacity animated them; they
seemed to succumb to a desponding
spirit; the least bodily afiiction pros
trated them, and they laid down
breathed few days in despair, ant
die. There are, however, some noble
exceptions to this general state Of mint
and spirit; among which may mention
the name of Ferguson, Of Kentucky
or "Old Top" as he was familiarll
called; Walker, Brotherton, and tw'
others from Pennsylvania; Smith ant
Turner Of Virginia; the latter has thre
sons confined in the same prison will
him. All could have been released b,
taking the oath to sustain the South
ern Confederacy; but they scorned tb
proposition, and told the axaminer ths
they would lie in prison until the fles
would rot from their bones before the
would take the oath to sustain thei
rotten Confederacy. Such proposition
are only made to citizens Of Souther
States. would like to see our Gov
ernment, when they take political pri'
oners, instead of administering to ther
the oath, (which they regard as of n
consequence and letting them g
! hold them as hostages for those mob
hearted Union men, now pining the
!. lives away in the Southern prisons.
! The prisoners of war, as gener'
thing, were not given to despondenc..
! thousand and one Yankee invention
: were brought into requisition to enlive
their spirits and lessen the tedium
Z prison life. Original and declamitol
/ speeahes were made; comic and trsg
|. scenes were enacted: comic, patheti
q national, and solemn songs were sun
and at times a hundred hearty laugl
/. would come yelling forth, making Il
old walls echo with the merry SCUM
and gladdening the hearts Of those {
!, the verge of dependency.
s When 1 first entered the warehou
IF prison, there were quite number sic
e and many were dying. In few da
If they began to call upon me, and ] hi
i quite heavy practice in the three a
n artments of the building, from th
{, on. There were but few from our pr
l. on that would go to the Hospital, al
,r none until 1 would assure them that
S, had not, and could not get, medicin
r to treat their cases.
,r Ny apothecary shop was my w
d pocket, in which l carried my scan
N stock of medicines, excepting such ar
cles as water, vinegar, salt, and r
D. pepper; besides the above named hei
? ing remedies, 1 had procured from t
Ip prison hospital little sulphur. d.
n powder, castor oil, and rheubarb; a
: I am happy to say that there were b
Of three or four deaths from our pris
sr after commenced practice, and tn
OF died after going to the hospital.
J. About the l4th Of December, 13