Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-11-12
Communication.
STORY OF A FEDzRAL PRISONER.
ROssET. GaI'is county. OIL
Nov. 6sh. 1858.

Mr.. HAMPER = S&s Permit me
through yoar colamns 10 corroborale
the slstements that have been made
time and sgain. in regard TO the man
neF that the rebels treat their prisoners.
/ have had ss good q chance as any
one could. 70 see the internal mschiuerJ
Of the Southern Confederaey, having
been a prisoner for ten weeks, and hav-
ing experienced more hsrdships during
that short time than i bad during al
most three years on the tented field.
therefore I am prepared to testify TO
the truthfnlness Of al that has been
said 10 regard to the manner IN which
our men are treated. I also feel II 70
be my duty as well as privilege, to give
publicity TO these facts, as il viii give
those Who have not had . chance 10
experience, some idea how things are
conducted down in Dixie.
Iuill therefore begin by stating when
and where we we're captured I say
,es. because there was about one hun
dred taken at the same time. We we're
captured at Jackson, Miss July 18th.
1868. 10 a charge made BY Gen. Law
msn. in an unsuccessful attempt to dis
lodge the rebel Gen. Jackson from his
works near Jackson. Our Regiment,
the Sd Iowa. had advanced to within
about one hundred and City yards Of
the enemy's bresst-works, when the
order was given TO retreat, but owing 20
the incessant roar Of artillery and
musketry. it was impossible that all
could hear the command. And being
one Of the Regiments that mas never
yet fiinched under fire, we marched up
to within seventy-6ve yards Of the
rebel artillery, when to our surprise
and modification, we found ourselves
in the hands Of the enemy. There was
about one hundred 10 all that was cap
tured, and about thirty Of the Sd Iowa.
We we're Immediately marched TO the
Provost Marshal's Office, and searched.
Everything was taken from us except
the clothes which we had on. We only
remained in that place about three
hours, then was marched 10 the depot
and took the cars 10 MERIDIAN: from
thence BY steamboat up to Demopolis,
on The Tombigbee river; then we took
the cars TO Selma, Alabama; from
thence BY steamboat to Montgomery,
where We again took cars, Travelled day |
and night, passing through Alabama,
Georgia, South CaroIlna, and North
Carolina, reaching Richmond on the |
goth, being nine days on the road, with
but three days rations during the whole
time. consisting Of hard bread and
meat, full Of maggots. which 10 soldiers
OF the Union army. who had been used |
to the best Of rations, was rather q
hard mess.
And right here, let me state a few
facts in regard to the condition Of the
railroads in the South. So far as nv
observation extended, l am compelled
to say thst the roads are about gone
up, the ratings, which are Of the old
fashion bar railing, are Just about worn
out. This does not refer to a part only,
but to The whole rout. The cars look
as though they had been used for hog
houses for a half century. There are
scarcely any passenger cars on the
roads, and what few there Is are about
as good as none al an. And in regard
to the crop, l would Just say that there
are literally no crops at all / only
saw few pieces OF corn that would be
pronounced good BY our Northern
farmers. AS for wheat, it looks more
ike fine straWed fax than anything
else. King Cotton and Lord Tobacco,
are no 90 whstever.
As I before stated, we arrived at
on the 90Ih Of July. Not.
EitAstanding we only received three
lays ratfons in nine days. yet We
'ared decidedly better than We did
Hhfie we remained on Bell Island, in
he James river, near Richmond -
WbeO we FIRST arrived in the rebel
Capitol, we were incarceraied in to-
)acco warehouse, but were not allowed :
o remain there but q few hours, Il be-
ng thought rather commodious for {
egular Yankee soldiers to rest their
Eesry bones 10. From thence we we're
marched to the Island; there we met :
nth about four thousand Union prison
rs from the East. who had been cap
lred at Gettysburg. The Island con-
aims about eight acres of land. but we =
Iere confined upon space Of ground .
not over an acre at the fur v
hest. There are strong breastworks J
brown up around the whole camp, be- T
ind these are a strong guard Of in e.
'ntry, besides six or eight pieces Of 81
rtillery bearing upon the Island from
lree points. Thus. you see. that to E, :,
'cape was impossible. There was '
,arcely tents sufficient for half the men, 0.
I'd they were not much better than e.
D tents at all. for they looked like they 9
I'D been through the revolutionary IS
ar. So you see that those who were ="
rtunste enough to get tents. did not "
IRE much better than those who had 81
sleep upon the bare ground, without 70
ankets or covering Of any kind, except
e thin clothing which they ehanced n
have on. Many of the men were q,
Irehesded and bsrefooted, and thus n
,uinned We uera eornnelled IN alaar -