The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-12-08

sure to bring the deadly bullet OF the
sentinel.
Through the grounds, at nearly
right-anglcs with the longer sides, runs
or rather creeps a stream through an
artificial channel, varying from five to
six feet in width, the water about ankle
deep, and near the middle of the in.
closure, spreading out into a swamp Of
about six acres, filed with refuse wood,
stumps, and debris of the camp. Be-
fore entering this enclosure, the
stream, or more properly sewer, passes
through the camp Of the guards, re-
ceiving from this source, and others
farther up large amount of tho vilest
material, even the contents of the
sink. The water is of dark color,
and an ordinary glass would collect a
thick sediment. This was our only
drinking and cooking water. 1t was
our custom to filter it as best We could
through our haversacks, shirts and
blouses. Wells had been dug, but the
water either proved so productive Of
diarrhea, or limited in quantity, that
they were of no general use. The
cook-house was situated on the stream
just outside tho stockade, and its re-.
fuse of decaying offal was thrown into
the water, a greasy coating covering
much of the surface. To these was
added the daily largo amount of base
matter from the camp itself There
was system ofpolicing, but tho means
were so limited, and as a large num-
Der of men were rendered irresolute
and depressed by Imprisonment, that
the work was very imperfectly done.
Ono side of the swamp was naturally
used as a sink, the men usually going
out some distance into the water
Under the summer sun this place ear
ly became corruption too vile for de-
scription, the men breeding disgusting
life, so that the surface of the water
moved as with gentle breeze.
The now comsrs, on reaching this,
would exclaim: "Is this hell!" yet they
would become callous, and enter un.
moved the horrible rottcnness The
rebel authorities never removed any
filth. There was seldom any vista
tion by the officers in charge. Two
surgeons were at one time sent by
President Davis to inspect the camp,
but walk through the small section
gave them all the information they
desired, and we never saw them again.
The guards usually numbered about
sixty -four-eight at each end, and
twcnty-four on a side. On the out
side, within three hundred yards of the
camp, were Notifications on high
ground, overlooking and perfectly
commanding us, mounted twenty-four
twelve-pound Napoleon Parrots We
were never permitted to go outside,
except at times, in small squads, to
gather fire. wood, During the build
ing of the cook houses, a few who were
carpenters, were ordered out to assist.
Our only shelter from tho sun and
the rain and night dews was what we
could make by stretching over us our
coats or scraps of blankets, which q
few had, but generally there was no
attempt BY day or night to protect
ourselves. ....
The rations consisted of eight oun-
ces of corn bread, 0he cob being
ground With the kernel,) and gener.
ally sour, two ounces of condemned
pork, offensive in appearance and
smell. Occasionally about twice a
week, two tablespoonfuls of rice, and
in place of the pork the same amount
1.-TWO tablespoonfuls) of molasses was
given us about twice n months This
ration was brought into camp about
four o'clock P. NJ, and thrown from
the wagons upon the ground, the men
being arranged in divisions oftwo hun
dred and seventy, subdivided into
squads Of nlneties and thirties. 1t
was custom to consume the whole ra-
ton at once, rather than save any for
the next day, The distribution being
often unequal, somo would lose the ra-
tons altogether. We were allowed no
dish or cooking utensil of any kind
On opening the camp in winter, the
first two thousand prisoners were al
lowed skillets, ono to fifty men, but
these were soon taken away. To the
best Of my knowledge, information
and belief, our ration was in quality q
starving one, it being either too foul
to be touched or too raw too be d.
gestcd. ,....
The cook-hodse went into operation
about May 10th, prior to which We
cooked our own ratiohs. 1t did not
prove at all adequate to the work
(thirty thousand is large town., so
that a large proportion were still
obliged to prepare their own food. In
addition to the utter inability of many
to do this, through debility and sick
ness, we never had u supply of wood.
l have often seen men with little
bag of meal in hand, gathered from
several rations, starving to death for
want of wood, and in desperation
would mix the raw material with
water and try to eat it.
The clothing Of the mon was rniser-
able in the extreme. Very few had
shoes of any kind, not two thousand
had coats and pants, and those werc
late corners. More than one half were
indecently exposed, and many were
naked.
The usual punishment was to place
the men in the stocks, outside, near