Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-04-29
PRIsON LEFE ON JOmNsON,s ISL
AND.
Bs an BrchangcI E'rssoner Fsessr,seS 70
Mobile.


Bs an EEcHangcd PrssOser EsessyIssS ..
JHO5iEe.
From the Advertiser and RegsterJ
MOBILE, ALA, April 18Th, 1s64-Ths uecss
atty of condensiHg the following account O
prison life among our enemies, will compel the
omission of much that would interest snd in
struct your readers relative to that so much in
quired about, and 80 little understood subject
The lot of the many thousands of their soldiers
who are now, have for many long months past
been, and may yet for some time be, inmates Of
Federal prisons, is topic of so much painful
interest to our people, that am induced TO give
you this brief and necessarily unsatisfactory
sketch of affairs, as q long experiences, close OBJ
servatioG and Teliabls information has shown
them to exist. Accuracy will, however, require
that it be limited almost exclusively TO the
sphere of personal experience on JehnsOns isl
and
JohnsOn's island lies Just within the entrance
to the Bay of Sandusky, about three miles north
from the city Of that name, and half mile from
the point of mainland which, north of it, iutting
far out into Lake Erie, forms the western penin-
sulS at the entrance of the bay. Iss size is
About three miles in length, from northeast to
southwest, and three quarters Of mile wide.
The island is thickly wooded, aHd here and there
rocky bills rear their crests amid the trees. It
its nsighb0ring waters having been tho scene of
PeITy's naval victory. Eariy in the war the
United STATES GovsTRment rented from its pres-
snt owner the northeastern end Of the island as
the location Of prison for Confederate officers
The extent of the ground inclOsed is about four
teen acres, and is almost square. This is sur
rounded by massive Oaken vail, twelve feet
high, on the outside Of which, and near the top,
runs = RsrTow platform or terrace, forming the
beat of the sentries.
Within twenty feet of the wall, On the inside,
runs row of posts making what is known as
the Dead Line" ThiS by daylight forms
the extreme limit of the prisoners wanderings
Any thougntless rebel ovsFstepping that limit is
halted by the sentinel and in case of his failure
to hear or obey, his lie pays the forfeit. Some
times the arrangement is reversed, and the bul-
let brings the delinquent his order and quietas
At night the prisoners are confined strictly to
their quarters, and shot if seen walking about
the yard. AT Rine o'clocklights must be put
out, the penalty for disObedienee being the in
evitable bullet through the window This, how
ever, is easily evaded by hanging blankets
across the windows so that the sentry cannot
see what goes on inside.
The barracks comprise thirteen long, two
story, frame buildings, arranged in form Of a
parAHelogrsu, running north and south the
whole length of the enclosure, and being near
the western side of the Same.
Those buildings or blocks lying nearest the
fence are within forty feet of it, and greatly fe-
eilitate the approach thereto of enterpriHing
rebs., who contemplate burrowing under, or
climbing over that formidable barrier. The
space between the two rows of blocks is sbout
eighty yards across, and, with ali that part ef
the enclosure lying east of the barracks (sbout
one half tho entire area), sffords ample room for
rifrlor hell nd y,1u e,n
ing, jumping, s1d the many shifts resorted to
by the prisoners to chess the heavy hours of
their gloom. The main entrance TO the prison
yard is upon the south side, and, commanding
TINS entrances, in the form of q hollow aquars,
are situated the barracks and officers quarters
of the garTison. The main gate is fanked by
4 block house, mounting g II pound howitzar,
pierced for musketry, which commands the in
tsrior of the pGrallelogram. Another block
house, similarly arranged commands by it's po-
3iii0n at the northeast angle of the "Bull PEN,
the open space esst Of the buildings. The wall
% this side ID built close by the margin Of the
bay The first four blocks, being thought suf
iclent for the prisoners 70 be captured during
ninety days war" were Pardhoned of into !
small rooms, eighteen feet square These are
provided with stoves, and are intended to con-
tain from seven to ten men. II the means or
resources Of the occupants admit, they may be
made very comfortable.
The unlocked for extension of time required 10
inish the contract Of suppresaBg the rebellicn,
ogeiheT with The captures st Island Ten and
Fort Donelsan, created the necessity of larger
accommodations. The remaining bull iings
we're then erected, but only divided into four
args roorls, containing hunks for seventy five !
Ir hundred men each. Here, during the win |
er particularly, the suffering of our officers was
7eFy great. TheGe blocka are roughly put up |
md the winter winds howl through the many |
,revlceB in the walls, some times covering the |
1oors with q carpet of snow. But ons stove is |
supplied to q room, and not more than a dozen.
Iut OF the seYenty-fve inmates, can get close /
,nOugh ts Ice Its warmth. The others have TO |
Keep from freezing by constant exercise, or |
wrapping up IN blankets, Of which they are /
given but one each. The hunks are arranged |
q tiers along the wall; most Of them are sup /
)Ged with straw mattress, but nsny have |
lOihing to relieve the hardness of the boards
All the labor OF the prison, police duty, scav-
niger work, digging Of sinks, etc, is required /
o be performed by the prisoners.
Respect and implicit obedience to all their or |
lers must be accorded to the officers of all /
,rades and privats underliDgs of the garrison. |
These creatures have 3 novel and peculiarly /
(snkee.like method Of sndeavoriDg TO insult |
ur officers that is, by giving them no title
S prImbis," 81 Bsall, " Archer" etc, and |
we're insulted at will Disrespect to any Yam
&c was punished By confinement in the guard- 1
iouas- 7neffsciaal Efforts to escape, which
geTe guile frequent, were not pgnishsst but the
Infortunstes were made either to give their pa
ole to make no more attempts, or to 90 into /
lose confinement in cells. During the GUNNER
ye had a sutler in the prison, who supplied us,
t exorbitant prices, with every necessary, and |
sb,t ~,
fish, vegetables, summer fruits, ice, milk, etc,
yere constant accomplishments OF the prisou
aIe
The rstions issued consisted of very good
bur bread, bseon, beef, hominy, beAns, rice,
inegsT, salt, sugar, and COMPOUND of what
; known as the chieoTy been and Coffee which
} tolerAble substitute for the original. All |
inds of clothing was allowed to be purchased
xcept United States uniforms The express
oAt came from Sandusky daily, bringing hum
efless boxes, barrels and bundles of clothing,
rovisions, books, and luxuTies of all kinds for
he prisoners, from their friends throughout the
Iorth, as well as the border States.
We rarely knew there contributors they did
rot require to know ~; they only knew we
Tere prisoners, and soldiers in cause dear to
hem SO to Us, They deemed it privilege to
% permitted to supply our every need, and they
OntribGte something to tke cause of the Con
edeTacy. l allu1e not only to the women of
Aarylsnd, Kentucky and Tennessee, but in New
'Gk, Cincinnati, Chicago, st. Louis, and near
= sveIy city in the North, these angels of mer
y dwell. Many Of these have given their loved
mes to our arms; some have Sons or brothers
q the eIemy's ranks; all have been oppressed,
lsnlted and trampled upon by tbs Yankee ty-
ant; and still, ia defiance Of cruelty and threats
nd despite the dictates of interest, the mad
Feiudiee Of those around them, they are un-
haken in their devotioni aye, their beautiful,
oble constAncy seems to burn brighter as the
Iul, pestilential VspoTs of tEDaticism thieken
round them. Though we, to whom they have
0 endeared themselves, may not live to show
ur gratitude, yet with Gods blessing, they
hsll not want for free, peaceful hOne within
pr noble eOuary when Confederate vslor shall
ave conquered theiT tyrants. Let the metheTs,
ae wives and sisters Of ou9 soldiers, IS they |