The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-04

Fort Phelps, Chattanooga Tenn,
Jnly 1884.
Editor Chattanooga Gazette
Yesterday P. NJ. our battery was thrown
into a connection by the sudden appearance
Of our comrade, Thomos Boyle, who was ia
ken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga,
and who made his escape from the rebel
prison at Americas, Ga on the 18th Of June,
and after being recaptured three times
once by blood-hounds and as many times re-
escaping finally reaching our lines on the
Chattahooche river,on the 9TH of July, after
many hair breadth escapes and thrilling ad-
ventures. The tale Of horror he tells Of the
suffering and treatment Of our prisoners is
almost beyond belief. The suffering under
gone by our men at Belle Isle and the Libby
were comforts compared to this. The state
ments of Mr.Boyle can be relied upon as
true in their every particular all who know
him will testify to his veracity. | make this
assertion feeling that my will doubt even
the faint outline ! shan give of his state
ments. At the time of his escape there were
$4,000 Federal prisoners confined in stock
ade enclosing twelve acres OF ground,
through the center of which runs swamp,
which covers about three acres otsald twelve
acres. The men are without blankets
many Of them almost nude, all, dirty, ragged
and lousy. Nosoap is given them. They
have no tents or shelter except holes they
dig IN the grOnud with their hands. For a
roof they get sticks up and lean them to-
gether at the top and cover them with dirt
The water they have to use is got from
holes dug in the edge of the fore mentioned
swamp. Their rations consist of 3 ouces
Of meat per. day, and piece Of corn
bread 4 inches square. In lieu of the bread
they got pint and half of corn meal
which they bake, without nnsaIt,on a board
before campfire. Their meat ration is
often minus, and some times their bread and
meal they then get one pint of rice cooked.
Such treatment seems almost too horrible
for vel, able-bodied men to endure But
when we know that they are suffering from
the worst form Of diseases, then the bare
thought becomes appalling Nearly all the
Gettysburg and Cbickamauga prisoners
that are yet alive are suffering from scurvey
in its worst form 1Wo-tbjrdS Of the whole
10000 are suffering from the same dread
disease. Their limbs are stiff aud swollen
until they are black and blue; teeth loose
and dropping out, their gums being loose
and Happy. The soul turns sick from the
awful picture. The hospitals differ from the
stockade only in that they have tents for
the sick, but no beds nor blankets-aU lie o57
tile grouad The Surgeons have no medi-
cines.
At the stockade there is an imaginary line,
which if our men pass the rebel guard shoots
hence it is called the 'dead line" Many Of
the men suffering become so intoerable that
they 00L0atorjLy cross this line a1sd are shot, |
Mr. Boyle says he has witnessed alGny such |
scenes. Many Ofthe men have become cyazyl
through their great suffering and loss Yof all |
hope ofan exchange. Nearly all Of them |
say that they hope Uncle Sam will not give /
one point from the right to induce an cx-
change. They feel the loftiness of principle /
they are more than dying to sustain and it |
nerves them to bear herocalIy all that our
far more than human foe can put upon
them-untl they sink into the martyrs !
grave. Does the country appreciate such |
NOBLE sacrifices The dead are striped of all !
clothing-f there be anything but rag on /
them-and then piled into a cart and drawn |
to the burial ground and there cast into
trenches 6 feet wide, do, deep, and unshroud- |
ed, uncoftined, covered with the cold earth. |
The mortality is very great 1t is to be
hoped that some measure may be speedily
found to give these men their liberty. God
Is just and merciful, and in him is our trust
RespectfuIly,yours.
II. s. Howard