, 1864-07-24
THEIR BARRARODS TY1EATJIENT
NI TEE REBELS.
Thrilling Report from an Escaped
Prisoner
uEApQ'Rs N Wis, BATTERY, Fonr PHkLrs,
CHATTANOOGA, Team, July Il. j

HEApo'Rs IN Wis, BATTERY, Fonr PaKIrs,t
CHATTANOOGA, Ttan., July Il. !
Editcr Chattanooga Gazete:
Yesterday afternoon our battery was thrown
into cnmnotfon by the sudden appearance
Of our conlrade, Thomas Boyle, VIM wa, I'd
ken prieoner at the battle OF Chickamaugu,
and who made his escape from the rebel
prison at Asuericus, GA, on the 18th Of
June, nnd after being recaptured three times
-unce By bloodhouods, aud as 1nlny times
Ctattahoochee Riycr. on the 9Th Of July,
after many haIrbre1dth escapes aud thrill
ing adventures. The tale Of horror he
tells Of the suffering and treatment Of
our prisoners Is almost beyond belief
The ba.tarous ages give no parallel to
Belle Iele and Libby Prison were comforts
compared to this. The statements Of Mg,
Boyle can be relied upon as true In their
every Inlrticutar; Ill WHO know him will
testify t, his yericitY. / mase this a*ser-
tion feeling that many will iu1bt even tae
At tie time Of bis escape there were 1900
Ftde1al prisoners confine1 IN a stockade iu.
closing Twelve acres Of ground, through the
center Of which runs ramp, which covers
about three acres or said twelve acrus. The
men ere without hlankets, many OF them
,, No soap IL given them, They have no tents
OF ehelter except holes theT dig IN the
| ground with their hands. For soof they
set sticks up and lean them together at tha
top, and cover them with dirt.
Tie water they have to use is got from
holes dug In the r+fse Of the aforementioned
, swamp. The rations consist OF three ounces
! Of meat per dag, and piece Of coTn bread
| fourinches square, In lieu Il tas bread they
| get pint and hall Of corn u,cal, which
! they bake, without salt, on hoard hcfose u
! camp fire: Their meat ratton is very often
ffyy,A,p p$ II
| they then Get one plnt OF rice cooked. Such
| treatment seen1s almost too horrible fur we'll,
nbie-eooied men to endure. But when wo
! knuW that they are suffering frou the worst
! form Of diseases, then the bare thought be-
| comes appalling. Nearly all Of tie Ge:tys.
/ burg and CLicksmau.a prisoners ass yet alive
| and are suffering from security In ils worst
| form.
Two.thIrds Of the whole 19,oo0 a1c suffer.
/ ing from the Same dread disease. Their l:mr:
ore stltt and swollen until they are black 4td
blue. teeth loose and dropping out, theil
gums being loose and tabby. The soul tusIs
sick from the awful picture, Tie hospitals
differ from the stockade ou]5 IN that ths5
! have tents tor the slck, but no heds nor bsan
Rr,e. uli liz On tue ground. tit SURGEON:
have no medicines.
| At the stocksdc there Is IN imaginary line
! which II our neu pass the rebel Gu1.d shoots
r hence 1t is called the ''uead line" Many .
the mtn's sutferines become 90 iutoicra5le
that they voluntarily cross this line and ar
shot, Mr. Boyle sajs be has witnessed msEJ
sucn scenes. Many Of the men have become
crazy through thstr great suffering ard los:
Of a1l.lope of an exchange. Seag Ill 0
them say that they ho2e Cn:le S4m viii
not glye oue point from the right to "
duce "a exchange. They feel the lotti
| pess Of the principles theg a.s rlo7e ta1t
dying to sustain, and it nerves tham t
bear he1oically all that our far more tnan ID
human toe eau lut upon shem-an,il tae,
! sink into martyrs grave. Dees the eoun
try appreciate such noble sacriicese TIL
dead arc stripped Of all clothing, u there b.
| m, thing but rags on thEm-and thcc pi!et
into cart and hauled to the burial srount
and there cast into trenches six feet wide, d.
depth, and unshroudrd. uneolhped, coyere.
with the cold earth. The mortality i se5.
great. II Is to be hop.d that soaae nacaan5
, way oe speedily found to give these 'ne'
their liberty. God Ia lust and mefciinl, ap
IN him IL our trust. Respectfully yours,
! q. s. HOWARD,