The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-08-15
our Prisoner. in rexa..

Our readers will be interested in read
ing the following extract from commu-
nication published by the Davenport Ga.
zette, from Captain Terry of the goth
Iowa, who was captured by the rebel.
last December, and passed his captivity
in Texas. He was among the number
lately exchanged. The friends of the
captured soldiers of the 10Th and Goth
Iowa will be panied at the record of the
indignities aud cruellies of which our
brave boys have been the subjects, and
doubtless they will feel somewhat indig-
nant withal, at the contrast between our
treatment of secesh prisoners and rebel
treatment of Federal troops:
THE PRISON AT CAMP FORD.
Camp Ford at that time comprised an
area of two or three acres, fenced in with
stockade of logs split in halves set closely
together and standing some twelve to ff-
teen feet high. The prisoners we're quar-
tered in rude log huts. built by themselves
under very trying difficulties. In April
the influx Of prisoners captured on the
Red River campaign were brought in
and necessitated the enlsrging Of the COR
raj, which was done by taking down the
old stockade and halving the logs before
resetting them. This gave an area Of ten
or twelve acres. Great energy was dis
played by the commandant in securing
the services of plantation hands, wagons.
DC, to do this. but his labor went no
further.
NO BARRACKS-EO SHELTER.
Two thousand prisoners we're without
shelter and scant Of clothing; few or none
had blankets, many of them having been
plundered after capture; many Of them
sick, and all of them 10 condition to east
ly fall q prey to disease. Yet the affairs
of the Confederacy assumed a powerless.
ness to act but little consistent with
their rank and the conditions of the case.
AS opportunity offered, men went to the
woods and brought brush and logs to
build shelters and wood to cook with. but
only few could get out at . time, and
after three months time the work was
yet in progress. To do this work With.
no tools we're given our men. except =
single froe, until just before my exchange.
when half dozen froes were obtained -
There was but one shovel belonging 70
the camp, SO that for draining or digging
OF any kind, by far the hardest part Of
the work was to get an opportunity to do
It. The wood issued to the camp was far
short of enough to do the cooking. though
1t was cut within sight and cost onlv the
labor of getting it into camp. The def.
cheney was made up by our hacking it
from the woods. an opportunity 10 do
winch vas often difficult to obtai n: |
have known officers Of nv mess to stand
Dy the gate two whole days in the hot
sun to secure the chance TO 90 ont I'm.
agine our feelings, knowing "a - Ala
that at the time Confederate officers. nris.
oners at New Orleans, had on parole the
privilege of the city.
STARVATION AND SUFFERING
Provislons were sometimes very abort
After the arrival Of the FIRST party of pri.
soners from the battle of Mansfield I
nave seen many soldier begging through
me camp for something 70 eat. The
government pressing corn to feed NJ. and
IL was IN the power Of the officers to take
the provisions wherever found, vet tbev
failed to lind meal in the hands Of oerta;n
spectators who dealt il ont - 49, 80
l:neo so,alers At the enormous price Of
nA'y oo',sfs tgreenbacks) per bushel-
equal to from Elk to twelve huud "A al.
lars in Confederate money. Thu r.t;n,
Was nomiDslly pound aud . Quartz, 80
besf per day; practically it was ! it'll
less than pound each Of the meal ana
beef In the winter, when bacon - :
sued instead Of beef, tho ration Va forr
ounces, and the bacon comprised all tbs
joles and like pieces. Cookiag facilities
were email pot and skillet q mespss oi