The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-04-07

rythlng lhOy found, but Iold US all would
DO given back to US when we were pa
rolled, but have never seen any one
get anything back yet. On the 18th
we were taken to Belle Isle. Belle Isle
is about | ! miles south Of Richmond and
in the center Of James River; each chan
mel here being about one fourth Of
mile wide; the Island is about three
miles long by half a milo wide; there are
some few houses and large iron works
it. 1t is nothing but a sandy Island.
but ia the center tits some fifty feet high
On the lower poiat is the prison camp
or "Bull Pen" as we called it. In this
we we're put, and here We staid about
two weeks without tents or shelter Of
any kind and it raining nearly all the
time. We laid on the bare ground with
no covering bat the sky, for about tive
weeks. The foed here was six ounces
of bread, oae and half ounces of beef
and one quart Of soup each day, given in
two meals. After eatiag we would feel
our hunger more than we did before
eating, for il was only enough to sharp
en- our appetites. In this way we drag
ged on miserable existence until some-
time in November, sometimes getting
| TWO meals day, sometimes one, and
sometimes none. The Goth Of November,
the U. S. Government sent Us some
clothes and rstions; tho clothes we're Civ.
en- 10 as, but the rations were given
principally to the robel guard, now and
then we got little of it, hut in small
quantities. On the 18th of0ctober, they
commenced giving US corn bread, made
Of meal and water, without salt and on
ly half baked. Just think oft, they bs.
king corn bread for $4,000 prisoners.
The corn broad was continued to US un-
Ill we got away. During all that time,
from the 18th OF October until the 9Th
of March, never saw any wheat bread.
Sometimes on the Island, was so hun
cry could have eat anything that came
in my way, | have sat for hours and bro
ken bones and boiled them in a lin cup
to get the grease out Of them. | have
picked up crumbs that would fall in the
dirt and sand and eat them. In fact, l
have done things there that hog would
not do in our country. One evening,
myself snd two others, tried for long
time 10 catch dog so that We might
fhe~c SSi4etiiias to-sAi. hat -ua- Ganld not
catch him. Others had tried him and
he knew he was in danger. Since the
LIST Of January, up TO the time that l
was paroled, | only got meat three
times, and towards the last we got moth.
ing but cold corn brend-one pound
each day.
Tho morning before l came away,
four men belonging to some Indiana
Regiment, killed q rebel Lieutenants
dog and eat it raw. This l seen with
my own eyes. The men were found and
severely punished for it, and then sent
10 Georgia.
Oh, l cannot tell you on paper how
we suffered. 1t is too horrible for any.
one 10 describe. l have seen from s 10
IL men die in onsnight from starvation
some eaton up with vermin. | have
seen over dozen men killed (shot by
the rebel guard without any provoca.
lion whatever only they would como
close to the bank which surrounded the
camp. The guard hardly ever told any
one to so away, but up with his gun
and shoot the unfortunate man down as
he would dog.
thank God tina. be spared me to
get away alive from them. don't think
they will ever set nae again. lfthey do
will not be able 10 walk or fight, for |
will never be surrendered again while l
am able to fight 1t is next 10 death,
for one had better be dead than 10 fall
into their hands, for when dead his sui.
terings are over, but in their prisons they
are just commenced.
II is now tattoo and | will have to
quit for this time. Your Brother,
Ind WV. S. TlPPETT,
SSrg't co, l, LIST w. v. vi.
Another Loyal Paper In Kentucky.
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