The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-01-11
y BLooMsBURG. COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA, WEDNEsDA

Vile who Sald notnlDg TO u.s. OaptSiu
Nc Cam had charge of us, with as many
soldiers as prisoners marching beside US.
We were marched through Bloomsbury
with only slight halt in the street, to
the depot OF the Lackawauna & Blooms
burg Rail Road and put in the station
house until the evening train came along.
1t was reported among us that the Cap
tain said we were to be taken to Harris
burg. We were put in the cars and went
to Harrisburg where We were transferred
without delay to another train and taken
on to Philadelphis. We arrived at Phil
adelpha at eight or nine o'clock in the
morning, Sept 2ud, [Sept 1st,1 and were
taken to Barracks, 5th & Buttonwood.-
There at noon we obtained something to
eat. TIM cups of soup and sumo bread
and meat, which was the 6rst food fur
nished US from the time we had been ar
rested. At the Benton Church some eat
ables were sent to US from the house Of
John j. Stiles, by his direction, he being
one of the arrested men, which was all we
had had. Land my sons we're taken from
home before breakfast.
The afternoon of same day-Sept. End,
fist I've were taken on 90 Fort Miflin
and put in .Bomb-prOof No. 8. Going
through long dark .arched passage or
gangway of about so feet in length from
the s-gra,ed doors (say 81 feet high in
the centre aud FIVE or six feet wide) we
pass through heavy double planked and
riveted door into the B5mb-proof. This
bonb-proof is partly below the level of the
river is arched overhead and has thick
walls of stone and brick. By stepping it
l and Others made its width to be l9 feet
aud its length 81 feet This was the space
allotted to the prisoners, ~ in psmber.
One of the original prisoners had been
Giecharged when We arrived at the Fort on
the ground that be had been arrested by
mistake. sr
Air and light were impeifccily admitted
on one side aud at oneend of the bomb
proof through openings in the wall, per-
faps dozen in hsnfbtr The main ones
may have been inches wide by foot in
height on the outside, widening towards
the interior. The Hoor was of hard earth
or gravel and firm. On the sides scant-
ling were Lard on the g ound length
of the room aud across these boards were
placed. Again al the ends of the board :
next the wall. short pieces Of scantling or
blocks were placed at intervals end-wise
to the walls, across which boards were laid,
forming a narrow platform next the walls
few inches high. This constituted a
substitute Tor pillows, the lower and wider
platform of boards answering the purpose
of bed a single soldier blanket was
furnished to each man, but no bedding or
straw.
The room was very damp land at wet
times the water came through the arch
overhead from the earth upon it, dropping
down in the part farthest from the fire.
There was also sweating of the side walls.
To check the dampness it was necessary
to keep up fire constantly in the CRATE at
one end Of the room, but this was not suf-
ficisnt, although attended to night and day.
The fire was useful also,to some extent, in
aiding the ventilation, and from the chilli
ness Of the room was required for com
Portable warmth even in September.
Our prison fare was as follows ITO
each loaf of bakers bread for the day.
One slice of boiled pork or bsef and tin
of coffee in the morning one tin of bean
or pea soup at dinner, and a tin Of coffee
at night. On three or four occasions we
drew potatoes boiled 10 the skin instead
Of soup at dinner. Several times the meat
was ne good, and FIVE or six times there
was none furnished.
.o The prisoners however purchased pro-
visions for themselves, to some extent, at
enormous rates. The expense incurred
in this way was very considerable during
the time remained in confinement.
One half single candle was furnished
at nights for the whole room, and We were
obliged to procure lights at our own ex-
pense. ezs<
A flth-tub was furnished us, made by
saving barrel across the middle. Stand
ing upright on the closed end, stick was
run across it through holes bored a
little way below the top. Thus pro-
vision was made for its being carried by
two men. 1t had no cover.. For about