The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-01-18

The Prison PEN at COIumbia.
A correspondent of the New York
Times gathers some particulars of the
wretched condition of our prisoners at
Columbia:
"To the number of fourteen hundred
the Union officers were removed from
Charleston on the 9th of October, and OIL
the Tth of the same month were taken to
the peighborhoCt of Columbia, Sonth
Carolina, where they have ever since been
confined in Camp Sorghum" SO called
from the extraordinary large proportion
which Sorghum molasses bears tC the rest
of the rations issued to them. The camp
is situated on a hill about two miles to the
west Of Columbia, and lies upon a gentle
slope, at the foot of which runs a peren-
NAL but nameloss rivulet of good water.
The portion Of the camp. occupied as
quarters, covers about four acres, had at
the tine the prisoners were placed in it.
a sparse growth Of dwaffsh pines. The
l!pits of the camp are marked off ouly by
portions of small pine branches, about
eigAteed inches long, aud placed at inter.
vals of fifty or sixty fee. apart That line
of small sticks forms the "dead line. -
Any cthcer who Intentionally or thought
Iessly passes that terrible line is liable to
be shot. The camp is guarded By bat
alliOn of reserves and pack Of blood,
hounds. The human guards are posted
at short Intervals from one to another
along line from ten to twentn PAGES out
side Of the ''dead line" and are encour-
aged to strctness in the discharge Of their
duty by the assurance Of . furlough for
thirty days TO every sentinel who shoots a
yankee" who may be found, or who may
be supposed to be found, outside the
dead line" without permission from the
prison authorities. The canine guard we're
chiefly used fer tracking officers who at
tempted to make their escape. On tho
l1th Of december, two Of the bloodhouuds
accidentally got loose and strayed into
camp it IS Eee2less to say they did not
get out again alive.
Not an ounce of meat was issued from
Sept. y up to the time dee. 81 when
the present paroled prisoners left camp.
The usual daily allowance Of ratiCns con
slsts Of one pint Of unsif;ed corn-meaI,
one half pint of sorghum molasses, one
tenth of pint of rice, ore fourth of
table spoonful Of salt, a1d sometimes
about one fifth et a pint of shorts or OF
very bad -four To cook these materials
the prisoners are not supplied with one
tenth part Of the utensils necessary. Not
a single culinary utensil was issued from
Oct. to Dec. 9 The only utensils which
the prisoners possessed we're a few which,
with great trouble, they had carried with
them FROM other prisons, together with
few very rude ones, which they had man
ufactured out Of stote- plates which fell
into their hands at Charleston. The own
er Of piece of fat iron for baking cakes,
found it necessary to keep a written list
Of the messes which were in turn, to be
accommodated with the use Of it.
The greatest suffering was caused by
the want OF shelters. The Confederate
authorities had provided none, aud the
prisoners were thereupon obliged TO sup
ply themselves With at first, eight very
unseryiceable axes, which the rebels had
subsequently increased to twenty, among
fourteen hundred officers, the work of
erecting shelters progressed very slowly.
The necessary wood could be procured on
ly from the neighboriDg forest, distant
from one-fourth 70 onc.half q mile. la
these woods, with blunt edges and under
guard. the officers were obliged to cut
very hurridly the wood necessary for fuel
and cabins, and to carry the material on
their backs into camp. While the slow
process Of erecting shelters was going Oh,
very many officers, weak from long con-
fnemeut and afflicted severely from 1i-
arrhe and chillS and fever; with ragged
clothes, wcrn n.out shoes and blahketess,
suffered hardships teyond their power of
endurance exposed, as they were, 10
drenchiug rains and severe frosts, aud oc.
casionally 10 scorchIng heat The hospital
Accommodations are shoekinly detective
All the patients are kept in beds or the
ground, without any stoves, and even
this poor treatment was not given 10 all
the sick"
nSE= A y0ung lady who was taking