Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-01-07

is q son of Charles Morgan, formerly OF Point
township. His letter is dated at st. Johns
College, Annapolis, Nd. His experience US
u prisoner in the "Bull Pen," at Anderson.
viii, fully corroborates the story of the cruel
"But IN one week we were lodged in the
"Bull PEN down in Georgia. Going there
We were packed into the cars to suffocation
dare not rise up even to breathe fresh air.
We almost perished We marched from
Sputtsylvania to Gordonsvile without food.
Took the cars there and went to Anderson.
vile, Ga, via Lynchburg and Danville, Va,
with little more than no rations. The Rebs |
are universally for "swopping," and by this |
means many obtained something to cat. But |
tons, watches, knives, canteens, badges, pic
lures, etc, would often bring good prices
being in great demand. In this starving
condition, about every valuable article was
disposed ot by the prisoners for bite, two
or three bites just as it happened to De with
the guard. An hour or two after we reach
cd the Pen at Andersonville, we were turned
i'll. This awful place seemed to be already
packed IT, oNerinwing. We were packed
in SO closely that we could scarcely breathe.
The man who had q blanket was fortunate
as the Rebs robbed us of many comforts
when they captured US. At night we gather
cd up some corn hulls, made coffee and
mush of them and of course, ito the hungry
! soul every bitter thing ia sweet" 1t was
with difficulty that We found II few spare
feet of ground to lie down upon at night,
but next day found it and occupied the
same. Several of US spread blanket over
US after procuring couple short sticks
which required an extra compensation,
| I,,f, Il al,
or the scorching sun-nothing to lie upon
| Or cover with Not even twig nor spear
of grass. Each hard shower our cave was
| flooded. Twenty three r...iining days during
the month of June from Which | caugut 50
| bad a cold that 1t was critical case with NC
! and l ascertained some fears of not recover
ing. But the will of Providence was other
wise. No tent nor shelter among the many
thousands. Shortness of rations--heat of
sun-chill and dampness of night and storm
! -scurVy and diarrhoea, rendered the men
incapable of taking care Of themselves but
! lie down and die. Covered with vcrmin,
many are preyed upon many days before
death relieves them from their extreme ago
ny-mere wrecks of humanity, of which
deaths to the average of one hundred per
day was very correct estimate. Many
became so troubled with sore mouths that
corn cakes were 200 rough q material Other
poor victims of misfortune could not get
enough wood to boil the meal so they too
were candidates for the charnal house. The
dirt and pitch pine smoke made man look
like negro and Il pretty black one too. The
stockade contained about 20 or more acres
on which were thirty thousand men. If a
prisoners escaped, the hundred to which he
belonged was put on half rations till caught!
Int, .
shot for approaching too near the dead
line" as it is called This is q pole on crotch
cs, about fifteen feet from the stockadc At
times man walking in the path near it was
shot and ut the watering place especially
was one in danger of his life. "A batch"
OF prisoners arriving and not knowing the
danger at this place, might reach an inch or
two above the line when he would receive
ball from the guards musket. Many a
man, who dreamed of no danger or rtence
: whilst dipping water from their 6l.,hv creek
at the dead line (as there was little chance
and no other provision maze for getting it
elsewhere,) crimsoned tne water with his
blood, his brains lying scattered around the
fatal spot. Shot oy the rebel wretch mount.
ed on scato.d along outside the stockade
who' wheG. committing this cold blooded
murder was relieved and said to be reward.
ed fy thirty days turlough and thirty dol.
lCrs.
The Dolioe body OF men inside or
ganized into squads to the peace and keep
the streets clear. The origin of this is from
Andersville through great necessity. A mob
organized among themselves at the first, and
watched for men who had money, watches
blankets, etc, would seize them and rob
them in daylight in a crowd, if he made any
resistance they would knock him down with
a club OF anything handiest. At night they
would murder for money. So great did
the danger become that no one was safe at
any time or place. Complaints were fire.
quently made to the commander of the pri-
SOP, but all to no purpose, till at last he sent
us armed assistance and the men, principally
the wronged, with clubs hunted these vii
lains out like dogs. The work went on ra-
pidly till great number were arrested,
taken out and required to prove themselves
clear OF the charges made against them. Six
were charged with serious crimes, condemn
ed'by II jury of our own men-put III irons
after which they were brought into camp
and hung. Since that time the police have
been able to keep the rioters down.