American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-01-25

searched since our capture. The old
Dutch Captains orders were, to take all
money, watches, rings, jewelry, coffee, su-
gar and every Cd d-n thing they "got." !"
| succeeded in hiding twenty-seven dol
lars. When shown our quarters inside
the "stockade" many of our number were
so shocked at the sight which met our
eyes at every turn, as to completely over
come them, all such soon wasted away and
lied. 1t was not an uncomep sight to
see men lying out without even a blan-
ket to protect them from the scorching
heat of Georgia Sun, or the dew at
night (Which falls very heavy there) not
able to rise aud enyeloped in all the
faith which their helpless condition in
yolved, and the vermin working upon them.
| have, more than once, in passing thro'
the stockade, heard men earnestly plead
ing for knife to cut their throats. :.
The ration allowed was not enough,
hardly, to sustain life, and composed of
corn meal, cobs aud even some husks, rak-
kcd together with an addition of few
stock peas" boiled, from two-thirds of a
piut; my partner and | extracted 250 bugs
The average number of deaths during the
months of June, July and August, as
was told by one of the grave-diggcrs, was
l3O per day. An attempt to describe
misery endured there is an utter impossi-
bility. About the middle of September
was moved to Charleston, S. c., where
we were camped on the old race course,
inside the city limits. We were shown
more sympathy there than any place was
in. Gen. Fosters shells were plainly visible
from pur camp as they burst over the city
remained there but few days when !
was moved to Florence, 8. G., which is
fast becoming as noted a place of ReJe,
b'ptdtjY as Andersonville, Ga. For a
short time-while under the command OF
Maj. Brown a South Carolinian-we were
treated as well as he was able to do When
the stockade was finished he was relieved
and followed by one Lieut.. Barret, Of
whom | believe the DevH would be asham
| ed. The stockade enclosed about twelve
acres, and nearly one-third SO swampy as
to be untenable, in this II, 700 were en-
closed. The punishment for frivolous
offence. in attempting to escape, was more
brutal than in Georgia. 1t was nothin.
uncommon to see our men strung up by
! the thumbs for two hours at a time s,
that their feet would just touch the ground
On one instance, after hanging two hours
was taken into the presence of us all anC
swung in the same manner, clear of moth
er earth, twenty minutes, when released
sunk senseless to the ground. Wher
moving us into thestockade from the cam,
first occupied some of our men attempt
ed to hide in the wells, but were founC
out when they were taken out and com
pelled to run before a half dozen BOYS
about sixteen years of age, who stabboG
their victim every jump they could.
saw more than one brought down sense
less to the ground.
The punishment fol- funnelng was t.
cut the rations off of the whole camp, un
til some one would divulge the secret
| have seen it done for three days at
time. During one of those times of star
wing, five men lay down at night, unde
one blanket, in the morning conrad,
went to awake them for roll cal, suppo
sing they were asleep, four were dead anc
the fifth not able to speak, and died be
fore ten O'Clock. | met good many Of
my old Pennsylvania acquaintancer there
| was lucky enough to be included in thu
10000 exchanged, being paroled as nursC
to help bring the balance to our lines.
| came on west, and was hardly able to
behave myself when got across the Ohio
river, as we called it getting into God.
country. | think will be able for duty
in couple of s-rheumatisin anC
affection of the lungs are the results o.
my exposure.
Affectionately your Brother,
j. II. GUTHERIE.
n. c. s., Sth Iowa Crualry
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MIR. EYereit,s Inst SnaecIi