The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-09-08
The Horrors of 4s,tlers0nrilIe.

Much as we have head of the atrocious
conduct Of the rebel prison authorities to-
ward the Union soldiers placed under their
misgovernment, we have but half an idea
Of its extent and cruelty. Individual ex-
periences will no doubt be given during
the Wilz trial which will deepen the gen
eral picture furnished in the following ev-
idence of DR.. John c. Bates. a contrac,
surgeon employed by the rebels in the An
dersonville hospital, given ON the trial Of
Wirz On Thursday last:
Il was ordered to report to J. II.
White. the surgeon in charge, but hearing
he was injured by a railroad accident
reported to II. A. Stevenson; on going in
to ward fifteen Of the hospital, saw q
number of men and was rather shocked ;
many Of them were lying partially naked
dirty and lousy. in the sand; others were
crowded together in small tents, the latter
unServlceable at the best {; | examined all
who were placed under my charge; on
further investigation of matters to make
myself acquainted with the mode of doing
business, the disagrecable feeling at first
made Oh me wore off more or less, as
was becoming more familiar with the ef
feet of misery; inquired into the "a
tions and talked about them; | felt dis
posed to do my duty and aid all the sufferer:
I could: they frequently asked me for a tea
spoonful of salt or for orders for a little
sitting that came out of meal. as the,
wanted to make some bread; if | tounC
something better than sittings ordered it,
| spent considerable of my time in writing
orders; the meat ration was cooked in {
different part of the hospital. The mer
would gather round me and ask me for E.;
bone OF clothing we had none, the liv
ing were supplied with the clothing o
those who died: there was a prolific crol
of vermin and lice | understand the tern
lousy from prison experience; on retirin!
from the hospital | examined myself, i
was impossible for surgeon to leave ther
without bringing some with him. As t.
medical attendance found the men desti
tute, and of clothing, bedding and fue
there was only partial supply; as tn
officer of the day shortly after l arrived
there, | was in supreme command, and i
was my business to rectify anything
wrong: | found the men, as genera
thing, destitute, partly naked, sick an,
diseased their disposition only was to ge
something to eat; they asked me for or
ders for potatoes, biscuits, sittings of mea
and other things; the following mornin
| sat down and made a report of the con
dition of things l found at the hospital
the report was sent up, being novice
for some of the things said received
written reprimand, signed by DIR. DiIlari
for Dr. r. a. Stevenson. Medicines be
ing scarce, | gathered up a large quantit
of what were the best attainable, ant
scorbutic, as we'll as to soothe the alimer
tary canal, and to cure complaints of gal
creme think the reports were not heedec
my attention was called to patient
my ward who was only fifteen Or sixtee
years of age, | took much interest in hin
. owing to his youth; he would ask me I
bring him a potatoe, bread or biscui
which | did; put them in my pocket
: he had the scurvy and gangrene-I advi;
ed hlm not to cook the potatoe, but to e;
g 1t raw; ne became more and more EN-;
! clated, his sores gangrened, and, for wal
of food and from lice, he died: I ,mde
3 stood that 1t was against the orders to tax
: anything into the prisoners, and hence
! was shy in slipping food into my pockets
? Others in the ward came to their deat}
from the same causes; when | went the,
there were 1000 or 2500 sick | iuds
10000 or 5000 persons We're crowdc
; together; some had made holes or bu
rows in the earth those under the she,
: We're doing comparatively well; 1 sa
; but little shelter, excepting what ingenui,
!, had devised found them suffering wit
d scurvy, dropsy, diarrhea, gangrene, pne,
e mona and other diseases; when prisone
5 died they were laid in wagons, head-for,
most, to be carried off; l don't know ho
they Ware huriaI tho oal,: Eo,, -