Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-06-09


we got nothing to eat until the evening following
was told they were going to stsrve US, so tina
We would take the oath of allegiance. The mat
called Davis, came through the prison, taking
our names one Of our men asked mo II | in-
tended giving my name, enquired what for, and
he told me it was to take the oath OF allegiance,
that then We would get plenty to cat and clothes,
replied that | had taken one oath, and that
was all that ! intended to take He told me
that would die there | said | would not die
until my time come.
was ut Florence about eleven weeks, during
which time drew fresh meat about Eve times.
went up to the gate, one day, to see if the ra
tons were coming; we had not had anything
for three days there were hundred there before
mo they were begging for rations. The red
headed lieutenant, as they called him at Auder-
sonyllle, came In mud ordered US to our quarters.
he drew revolver and snapped the cap, but I
don't think il was loaded, He went outside, aud
brought in guards aud told them il we came
within one foot of The dead line, TO blow our
brains out He bad hard name at Anderson
vile, but | never saw any of his bad doings
We were not allowed to go into the hospital un-
I'll we were nearly dead, except as nurses how
ever, slipped in several tmOs to see the sick
that knew, and cooked for them, and got them
tobacco. Their hospital was not aag good as our
brickyaId sheds. They had nothing but the
bare ground until they were almost dead, then
they got quilt The rebels threatened my life
II | did not keep out of the hospital. Nurse
Leonard, one of our men, said he would give me
raions If would wash for the sick, which did
uatil got sick, and broke down with starvation,
when l got into the hospital | was in there
three weeks, when God granted me a parole.
| could see myself sinking every day. When
got to Annapolis could not sit on chair, the
hnR IL. A. H.. L.. 4
five weeks that could not help myself. DR..
Grafton told me that my constitution was broken,
but he thought he could raise me if would only
eat what he allowed me. Thank God, feel as
good as ever | did in my life, only | suffer a
little from pains like rheumatism. | am now
deaf, but | think my hearing will come back
again.
am in my goth year of age.
My three comrades at Anders0nVlle that |
have referred to, enlisted in Maine. The last
one that died, named Merrill, was a young man
belonging to my company, when he came to
Andersonvie prison, he had no shoes on, sup
pose they had tax en- them from him, In June,
1864, it rained twenty two days and nights
pretty study, lie had no shelter and took a
heavy cold and the diarrhea, lie looked very
bad.
There was a man belonging to my compa ny
named Potts, a very fine man who went to
Aniersonville when did. He could not eat
their rough food. He took cough and
diarrbel and pned away with starvation.
helped him up TO the gate and tried to get him
into the hospital. They said 1t was crowded.
Potts said, 80 my God is there no help for
me, know would get better if | could get in
the hospital" | helped him back to his
quarters. The next day l went over to see him,
he asked me for G DDS sake to help him down to
the creek and wash him, which did, he laid
naked on the ground while | washed and dried
his clolhes dressed him and took him 10 his
quarters, he told me he was soon going to die.
| told him to cheer up and not think Of death.
The next day I went TO see him he said
civilians, l am dying If you get out Of here and
reach home, | want you TO tell my wife and my
dear mother that you saw me die have
good wfo and a dear mother and four children,
tell them l hope to see them in better world"
| went away and remained about twenty
minutes when | returned he was drawing his
last breath, and there was a crowd quarreling
who would carry him out in order 10 get some
wood. lie told me sometime before that his
family lived in Philadelphia, in little street off
18th street, below Vine. He was harness
maker. The rebels wanted him to work for
them but be said he would die first | would
like The Maine aud Philadelphia papers to copy
the family.
A gentleman called at Annapolis aud inquired
if there was any of the 1881 Pennsylvania Reg-
mcnl there. They referred him to me in ward
Is. lie inquired about a young man belonging
to my company named Hacker ! saw him at
Florence, and had talk with him. Several told
me if our government did not soon do something
for them, they would take the oath of allegiance
before they would starve TO death. l was in
formed that he took the oath. Some of our men
that took the oath, tried to run of. The old
Dutch captain mounted on an old white horse
which looked like grim DEATH got the hounds
after our boys. They overlook them within
three miles OF our lines. They were brought
back to prison. Those that took the oath of
allegiance were put in the stocks outside, and
those parolled were put into prison. They told
us they got within three miles Of our lines
Their hands and feet wers bleeding, and clothes
torn in battle with the hounds
Cne day at Augusta, on our way to Anderson
Vile, lady came to the car with basket of
votuals for our sick and wounded. rebel,
neatly dressed in white pants, and roundabout,
and Panama hat, seized the basket, and scatter
ed the victuals on the ground, and threatened to
put the lady under arrest. She dared him to do
so, aud told him that if she was a man she would
slap his mouth, Several citizens took her part.
The rebel asked to be excused and walked off as
if he was ashamed Of his conduct. The lady
went away and brought more yict uals, and gave
it to the sick,
News came to Florence that We were to draw
Sanitary clothing, which some of US did, The
third day my hundreds turn came. We drew
sh irts, stockings and blankets My hundred
was ordered up to the gate. There were so many
of the above named articles allowed to each hum
dred. Some Of us got nothing, and were almost
naked. No man was allowed more than one ar
ticle. We were put into line, in open order, and
What was allowed did not reach
lround, Four bakets were allowed to each
hundred we had TO draw for them. Our names
were called, and We had to hold up our right
hands and soemnly declare that we had none
aud no shelter. Any man that drew who was
not in need, was to be put in the stocks and Sc
verely punished. | drew blank. The four
blankets were drawn before they got half fRround
the men Myself and others went away with
long faces. | made out to get shirt; 1 wore
it for two weeks it was woollen. and harbored
travellers, so that could not wear it, l took
it off, and went to the creek and washed II as
we'll as could, having no soap. | traded it off
for twelve or thirteen sweet potatoes and about
a pound of tobacco. As did not use tobacco,
slipped by the guards and went into the hos
pital cut it up in little pieces, and gave it to
our sick men,
We had a chief Magist and police over us.
Our own men THAT had money, and followed the
Sutler, did not suffer 80 much with hunger as
those that had none. saw our men trade a
shirt for something to eat, which was against the
rules; ii they were caught, they had hearing
and were stripped, and got 50 many lashes on
the baro back with paddle. | saw one poor
fellow at Andersohville, on Sunday get twenty
Ave lashes for stealing pail He was nothing
but skin and bones. He got five or six lashes
at n time, and then was allowed to rest. He
cried very hard, and begged to be forgiven, but
it was of no use he had to bear his sentence.
stood back and cried, to think that any moth