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

that they would lead different life but | an
sorry 10 say the most of them died.
When we left Florence to 20 to Savannah Il
be exchanged, aud had got as far as Charleston,
they got despatch that there was n battle al
Savannah, and not TO bring US any further
They put us that night in board yard, without
anything to eat The next day some women
came with victuals to US. They got mobbed,
and the victuals torn from them. They had to
put guard on to keep the women from coming
in the yard, and hand the Victuals in to the
nurses. The men were going to fight about the
victuals, We were there two days. They then
put us in the cars, and took us back TO Florence.
We were all very down-hearted. We got there on
Friday; and laid outside of the prison that night
It was very cold. man came to me and said
he would give me hard tack if l would give
him share Of an old rug that had picked up
at Charleston 1 told him thought he wanted
the hard tack himself and to go away and eat il,
and come back. and would give him a share of
my old rug lie told me he could not eat, as
his teeth were falling out with aourvy. told
him to soak 1t and eat il. He said, " Oh, friend,
| am too sick to cat" My heart would not al
low me to take il. covered him with part
Of my rug
The next morning we were put in cavalry line,
aud the roll called, to see ii any of us had got
OIL. We staggered 30 with hunger and weak
ness that they laughed at us, anu said, " Look
at the fanks thoy act as If they were drunk"
would have tried TO got of, but did not know
the road to our lines. The sick man that men.
toned above went into the hospital with me-
lie became very sick. He asked me 10 read the
18th chapter of st. John 10 him, which l did,
He lay dead at my feet the next morning; no
one saw him die. think he told me his name
was Nichols.
After had been in our hospital few weeks
my hair all came out, and my finger nails came
of, Some ladies and gentlemen came to Anna
polls 10 See about their relations. They came
to my bedside, and asked me what reduced me
80, told them starvation. l could hardly
make them believe it was not the result Of diar
rhea.
My living for seven long months was beans,
Indian meal, rice, and salt junk. | saw one of
our men at Florence, peelng potatoes. l asked
him, when he was done, if he would please give
me the peelngs he told me to be gone, and
not to make myself 80 low, or he would come
out and kick me. told him il he was as huns
CRY as | was, lie would not talk so. l suppose
he had greenbacks and was not hungry
smart young man that heard hold several
debates with the rebels about the war, and whom
they threatened to shoot at SpottsylVania for his
talk, died at Andersonville. His name was Star
think. He said he belonged to Massachusetts,.
you live to get home, you wont come down South
again"
l saw several of our men shot while lying
asleep in their tents. Some were shot through
the head or body and Instantly killed, while
others we're wounded
Late aud early went to the creek, at Ander-
sonvile, to get some water. The rail Of the
dead line was broke down, Of which | did not
think ] got over ii, when one OF our men
caught hold of me and pulled me back. He
cursed and kicked me for going over the line.
! looked up at the rebel guard, and he was
taking aim at the time 1 was pulled back. /
suppose he was watching for chance, so as to gel
a thirty-days furlough.
When they shot one of our men, some of the
Union boys would cry out "Give the rebel s-n
Of a b-h Ghirty-days furlough.
hope our government will not punish the
men for taking the oath they did it to save
their lives. | heard several Of our men say
they would wait until the election was over, aud
If our government did not do something for us
then, they would take the oath before they
would starve to death. They did wait until
after the election, and then took the Doth and
went out | heard some Of them got 10 our
lines.
When l reached our hospital at Annapolis,
could not crack the shell of an egg, was broke
down with starvation, but | am glad that can
crack scores of then now, and eat them, too.
| traded my rations, sometimes, for little red
pepper, and made some tea l knew 1t would
keep me from having the disrrhel. | was not
able to buy them they were ten and fifteen
cents apiece.
The climate was very hot in day time aud very
cold at night. 1t burned the skin of the
backs of my hands and feet
have been two weeks at time without O
drink of water. IL Wns eo dirtv
had no shoes from the 9TH of July until the
sixth of December, when got on our hag-oE-
truce boat in Charleston harbor.
really think the Union soldiers ought to do
something to testify our respect for the ladies'
Of Delaware and also of Annapolis, for what
they have done in our hospitals for the soldiers.
! am willing to assist, and l hope some one
will make q beginning.
ANDREW j. WILLIAMS.