The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-08-30

queISu iOc HdfuHB ever VecH tnS aIHiuu''
Of the truly great, I.cannot conceive how
justice will be indicated, the Union per
petuated, or the character, of onr country
elevated by the trial and execution OF this
man. The horror of the public has been
excited, and desire for vengeance. stimu.
lated by one sided narratlobs and pictorial
Illustrations of suffering until, not content
with having supped on horrors for tour
years, the vitiated appetite of unappeasable
men still calls for more. am not aware
that Capt. Writ was selected for the posi-
ton he filed from any inherent cruelty Of
disposition, or for any peculiar fitness Tor the
task. His duty was simply that of a jailor
Prisoners of war were commit ed to his
charge, and he was held responsible for their
safe custody, ]. e., their retention. The
mortality at ALdersonville resulted mainly
from the following causes:
Want of proper food;
Want of shelter i,gaI9'5
Want of proper medical Attendance and
hospital diet;
And causes Of d parely local nature
coupled with the moral degradation exhibi.
ted by the prisoners.
By the went of proper food mean the
dietary scale was neilher of the kind Or
quality to which most Of the prisoners had
been accustomed. Sill it was the ordinary
diet of the Confederate army, and they had
nothing else to give us. Thousands Of the
prisoners had never eaten corn meal in any
mode of preparation. and W th those its use
commonly resulted IN diarrhea, which, ag-
gravated by the excessive use Of water, gen.
orally in few days, became chronic. Eve
ny one knows the difficulty of treating this
disease, even under the most favorable cir
cumstances. At first the meal was issued
uncooked, and the prisoners allowed to go
-oht the stocksde in squads under guard, to
collect fuel. This privilege was accorded
with the understanding that an escape
would not be attempted. In q short time.
however, Captain Wirtz was compelled to
withdraw the favor, for it was evident that
no reliance could be placed in the promises
Of our men. This want Of good faith resul.
ted hmentably4 er,all. Fuel became scarce,
as only few wagon loads were distributed
per diem to the prisduers, and the share of
each man for three or. four days would not
surpass in size an Ordinary cane 1t was
impossible to be otherwise, for all the way.
ons and teams oftke post were necessarily
employed in hauling rations and carrying
the dead to their graves. The corn meal
was therefore eaten ina semi-cooked state,
and sickness commonly followed. Beans
Tor peas as they are called South were rot
on the bill of fare. They were cooked in
large kettles with bacon or beef as it might
happen, and would have been both palata.
BILE and Nutritious had even the most ordi.
nary care been exercised in their prepare.
ton. But the cooks were our o.sn men,
liberated from the stockade for this duty, on
parole, and receiving therefor All extra ra
ton, the liberty Of the entire post, aud 9TH
er privileges. Their own wants were bouu.
tifally supplied. The choicest of everything
was theirs, but this scared, nothing invoiv.
ing either trouble Or extra labor was wasted
upon their unfortunate comrades. 4he
beans were cooked as received frofn the
coRmissary, ming ed with pods, stones and
sand. The beef or bacon, covered with the
fifth Of the cook house, was flung into the
slckenng mess, and a compoahd was produ.
ced, which, even Msctbth's witches would
have pronounced "slab aud goud." When
oil was ready, it was dipped into barrels and
hauled into the stackude for distribution.
A brawny prisoner whose nationality l
shall not mentiom detailed to surerinteDd
the issue Of the rations, mounted each wag
OBJ rs it entered and indulged to the utmost
bio proclivitles Tor marder. This he actual.
Is effected in one instance, at least, beside
inaicting innumerable serious injuries upon
bis fellow prisoners, but as he was forward.
ed for exchange lorg'ago, | suppose that
ere this be has received an honorable dis
charge from the United States service in
consideration Of his sufsrings. As for the
quantity of food, / know that until Gene
rails Sherman and fitzpatrick destroyed the
railroad communications OF the South, the
ration. as issued BY the post commlssary,
was nearly if not quite equal to that of our
guards. The Issues were based upon the
morning reports of the prison, but as many
hundred men inside and out Of the s,ockade
drew double ratious Or more, there would
necessarily be deficiency among those not
so fortunate. The numerous instances of
starvation which have been cited occurred,
not from the lack, bat from the nature Of
the food. Many saeh cass / have noticed
where men have wasted away 10 skeletons,
with abundance Of provisions in their tents
TO eat was death, and it was death to alb.
stain. The avidity with which our poor
fellows devoarea the delicacies offered them
ON arriving within our lines, was owing no
more to their hunger than to the tempting
nature OF the viands. Could it have been
possible for the Confederates to have bet
tered the diet Of their prisoners, it is too
much to expect d, humanity that they would
content themsei, IS with their simple fare,
while we feasted.
The want Of shelter exercised a marked
Influence on the health Of tile prisoners.
Had the men observed good faith when a.
lowed to go oat for wood, it is certain that
in time all those unprovided with blankets
or shelter tents, would have found shelter
enough to protect them from the sun and
dew. 1t was not until last September,
however, that barracks were allowed to be-
constructed. Had not the prisoners been
removed to Millen, Savannah, Backshears,
Florence and other posts, all would have
been sheltered before Winter. Last Aug