Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-12
WE'LL To DO oN THE START.

first settled down to prison tare II did not
Immediately occur TO us that the Yankees
intended what they gave Us as unhand-
some entertainment. We received Just
half of full Federal TatiOus, and having
been trained to live on less, il was sutti-
cicnt: and in our simple soldIcrly faith we
thought that we were being used IN this
respect quite Hospitality.
We had enough, and something to spare,
indeed, for the barracks soon became so
overr1ln with rats that most of the messes
were constrained 90 bride the guards to
bring them in each a cat. While the
Iarder could CntiCC a rat, OF afford support
20 the convenient luxury Of cat, there
could he no alarming indications OF en-
Croaching famine.
But our good condition, or unbendlng
spirit, OF some equally significant token,
soon satisfied our keepers that we must be
too highly fed. For the first few months
of captivity the writer, as has been stated,
was installed in the Office of the commits,
Sary of prisoners at the headquarters OF
the post COmmandant.
OPPORTUNITIES OF INSIGHT.
There b. enjoyed unusually favorable
onpor,unitics Of obtaining fair insight
into The Federal policy of prison treat
mont. In that Office he saw and read the
FIRST order from the commissary Of prs
oncrs at Washington (Col. Hoffman) cut
ting down our ratiOns. Capt J.. c
Rhincs, Commissary Of prisoners for CAM
Douglas. handed the open order to hin
On arrival. The relations between thu
officer and the Rebel assistant were thos'
of a pleasant and honest agreement Il
disagree between alien enemies, WHIT
united their efforts each TO advance tn
individual interest Of his respective cause
Tho Captain was a fair type Of the New
England officer, often abusive Of prison
crs whom he did not know, and he wa
cordially hated by the prisoners at larg
for various outrages, such as striking
drfcncelcss man (JOhn Messick, OF Dan
vile. Kentucky, and subjeCting cscaper
TO suspension bv the thumbs, as penalt
for being rctaken. He was always KIN
TO our mess. and for that reason, at leas
hc shall receive the full amount Of cred
due him. When he handed the Writ
q, uhe omen order alluded TO, he said:
.You all will suffer now, and the boz
will damn me for it but You see Il
yourself it is no responsibility OF min
have but to obey
THE SCIENCE OF STARVATION.
The prison soon began 10 feel the j
auction Of the allowance, and when
Vas cut down a second time, the sire
became severe. Other orders fro
Washington. still further diminishing
followed in a sequence and graduate
which convinced rejecting minds th
the object and policy were to ascertain
actual experiment the minimum quaint
on which the Rebel soul and body cou
he detained in company.
When the prisoners began 20 tcel {
Dangs of hunger seriously they began
KIN cats and eat them. But this supp
of meat rGtiORS was limited, and {
market value Of a cat advanced speed
from half a dollar 10 a marvellous inf
lion. Soon there were none TO he had
any price The rats, ascertaining Il
fact, began to revisit their former haur
ON raids of exploration. This curiosi
cost some Of them dearly, FOR the Re
set dead falls for them, and ate rats I'm
the rats became wise and rat catching
successful
MAT cations IMPEONIsED.
Two men, caught Ivy guard one d.
with brace of rats, ready skinned a
dressed for the spit, were marched up
the headquarters of the relief, where Ii
were roundlv rated by the officer on Oh
As carnivorous baTbarians. The rehl
was received mcckly to its close, wi
one of the culprits scaudaIzed the "a
by assuring him that rat meat was be'
,6an mo meat 0t oH II he didn't bell
il why let him Just try M meat first,
rat mea, afterward. Al about the sa
neriod. a sleek terrier one day happe
II follow a patrol into Little Dixie.
rususaccting creature was Cntccd into
or the kitchens 60. % and there but
cred in cold blood. 4 number Of inv
lions 10 the first dog dinnerwas thcrcv
issued Our mess received biddings,
excused themselves, as a piece of gl'
back, iudiciouay applied, had that
nrovided US with bill OF fare when
deemed more inviting.
The day after the feast, the maSte
the missing brute posted a notice on
buUetin board offering a reward for
recovery of his dog. BE seemed to
laboring under the impression thai s
Reb of kindred affections had CONGO
q sudden attachment TO his pet.
Next morning. Just beneath the pla