Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-05-31

II was not until the last OF June that tents
we're furnished for those outside Of the sheds,
and among them were several that hSd been cap
tured from our regiment. Various inscriptions
were placed upon the tents by the prisoners,
among them tn following:
United we Stand, Divided we fall, 9th Ohio ;
We stsnd firm to our principles. q Msssachu-
setts The Union as it was, 81 Wisconsin ; Inc
Union must and shall be preserved 9th Indiana;
Freedom and Unity, LIST Vermont.
From the daily papers we kept ourselves well
posted in regard to McClellsn's situNtion before
Richmond The rebels had been expecting the
loss of Richmond, and had removed many Of
their treasures from the city, for safety. Our
hopes for victory we're raised to the highest
pitch. but when cur troops were repulsei, the
prisoners we're more discouraged than ever
Our cooking was done altogether in the prison
pen. Fuel was obtained by the prisoners. who
we're allowed to 60 out under guard TO procure
it. The fumes which arose from stale bacon and
burning i.th we're horrible. During our stay
there Of about eight weeks there was no police
ing done in camp, and the filth was allowed to
accumulate as worst it might There was no
respect for any authority except brute force,
and fights among the prisoners were frequent.
The rebel guSrds did not care for this 50 long as
we did not trouble them. Fearing a revolt
battery was placed in position just outside Of the
grounds on the south eide, which remained there
a greater portion Of the time.
Water was obtained with great difficulty.
There was one well in the grounds and this wsu
about fifty feet deep. The prisoners would
gather at the well with their camp kettles, 80 or
more at tine, where line was formed con-
stantly. Through day and night the line WAS
kept full, esch ore often beng obliged to wait
for hours for an opportunity. The well was
operated with 4 windlass, and though running
continually, brought up but very water. mostly
mud and quick sand To make bst matters
worse, the prisoners would oft5n drink the foul
mixture without waiting moment for 1t TO set
tie Our squad organized flank movement
with this cup Of mine, the largest in The squad,
and with strings cut from Weober's boot legs, it
was mustered in a. an opposition bucket. With
our facilities we could FIJI our camp kettle near
ly as readily as the old line. This Is re5e! cup,
stolen from the guards after We left Winchester.
and most Of our squad supplied themselves IN
the same way. Tdis wss my only srtice Of
houEehold furniture AMI was extremely proud
of it. because it wGs the largest cup in camp.
Except from few States in New Eogl2nI,
everybody else called them dippers. They kne"
nothing Of cups and pals, they were either
buckets or dippers.
On the 22i Of July, Frederick Powers Of the
66th Ohio Was shot by the guard A. about three
O'Clock in the morning He was AZ the well,
the rope had broken AMI his mess mates having
a lsriet rope in their possession, be started on
run 10 get il. He wss shot, rod or e. inside OF
the lines and then ordered to halt. tie died in
stautly. The gusris seemet desirous Of firing
into our camp with the least pr1y5;au7n, and
did 60 number Of times. 10 was pleasant sport
for them 20 " back and gsg' the pritoueis for
the least offence. On one occasion this mole OF
H.Haa
Maryland boys, because they woall not dig in
the pit They were taken over the lines and
punished n psin sight The prisoners were e.
outraged that they gave them vo.ey Of stones-
The longer we remained at Lyuchbu5g the m1Te
unpleasant cur relations became.
One eighth Of cur cavalry prisoners diei AZ
Lynchburg and yet our ratio Of mortality was
les than among the prisoners from the middle
aud western sjstes. As rule, those who de-
sired to live fought yermin as regular 1usinsss.
Twice day We used 70 20 on picket, tast L.
crack knts AM lice in our clothing until our
finger ends were covered with blood hsve
seeu the clothing o; the bodies Of the dest as
literally covered with yermin IS the sea shore IS
with sand.
Day after d,y We we're promised TO be tx
changed, and IS time passed. and No exchange
cane. many became heErt-brokeu and home
sick AMI seemingly del from no other csute At
length the long looked for time arrived, ani on
the morning Of the .ih day Of August We were
let out Of the pen. Every man who could wax
on his feet started for the cars iu the hot sun
Weak ami denen,ei it was only With the "
most e1er,i5n thar many Of 10 res,nei the cars,
while great many were less Fortunate. We
took the cattle train thar forenoon, down the riv
er, AMI rode through the day and night There
were but very few guards with u, and 90 col-
fient were the prisoners that We were going
home that a-ne desired 10 leave the train. At
every stop the usual precautiJnary measures
we're taken by the prisoners NOT 90 miss the
train, but we we're sgsin to be deceived. Whel
within sight Of Richmond the next morning the
train si0ppel in IN open fell snl We were or
derel cut There were about hoo Of us on the
train. the balance OF Al equs. number, came Il
within day or two after. squad u rebel
soldiers were there 20 weic me gs, ali surely
the appearance indicated q change In the order
ef exercises. One Germsa women left u here,
who hal sh .rei the mis0-tIaes Of the lst Mary
land prisoners who were with as from Winches
ter, 10 this place Like flock 0tfO1t-r0t sheep,
We walked along NARROW ROAD, crossed bridge
in front 0f a rolling mill and came in sight Of
another soldier camp. This was Belle Island
We we're ordered into column by fJGrs and were
counted 10 squads Of 100 men. Our squad Eas
I'll
declined by myself. ami Sergean; Jones of CON-
pany E. Wss placed in charge. The bars +.
were LEI down, sui We we're shown our q1srters !
in the camp. Our company boys took as good /
tent a was % be found in the IIstri-r, which I
was poor enough AZ best Many had none. /
Very soon there vas a grand row 10 our sluSi ; /
as il WAS no. organized AID reported, We GOT I
nothing 70 eat. Sergeant Jones became DIS +
gusJei and declared be would have nothing 20 /
10 With the business, - | wa appointed bis sue
cess0r. / was hardly able 20 STAND on ny feet 4
hsi received all the houors I hsi desired, aud .
wished only TO look sitter myself, but they .
brought ne sheet Of paper, and laying fst on .
my back made outthe roll
During the night Of the 18th of August, the .
Union prs ue-s confined at Salisbury, arrived On /
the Island, .aui the next morning among the .
number I s1T Cspt. Drew Of the p Vermont.
They made but 4 short stay snd departed for be
north during TIE forenoon. From the Captain
received one dollar for myself, sui one JV cor
poril LGniou which [ gave to him. Linl0n was
too wesk 10 walk 10 the guard lines, Wss taken
20 Richmond soon after and diei
Although Lynchh1r- was 4 hateful phase SIS had
found more miserable hole. aud wished uursesv
bach lrau The Island is situated in the James
r-v-r, opposite o., ard south west frl ~ hlcLncui
AID tie Island AID is ABOUT one-thlrd -i a nile
wide. The Island extends up the river some dis
lance. how lar. 4 have u1 means Of snuW.u-. The
lower point OF the Island the portion occupied
by the prs uers. 10 was interval land, evidently
formed py The floods and debris and sand. Rich
rcl1 and tie Capitol were -n ain sight, VII le
the Ircdtgir lion Works, on The bank oi the river
was the nearest building to Us iu kicam nd, These
works were run night and day ln the mauuia tGre
of heavy orlnan-e. The long aud high bridge %
the Petersburg railroad crossed the river Just below
US and every dag We could witness the heavy trains
OF troops, oIdauce ami stores passing over &c
The pen 10 which we were mined contained p
% f|HH q HFa ann. HHu
guards en- every side OF U.s. A ra-terl Ot guns
was 90 the rear OF Us and on higher ground. Here /
IN this pent-up and most flrsakcu place. were be
tween hVe and SIX thousand human beings, one
half % them without tents or covering 90 any kind.
exposed 90 tho hot rays of the iu The day time
and 40 ii Eht 90 the cold ieWs AMI damp il- peep
liar % the locality.
Around On the banks Of theriver grew the stately
e.ms but not for our colnf IT. as the rebel guards
occu pied the grounds. in the center Of the camp I
was our Broadway, running down % tie point OF tie
Island, WITH Company streets az right ANGLES on
either side. The waters Of the river we warm ana
MUDDY and uuht Tor use. Little wells, some two /
or three eetdec9,were dug by the prisoners und
the camp, as best they could he made. This spot Of
ground was cover dlsith men as thics asc0u
lie down. The camp was never polced OF made
C can, and at every rain, unless great care was
exeic SEQ, the wash Of the camp would Gil the
springs.
At that time our Tati0ns consisted q bread and
the poorest quality Oliresh beef. II Of anytli 2 /
One fourth % the ordinary sized bakers loaf per
day, with a small piece Of meat The bread was I
witl0ut saIt, and would sour oftentimes before IL
was delivered % The beef was also destitute OF
salt, and wa extremely uupal1tahle For a r1rtefy
bean soup was sometimes gwen US, likewise fresh
and uauseating, which made more trouble in camp
than any thing else. 1t was delivered 10 Us n buck
cts and as only Ouo-half o. squad had CUBS, the
1tLer half were Ohlge1 10 await their oppUrTuutrv
Then, nobody wanted theirs from the surface, as il
was thin and was covered with D es and the beans
settled 20 the bottom Of the tub To keep peace in
the family u was ceslTy 10 exercise great care in
distributing the rat ons, which were delivered IN !
hu TO the chief, and by him given out. The exer-
clse OF any Gvorltism would esult in a ighr and
this would often occur with the loss Of nfe TO
avoid anything Of the kind in our squad it was sub
divided into squads 0f ten men. When everyone
rad confidence in THE deal" and received his pro-
Lorflln. hnReHer Ittle thn-. - .c-n-.I-.. ~.