The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-16
The autland daily Globe.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1873.
Especial Correspondence OF the GLoBr.l
The Florence Prison Pen. Ver-
monters there Inferred. --EIorencc
as IL now Ia.
FLORENCE, S. c.,
July LIST, 1879.

who, after serving his country faithfully,
az a slarpshooter, for three years. was cap
tured at the battle of the Wilderness and
taken to Andersonvillc. In the summer of
1864 alarge number of prisoners were taken
from Andersonvile and brought here. |
have traced my brother from the former
place to the stockade at Florence, and into
the hospital attached, where he was last
seen by comrade in a state of starvation,
from which he had no hope of recovering
Farther than this we have never been able
to get any tidings of his fate. came up
here from Charleston (10S miles, this NOR
ming for the purpose of ascertaining, if
possible, whether any record of his death
could be found. This National Cemetery
is situated about mile and a half southeast
from the village of Florence, near and i'm
mediately across the public road, from the
site of the prison stockade, the mounds and
bitches of .whichnow remain and bear such
terrible remembrance for many poor fell
low who was so fortunate as to escape with
his life. The graves and trenches of I'M
known braves are arranged in rows across
the field, and the whole surrounded by a
neat white fence. The lodge of the keep
er is situated inside the enclosure, and is
surrounded by flowers and vines. The
government has also caused to be planted
upon the graves throughout the entire yard
profusion of beautiful flowers, which are
most sacredly cared for From mound
in the center of the cemetery rises tall
flagstaff, from which perpetually waves
the beloved banner under whichso many of
our dear brothers marched bravely to their
honored graves.
Through the courtesy of the superinten-
dent of this cemetery, Ga Mr.. McKeown of
Pennsylvania was given every facility in
searching all the records the government
has been able to obtain of those who rest
here. The number known to have been
buried here is 1850; of these the graves of
only 1853 can be personally located, leaving
the vast majority to share with thousands
of martyr-comrades, a grateful country 5
honor, while resting in ''known, and still
unknown graves" Many noble fellow
who fell victim to disease and hunger in
this prison-pen was cast from the dead cart
into common trenches with dozen COM
rades and buried in one promiscuous heap,
while the rebel officers in charge did not
take the trouble to record even II name.
Such am forced to believe was the fate OF
tha OH nf my cnarcl, Tho haal ,,iacns
are all of wood, and are numbered to cor
respond with the records. The govern
ment have in contemplation the erection
of stones.
Although Florence abounds in groves OF
stately pines, which would have served as
; partial shelter, at least, and is closely sur
rounded by thick forests of the same tree
the place selected for this prison stockadt
of sick and weary Union soldiers was in al
open field, without particle of shelte
from a burning sun, which my experience
of to-day upon the same ground, tells M
is almost unbearable for a well man
While am glad to believe, from all | cal
Il learn here upon the ground, that much o
this suffering and death arose from the in
'. ability of the confederate government to pre-
vide many of the actual necessities of life
still find ample proof of the most Grim
nal Indifference and neglect, to say tn
least, on the part of rebel officers in charge
:, We know the confederacy were hard press
ed for supplies, but shelter, cold water ant
kind treatment cost nothing and fOun
several old residents of Florence who di
succeed in doing many noble deeds of chai
ID ity and kindness for our suffering soldiers
n | found one young man, (now driving a
engine on the railroad from here to Charlie:
tom who was n boy of ten years at til
time, and who tells with much plcasur
how he used to carry sweet potatoes, an
}. across the dead line to the starving me
in the stockade. Which are now most I
be envied--the reflections of this youIl
man, and those who acted like him, or {
those heartless officers who took pleasul
in grinding the unfortunates in their charl
:, still lower in the dust?
Many of the confederate records of tn
prison camp have not been secured by Il
government, because the rebel office
holding them refuse to give them up, eve
for most generous rewards. The followir
Vermont names | copy from the COVER
ment records here, some of which l a
sure are not correctly entered. and all o
cupy graves which cannot be certainly i
Nv Gated
Felix and NJ. d. Cool, Co. A, 4th V
IS No record of the date of their death.
j. Blair, same company and regiment
'ss died Jan. 16, 1868.
w. Cooley, Co. d, I'd VT Cavalry die
Nov. 49, 1864.
NJ. NJ. Elkins, Co. NJ, LIST Vt. artillery
died Jan. ~, 1865.
j. Emmery, Co. L, 18th Vermont; di
Jan. 10, 1865.
- James Class, Co. ii, 4th Vt. heavy art
lery; died Jan. IA, 1865.
". Lyman, Co. Il, 18th VT. died ia
80, 1865.
ii. L. Beber, Co. A, 4th, VT. died ia
%, 1865.
John Wiley, Co. f, list VT. died ia
21, 1865.
.. Thomas Young, Co. f, 4th VT di
w. Jan. 81, 1865.
The following names l found upon
nr, old rebel record, a very small portion Con
Sc the C's and VS. having been obtaint
y" They have no date of death attached
I +. III. Webster, Co. NJ, list VI. artillei
n, l.. Webster, Co. A, 4th VI.
. A. Worllworth, Co. Il, 18th w.
70 Nj. ii. Cook, Corp, Co. +, LIST VT ca
!; airy.
l's G. Clendenning, Co. c, I'd VI,
. 5. Nj. Cummings, Co. l, 4th Vt.
William Chamberlain, Co. /, LIST W. ca
-, airy.
ing Florence is village of three OF &c
Va. thousand inhabitants, set down in
ork midst of rcsiniferous pine forest, will