Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-04-17
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
CONTINUED from LIST pagc,l
Prison Life.
BY X. T. POWELL.

Those of the prisoners who had little
money, especially those from the New
England States, would buy some little pro-
visions from the guards, and 60 up and
down through the prison selling them. But
very few had money enough to do this and
some did well at it. You could hear this
cry, "hcre is your red hot coffee only 10
cents in greenbacks or one dollar in Con-
fed " 1t was coffee made of rye, and
would have done very well if it could have
been bought without money
stayed on Belle Isle four or five weeks
when there came orders for so many hun
dred to leave daily. | tried to get away
with the first squad but failed | succeed
ed on the second day. was under the
impression we were going to be peroled,
but was told differently by the confedcr-
ates. l thought they were trying to keep
me for some purpose or another l had
better staid, for in a few weeks Il boat load
was exchanged, and all the little boys that
remained on Belle Isle went with them
Our squad numbering six or seven hun
dred, was sent over into Richmond and put
in Pembcrton prison, JUS across the street
from Libby prison, where we remained
one day and night. Ut was during the
time l was on Belle Isle that the 100 off
GERS escaped from Libby prison.) Wewcre
then ordered out about O'Clock in the
morning to take the cars for Georgia The
weather was very cold. We We're given
each small loaf of corn bread, and march
ed down to the depot, where we were de
layed about an hour-kept standing in the
street. some nearly barefooted, and others
very thinly clad never shall forget that
day. After we got on the cars and started
some trozc to death and were thrown on
the platforms at the stations we passed for
burial The next place we got out of the
cars was few miles south of Raleigh,
North Carolina. Here We stald all night
and the next day. By the way, have
not mentioned the vermn on Belle Isle.
Everybody had his share The majority
of the men picked them off every day. |
There was one man died out of our squad
at this place south of Raleigh He was
actually eaten up with vermin l can safe
ly say without exaggeration, he was cover
ed as thickly with them as your hand
would be with ants after sticking it into an
ant mound
We were put again into the cars and the
next place we got out at was a mile be-
You'd Charlotte, think, in South Carolina.
We were seldom left in n city. We did
not travel far in day, as we had to lay
over for all other trains. We were some
times two days without anything to cat or
drink, only what the boys could beg or
buy when we happened to stop opposite
pump or well. This was owing to our
commanders cruelty. We could soon tell
when We had conscripts guarding lis, as
tho old soldiers were far the best
We staid at Charlotte one day and night
Some Of the boys escaped but were recap
turcd month or so afterwards and brought
to Andersonville
We got in the cars once more, and Oh
tanned nothing to eat for two or three DAYS
when we arrived at Augusta, Georgia
The ratiOns were wheeled in whcelbarrows
alongside the cars. We did not get out
1t was bacon and crackers. l enjoyed the
dirty fat pieces, rind and all; sucked the
bone and would fain have cat it. No one
knows the miserics ola knawing appetite
for food but those who have endured it,
The next place we got out at was An
Jacksonville, Georgia We had rode nine
hundred and fifty miles crowded in house
cars, sixty men in car. No one had room
TO lie down comfortably We all laid and
sat in heap. We had been good while
on the road.
TO BE CONTINUED