Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-24
underneath. As scant as our rations were in

underneath As scant as rations were IN
Castle Thunder they were more so here. Tho
bread was poorer, the soup thinner and the meat
was kept to boil over and over again into soup.
Sometimes there was an hour or two delay in dis
tributing the ratons, ard once or twice, for what
reason l never knew, they were not distributed at
all. We were given just enough to keep the spark
of life within us and that was all. hardly ever
laid down night without dreaming of luxurious
feasts and Of tables loaded down with the good
things of home. l could only dream OF these
things-the stern reality was hunger ana
starvation. haven't any doubt but that there
were many died thcle, actually, from an insufh-
cheney of food There was scarcely morning
when walked out that did not see one or more
of our men laid out in front of tent or elsewhere
stark and stif in death. These were removed IN
cart to a remote spot on the island, where large
hole was dug and these then thrown in promiscu-
ously and covered up.
The rebel cooks and guards were wont now and
then to amuse themselves at our expense by throw
ing pieces of bread and meat into the enclosure
and seeing US ego for it." Such scrambng you
never saw, and our men would tumble over each
other like cats and dogs; and would fight and even
bite for the possession. l once tried 1t myseh'
but was satisfied afterwards to remain only spec
tator. Our men didn't pile upon each other III
sport, but were all in sober earnest, and the best
man physically won, carrying out Darwins the
ory that the weakest submit to the strongest.
Body lice were as thick as ants on the grounds
and one couldn't sit down without having these
disgusting and troublesome vcrmin crawling up
his legs, or into his shoes. We had dead hnc
here which it was death to cross. but 1t was no'
an imaginary one like the one at Andersonville.
1t was single rail on cedar posts around the IN
side of the earthwork enclosure, very much Ike
= rail around q race course. don't remember
that there were any shot in attempting to cross
this during my stay, but young man who had
attempted to escape by swimming was shot dead
Our men were often gagged and bound for some
non observance of the rules; and although the
guards were forbidden to have any conversation
with the prisoners, yet they were saucy and i'm
prudent. When some Of our men escaped, ana
it was not an unfrequent occurrence, the GUARDS
and officials would be more overbearing than ever
1t would crop out on occasions like this-if We
happened to crowd up little too eagerly toward
the cook house while drawing our ratons, we
were pushed back at the point Of the bayonct ana
the officers would yell out at us like Jehu to his
mule train. We were sometimes obliged to en-
dure the rude gaze Of parties visiting the island,
who came purposely to see what the Id
Yankee was like. l saw Gen. Winder once. lie
came over to see how the prison was conducted.
Made an inspection, as they call it IN the army
Some of our men complained to him OF the scantl-
ness of food; he prom ised increased rations. but
we never saw any change after his visit lie was
a large heavy man with lorid countenance and
forbiddng look.
Sometimes our men would get uneasy and there
would be good deal Of discussion as to the ex-
pediency of forcing the guard, but by some means
or other the officers we're always pretty sure to
get hold Of It, and then there would be threats OF
sending us farther South. Now this was some
thing we did not like we were afraid if we were
sent to the prisons farther South our chances
for being released on exchange, or otherwise,
would be simmer than ever, besides, the reputa-
ton of these prisons, even at that early period,
was far from being good. So we were frightened
by this bugbear into submission and comparative
content, at least FOR time.
1 have good reasons to be thankful that my i'm
prisonment was during the warm weather, for
those who came after me, and were there during
the winter, must have suffered ten fold what did,
for if the shelter provided was insufficient liz the
summer season, and it was, how much mere SO must
it have been during the cold, chilly days and
nights of Virginia winter.
When returned to my regiment was most
pitable looking object, being lousy. dirty and rag
l. a. Il
ease which had previously contracted being con-
siderably aggravated by my short Imprisonment.
WIN. MCDAvIp.