Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-16

soldier. wish every democrat ofthe rebel stamp
could have witnessed the awakening Of that moth
er. To her smile through her tears IS she ira
ces resemblance to her son, and repeatedly KISS.
es the poor face and hands, and even the hems OF
his garment. She brushes his hair, smooths the
pillows, and does thousand little things to hide
the anguish while waiting for sign OF recogni-
lion. How pathetcally she pleads for word or
even look The doctor tells her he is SO reduced
twill take many days to bring HIM back TO me-
And for weeks she patiently watches Tor return
| Of intelligence, but all 10 vain. his answer "
| every question is II am hungry, SO hungry.
purse is taken up and the poor woman sent nome
with her boy a gibberiug idiot! Ask her II her
opinion is conceived. saw st Annapolis many
one unable to identify himself--could not tell his
name when he heard il, who lived for weeks, and
| died asking for bread. The attendants VINO were
at Anuapols will tell you that The above cases are
numbered BY hundreds. 81 am SO hungry, so
thirsty" was cry often repeated that tbs ring
ing in my ears now, and calling for the severest
denunciation of men who ask US to ''modify con-
ceived opinions" Before God say cannot IN
words portray the reality OF rebe prison lhe-its
cruelty, its horrors and its terrible results; All
over the United States, north, you can nhd mere
and there demented, broken relics OF Anderson
willie and Salisbury living witnesses to substan-
tiate James q. Blane's charges and tens OF thou
sands of old soldiers to day thank him for the
brave true words so timely spoken.
AT Salisbury Stockxde, where was confines,
for that 10 900 came IRON two ordinary wells tor
ten days. when the suffering became so great that
two worn shovels were thrown to us and we were
told to dig, which we did like beavers day ana
night, and fifteen feet down we came to water.
An old bucket resembling nail cask ana rope
was given us, and windlass quickly made by the
boys from fire wood. Mud and water was scoopea
up for two days. This We settled IN dippeis anu
dl ank. AT the end Of two days the scoundrel III
charge came with guard and took away the
shovels, saving twas "by order OF the govern
ment." Many day was so thirsty that my ears
would ring and tongue almost protrude from my
mouth, aud you have the infpudence TO ask me, "a
representative of ten thousand, to modify my con-
ceived opinions that was cruelty treated. kept
q diary Tor six long months and daily recorded the
horrors from starvation and exposure. Oct. o.
1874, was recorded an experience SO disgusting IN
detail as to be almost unit for publication.
Oct. 10Th. Lieut.. Davis was shot dead py the
guard for approaching too near an imaginary
dead line" The commandant said the guard
obeyed orders.
Dec. /. Capt. Carroll shot-the ball coming up
through the floor, having been fired at random
because a man accidentally spilled some water on
the window sill. During the month OF december,
from seventy-fve to one hundred enlisted men
died daily from exposure and starvation IN the
stockade at Salisbury. Our men burrowed IN the
gronud, without blankets. barefooted and bare,
headed, and many with nothing but pants and
shirts The shelves upon which these men lay
were but few inches above the water, in the cen
tire of which was offal and maggots. Sometimes
two or three days would pass before the dead cart
came and took the dead away and dumped them
in common receptacle.
1t would seem TO me that such facts should go
a great way towards modifying our conceived
opinions" that there is any honor or honesty IN
party willing to be led and governed by the eu-
thors OF such terrible suffering and such hellsh
works. SMALL.