The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1876-06-22
TWhOle No. 2O9I.
IFor the News.
SOUTHERN PRISON-PENS.
Experience of an Anderson
Vile Prisoner in Dixie.
NO. Y v.

pen, TO such as womb listen 10 tnem- some IT
reverent mel would taunt them and sing out to
"give that calf more rope" and similar remarks.
We had no chance to wash or dress. or make any
change in our costume for Sunday Such an ar
ticle as a razor or pair of scissors, soap, or any
other toilet article was non est The only time we
ever got any soap while was passing through
Dixie was abont the last OF Nay, when some dis
tinguished officers, amongst them Gen Howell
Cobb, came to inspect the prison. Our appearance
was so revolving to the officers that they ordered
soap to be issued to us
A few days afterwards wagon drove into the
prison with two or three barrels of soft soap, and
it was issued to US the same rations- Each
mans share was about two taolespoonfulsl We
had no vessels to put it in, and each man received
his share in the palm of his hand and started for
the branch TO use it. The brook ran soap-suds
for the next half day, and we got clean faces once
more. That was the last and only time we ever re-
ceiyed ration of SOAP
will relate a little circumstance that occurred
during the visit of the officers. Some old gentle
man came in with the officers, and with him lit
tie fat dog. The dog was tempting sight to hun
gry men, and while the visitors were making their
rounds the dog strayed from them and was captur-
ed, knocked in the head skinned, cooked and eaten
before his master had missed himl When the dog
was missed his master returned to-look for him,
but it was a fruitless search. That dog waa
thing of the past.
Some little changes had taken place in our
aIprubu department. There had been cook house
built on the branch, above the pen, and the john
nies were giving Us corn-bresd instead Of meal.
Our rations consisted of one piece Of eorn-bread,
about inches long, 3 inches wide and inches
thick and one small piece of meat-a very ordina-
~ slice for man at one meal. EAb
little description of the bread and manner of
baking ii may be interesting. The meal was thrown
into large pine trough, that would hold two or
three barrels, without sitting or sating and mixed
I'D without lsrd or any kind of seasoning The
water used in mixing the meal was dipped from
the branch below the rebel camp ana its purity
was questionable. The weather was very warm
and the trough was never cleaned out. What was
left in after shoveling out the dough would sour,
and peck of flies would congregate and hold
carnival in the trough. When the meal was thrown
in the trough 1t would catch the flies and they
would get mixed with the dough, and when we re-
ceived the bread we would get from six to dozen
flies to each piece. never knew of any one get
ting sick from eating the bread remarkable cir
cumstance, which can be best explained by those
who understand the principles of hygiene
The 10th Of June came around, the time set for
an exchange of prisoners, and many anxious eyes
were directed. towards headquarters in hopes OF
seeing some stir that would indicate that our
fondest hopes would be realized, and that we
would be taken from our ''hell on earth" and sent
to our homes in the North, where we could once
more see the old stars and stripes wave In their
glory and enjoy the welcome greeting OF our
families and friends f
The question was discussed in all the different
circles of the prison. and many believed the report
was a csnard, while others thought there really
was a movement on foot to exchange US Inc
guards were questioned, but gave evasiye answers
Finally word came that the time was put of until
the 18th Of June. The poor fellows hearts sunk
ike lead, for many realized that they could not
live to see the 18th The prisoners were dying
very fast, some so or so day, and though 1t was
only seven days to wait, it sounded like 50 many
months to them
1t was raining almost all the time, and We were
sleeping with the water running under u.s. We had
neither shelter from rain or sun. It rained % days
and nights in June, and our clothes were hardly
dry during that time
The new stockade was at last completed and an
oneuipg made so that part of the prisoners could
90 into the new quarters. They picked up their
traps and passed through the opening and took
lodging in what we called the "East End" The
number of prisoners at that time was $4,000, and
about 10000 moved over to the east end
We were verv short of wood. The bake-house
only supplied bread to about two-thirds OF the
Driso,ers. The other third received the raw meal.
They took it by turns, and We would get bread Two
Consequently
wood was an object. They issued wood once
week and n ration was one stick about as large as
a stove-stick. 1t really amounted to nothing In
the way of cooking.
The partition stockade was stir standing, and the
BOYS coveted it for cooking purposes As soon as
night had thrown her sOmbre shades arOuIiu Us,
the stockade was attacked at different points all
along the line by different little squads OF prison.
ers. and with fnger-nails and sticks, padqiesfor
anything they could get to loosen the DIRT win,
they commenced digging up the logs
II took about men to log, and when q loS was
ont of the ground it was carried TO the nelgaoor-
hood where the parties belonged There were SIX
of Us went into partnership and raised log we
carried 1t about rs yards and laid If down. and went
back and managed to get out second one by
the time we had done that it was midnight We
divided our spoils and got third of log: Each
received the same amount, and we laid down to
sleep by our treasure. BY next morning there
wasn't a log left standing. There had been about
GOO logs dug up and carried all over the prison
during the night, ai in the morning you could see
Yankees sitting Oh their respective logs awaiting
an opportunity to convert them into kindling-
We had nothing to chop or split our wood with
-rbe-a ,rera two or three old broken axes in the
camp. about in the condition of meat-ax with the
handles broken. but one couldn't borrow them
for one couldn't hire one They were hired out
at s. and s. per hour, to such as the Flymouih
men. who had stamps to pay for them.
Capt. Nurz got up in the morning, and IN look-
inc over his flock he discovered that the stocAaee
had been removed in his absence. He raved anu
cnrsed around and sent sergeant into the camp
to tell US to carry every log back to where we got
them. The order was received with eomplaceney-
Not one man made any effort to obey ORDERS we
took our seats on our logs, and prepared 10 stay
AT noon every man was in his place. we Were
then enioying good seat. had six feet OF log
to sit on.
Az 1 O'Clock P. NJ we received q second COM
mand IN carry the logs back Immediately. If they
,,are NOT all back by O'Clock we shouldn't have
rstion for 4s hours We agreed to hold out and
save our wood
Evening came, sun-down, then dark, but no IA
tiops. We laid down by our logs hungry and tired
but determined to carry our point. In the morning
there was one more effort made to getthe stockade
hack. but fire and perseverance had consumed
some of the wood, and every log had been render
| cd unft for service as a stock tde.
4 O'Clock P. NJ. came around. and with anxious
loots we watched for the wagon. The gruo
wagon was the attraction. hequeston in all circles
,vas aviu Capt. Wurz starve US longer or VIII ne
-slent ~ As hours is good while for hungry men 10
Co., and vet we were determined to keep our
,~ood While we were praising the good qualities
IN of the Captain, the grub wagon hove IN sisht'
and the Captain defeated
still held my claim on my log, but couldn't get
.nvtbinr TO work it up with. called on cyrus
R,rrett to know if he could tell me where could
bo-rovv an ak. He recommended me to go 10
man by the name of North and get railroad
snise knew that it would be Impossible 70 ger
arv favors from strangers, so l proposed to cyrus
~ ger the spike for nc, which he did
I sniff off a little armful of wood and man oy
the name of Fields begged the use of the spike 10
snlit him some let him have it reluctantly anu
vv,tcbed him while he used it. He drove 1t INTO
log and broke it of, and don't think that any
thing ever happened to me that was as mort1ying
I coaldn't replace the spike, couldn't meno 1t
and couldn't pay for it; and to GPoogze 10 mai