The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1876-02-10
[For the News. !
[For the News.
.ANDERSONVILLE.
Tes timony of a Union Pris-
oner from Highland coun-
ty who Suffered There.
HmLsBoRo, Jan. q, 1S7e

Congress, between Mr.. Blaine anC
Mr.. Hill of Georgia, and also in the
Democratic and Republican papers
in regard to the Andersonville hor
rors. 1 am satisfied that the trutf
is not told, whenever the Southern
officers say that they could do nc
better than they did, under the cir
cumstances. They lie, and they
know it. Your humble servant was
in that Hell-hole of creation, and car
testify to some facts.
The idea that prevails to some
extent, that the South could not dc
any better because medicines and
other necessaries were contraband OF
of war, is false 1t wasn't medicine
that was wanted-it was pure air,
shelter and suitable provisions.
The food. that we received was : in
quality not fit for dog to eat, and
the quantity was insufficient to sus-
tain life. The consequence was, the
scurvy broke out in the epidemic
form, and swept off hundreds of our
brave boys to their graves.
Now there are but few people who
know anything about the scurvy, or
what causes it. 1t is caused by an
insufficient amount of food, by ex-
posure, and by the lack of vegeta-
bles. Salt junk and corn bread
will produce it, and it is as fatal as
yellow fever if there is no remedy
applied. How simple the remedy!
One small potato, or something of
that sort, will cure it. The ferment-
ed water from corn meal and mo-
lasses will cure it, but we were de-
MED all these simple articles, some
of which could certainly have been
furnished by the Confederate author
tiles, had they been so disposed.
1 have known our prisoners even
to beg for tomato vines, in order to
chew them up and get the juice out
of them. Capt. Wurz, if he had been
the tender hearted gentleman some
say he was, could have sent us few
loads of cabbage leaves and tomato
vines, and they would have been a
treat that we would have appreciated.
But in place of that kindness, they
took the provisions that were sent
down to Andersonville by mothers,
wives, sisters and sweethearts, from
Ohio and other States, and no doubt
from Highland county, and made a
grand picnic, broke open the box
es, made way with the provisions,
confscated the clothing, and made
sport of the little delicacies that
were wrapped up with tears and pray
ers by our friends at home. They
wound up with dance in plain view
of the starving prisoners these things
were intended for.
Who was responsible for that!
Who was responsible when our ra-
tons, such as we did get, were cut
off for 4S hours at time, when we
we were already half starved? Who
mixed ground glass with the prison
ers corn meal at Florence? Who sc.
lected the grounds at Andersonville.
that unhealthy alligator swamp
that would breed pestilence and dis
ease to people within mile of it
let alone fastening $4,000 prison
ers right in it. Who, when one cast
of small pox was reported, ordered
all our men to be vaceinated? Who
furnished impure vaccine, tha
proved fatal to three-fourths of thos,
that submitted to the operation
Who robbed us of our boots, shoes
caps and clothing? By whose au
thority were all these thirgs done
Why do 1 know that all thes
infections were intended? I vii
tell you. After 1 was taken prison
er, and before 1 even heard of And
ersonville, we, the prisoners an,
our guards were on the move, and W
were anxious to know where our caI
tors were taking us to. I asked tn
question. 1t was answered by Co
Munford, a G. S. A. officer, that the,
were taking us to Andersonville, Geo.
gia, the worst Hell-hole they coul
find in the South, and they erpecte
to rot as there dlice!
The horrible assertion was litera
ly verified. They managed, durin
the time 1 was there, to pitch int
their narrow bitches, in all shape
and conditions imaginable, 13,00C
Thirteen MoWscad) of our soldit
boys. Such, kind readers, WEI
some of the horrors of Andersonvill
One mans experience would fill
volume.
! 1 am sorry to agitate this que
ton. I, for one, though suffere
would be willing to let the pal
, alone; but 1 was drawn into writin
D this by the controversy, now goin
on in the papers, and the recent an
nesty debate in Congress.
Yours, A. j. F.
EEzzzzEE1EExz0
Portsmouth is having a gas wa
The city is insisting on $3.50 pc
1000 ft. The company resists.