The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1876-06-08
IFor the News.
SOUTHERN PRISON-PENS.
Experience of an Anderson
Vile Prisoner in Dixie.
n o. XIII.

experience OF an ANDERSON
willie Prisoner in Dixie,
No VIZ
The Plymouth prisoners were much better pre-
pared to stand the rough treatment than most of
the others. They had stretched up their blankets
over poles, and by squads of four and six quarter
tering together, they made themselves toleraby
comfortable. They were all located in one part of
the prison, and to visit them and see their good
Clothes we could realize by the contrast that they
were very well fixed for living. They could buy
chewing and smoking tobacco, and extra rations.
The temptation was too strong for the ''bum-
mers," aud they commenced regular system of
pillaging. A half dozen of their experts would
slip in amongst the Plymouth quarters after night,
make dash for one of the blanket tents, and over
power the inmates before they were fairly awake,
and roo them of all they could get their hands
The Plymouth boys would take after the bummers
and gan them to the swamp, where their friends
were waiting to protect them, and any of the
pursuers dared to cross they would receive brok-
en- head for their rashness.
You could hear men hanooing ''murderr and
begging for mercy, and fighting and beating one
another, at all times in the night. Sometimes the
raids were made in the daytime, and the raiders
always escaped, and the poor victim that was rob-
bed would get threshing for attempting to recov-
er his own.
Business started ND lively after the influx of
those Pennsylvania boys. Every man that had any
propensity to gamble started "chuck-a-luck"
share part of the greenbaeks.
There was great demand for something sour to
drink. The prisoners needed vinegar, salt and
vegetables. climber Jim" was an enterprising man,
who was looking out for paying business. He
had procured some little means by some hook or
crook, and bought an empty sorghum barrel. He
then bought half bushel of corn meal, and put it
in the BARREL filed it up with water and let it stand
in the sun IS hours, and it was ready for use.
He got very small tin cup that would hold
about half pint, and sold it for 25 cts. cup full
l understood he realized on the first barrel SIT!
Anyhow, he continued in business. Others that
could raise means to start with went into similar
occupations, and some were fortunate enough to
make money and live comfortable. Some who be-
longed to the Masons and Odd Fellows fared pref
ty WELL but 1t was only about one in hundred that
was thus favored.
In wandering around over the prison accident
ally came across Cyrus Barrett, of the seth o. " l.
and learned from him that old Highland had
pretty large delegation to represent her in Ander-
sonville. Nearly all of Capt D. NJ Barrett's COM
pany Of the s9th were there. They mad been TO
Libby, Bell Isle, and Danville, and were transfer
red to this awful filthy, unhealthy place, where no
MAJ hoda hmm faQi1 nd lis
bitterest enemy.
Just think for one moment, reader, of 100 men
being confined on less than 7 acres Of ground, and
remember that one acre was taken up by the
swamp, and the space around the outside by the
''dead-line," and you may form some kind of an
Idea of our situation.
Prisoners were arriving every day from the front,
from so to 500 at time, and by the LIST of June,
1864, the prison contained 1900 prisoners, and
quarters still limited to the acres We were
crowded and jammed together until there was hard
ly sleeping room, and in moving around after dark
we would actually step on one anotheri The thieves
were getting bolder all the time, and sickness
increasing. Every morning from so to 100 of our
poor boys carted their last resting place.
About the first of June it was rumored that we
were to be exchanged on the 10th of June. What
joyful news! How the boys hugged that hope of
exchange to their heartsI You could see them
brighten up, especially the men of families, as they
reflected on the pleasure of going home to their
wives and children. How slow the time passed.
To wait ten days longer to be released was equal to
ten weeks under other circumstances.
The authorities commenced enlarging our pen by
enclosing about acres more ground adjoining.
They built new stockade on the same plan as
described heretofore. Before it was completed the
small pox made its appearance in the prisonl One
man had attack of it, and orders were issued to
vaccinate all the prisoners. They objected, and
guards were then placed around, men were sent to
man the artillery, and officers ordered us into line
and kept us there until some young students could
perform the operation. Each division was kept
together and the work began Some still stub
bornly refused, and they were placed in irons OF
put in the stocks.
just then thought struck me, and prepared to
try the experiment at hazard. 1 had good scal
| on nv arm. but discovered that a scar would moi
| axan,nt me from the oueration By the time the