The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1876-11-30
SOUTHERN PRISON-PENS.
Experience OF anAnderson-
Vile Prisoner in Dixie.
gsOf XIV HHAI,

No AAAtr Is u =
This brings me to speak of subject that IhaFe
never seen anything said about. There were num-
bers of our men that became insane, and the prin-
cipaI cause was continued hunger There were
also other causes. Married men became insane
thinking of their homes and families. but most of
the single men lost their minds from long hunger
and exposure. have known men to tear their
clothes off and run shout in perfectly nude
state. and lump over the ''dead-liner and be shot
by the sentinel.
Some would wander around until they would
starve to death. One poor old German lost his
mind and wandered down into the swamps, and
ate the nlth and garbage that collected there. AT
last he got down and couldn't get up, and died in
tisat horrid filth
There was another peculiar circumstance con-
nected With our prisonsife After own many of
the men beeamelt totally blind They could see as
long the sun shone, but as quick as the sun set
in the evening they became as blind as a stone
and remained so until sunrise next morning. Al
though many of the men were not affected that
way, there were enough to show that the cause
was in the prison, or something connected with
prison life. AEE Gl4s ELS Ht
1 WITNESSED the iogging of negro one day, Just
outside of the stockade, on the hillside. 1 don't
know what the offense was, but the chastisement
was severe. lie was made TO lie fat on the ground,
face downwards, and four stout negroes were or
dered to hold the cuprit at each arm, and one
at each leg. His clothing was all removed. and
then white man took a piece billboard and laid
the blows upon him thick and fast. Thepoor fel-
low twisted and squirmed, and from the time the
punishment lasted he must have suffered greatly,
About the first Of November, 1864, the rebel au-
thoriIies commenced moving the prisoners out of
Andersonyille once more. They would take about
500 to IOOU each day. 1t was reported that they
were exchanging them. Every day our numbers
were thinned out, and it was drawing near to my
turn, expected each morning my, division would
be called TH 4ss3 tFMH
We all hoped that we were to be exchanged, but
we had been deceived so often, and looked for the
"good time coming" so long, that we were afraid
to think about It. II twas an exchange, we felt
like saying, 'sThank God =" If it was something
else, it a change anyho-r. Nobody had any
fears of getting into place. and If could
only leave that hell EARTH anywhere was prefer
a6leI Oh, that horrible place! Pen can never
describe i'll Tongue can never tell of the suffer-
ngs, the misery, the heart-rendings, the agony, |
blasted hopes and disappointments of the thirteen
thousand men who ended their days in that prisonl !
At last all the prisoners were gone but about
700. None of us knew where, but they were gone,
Ind if they took out another batch felt certain
would get TO go along. The morning of the 10th |
Of November, 1856, the last lot of prisoners were
;aIled for. packed my little tent and blanket, |
md what few cooking utensils had, and was soon
IN the cars.
The gates were thrown wide open, as we, were |
he last Of the prisoners, and as we went out the |
lounds went IN, to hunt ont any poorfellows that
night try to conceal themselves and learned af-
erwards that several were found in the under
round dens, where they had concealed themselves,
n order 10 try and make their escape when the
yards were released.
our journey away from Andersonville is blank |
o me. 1 don't remember whether we were in box |
;ars, stock cars, or Pulman's palace cars, but
hink it will be safe to say that we didn't travel in
he iatter Ny first recollection is OF stopping at
'tation about 100 miles east of Andersonvle, and
he first thing got my eyes upon was another one |
If those despisable stockades On inquiry we |
earned we were at Millen, in Georgia. about 100 |
niles west of Savannah. We were taken off the
ars and once more passed through large, heavy,
sooden gates, and were again imprisoned!
The Millen prison was not as hard a looking
lace as Andersonville. There was more ground
nclosed, and 1t had been pasture, and there was
ONE grass still on it. There was nice stream of
fater running through The prison lengthwise, and
be swamp was absent. The "dead-ine" vas in
osition, and the stocks were in use. 1 saw half
oxen of our boys confined in them as we passed
hrough the gates.
There were about 10000 prisoners confined at
iilen. They were mostly from Andersonville.
here was plenty of wood on the ground for pres
Mt use, and quite number of the men had built
themselves good bake ovens. A good deal of skill
ad been displayed in the construction of the
vens, considering the disadvantage the men Ia
ored under. The rations were not increased in
uantity, but improved in quality. They issued
few sweet potatoes, very good anti-scorbutic.
had lost sight of my two last comrades, and
Tas with strangers again. looked around and
ound young, healthy-looking man, that was so
Unfortunate as to have nothing cook WITH neither
ad he any blanket, and proposed to him to stay
nth me aud would furnish the cooking utensils
was agreed TO, and our tent was pitched.
We only received rations once a day, but every
To or three days the rebels hauled inside of the
rison from 30 to ~ beef heads, and distributed
hem amongst the prisoners. They were fly
lown, and some of them badly spoit, but by the
me the wagon was inside the gates, there would
e 600 men following it to take their chances for
cad, and by the time the wagon stopped there
Iould be 1000 to 1900 men eager to obtain the
oveted prize. 1 never succeeded in falling heir
D one of the delectable morses.
About the third night at Millen, my new con-
anior and myself had falling out He was in
ood health and could sleep. while I was in very
oor health. My hips were sore and tender, and {
ould keep turning over. couldn't lie In one
osition more than Is minutes. 1 would turn and
e would scold and grumbe. i began to get irri-
tied, for was peevish and childish, and almost
lsane.
For several days previous when would shut my
res could imagine myself at home and enjoying ,
lie best food. The very instant shut my eyes
,emed to be whirled away through space to the
d farm where grew up to manhood, and seated
table under walnut tree, where was spread
sumptuous meal as could be furnished from
e beet stocked larder in the world. 1 suppose {
as affected somewhat similar to opium-eaters,
II at any time, sitting or standing, l could close
y eyes and be transported in q moment to the q
me tree, and enjoy the same delicious meal q
he tree was one under whose shade had rested
any time before the war. G
had been very restless part of the night, and O
as making one of my imaginary flights, when my
mrade yelled out that if didn't lie still he would
It me out of the bed. He hadn't more than got
e words ont of his mouth before flew into
ssion, and as quick as | was able to move was
ting sstride of him, clutching his throat with L
tn hands, and shaking him with all my might. q
was trying to pacify me, and was telling him, +
out a. child would, that he shouldn't cook in
? bucket and sleep in my tent! kept my posi-
IN until our difficulty was satisfactorily settled,
my opponent promising to let me turn and roll @
er as much as pleased. e
To be continued. @
At the Republican National Con- S
,ntion in Cincinnati, r. II. Dana