The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1877-01-25
written for the News.
SOUTHERN PRISON-PENS.
Experience of an anderson
Vile Prisoner in Dixie.
No. XXI.

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No. XXI.
About one o'clock P. NJ. we pass
ed near the ''toy ship which proved
to be a lorge steamship, loaded dowr
to the guards with soldiers. The
Captain hailed us through no speak
ing trumpet.
"Where are you bound to-"
The answer went back,
"To Annapolis, Nd, with exchang
ed prisoners"
About o'clock p. NJ we sighted
land head of us, at no great dis
tance. 1t proved to be the sand
banks OF Virginia. About sunset we
entered the mouth of Chesapeake Bay,
and shortly afterward passed For
tress Monroe. Night closed in
around US, and we went to sleep,
dreaming of home.
Our rations had consisted of hard
tack, meat and coffee, with now and
then an onion. If we could have
got as much appetizing food as we
could eat, but few of our number
would ever have reached home alive.
Sunday morning, Nov. "a, 1864,
found our steamer lying at the land
ing at Annapolis, Md. About I
O'Clock, A. NJ. Col. Mulford asked Us
to prepare for Decentralization. A
cornet band came down and during
our exit from the steamer discoursed
sweet music, all of which convinced
US we still had some friends left.
We took possession of a grassy
knoll near the landing, and Commis-
sioners from the different States were
there to receive us, each one inquir-
ing for men from their respective
States. They were provided with
many little delicacies prepared by
loving hands at home, to satisfy the
craving needs of a poor, distressed
looking lot of men, who were near
and dear to some one.
Pies, cakes, and other kinds of
edibles were passed to us. Some
man took stand near us and called
for "Ohio troops" All answered to
the call, and he bryan issuing tobac-
co. Another called for Penusylva-
mans, and all that belonged to that
State. Some one called for Indian
ians, and at once all were ''Hoosiers, B"
and so it went around, until all were
provided with many little articles
they needed. One man was distrib-
uting fine tooth combs-something
we very much needed. Another was
furnishing writing paper, envelopes,
pens, ink and pencils. All this was
very grateful to our feelings, and
satisfied US that we were not forgot
ten in our humiliation and degrade
ton.
We remained until Monday morn
ing near the landing. On Sunday
evening each man was furnished
with a quart of coffee, a piece of
meat and one loaf of bread. We
were told that the bread was for sup
per and breakfast-the meat and
coffee for supper only. We obeyed
orders by eating all we were told to'
and then finishing the balance of
the loaf Nine-tenths of the men
never stopped until they had dispos
ed of all the bread-a very surpris-
ing thing to the Commissary.
Next morning. when he sent us
our meat and coffee, and learned that
we had disposed of our bread, he
overstepped the rules and gave us
each half a loaf. The loaves were
about inches long and 6 inches
thick.
We were loaded into ambulances
and taken out to the parole camp,
about three miles from the city.
There we exchanged clothes again,
washed and shaved, got our hair
trimmed and tried to look like our
former selves. The paymaster paid
us off, and once more we had cash
in our pockets.
We began to patronize the suffers,
and mince pies became an article of
commerce. The bakery attached to
the suffers department was running
day and night, to supply the demand
About 10 o'clock A. NJ. the boys
would catch up with the supply, and
would take them hot from the oven
the balance of the day. I have seen
the boys standing on the outsidessssof
the counter with their money in their
hands, hallooing to the walters as
they would be taking a hot batch of
pies cut of the oven, "Here this
way give me a pie" The waiter
would pick up pie by the edges.
The customer would hold his hand
wide open to catch the pie. The
bottom would be tender, and his
fingers would break through into the
hot mince meat. Itwould burn him.
and he would jerk from under it, and
the pie would be found in dismant
led condition on the floor.
All that were able to travel were
furloughed home, and those that
were not considered well enough