The National tribune., 1878-02-01
Conlin,aed rom naae a5.

Continued from page 85
foliage hanging from the tall and mbess trunks seemed
like funereal canopy spread over the gloomy
little to right small sluggish stream bending
slightly to the north. aud terminating in marshy
belt just as 1t reached the prison walls this presumed
was to supply us with water. Near the walls of the
prison. the north side of the stream stood building
in of construction the skeleton of the roof being
all that visible. The whole presented a dismal iap
pearance of desolaton which can be felt only by those
who witnessed it,
The prelmnaries being finally settled satisfaction
OF the commandant the column moved forward upon the
main road until reached the vicinity of the stream where
ii separated into nearly equal parts the advance
tnuing directly forward the entl ance of the ward
while the turned to the right and crossed the stream
entering by the south gate The detachment TO which
belonged in the van, and when reached the gate
we halted the guard with loaded musket and with bay
onets fixed was drawn up in line of battle the massive
double doors swung open. disclosing horrible and heart
endlng spectacle The prisoners had gatheredin dsor-
DERBY crowd upon either side of the street opposite
the entrance to receive and recognize any ac-
quaintances friends that might be our company
their faces and hands and naked feet black with
smoke from the pine fires their clothing hung tatered
strips from their limbs and bodies their hair long and
matted with tar and dirt fell in ropes their eyes
which glared fearfuly upon marched between
these living walls 1t was like entering the borders of
hell where the gathered demons had crowded to the pass
age to bid welcome to their Internal abodes These
men, who had been heroes upon many wel-contested
ned shon of their strength and stood helpless
beside their black skin drawn tight upon their flesh
less frames, their bony trembling with weakness
Some were without hats, without shirts
others had no pants and nearly ali destitute of any
covering for the feet They resembled ends than
human belngsto such fearful pass had the brutality
their Jaors brought them From this hope
sock felt that this was indeed the last of earth
that we had been brought here into dreay forests and
swamps far from home and beyond the reach of friends
TO die. True toreboding, alas to how many of us
APPEARANCES rsIDE-HosP1TALs
Scattered about in various parts area were the
houses of the prisoners These consisted of pieces of
shelter tents remnants of blankets stretched upon
boughs of pine but few of the prisoners possessed
these accommodations and the majority either with
covering at all had dug holes in the ground into
which they crawled for shelter In looking over this field
there could be nothing of interest attract the eve
or engage the attention of the behoder Turn in which
way we would the same dismal confronted us-the
same squald forms crawled pastthe suen look of
despair was on every face Around the high gray
walls upon whose top stood the relentless sentry ready
lt hXed the gloomy pines, upon whose dark tops the
oue smoke of our pit had settled down ominous clouds
stretched lar oil on every hand it only when we
looked upward to the sky that faint rays of light
III the mild blue eye of Heaven, beaming pityingy down
upon US there from the presence of the God above us
we gathered new strength, inspiration well knowing
at only by keeping hearts strong and courage
rue could we survive the terrible that knew
must shortly follow.
In the northeast and southeast corners Were spaces about
eight rods in length by four in width in which white can
vas stretched the form wedges with the sharp
edge uppermost The tops of these contrvances were
apoat nye teet high while the bottoms fastened
wooden pins, six inches from the ground floor
was the bare earth uncarpeed with grass straw This
constituted the hospitals of Camp Sumter and were
eXceenty designed for the purpose of baking the unor
tunate victims of disease who might chance crawl
them Destructive these were they We're crowded
with sick men, who lay moaning upon the naked bed
swelterng in the glowing heat of the Southern SUM-
which, even at this time Of the year pouring
torrents of fire.
We shall continue printing this evidence in our next
number hoping thereby influence public opinion as
70 effect revocation of the absurd requirements of the
Pension Office in this class of cases,-Ep.l
The Commissioners Bill