The National tribune., 1878-03-01

go out into the woods we could all be provided with
cabins for willing help in every way
possible or If fear of our taking advantage of the brief
liberty to make our escape prevents that let the auhor
ties bring logs and furnish for us and we will do
the rest supposng that to involve great expense to
the confederate government let us draw pon tbe money
of which they have robbed us and we will purchase the
materials and hire them brought out u.s. 1t is not the
fault OF these men That they destitute for they are
utterly helpless in the hands of their enemes and those
unfortunately for arc too little inclined pity to as
sist us and too brutal to allow MS TO help ourselves
while we have been inspecting these novel shelters
the sun has risen above the horizon and the prisoners be-
gin to appear for in the middle of the day the heat is too
evld TO admit OF much activity and the little chores
which are necessary to be performed must be completed
during the cool of the morning The half naked sauad
wretches black with smoke and dirt feeby drag their
emaciated forms from the holes into which they had
crawled the preceding night aud begin their prepaa
tions for the coming day. Passing quietly across the
swamp hasten up the rising ground on the north side
OF the sockade where fun view of the NAV be had
at glance Taking station at the summit we watch
the tatered forms they creep slowly by making their
way to the creek for water. They approach the little
stream some carrying TIN cups or pals made of empty
frult cans into which they have inserted strings or wires
20 serve the purpose OF handles; some bearing small
buckets or wooden pals which the have fashioned with
their pocketRnives from pine sticks on occasionally one
OF larger dimensions formed with and hoops while
others bear old boot legs tightly sewed together and MANY
very many, go empyhanded having been unable to pro-
cure anything in which carry the liquid There is here
every variety dress too from the annare of Adam, ha
tore the tall to ragged coat and pants and these seem
to have grown upon their forms like bark upon tree SO
black aud dirty have they become. There men with
Of which one of the sleeves has been away band
ages leaving the bare exposed men with no covering
but pair of dirty drawers much and worn to be
decenty described men without socks and shoes with
expiring Shoe the sole being upon the point of depart
ure hatless men, their long locks glued together with
pIch ana roleu up IKE ropes, hanging their sunken
eyes They gather into of file when they reach the
swamp and pass upon the pank to the creek soop
ing down in dip his little cup into the water and
turning back TO seek his quarters again Five thousand
men at this hour in the morning daily visit this spot to
get water for breakfast while the partner of each remains
fp pvafph fhafr
that oaks TO the side other men who
cannot walk. They creep upon their hands and knees
or crawl upon their breasts pulling their bodies along bv
ourng their elbows in the sand These miserable beings
the victims of starvation and the consequent diseases
writhe and twist themselves TO the stream but they
not all back, for with the fatigue of their
ous effort, they creep TO side OF the path and die
Presently little fires spring up every hand sending
out wreats of smoke which rise short distance above
the pen and hover there in dark cloud through which the
sun looks red Let approach these fires and examine
the culinary department. OF the prison Here are three mis-
erabe looking beings gathered around few bits of baz
ing pine, which they have placed in hole economic
the heat; their hands, faces and garments black with
SCOT and dirt and their Saxon features alone distinguish
them from the negro They mix the little ration of meal
with water and few grains of salt this mixture they
OF the meal be lost and place the dough upor another
green pine chip and hold it before the smoking fire 1t is
painful to look upon them during this operation see
the greed in their hollow while they watch the crumbs
that occasionally drop from the chip, com
pound partially dried is shaken from their trembling
hands, aud to note how anxousv they seek each tiny NOR
sci among the dirt and ashes and carefully replace when
found The bacon is toasted before the fire upon stick
and when cooked has oily, smoky taste The mystery
of their black appearance easily solved pass your hand
slowly through the smoke that rises from their fire. and
the oily particles of SCOT cling tightly it, Water will
not dissolve it. and they have no soap to act the of the
mutual FRIEND and bring the opposing elements into
harmony If You rub your hand upon your clothes or your
ace the black stain left and continuing the operation
for few moments you have the general look the
prisoners
This is fair specimen of the manner in which the
bread prepared for eating yet there other improved
aree
times poem made by those who have bake pans Others
again make msh, upon which little sorghum spread
Some fry the dough in fat saved from bacon and vet
others make dumpngs, rather little round bals-n
short every change that hungry devise with the
few convenences they have for the purpose rung upon
the ptance of corn meal allowed them But it remains
cornmea in the end Notwithstanding the thousand de-
vices to render it palatable.
Crossing the narrow paths that wind tortuousy among
the shantes todden here and there without method by
the weary feet of these wretched men, let pause before
this strip of black blanket that stretched over coupe