The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-11-04

Let It be fully recOllected that Llncoln
kept these six hundred Southerners under
going this daily-nig ly--hourly and
torment tof both soul and body and forty
six days. although aware that Beauregard
had never placed a single prisoner under
fire
A NEW HE'LL.
From Morris Island, the surviving priso-
ners were removed to Fort Pulaski, below
Savannah,-a still more unhealthy place
They had grown so desperate that during
the night they cut large hole in the side
of the ship, near the waters edge and
number of them escaped to the shore but
found it impossible to force their way
through the swamps, and were re-captured
at dawn. All were then packed into the
damp and mouldy casemates COR stone
vaults) of the Fort where their suferings
daily increased as winter drew on. Few had
blanket, and many had rot even shirt.
(Note-We are told to put it on record as
one thing to the credit of Taz H. Har-
grove, of Granville, that he lay all winter on
a narrow piece of plank to keep him off
the wet stone floor, with no covering and
,oithom taking the oath ,
During the greater portion Of the winter
the prisoners received only 10 ounces Of
coarse corn meal, (soured by fermentation,
and unpalateable, for full days food
Think Of it . No bread, no meat, no vege
tables, no coffee nor sweets nothing but
half pint of sour corn meal, l,-alive with
white worms, s,--and four rotten pickles
Day after day, week after week And to
cook the meal, only one small stick of
cord wood to every four men! No wood
for warming purposes; and no clothing in
lieu of it,
PESTILENCE.
As may be supposed, such usage and
such diet quickly produced scurvy, dysen
terry, agues, and malarial fevers. Scores OF
poor fellows succumbed in short order
Scurvy became epidemic. And can you
conceive of more loathsome disease for a
prisoner? It's effect on the mind is dis
tressing, because it heightens the despon-
dency and home sickness under which he
naturally suffers. Its physical effect is ap-
palling. The flesh wastes away, and the
blood collected beneath it. The limbs be
inhamed; the hair falls out; the gums
bleed continuously; and the wretched vic
tim would as lief die as live.
Alas! how marked is the change In many
poor fellow who went forth from this
pen. with light step, and lighter heart,
five months ago ! Many returned crippled
for life 1t was pitiable to see them hob
bling in at the gate, with bandaged faces,
and supported by comrades at each arm
Some hop on one leg by aid of crutches.
Some can only touch their heels to the
ground. Some are bent double. And these
are ''the pick of the lot, the worst cases
being left to die at Pulaski. A score or
more were carried directly from the steamer
to the hospital. Many will 60 thence to
the Dead Pits.
A PRISONERS LETTER.
About the last of March was very sick,
could scarcely crawl down from my bunk,
and felt little disposed for writing. Hence
there is an hiatus in my journal but the
following letter sent by under grounds,
(that is secretly on the person ofan exchang-
ed fellow prisoner will give some idea of
our condition at the time. The alusion to
Ger Beale may have been unjust, but if so
it was the natural mistake of men who
realize effect without being able to under
stand the cause. And [ have seen nothing
to explain the delay of which | wrote in
Fort Delaware.