The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1882-06-08

We soon became conversant with
the ways and means Of the prison.
There is certain fexibility Of
character 10 mon that adapts itself
With readiness to their ci.cumstan-
ses.
This adaptability 10 inevitable
unalterable fate, against which it is
useless to strive, or where it is death
TO repine, softens much OF the sui
feiiugs otherwise unonjurablei in such
life. In no position is this adap
liability more fruitful of good results
TO its possession then in prison. 1t
can enable the luckloss prisoner to
extract whatever Of comfort there
may be in the barren species of OK.
istence which surrounds him, and
mitigates the mental torments and
pains endured by those who are
suddenly thrown upon their own
resources, amid the acutest suffer.
ings which squalld misery can in-
hict.
While some passed their time in
uselest repinings, others set them
selves resolutely at work, like Rob-
ison Cruso, to dsvelope the resourc-
es of their surroundings into oil
comforts they could force them to
yield.
Originally tho interior Of the pris-
on had been densely wooded with
pitch-pine, in which that country
abounds but at the time OF our
arrival it had been, with the excep-
ton of some felled logs, cut to sup
ply the want Of fuel demanded by
the prisoners.
The camp at that time was almost
dependent upon the roots and
stumps Of tho trees which had been
cut down for fuel.
A limited number OF those who
were among the first arrivals had
constructed rude shelters Of the
branches of trees, thatcbed with
pitch-pine to shed the rain.
The common shelter was, however
constructed with old WORKOUT blank
OTIS, old shirts &c. &c. while a ma
jority by far had no shelter at all,
or burrowed for want of ono in the
ground.
An aristocratic shelter, which few
could indulge in, was made Of two
blankets pinned together with wood.
en- pegs, stretched upon ridgepole
running across two uprights stuck
into the ground, in imitation Of an
A tent or two poles were tied to-
gether, with both ends stuck into
tho ground, forming q semi-circlo.
Over three of these blanket was
stretched. a hole was then made
into the ground three feet deep
under the space sheltered by the
blankets. Those, as rebel surgeon
one day remarked, wore little better
than graves.
When there was a sudden shower,
as was often the case, these holes
would suddenly fill with water, situ-
ated as most of them were ON the
side OF o hill All over camp men
might be seen crawling out Of holes
like half drowned kittens, wet dis.
consulate, and crestfallen.
Those who could summon the
philosophy to laugh at the ludicrous
view Of their troubles, would find
out but little comfort in such un-
comfortable circumstances.
These shelters we're, at best, but
poor protection aginst rain or tropi-
cal sun but, as poor rs they were,
many who had blankets could not,
though surrounded by woods on the
exterior Of the prison, get the neces-
sary poles or branches to construct
them,
| Under such circumstances the un-
lucky prisoner burrowed in the
earth, or laid exposed to the fury OF
the rain and sun, and often chilly
nights and mornings.
| We thought the rebels tyrants in
this respect, thousands Of acres oi
woodland surrounded us, but they
would not allow us to gather wood
to cook our scanty meals.
Men in the stockade were afflicted
With chronic diarrhoea, dysentery,
scurvy, and all, or nearly all kinds OF
diseases the human body is heir TO.
l saw quite often apparently ro'
bust men cit down to their raw grub,
aud could not mastioate the little
1 A. A