The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1882-06-01
During the whole day, through
4 nxiety, as we neared our destina-


1864. IL was raining severely when
the train reached the place
Even then we did not imagine to
what kind Of quarters We we're TO be
consigned. The guard answered
our interrogations as to where we
were going to put up, by ironically
pointing out some comfortable look
ing barracks as our habitations.
Suddenly the wole scene changed!
A feroc, ,our, round -shouldered lit.
tie man, mounted upon bay horse,
surrounded by the guard were to
take the place Of those who had ac-
companied as on the cars, came raw
ing swearing, aud tearing round in a
most extravsgant manner. SO re-
dicuious appeared to us bis gestures,
person, and looks, that we burst
into q roar Of laughter bereupon
he turned upon US, bristling with
rage. "exclaining:
by Got you tam yankees; you
won't laugh ven you gets into the
pull PEN"
1t was q gratuitons prophecy, af-
terwsrds understood in oil it's hor-
rors aud the threats OF captain
Wirz had too much significance in
them to DO laughed ut.
The recollection, even now, OF
the light manner we received 30
gross monster, causes q shudder
when ] think wi at action our laugh
might have prompted him to.
l was selected out on account OF
my sergeant's uniform, when, asking
me, il could write, was furnished
with paper, and told to take the
names, regiment, aud company OF
my car load Of companions. When
il was done, the names OF some thir.
ty moro we're given me, making in
all ninty men, which was called u
"Detacbment," 2l,30.
The other prisoners were similar
ly divided, and placed under nom
commissioned officers.
The newguard belonging to the
station relieved the old one, and
we were marched short distance
where o curio us-looking structure
loomed up before US, as already de-
scribed.
This was the stockade," which
was to become our future bone, or
quarters.
As ws halted before the head.
quarters Of the prison, waiting, like
so many drown ng rats, crouohing
in the rain, the guard, in answer to
our questions as to what kind Of a
place it was inside the stockade, re-
piled, we would find out when We
got in there.
They said prisoners tried to es-
cape sometimes, but the dogs always
caught them.
Never, to their knowledge, had a
man escaped, except one, ant he
was drowned while trying to vim a
pond TO get clear Of the dogs.
This was crusher TO the idea
had formed that the stockade might
prove o good place for escape.
Az we waited the great gates oi
the prison swung open on their pom.
derous oaken hinges, and We were
usbered into what seemed to US
Hsdos itself.
Strange, skeleton men, in tattered,
faded blue,--and not much OF blue
either, 30 obscured with dirt were
their habiliments,-gathered and
crowded around us 4; their faces
were SO begrimed with pitch-pine
smoke and dirt, that for o while we
could not descern whether they
were negroes or white men. They
gathered aud crowded around us to
ask the news, and inquire from
whence we came and in return VIC
received the information that they
had mostly ca me from Belle Island
whence they were sent the hrst oi
March.
The air Of the prison seemed
putrid and the hearts, buoyed
with expectation Of good quarters
sank within them when they knew
that NO shelter was furnished be-
yond what could be constructed o.
blankets.
All my former experience Of pris.
on life had not prepared me for sucl
umitigated misery as met mo every
where. Our poor fellows, who hat
30 con adingly believed in the hu
manity Of rebels, were now depr ess
ed by dependency and gloo m.