The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1882-11-02


only supply Of the prison, ther
were men who made business G
obtaining water for others, tho com
mon fco for getting water was
"chew of tobacco
"Who wants pail or canteen o
water for chew OF tobacco p wa
as common n c,amor as Have
hack !" "Ilave hack Sir 2" at on
metropolitan railroad station.
Near the brook a hundred, o.
moro men would he gathered, VIII,
would feel repaid for half day
waiting, wading. Sc, with one o
two diminutivo cbows of tobacco.
Sometimes might be econ met
around camp selling the proceeds o.
these labors for rations. Durinr
the summer we had been annoyed
with ilies, mosquitoes, ileas, and oil
such kindred plaques.
AS cold weather advanced, we col
clear Of these plaques; but a greater
annoyance, set in, little dreamed Of
These vermin, 0ice) not trouble
some in warm weather, now, as the
cold set in, took tho bouefit of the
warmth of our bodies, swarming
from our almost wornout blankets.
aud the ground upon our persons.
Night or day there was no peace
with them they would not keep
still Scratching only pleased them;
for, when the skin was once scratch
ed through, thoy went to work do.
vonrinS tire 1vsu. rue results wv,u
frightful, loathsome sores, in which
gangreue would start mp, and the
unhappy person would lose his life.
l have seen sick persons whose flesh
was eaten almost to the bone. I
am, however unable to say wether
tho vermin ate the flesh, or only pro-
duced tho irritation followed by
scratching, which may hayo caused
the sores.
But | rather inclino to tho belief,
that tho sore was first caused bv
scratching, and then the vernin
done tho balance of the iucurable
work.
However disgusting such details,
it is necessary that ] should record
them in order that the general read
er may understand our condition,
but again will hero remark, that
pen nor words can describe the us,
ago we received from tho hands of
rebels, this is saying n great deal,
but is nevertheless the Gods truth.
At Florence tho police organiza-
tioO, ~ | have intimatod, was again
revived under Big Peter as "chief OF
police" Their offices consisted in
seeing the police duties of tho camp,
guarding against the porpetration OF
nuisances, consisting shelter, procur-
ing fuel for those not able to help
themselves, and the carrying out OF
the dead.
Under those arrangements, the
camp became clean and orderly,
wood was moro regularly divided
aud dealt out. and tho dead were
moro decently cared for than before.
There can be no dispnting this
organization accomplished much
good. But even this organization
was perverted into q tool of the re-
bells for detecting the work on tuu-
nels, furnishing those who dug them,
by thirty stripes upon tho bare back
with a cato 'nine-tails.
"Big Pete' become prostrated
with fever, q gigantic, ignorant
brute, with neither tho good sense.
good humor, nor the disposition to
deal justly, which we're characteristics
of Big Pete, took his. place as "chief
Of police" and under his misrule
acts were perpetrated up
ON prisoners,
Those who incurred the displeas.
ure of tho rebels, or their tool, the
Chief were tied to q whipping.
post, and wero mercilessly punished
upon the back with that classic ins
a cat-o'nine.tails.
Sergeant Phineous. OF q Pennsyl.
vania regiment, had once been in-
strumental in bringing this big ugly
brute before the prison tribunal at
Andersonville for the murder OF one
of his company or regimentsl boys.
On some trivial excuse, the chef
brought Pheuious to the whipping
post and, before even form OF trial
was through with, and while yet in
his hands were pinioned bahind him