The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-07-08

largest. The valley was a swamp Of black
muck that was fairly alive with the maggo's
that rolled and tumhIed in the sun IN
masses two feet thick at many places.
Through this swamp flowed a shallow brook
of polluted water. The entire enclosure
contained twenty-five acres of ground, Of
which eight acres were occupied by the
swamp and the area within the dead line.
The ground actually occupied by the pris-
oners was only seventeen acres in extent
the prisoners numbered over 10000. The
site Of the rTison-pen had originally been
covered with heavy pine timber but every
tree had been removed with the exception
OF three in the southeastern corner. This
left the interior exposed 10 the glare Of
the merciless sun. On the slope Of the
north hill the heat was almost uncomfortable
during the greater portion OF the day. Not
4 single tent or shelter Of any kind was
prepared for u.s. nor would Winder permit
rs to cut timber for the purpose on the
outside, although the whole surrounding
region was covered with pine forests. Oar
business in there was to die as speedily rs pos
sibIe. On the western side was the north
gate and the south gate, one on either side Of
the creek. Each was 4 double gate, pro-
tected by sub-stock&de. The coCkh0Use
stood near the north bank Of the creek,
outside the prison The main stockade
and set on end in the ground, penetrating
the earth five feet and being twenty
feet hight above the ground. These logs
were placed so closely together that the blade
of q pocket knife could scarcely have been
thrust between them. At regular distances
were sentry boxes, which overlooked the
entire enclosure, and guards occupied them
day and night. About SIX PAGES within the
stockade was the celebrated dead line
It consisted of posts driven into the ground,
and standing about three feet high; and
stretching from one post TO another were
slender poles or scantlings loosely nailed on.
Whoever was crowded against this line, or
even so much as touched it with his cloth
ing, was instantly made a target of. Men
were even killed for standing near ii. Itwas
the convenient pretext for countless nur-
ders. Any cowardly guard who had
an ambition 10 shoot Yankee could, with
the aid of the dead line, readily devise a pre-
text for doing it. If he missed his intended
victim he was certain to hit some one else.
Every guard who shot a prisoner received
furlough of thirty-days. Shortly after the
arrival of our regiment an outer stockade
was constructed. 1t was eighteen feet high,
and was 176 feet from the inner one. Rifle
pits were constructed around it. All this
work was done by cOlored men. The entire
prison-pen was encircled by e.ght forts
mounting thirty-one pieces Of artillery.
Three of these stood along the north end,
two at the south end, two at the east side, and
one at the west side. The guns commanded
every foot of the interior of the stOckade
and all approaches to it Six of these forts
were protected in the direction of the
prison by stockades. The Star fort $50
named by reason of its peculiar shape, and
which mounted nine guns,) stood at the
southwestern corner of the stockade, and
pear It was two-story frame house occupied
~ Wirz for his headquarters. These forts
were a constant menace to Us. On the
18th Of May the following notice had been
listed in the stockade: