The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-10-12

lzed. The suffering mere Is simply terrible.
This is a worse place than Andersonville, and
Barrett is a more brutal wretch, if possible,
than Wirz.
Dee. ISth-To-day learned the probable fate
of Ware one of the two men who owned the
ground | and my chums first occupied at An
dersonville. He was last seen at Millen, and
was black and blue in the face from scurvy, and
by this time is no doubt dead. He was Maine
man, of excellent principles, and often spoke to
me with great feeling concerning the family he
left at home. 4 brain fever is making great
havoc in our ranks The rate of mortality is
sufficient to alarm the boldest.
Dec. 19th.-Fisher visited our howell last even
ing. He had his pockets filed with excellent
tobacco, and loading up our pipes We had very
pleasant evening, crouched before our blazing
little hearth. When our regiment, on the 22d
of last July, captulated, it was to Govan's brig
ade. Fisher states that that brigade and two
batteries were captured just p week afterwards
by direct charge on breastworks made by the
troops of Gen. Davis. Fisher has not been
prisoner long enough to lose his afability,
Mftny of us have concluded to bother no longer
about exchange, but have settled down to the
grim determination to live till the confederacy
collapses. 1t is said that most of the Anderson
vile raiders are now in the rebel army. They
came from the slums of New York city
Dec. 20h.-Among the various barbarities Of
cred Head should be mentioned his habit of
knocking down and kicking sick prisoners, who
are prevented by debility from obeying his per-
cmptory orders with sufficient prornptness.
Lung diseases are very prevalent here, origin
ating from exposure to the severe cold weather.
A FRIGHTFUL DEATH-RATE.
Dec. 21st.-Nine-tenths of us are without
shoes, and must tread bare-footed on ground
that is frozen and full of ice much of the time.
cut is liable to result in dry gangrene, in
which case away goes limb or life We are
utterly destitute. One man dies out of about
every three who are brought in here
Dec. 22d.-Very few new prisoners arrive, but
when they do, many of them give the thing up
in despair, at the start, and speedily die About
five thousand men persisted at Florence)
Dec. 23d.-The police force of this prison is
not very popular. Some of its big chiefs are
on very good terms with the rebels. The task
of governing nine or ten thousand skeletons ia
not an arduous one.
Dec. 24tB.-In order to encourage enlistments
in galvanized" company Red Head" is
trying to raise, rations have been reduced
smaller than ever. We suffer for want of salt
especially. Cruel without salt is wretched
stuff. The galvanized" soon fatten up when
they get regular confederate rations.
Dec. 25th.-Christmas and two-thirds of pint
of corn meal! l saw a prisoner shot dead to-
day by guard for walking near the dead-line
to hang his ragged blanket on pole.
Dec 26tb.-Some of the "shebangs" here are
built of mud bricks, and do very well under
the circumstances A good shelter greatly as
sists in prolonging life. Since Spurgeon got
exchanged, Wright and Jones and are not so
crowded. We still flank" wood.
Dec. 27th.-It is reported that the prisoners
at Raleigh, n. c., are treated like human be-
ings, having barracks to shelter them, and very
good rations. We are hoping that our next
move will be in that direction.
Dee 2Sth.-The galvanized say that great
many Southerners in the rebel army are serv-
ing from compulson and against their desires.
The confederate government is mere military
despotsm. Our salt ration has diminished to
half a teaspoonful per day.
Dec. 29th.-Cold nights, meagre rations, dis
ease, destitutiOn starvation, despair and death.
Dec. 3Oth.-The air is full of exciting rumors
concerning Sherman's army. 1t is difficult to
form an opinion regarding the military situa-
ton, beyond the fact that our side has the best
of it. A man can hear almost anything here,
and hardly knows what to believe.
Dec. 31St.-A year could scarcely be wound
up in a worse manner than by starving in
Florence. A year hence none of us will be in
rebel prisons We viii either be in the Union
lines or in our graves
SARCASM OF THE SEASON.
January LIST, 1865.-The boys, with much sar-
casm, are wishing one another "a happy New
Year"
jan. 2d-Yesterday Winder dropped dead in
his tracks, while entering the quarters of the
Post Sutler to eat a New Years dinner There
is no doubt whatever concerning the direction
his spirit took.
Jan. 3d.-Several weeks ago the ladies of
Florence decided to make 8 large confederate
flag and present it to the prison garrison on
New Years day. In anticipation of the event,
Iverson had very tall fag-pole erected on the
commons in front of his headquarters. 1t was
cut in the woods, handsomely dressed, and
erected in position by paroIed Union soldiers.
In putting up the pole an accident occurred,
and one or two of the paroled men were killed.
That Union soldiers should perform such a
service for the rebels, under any circumstances,
created the greatest indignation in the prison,
and it was universally determined that we
would boot the rebel flag vehemently when it
should be raised. Iverson heard of this, and
as the ladies of Florence were to be present at
the fag-raising, we were warned by the rebel
roll sergeants to make no demonstration on
pain of losing our rations for twenty-four hours.
We then concluded not to demonstrate"
When the rebel flag went up, however, and its
nefarious folds danced in the air, a loud, pro-
longed yell of derision burst from the stockade.
Then, for ten minutes or more, the air was
rent with cries of "Hurrah for the Unionl"
- Hurrah for Lincon," On the Confed-
eracy," etc. The ladies of Florence were
shocked, and we lost our rations. Florence is
a wretched little town. 12O miles from Charles
ton and about as far from Wilmington.
Jan. 4th.-There is d camp of slaves on the
north side of the Stockade. The rebels never
require them to work on Sunday. They are
well fed Salt is not issued to us half the time,
and we suffer extremely for want of it.
Jan. 5th.-Nearly every man in this prison
whom l have any acquaintance with is sick.
A particular friend of mine named Vale of the
i