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

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e In November tho cold became q,
! intense, our ratious so inadequate
for the maintenanco of health, tn,
4 prospects Of an exchange before tS,
close of the war so vague, and th,
( chances for life SO uncertain, that th,
, strongest heart recoiled at tboughti
Of the future.
-( Broken down in health and spirits
they caet dispairingly around then
IN search of some means 10y wbicl
to escape from tho impending doon
which threatened them.
Terrible were those days and
nights Of torture and death, from
which there seemed no roloaso
Most of the prisoners whose heart.
had been bnoyed so long by hope oI
exchange, parole, or dcliyerance by
raids from our forcos, now sank into
despondonoy.
Taking advantage OF this hope
lossness among tho prisoners. ro-
,cruting station for the confederate
army was opened near the stockade,
the officers of which came into pri-
son for recruits.
There were somo among us SO
hopeless, 80 lost to every feeling but
hunger. that they bartcrod thoir
honor for food, and took the oath OF
Allegiance TO tue rotten and detested
corfoderacy.
Let those who blame thom con-
slider that those men had been suf-
fering the iormnnis nf Andorsonvilla
Belle Island, Salisbury, Charleston,
and Millcn, for many dreary months,
and now before them was hopeless
winter, without clothes to cover
their nakedness, food sufficient TO
preserve health, or blankets to wrap
them in at night.
Some consider an oath taken at
such time not binding, went ont
only to risk their in an escape. Fon.
ny a boy fifteen years of ago, had
no blanket or cooking utensils. 10
was continually obliged to beg for
the uso of them from some ono who
had them as his own.
In his dostitntion, ho hal to
walk nights TO keep from beiug chilli
ed completely through, wmOu wrru
men in prison, was usually followed
by death.
His life was crowded with inex-
prcssible misery, For weeks brave
Tommy endured these misories. He
had refused at Charleston TO go out
and work but at las. tho tompter
prevailed no went ont, took tho
oath, had enough to cat for one week
and was shot, it was said, whilo try
ing to escape the next week, thus
onded the life ofa brave young man,
who stood it as long rs ho could
without clothes and food.
Many men rather chose doatb,
than stain their lips with the dis
honor of such au oath. Pheueous.
whom l have twice before mention-
ed, had il urged upon him thus to
save his life. His answer was, "My
boy is dead. ! shall go with tho
boy Simple words. yet heroic.
death rather than dishonor" has
been sublimely uttered by orators
and novelists, but never was it's i'm
port so heroically realized as in many
instances like those daily occurring
in prison. was, however, grieved
sometimes to see men in compare
lively good health going out take
the oath for tho confederacy, men
who possessed blanket or an overs
coat.
a few men of my regimont, wore
of this number, in spite Of promises
made to me fow moments before.
When my back was turned they went
out to the recruiting officer, So
great was the indignation of the
prisoners at the conduct OF such
men, that tho rebels had to con-
tiuually protect them bya guard.
The rebels had no respect for
such OF our men whoitook the oath,
and distinguished them from the
genuine gray backs, by the Signili-
cant term Of "Galvauized yanks." 1t
was true that few under terrible
suffering. with death looking them
in their faces, took the oath as the
last hope OF life.
Yet caunot be amazed at the
general eonstancy with which starv-
Jog men repudiated such conduct
while surrounded by suffering and