The National tribune., 1883-07-05

glad TO hear from him. when i read the
newspaper TRADES against granting pensions to
prisoners of war, cannot help wishing that
the authors were forced to try Just little of it
themselves say, for instance, one or two months
of diet of corn-cob and Cruel" They would
then sing trifie different song. In those dark
days our confinement kept an equal number of
rebs out of the field, who were well fed and
comfortably clothed, and / claim we were help
ing the cause as much or more than we would
have done had we been in the lines with musket
in hand. On our way to the flag of truce boat
at Richmond, we met detachment of rebels
ON their way from our lines. They were we'll
clothed-better than their comrades in the
field and better fed. What different looking
picture we made, starved and clothed in rags
that barely concealed our bonesi
CHAs. III. DEPUY,
MUsKEGoN, MICH. Co. II, LIST Mich. S. s.
SCENES AT SALISBURY.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In the early part of October, 1864, few of
the prisoners myself among the number-whO
had escaped at Florence were captured in
North Carolina and thrust into Salisbury
Prison. This prison contained about ten acres,
and was in the shade of the letter V, with the
point to the SOUTH There was large brick
building and several small ones inside the in
closure, which had formally been used as
penitentiary. We found several hundred con-
fined in there. Upon our arrival about two
hundred roughs, who had enlisted in the
Union army, received large bounty,
and fed to the Confederacy for protec-
ton, Immediately set upon US and robbed US of
whatever they saw fit. They soon found we
were from Andersonyille and declared they
would cut our Threats for the six raiders who
were hung at that place. In q few days several
hundred more prisoners from Grants army
were brought in, and then came hard times for
the bounty jumpers. After severely whipping
several of them we kept them shut up in the
big brick building until the Confederates re-
moved them from the prison. The buildings
were used as hospitals, and we were left des-
titute of any kind of SHELTER as there were only
few tents furnished for the prison. In 0cto-
Der there were about fourteen thousand pris-
oners placed in the inclosure and the ground
| was honeycombed with pits for shelter. L laid
| upon the ground on the south side of one of
the buildings for about two weeks. There
were several blackjack trees in the prison
which were searched continually for acorns.
| obtained about half dozen of them one day
and ate them with great relish, but was soon
| seized with such severe pains that / began to
conclude my time had come. There were
| three or four wells from which water could be
| obtained, if we could manage to get string
| about thirty or forty feet long and can or
| cup. Such articles were scarce, and the most
| of us drank by the charity of others or did
without When / was put In there was bare
| headed and almost barefooted, and my pants
| and other garments were saturated with dirt
| and nearly worn out. After ! had lain on the
| ground about two weeks was so enfeebled as
| to be unable to walk. was then assisted 70
| the large brick building and placed on the
second floor. This place was the most COM
| plete slough of despond that ever existed ON
| this side of the internal regions The suffer
ing and dying patients lay with their heads to
/ the wall in row around the room, and with
no covering save their clothes. A little straw
| and abundance of yermin served for a bed.
| There was no fire for nearly two months, and
when fire was finally obtained there was about
| sufficient to warm one-twentieth of the in
terror During the month of December there
was continual amputating of feet toes, legs,
| &C., the victims in q few days going off In
| the dead-wagon. Some were crawling around
with their flesh almost dropping from the
bone. Others were afflicted with the dry
rot and led fearful existence until death
relieved them. Some We're insane, crying, and
| cursing, and nearly all were dying. 1t was
one continual scene of human woe, heartrending
\ agony, groans, curses, dismay, and death. The
| otfal of cattle and little filthy water called
| soup were given as ratiOns. But why should |
| try to depict the horrors of that eharnal den
| No language can depict the human suffering in
| Salisbury during the winter of 1864. Many of
| the sufferers died on the way home-sOme on
| the cars, and some on the vessel before we
reached Annapolis. / do not believe another
| place existed iii the South where, according to
| the number of inmates, there was as much
! suffering and death. l was in Andersonyilie
| and other prisons for a year and half, but
Salisbury bears away the palm for barbarism.
VERSAILLES, Mo. ii. I. TALBOT.
LOYAL To THE LAST.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
On December 8, 1864, was put in charge of
forty sick and dying comrades, who were
packed in a box-ear at Florence, s. c., TO be
sent to Charleston for exchange. My duty
was to attend to their various wants during
the journey. Among the number was poor
emaciated skeleton, scarcely able to sit up. He
was an old man, perhaps fifty. noticed that he
was trying to attract my attention by means of
| signs but did not understand them. He then
showed me a small book-a work ON Masonry
which he carried, and asked me if knew any
thing about it. told him L did not. This
| circumstance made him an object of my espe-
| cial care during the trip. At Charleston we
| were put aboard the truce boat. i wrapped
him in his old ragged blanket and carried him
| aboard. When we were transferred from the
| truce boat to q. 5. transport, j laid him down
! ON the deck He lay in such position that
| the flag was in full view, flying at the mast
head. lie uncovered his face and looked full
| five minutes straight at the emblem of liberty,
| then, throwing up both hands, exclaimed:
Hurrah hurrah hurrah :" three times and
| fell back corpse. The next day we buried him
in the Atlantic That cry is still ringing in
my ears. Would that l had language to de-
| scribe that grand exhibition of loyalty and its
| effect upon those who witnessed it. If some
| of the stay at home towards BUSH
whacked US in the rear and are still BUSH
| whacking us-had witnessed it, they would
| then be able to form correct opinions concern
ing the motives which prompted the soldier to
| choose death rather than dishOnOr. / have
| seen many die of hunger, while elutehing be-
| tween their emaeiated fingers the moldy crust
of bread at which their stomachs revolted,
who could have had life liberty and plenty,
| by forsweariDg their allegiance to the flag.
The men who braved the terrOrs of Anderson
| vile were made of sterner stuff than to strike
their colors to even that grim monster, Famine.
WEIR, KAN. j. n. SWEENY.
CAPTURED ON THE SLOVENIAN RAID.
| To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Having recently subscribed for your yalua-
bic paper, take great pleasure in reading the
many letters of old soldiers and especially those
who were confined in Andersonville prison.
L was one of the unfortunates who was on what
was known as the McCook and Stoneman raid
| around Atlanta, Ga, in July, 1864. I was cap
tured on the 31st day of July near Browns
Ferry, on the Chattahoochee, by the Third
| Arkansas regiment and sent to Andersonville,
at which place 1 arrived on the I'd day of Au-
gust. / remained there until the 21st day of
September, 1864, and was then taken to Rough
\