The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-27
CAHAWBA PRISON.
Picture of the Odious Pen by One Of It's
Inmates.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Comrade c. d. Nichols, of Post No. SO. Co
lumbus, Kan, recently presented to Colonel j.
O. Carpenter, president of the Kansas Associa-
tion OF Union ex-Prisoners of War, and through
him to the association, large welI-exeeuted
picture of the late rebel prison-pen, called by
the rebels Castle Morgan" at Cahawba, Ala
The picture is said by Ira L. Collins, -pres-
dent of our association and other ex-prisoners
who were confined there, to be true to life We
esteem this picture very highly, not only be-
cause of its intrinsic value and our regard
for the memory of the author, but because it
brings into notice prison-pe which, ON ac-
count of the comparatively small number of
prisoners who were confined there and the
small number who lived to tell the story after
they were released, is but little known. One
half or more of those who did live to get out
were blown up on the steamer Sultana and
drowned in the Mississippi. About 5000 were
confined at Cahawba at the time the picture
was made, and their condition and treatment
was much the same and no less horrible than
at Andersonyille and other so-called Yankee
prison-pen of those days. Comrade Nichols,
in his letter accompanying the picture, says of
it and its author:
Knowing the desire of all true soldiers of the
late war, well as the loyal people of our coun-
try who aided us in the hours of that struggle to
preserve everything obtained during the war
which will materially aid in the writing of its his
tory, take pleasure IN presenting TO you this
sketch of the prison-pen, called by the Coufeder-
ates - Castle Morgan" located at Cahawba Ala,
not only from the fact that it presents lne-lil,e
picture of the prison. but account of the circum-
stances under which the sketch made. Ser
geant Rodney F. Jay, late of company +, 18th
Illinois infantry, while prisoner at Cahawba
conceived the idea of sketching the prison. His
conveniencies for the work were gum blanket
and piece of charcoal. His observations were
obtained and treasured in his mind while on details
for wood, and Notwithstanding he labored under
these disadvantages and the care which was neces-
sary to keep his work secret from the guards he
did his work well, and was fortunate in prese-=-
ing his gum banket-barely escaping tie rstal ex-
plosion Of the steamer Sutana- At St. Louis Jay
succeeded in procuring photograph of his gum
blanket from which this copy has been enlarged.
Comrade Jay contracted disease while in that
prison-Snd who that prisoner did not?-
which gradually wore away his life On July Is,
1874, he died in this city while being taken from
the carriage to the house of his brother. A W. Jay
His remains lie buried in cemetery at Column
bus, Kan.
For fuller description of the horrors of that pen
refer you to the honorable vice. president OF your
association, Hon. Ira +. Collins, of Sabetha Kan;
DR.. Hawes of Greeley Col; J. j. Brown Rising Sun.
Ind, known ia the prison Gunboat. and others.
The history OF the late war Is yet to be written IL
devolves those who still survive to see that
such material is placed at the disposal of the future
historian that he will be able to present true
history of the treatment pictured by those of our
true, brave, loyal comrades who unfortunately suf
fered lingering death In Soathern prisons. Being
DESTROYS OF adding my mite to the archives of your
ocety.-although was mot prisoner of war;