The National tribune., 1885-10-15

vermin. As we passed around the line of guards
saw one of them brought out of his miserable booth
by two of his companions snd laid upon the ground
to die. He was nearly naked. His companions
pulled his cap over his face and straightened out
his limbs. Before they turned to leave him he was
dead. slight movement of the limbs and all was
over-the captive was freel The Commissary's
tent was near one side OF the square, and the
beef was laid upon boards preparatory to its dStr
button. This sight seemed to excite the prisoners
as the smell Of blood does the beasts of the menag
erie. They surged up near the lines as they
allowed, and seemed in their eagerness about to
break over While we were on the ground q heavy
rain came up, and they seemed to greatly enjoy 1t,
coming out q puris naturali6us, opening their
mouths TO catch the drops while one would wash
off another with his hands, and then receive from
him the like kind of office. Numbers get out at
night ana wander to the neighborng houses In
quest of food.
From the camp of the living we passed to the
camp of the dead-the hospital-a transition which
reminded me of Satans soiiloquy-
Which way fly is hell; myself am hell,
And in the lowest deeps, lower deep,
Still threatening to devour me, opens wide"
A few tents, covered with pine-tops were crowd
ed with the dying and the dead in every stage of
corruption Some lay in PROSTATE helplessness;
some had crowded under the shelter of the bushes;
some were rubbing their skeleton limbs. Twenty
or 10 OF them die daily; most of these. as was in
iolneu oi the seurvy Inc corpses lay by the road
side waiting for the dead-cart, their garing eyes
turned to heaven, the flies swarnring in their
mouths their big-toes tied together with a cotton
string, and their skeleton arms folded their
breasts. You would hardly know them TO be men,
so sadly do hunger, disease, and wretchedness
change the human face divine" Presently came
the carts; they were carried a little distance to
trenches dug for the purpose and tIimbled in like
so many dogs. few pine-eops were thrown upon
the bodies, a few shovefuls of dirt and then haste
was made to open n new ditch for other victims.
The burylng party were Yankees detailed for the
work, an appointment which, rs the Sergeant told
me, they consider favor, for they get little more
to eat and enjoy fresh air.
Thus we see at one glance the three great
scourges sofmankind-war, OF famine, and pestence
and we turn from the spectacle sick at heart.
remember that some of our loved ones may be un-
dergoing similar misery.
"This publication" said Col Bush, "made
IN one OF their own papers at the time, proves
that all that has ever been said of their treat
ment of our prisoners is true"
"Yes," said Uncle Daniel, "and much more" +"
"Uncle Daniel" said DR.. Adams, "this Miss
Seraine Whitcomb was, indeed, true woman,
and, as the President truly said, q little hero
ine.' l take it she was rather small. from this
expression of his"
Yes, she was rather small, but pure jewel"
She was woman of great determination,
and loved purely and strongly. There are but
few instances of such pure devotion and rare
patriotism to be found in the annals of history.
What feelings she must have had while trav-
cling through the Confederacy in such an
guiSh and suspense. She was Jewell sure
enough"
Col. Bush here interrupted, saying: "The
condition of our poor soldiers in the prisons she
visited must have driven her almost insane.
1t certainly drove many of the poor sufferers
into a state or condition of insanity, in which
condition numbers died in their rawlings and
deirum."
Is it not wonderful" said DR.. Adams, how
soon these barbarities and inhumanities are for
gotten by our people?"
"Yes," said Col. Bush; "but you must re-
member that our people are moving too rapidly y
to look back upon scenes of distress. Money
and power are now the watchwords-th
patriotism to the dogs. 1t is not needed now
to save their property and their rights. You
must remember that a man like Hibbard, the
deputy at Pine Forest Prison, who allowed
men to be shot down like dogs and starved
like wild beasts, is now looked upon with more
consideration and favor than Uncle Daniel,
who gave his whole family as a sacrifice for his
country. DID not this same Hibbard travel
all through our country last Fall making
speeches? Was he not received with shouts
by our very neighbors, within stones
throw of this dear old man, whose son
Forest Prison by this man? Has
he not held high positions in his State
sincep And l would not be surprised to hear
that he had been appointed to some Foreign
Mission, in order that he may represent our
country abroad in the true Christian spirit of
our advanced CIVILIZATION !"
Yes" said Uncle Daniel; "when he was
North on his stumping tour 1 mentioned the
fact of his inhumanity, and only received jeers
from those who heard me-some young stu
dents who were not old enough to be in the
war, and now feel that it must never be men,
toned except in a whisper. 10 seems that all
the treason, infamy, and the barbaritieS and
cruelties practiced during that bloody period
are now condOned, and the persons who prac-
J.
more respectable. Oh, that had not lived to
see these things! 1t makes me almost doubt
my own existence. Sometimes feel that it is
all dream"
Maj. Clymer, in order to draw the aged
mans mind away from this unpleasant theme,
inquired if he knew what became of Mrs.
I.awton.
Il cannot tell" said Uncle Daniel; "she and
Seraine corresponded for a number of years
after the termination of the war. The last we
ever heard of her she had married with an
Englishman and located in Canada. God
knows, hope she may yet be living and
happy. She was noble woman. fear, how
ever, that she, too has passed away, as we have
had no tidings OF her for many years"
Uncle Daniel at this time becoming weary
and very melancholy, we excused him for the
present, and asked permission to return in one
week, when he promised that he would con-
tinue his narrative, and, bidding him good
night, we left with an increased desire to hear
more from his honest and truthful lips.
To be continuedl