The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-04-04
A DISTRESSING SIGHT
The UnloadIug Of the Prisoners Of the War
Brought Hers from IT. DJnelson,
Reminiscenees Suggested by the Tearing
Away of the Old Union DepOt-A For
lOln, Wretcned crowd of Sick
and Dying SOldi sTs.

The Terre Haute E-prcss thinks the old Union
depot should have some part, az least OF its
story told before 1t wholly disappears. There
is In that odd barn memory and inspiration
for the pen OF a great descriptive writer. The
prisoners OF war were brought in there in as
large numbers perhaps. as At any railroad sta-
ton in the country. Before it is gone alto
gether let the story be told The story would
be as opposite anil interesting after the build
ing is gone altogether as it would be now when
ir is half gone for all that is visible to average
perception, but the suggestion as to the unload
ing OF prisoners of war there brings up the
scene on the occasion of.the first arrival of
prisoners from TT. DOnelsOn. 1t was not only
different from any preceding incident in the
history OF the depot, or OF the city or that mat
ter but one that would be stTikiGg aud pathetic
even 70 witnesses Ia billar with the presenee
ana tTes.n leut Of war prisoners.
p was near the 20Ih Of FeDruary, 1852. Tee
Ueaihsr wa still cold, and az times wet, and as
admirs bly, adapted 10 the production OF pneu-
TuOnfa IS western weather ever gets to be. The
cOnfeCerates for several days and nights had
been ATTY EN- plOyed IN their trenches,
where exposure was constant and trying, ard
warmth and food bard 70 come by. Thew we're
beaten as much BY disease as by hgatiDg. and
when the FIRST division, g regiment or more
probably arrived here late one chilly afternoon
more than half Of them were sick, and they
were hungry, dirty, weak and coughing
constantly; many were helpless. Such a
forlOrn, VretChec crowd was never seen in this
country before, and the full measure of their
suffering could not be discovered by the spec
tators Of their Struggling, staggering march
from the train into the depot. II was only when
they we've seen EYE 70 eye" and talked with
that It was found that half of them at least
needed instant medical attention. They did
not complain much, but Singly and
IN groups they found clean places
TO eat what little they had that could be
eaten or laid down and wrapped Themselves
close IN their blankets, or bed-quilts-t1ere
were good many OF these latter no me-remiud-
err am 7ng them. Hot coffee and bread we're
given them about dark from some OF the hotels,
aud the depot floor was cleared of sll OOstruct-
ions for their beds. By 9 o'clock nine-tenths
were in bed completely covering the huge floor
with Tolls of grey blankets from which prof ected
sometimes grey cap. sometimes st0uen
hal, sometimes an uncovered black head while
over the whole hung cloud OF steaming
breath, kept incessantly stirred by such
s'orD CT coughing as Was never heard before
doctors came down to look after the worst
CASE and the reporter thinks that some few OF
the ladies' OF the city came along. But for that
first ght the p s1ners had lt-ie but the
shelter of The building and such warmth
ne could come o tae e4cln,
the endless TOlleys OF coughs
were heard here and there about the Il DOT ire
ouent deep green's ana haIf-nuttersd prayers
ordinations OF pain and murmurs Of resig1a-
ton and patience. Nowhere was there sound
OF uum9nly trettlug CT whining, though the
GtutAA-AoA well nave excused IL some
the worst cases died that night, IS the reminis-
cont thinks. About noon the whole body was
marched out 20 Camp Morton, the fair ground
Hospitals were opened in 6lsckford's block and
several other buildings, aud our doctors and
scores OF isdies attended them as sedulOUslY as
the catholic sisters. But no care could repsir
the mischief Of so mUcn exposure upon men so
unused TO So and 50 sienderly supported By food
and rest. They died for q time ike "rOtten
sheep" and were buried in little separate
cemetery near the Nandslia freight yard,
whence they were removed some years later 20