Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-11
in WAR DAYS.
When Rock Island Arsenal Was a
Military Prison.
OF southeruer Who was Con.
fined There-Interesting Reminds
cences OF Early History.


following from one who was prisoner OF
var on Rock Island during the rebellion,
md who, after detailing his capture,
| writes:
As the reader is aware, Rock Island is
about three miles long by mile and a
half wide. situated in the Mississippi
river, between the cities of Rock Island,
H.. and Davenport. Iowa. Although the
course of the river is from north to south
here it makes a curve which throws the
Island east and west. The river forks at
the east end. aud sluggishly crawling
around the south side, forms what is
known as the slough" On the south
bank, opposite the west end, is the city
of Rock Island, Ill. The waters of the
main branch sweep msjestically around
on the north of the island, and unite with
the other branch at the west, both to be
eventually swallowed up in the Gulf of
Mexico. Davenport sits on the north
bank. Both cities are connected with the
island by railroad bridges. But as we
are not concerned with these we will pro
| coed 10
ROCK ISLAND PRISON,
Il
irksomeness Of captivity.
A brief description of the prison is in
order here. 1t is located in the center Of
the island. From the outside you can
see a square enclosure The fence is Of
| thick oak plauks and about twenty
feet high. Within four and half feet of
the top is a parapet about two feet wide
and on this the ceaseless tread of SEN
tinels is never hushed. At the west side
is an immense gate-on either side OF it
you may see arms stacked and men ia full
uniform lounging about. You can also,
II you observe, notice two sentinels on
duty. Men in wagons, driven by men In
blue uniforms, are continually passing,
the gate being opened on signal from
the officer of the day.
But the inside interests us more than
the outside, so we will pass in magma
tion and view the surroundings. AS we
enter, wide thoroughfsre is presented to
our view; extending to tue fence on the
opposite side. To the right and left, and
about fifty yards from the gaze, extend
two rows of one-story honses, enclosed
with upright rough boards and strips
nailed over the cracks. These buildings
are about thirty feet by one hundred
and fifty. There are eight buildin gs
on our right, the same number to our
left, and they extend to within fifty yards
of the fences enclosing the north and
south sides of the square. II we advance
the thoroughfare first mentioned. called
''the avenue" will be found abOlt one
hundred feet wide, and as soon as We
pass the first row of buildings there can
be seen a cross avenue extending north
and south to the fences. Then we come
to another row of buildings like the last,
and continuing on we pass another ave
nue. and line of buildings as before, until
We pass the sixth row, when we reach
the opposite fence about fifty yards from
the buildings. Now if we pass around
the square within twenty-five feet of the
fence you will notice stakes driven in
places, and in other places a trench dug
That is if you stay here long
you will learn To respect. If you
are quick at figures you will have
ascertained ere this that there are
ninety six buildings. or barracks, as they
are called, and when / tell you that each
accommodates one hundred and twenty
men, you know that the prison will en-
tertsin eleven thousand five hundred and
and twenty souls. This gives you an
idea of
THE BULL PEN.
The correspondent then enters into
description of the interior of the bars
racks:
At the lower end of the room about
| twenty-five feet is psrtitioned off. Near
the center is square coal stove sur
mounted by forty gallon caldron-this
is the kitchen. Returning 10 the main
hall, we find it arranged for bedding for
bedroom, drawing room. parlOr, reception
room and library for the number just en-
tered. A double row of hunks extend the
entire length of the hall on both sides.
They are arranged in sections, four hunks
to the section. and fifteen sections on
each side. A space the width of the win
dow, divides each section, allowing the
occupants room to get in and out of the
hunks. These spaces also serve as pri-
vate parlOrs, work shops studies, etc.
Now. the prison officials and the prison.
ers fall in line with back to the hunks.
A sentry stands at either end and ser :
geant in front. A pompous looking man
with sweeping reddish moustache, wear
ing the shoulder strap of a major enters
accompanied by two subaiterns. They
are clad in garments suitable for q
lhyporborean region. as il in mockerv
of the famisbed unfortunates before
| them, many with threadbare jackets.
| never warm and not void of holes. To
add to their discomfort no food passed
| their mouths for fifty hours. The first
mentioned officer, Major Schaffner, pro-
vost marshal of the prison said: You
are our prisoners and / want you to I'M
derstand we neither give nor take insults.
You have been captured with arms in
your hands and by rights have forfeited
your lives, but the government humanely
spares them for the present. This SER
geant Indicating the federal sergeanO will
be in command of this barrack and you
may select an orderly from among your
selves, whose duty will be the same as in
your army, except that he will be subor
dinate to the sergeant in charge. His
duty will be to make out requisitions,
keep list of the sick and those in hos
pitfalls, and exercise supervision over the
barrack. We do not select him as a spy;
bat. as much for your convenience as
ours. SO you had better select your
best man. Your rations will be
the same as our own soldiers receive
You will have all opportunity to
wash your clothing and have the free
dom of the enclosure between reveIlle
and taps. Do not keep lamp burning
after taps at 8 o'clock. or the guards will
fire into the barracks. Do not go near
the dead line or you will be shot from the
parapet You will be allowed to write
to your friends, but it must be in clear.
legible hand. and cover only one page Of
note paper These will be examined. and