The record-union., 1891-05-11
cold CHEER" INDEED.
Complaints of a FaStidiOus Rebel
Prisoner.
He Objects to Yankee Treatment, and
Charges That Camp Morton Lacked
the Usual Comforts of Home-He is
Well Answered.

Especial correspondence of RECoRD-UNIoN.l
From luxurious apartments on Madi-
son avenue a professional gentleman, q
Confederate soldier-a prisoner at In
dianapolis in 1S64-writes work of fic-
ton for the April Century, under the title
"Cold Cheer at Camp Morton" Both
the adjectives and illustrations are chosen
for their effect rather than for their rela-
ton to fact. If the article were to be
carefully read, there would be no occa-
sion to reply to it, for it furnishes its own
internal evidence of unreliability. For
twenty-five years the writer has un-
doubtedly been giving private rehearsals
of prison experiences, enlarging upon
them as his Imagination broadened and
intensified, until at last he has gone into
print, more anxious to live up to his oral
versions than to keep within the bounds
Of reason. Upon this theory only can
one account for such story. When the
adjectives and the Overstatements are
eliminated, this recital of "Cold Cheer is
little more than petulant complaint that
as prisoners of war they were not feasted
and feted as distinguished guests. All
that we ask is that it be read with the dis
of war times; that he was prisoner OF
war, and was fed and clothed by the Gov
ernment.
YANKEE SOLDIERS INSULTED.
He makes four general charges: abus-
i've treatment, cruelty, starvation and
freezing to death. He bases the charge
Of abusive treatment upon the fact that
prisoners were sometimes struck be-
cause they would not cease talking when
L =
official report that it was practically i'm
possible for an officer to go through the
camp without being insulted. 1t was in
hnltely more difficult to discipline the
prison in this regard than it was our own
camp. The prisoners would stroll near
the sentry and mutter epithetS for which,
if spoken under other circumstances
they would have been Immediately chas-
tised. L remember a Sunday when they
were holding Open-alr services. The
preacher in long prayer piled anathe-
mas so ''thick and FAST amid jubilant
"Amens" that l asked for authority to
see that he ceased praying to be heard Of
men. This was not granted, and he con-
tinued to shout his abuse of the soldiers,
officers, Yankee land, and the President.
never knew of Il case in which a man
was slapped in the face for it, but | knew
a thousand men who were ready for such
a fray. / presume some men yielded to
the prOvocation when officers or visitors
were inSulted. Suffice it to say that the
abuse was provoked.
The charge of cruelty is broadly made
But the writer admits that the most bar
barous act of cruelty was perpetrated by
himself. According to his story, there
were some fellows among the prisoners
who would eat from the hospital swill
barrel. Patients were allowed some
Injuries denied the other prisoners.
Uneaten portions went into the swill
Finding fellow who had yielded to this
temptation, Wyeth and a few compan-
ions ducked him head foremost in the
hospital swill barrel. This was by far
the most heartless and indecent thing
ever done in the history of Camp Morton,
and this Century articlehas revealed for
the first time the name of one of the
perpetrators Of this outrage. 1t was
cold cheer" indeed, for one prisoner.
THE CHARGES IN DETAIL.
Here are some of the gravest charges
of cruelty:
l. Arrived at Camp Morton at 10
O'Clock P. NJ. in early October, where,
''no provision having been made for u.s.
we slept, or tried to sleep, through the
cold night in the open air upon the
ground" Well, well! What did he ex-
pect? Speak out, Grand Army boys, and
reclte the instances in which you ar
rived at camp when no provision had
been made for you. Did you ever sleep,
or try to sleep, through an early October
night in the open air upon the ground?
Why, you could fairly make his blood
curdle by reciting your experiences.
- lie was taken with chill in the
morning, could not be admitted to the
hospital till o'clock in the afternoon,
and was given bed upon which a man
had died. This may be a strange ex-
perienCe for a Southern soldier, but it
Il, s.l,
blue" The incoming of a large number
OF unexpected guests, who had not sent
on notice of their physical condition.
might naturally surprise a hospitals: and
few hours of waiting in the middle of
the day by person not wounded, who
simply complained of a chill, will hardly
be accepted as cruelty by the average
Union soldier. Unfortunately, il was
not the custom of the Union army to
destroy the cOuches upon which men
chanced TO die. 1t is evident that the
authorities did not realize what a fas-
udious youth they had on hand.
3. The camp had been a fair ground,
the stables Of which were used as bar
racks. These were shingled, he admits.
and did not leak, but there was no floor.
This was a grave omission 1t was
simply cruel for the United States Gov
ernment not TO floor the spare chamber
in which it was entertaining distin-
SulSIitu ButSlS, Dul III IlaU Gay the
estheuc nature was not devel0ned in
the wild and wholly West" aS..at pres
Gut. The sides of the building were not
clapboarded but were hattened, and on
one occasion there was draft. a care
Tul examination Of the official records
shows that no complaint was ever made
OF this draft, so that the Government is
really not responsible for allowing such
exposure.
4. The entrance was through n large
barn door at each end" As there was an
abundance Of room to pass out and in,
there could he no objection TO this except
from the esthetic standpoint
5. There were four tiers of hunks, the
lowest one loot from the ground. the
second three feet above that. and the third
three feet higher. As this is precisely the
hight from the floor and the space al
lowed in a Pullman palace car-for which
We pay 81 Il might've incline to think
this charge should be turned over to some
modern retormatory society.
o. NO straw for bedding" Come
''boys in blue,n speak up. Aren't YOU
ashamed to think OF hoy in gray'' be-
ing forced to spend night IN a bunk
without straw? Why didn't you share
your iuNurions bedding with this tender
youth? Let every one who luxuIiated on
straw, feathers or hair mattress at once
send note Of apology for such a lack OF
hospitality; l know one regiment, at
least, which would have been willing TO
give him all the straw il ever had.
Z. Each man was allowed but one
blanket" Cruel boys! why did YOU not
give him some of your spare blankets?
But possibly, like regiment / knew,
You had but one blanket each, which had
TO serve as bed and coverlet