The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-07-30
TIE TRUTH OF HISTORY.
EXPERIENCE OF A CAROLINA SOL
DER IN A YANKEE PRISON.


ates Remember this.
The Rev. j. B. Traywick, a member
of the South Carolina Conference OF
the Southern Methodist Church writes
rs follows to the Prosperity Press and
Reporter:
AS the question as to the comparative
treatment of prisoners in Northern and
Southern prisons is up, and as you
have requested me. l will give below
some incidents Of my experience at
Point Lookout, Md. 1t will certainly
show that all the sinners were not in
charge of Southern prisons. There is
one fact | wish to note, and that is the
men at the front, as a rule, were kind
and thoughtful Of our comfort and on
the other hand, men who had stayed
all the while away from the front were,
as rule, without much sympathy.
CAPTURED.
was captured at Fishers Gap, near
Strasburg. on September -, 1864. AT
Ferry and Baltimore, | was carried by
steamer to Point Lookout. Md, arriving
there on October 3, 1864.
IN PRISON.
On entering the prison we were Ci-
vested Of everything except personal
wear and blankets. Not long after our
arrival an inspection was held, and in
every case where prisoners had more
than one blanket, unless concealed,
they were all taken exceat one to each
man, and then those who did not have
any were supplied with Blankets that
had been taken from their fellow pris.
oners. BarefoOted prisoners were sup
plled with shoes, and a Scant quantity
OF clothing was given to the most deS-
titute.
LEAKING TENTS AND MULE BEEF.
The tents were mostly bell or round
shaped. They had been refused for
use IN the Federal army and generally
leaked The ratiOns rs to quality were,
as a rule, good. Pork two out of three
days, the third day beef but occasion
ally the ribs of beef were round, which
showed that it was mule lcef Hun
CRY prisoners ate it all the same. The
bread was served in pound loavcs daily,
one loaf to be divided between two
prlSonerS--it was short weight. a pint
cup OF soup went with each loaf OF
bread. Two days ratlons were issued
on Saturday, and SO small was the
quantity that men frequently ate all
given at one time.
i hC ihIloil lOl uuJ WIS ABOUT SUN
clent for Il well man one meal. 1t was
said by the prison authorities to be one
hall ration, allowing three meals per
day. would consider 1t one third
ration day. The pork was very fat
anu always boiled. The prisoners never
got the lard that came out Of the pork,
ana 1t was mmonly reported that the
provost marshal and other officers there
reallZcd vast amount from the sale of
thlS grease to soap makers and lard re-
liners. The water used by the prison.
ers was mineral, giving the SharpeSt of
appctlteS with SO little to eat. Our
suffering from hunger was indescriba-
bic.
HUNGRY PRISONERS PRAY FOR SICK
NESS.
l. nave heard men pray to be made
SICK that the appetite might be taken
away. The prisoners being SO poorly
clad and the Point so much exposed to
cold 1t caused them great suffering.
Every intensely cold night from four to
seven prisoners would freeze to death
Almost no wood was furnished. About
Il cora OF green pine to one thousand
men for five dayS-it was a mockery.
CRUEL AND IIARTLESS OFFICER.
The post was commanded by General
Barnes. His nephew, Capt. Barnes,
was assistant provost marshal. These
were kind and cOnsiderate officers. but
me former never was brought in con-
tact with the prisoners. They were
under the immediate charge of the pro-
vost marshal, Major Brady, of New
1oIk state. lie was sherwd man of
powerful administrative abilities, but
"lthal cruel, heartleSS man. His
whole conduct toward the prisoners
impressed me that he enjoyed two
thlngs immensely. First. the suffering
and humiliation of the prisoners;
secondly, the fact that he was their des-
pot.
The prison was enclosed by a strong
stockade of heavy plank fourteen feet
nigh. -Four feet from the top on the
outside was Il parapet extending all
around. on this the guards walked by
commanded by white officers. The
night police inside the prison were ne
groes, but their barbarity was so great
that through the earnest entreaties of
tne prisoners they were removed some
time III January, 1865. | rccollect one
SICK man who had not been carried to
the hospital. His complaint caused him
TO leave his tent about 3 o'clock a. m.
Whlle out he was set on by large ne
gro guard who double Quickcd him, in
his night clothes and weak condition,
w anu uo"u Ille SUTeeJ between the
tents for an hour. When the brute Or
dered the sick man back to his tent he
made fifteen other prisoners come out
IN their night clothes and run up and
down like herd Of cattle.
HARBAIOUS TREATMENT or PRISON
ERS.
The greatest cruelty perpetrated |
While L was III prison was on thirty in |
mates or one of the cook houses. At |
The side OF the prison, next to the gate,
was located number of long cook and
Satlng houses where all the cooking ex-
cepC baking was done. There was only
a street or roadway between these
houses and the stockade where the
guards walked continually. Between
Two OF those houses, little nearer one
than the other, one of the n egro guards
1ell from the parapet and was found
dead. a confusion was on his head
and piece of brick near him. This
discovery took place about sunset No
one saw him when he FELL No one saw
who NIT him. The following night after