The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-04-20
"reminiscences of prison Life.

The following "reminiscences Of prison life
we're written for the HERALD by Jas. f.
Stanton, late Of Co. d. i42. Pa. Vol, who,
together with the late Chss T. Hunter was
confined in Salisbury prison and Castle
Thunder" Mr.. Stanton kept diary and
the "reminiscences are taken from it.
Sergeant Chas T. Hunter (Co. c. Ii2 Reg
iment, Pa. VoIunfeers) and myself were
captured near Petersburg, Va, on Oct /,
1864, and from that time were in close COM
panionship.
At Richmond, Va, we were placed in box
cars like SO many cattle and shipped to
Salisbury, n. C, where we were told ito
make ourselves comfortable under a large
oak tree"
Pen cannot describe the suffering of the
prisoners, who were not half ted or clothed,
and without protection from the weather
and seeing their dead comrades handled like
so much rubbish.
We prepared to dig out in order to escape
and used an old well, making mine from
there to church, but were discovered one
day too soon, COet. p, ga, and our suffer-
ings were now beginning. On Nov 3, 1864,
Sergeant VIM. Templeton, of Pittsburgh,
died and thirty dead men we're hauled from
the prison.
Sergeant Hunter and cut rings out of
bones aud sold them to the Rebs" for 81 90
apiece, and on Dec. :, ca, we were getting SO
near starved thst we gave a dollar apiece for
an onion, and on this date thirty-seyen men
died.
As wew were drawing provisions for 100
men in our squad, TIE Rebs" supposed
something to be wrong as they were hauling
ont about 35 men every day. They decided
to count their prisoners. Sergeant Hunter
and myself went and got enough men from
other squads to make out our number and
we did the same in return. We now, dec.
%, 1861. gave up all hope Of getting out
alive.
From Dec. %, ca, to the end ofthe month
it rained and sleeted, and men were freezing
and dying at the rate of about forty-five per
day.
Our Christmas dinner consisted ofone Soz
loaf Of soft bread and about one OF two pints
OF water with little rice in it. Our bed
WAS few splints placed on the ground to
keep our hips of the ground. Our method
of drawing water was to tie stone to one
side Of an old tin can and a string to the can
and draw i. out of the wells
Dec. 25 a Catholic priest got permission
and took tgo-hundred Catholic prisoners
from the prison.
During this month, dec, ca, men suffered
dreadful as it was showing and sleeting der
ing the greater part of the time and they
had to remain in the open air without any
protection, except muslin tents, which some
of rs had. Many were the tears she'd on
this account.
We we're taken from prison on Feb. o,
'65. Chas. T. Hunter and made solemn
promise 10 send trinkets, etc, to friends of
the Others in case of anything happening Ell
ther Of US, also to befriend each other dur
ing life
He notified his wife to wire me in case of
death so that might be able TO attend his
funeral, which did on March p, 1892
He was buried by the C. A K. Post Of som
erse..
Ia his death ] lose my truest friend and
eomrade; his wife and family a true hus-
band and father; The stars and stripes 10y
al friend; the church pillar: but all mus
bow to the Supreme Ruler.