The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-06-22

SHOT AT THE CREEK BY THE GUARD.
tebs were running hospital outside of the
stockade for the benefit of sick prisoners,
just as though we were not all in need of
nursing and medical attendance. As / was
about as sick as could be and still retain hold
upon existence, concluded to give myself
the benefit of their thoughtfulness. So.
after standing in line for hours, and watch
Ing for a chance to interview the rebel Sur
geon at the gate, 1 finally got an oppor-
tunity, and was passed out with several
Others as dt subjects for the hospital.
The guards escorted US to the place digni-
fed by shat name, which consisted of a
dozen or more Sibley tents in the last stages
CT dilapidation. The one that l entered
and subsequently, found that they were
al alike-had nothing in it except 10 or II
prisoners just on the brink of dissolution.
No bedding Of any kind, not even straw !;
neither was there fire, or even place for
one; simply the bare ground to lie upon, and
the old ragged tent for a shelter.
r4AOec VI lBC DIiSOUcIc III lUc WHO Hdu
life enough were huddled up closely together
for the sake of the little warmth that was to
be had by the combination. The weather
was very cold, and in fact / have no doubt
that the Thermometer stood below freezing
most of the time.
Why the rebs called this hospital was
something that nobody could find out. 1t
was worse place, if possible, than the stock
ade. The only way that il resembled hos
pital was that the Surgeon came around
once every day. He did nothing, as he had
nothing to do with. He did recommend
some white-oak bark to be stepped and taken
for the diarrhea, but how we were to get the
bark he did not say. 1 know that the only
bark that we did get was that which We
CLAwED OFF
with our fngernails from the logs drawn
by onr tent on the road to the cookhouse.
This was the only fuel that we could pos
sibly obtain. With this small allowance
we built little fire in the center of the
tent, and while it lasted hovered over it.
Especial diet" was the order of the day,
which consisted of a half pint Of boiled rice,
without salt or seasoning of any kind, issued
at daylight, and biscuit made of wheat
-four, which weighed not more than two
ounces, that they gave us at o'clock in the
afternoon.
The Surgeon had spaniel dog that fol-
lowed him around, and on one of his visits
some of the boys enticed the dog into the
tent and made way with him. How they
managed to get wood enough 10 cook The
dog with did not inquire; anyway, those
that were In the ring the next day enioyed
stesmiug dish of soup. The loss of the
dog created quite a commotion, and terrible
things we're threatened, but they never
found who the guilty parties were, and il
finally blew over.
1t would be impossible to describe the
horrible condition that the occupants o
these tents were in. They were covered
with filth and oyerrun with vermin; tn,
majority were too sick to help themselves
in the least. No one could, or would, d,
anything for them; they died like dogs, ant
were hauled out by the rebs to the trenche
like so much carrion. I stayed at the hos
pita1 several days, and by request was sen
back to The stockade. was satisfied tha
with their special diet and general treat
meut, If neglected getting back to tn
prison soon / should not have strength
left to walk the few rods to the stockad
and rejoin my comrades.
Upon making my report, three others il
our mess that were bad off concluded tina
they would not try the hospital" stai
In the stoekade, and saved themselves tn
useless exertion of walking there. The
rode, however, within the month, on th
sead-wagon TO the cemetery.