The Lamar register., 1893-03-04
Lie In Rebel Prisons.

nAI. ~. ". oOOudo W6S &Io0t0u
with large audience at the Chris
tian church on last Friday evening
to listen to his lecture ou "Life in
Rebel Prisons" Rev. w. L Taylor
presided and after song by the Gao.
tus club, introduced the speaker.
Mr.. Goodale opened his address
by remarking that at the time he was
taken prisoner he was private sol
dier nineteen years Of age in Co. q.
Bird Iowa Infantry, that the regiment
from the time of its baptism under
fire at Pea Ridge, had been engaged
in all the prominent battles of the
west, and had become 80 decimated
by the fatalities of war that in July
1854, when before Atlanta under
Sherman, they numbered only about
200 strong. On the 22nd day Of July,
1854, when the confederate general
Hood made his terrible onslaught on
the union troops, the Bird Iowa was
in the thickest' of the fight, and was
literally wiped out of existence as a
regimental organization, and after
that day the few that were left were
attached to the End Iowa Infantry.
So that while the speaker went into
prison a member of Co. G Bird Iowa
Infantry, when he came out he found
himself member of Co. 7 End Iowa
Infantry. Fifty-two Of Bird Iowa In
fantry were taken prisoners at the
battle Of Atlanta, among whom was
the speaker. They were turned into
Andersonville prison about July 81,
like SO many sheep, and the sensa-
tions were indescribable as they were
surrounded by the poor, ematiated
and diseased throng who were snx-
ious to hear from home and friends.
At this time there were $4,000 in
Andersonville confined on an area OF
less than "a acres, and as an illustra
ton of the crowded condition Of the
prison the speaker stated, that a
computation would show that it was
less than 4 square yards to each pris-
oner. The mortality was terrible,
over 1900 died during the month OF
August, and in one week 1905, the
average mortality being 100 per day,
making during the month of August
a death rate of one in every eleven
This was owing to the overcrowded
condition of the prison, the lack of
shelter and the condition of the food
and water allowed them. They were
supplied with water by a small stream
that ran through the prison, and
above the prison on the stream the
confederate guards were camped and
the cook house were stationed. All
the offal, filth and refuse of the
guards as well as the cook houses
were thrown into the stream and car
ried down through the prison,
and was often too filthy to describe;
and it was from this source that the
prisoners had to obtain their water
for drinking and other purposes.
During the latter part Of August
there came up terrible rain storm
one afternoon accompanied by an
electric storm, the rain fell in tor
rents sweeping all the filth Of the
prison down into the stream, which
became a mighty torrent and finally
tore down = part Of the stockade
The Tightening and thunder were
terrific, purifying the atmosphere,
and in the morning to the amazsment,
surprise and reyerential wonder of
the prisoners, it was discovered that
Just above one OF the gates OF the
prison, between the dead line and
the stockade a spring OF pure, sweet
water had broken out, sufficient 10
supply the needs Of the prison; to
the religions element this was a mi