The National tribune., 1893-06-15
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON g. THURSDAY 1

After he had commenced to eat the candy
the boys would begin to bid for it. One
| would offer to-morrow's ration of bread.
No; he would not sell, but would continue
| to devour the candy. Some one would Offer
| three-quarters ration of to-morrow's bread
No; he would decline to sell as yet. Finally,
when the candy had been nearly all eaten
| he would sell the remainder for, say, hall
| ration next days bread. When the follow
ing days rations were issued the man that
bought the candy would be so much short OF
his regular allowance, and would generally
anticipate his rations for the next day, and
so on every day until the big interest he was
paying for the accommodation in bread
would swamp him, and he would have to
live on almost nothing to pay his indebted
ness.
Many were the ways of trying to get
enough stuff ahead to have nesquare meal.
l went into the soup business for few days.
l boiled half-pint of buggy beans in two
gallons of water, and went into the market
on Broadway" and sold dish of soup for
halt-ration of beans, bread, or tobacco.
1t required considerable strength of will
to run the business long, and not turn to and
DEvoUR THE CAPITAL.
/ stuck to it for two days. and, then, having
sold the most of the water off the beans, 1
brought what was left home, aud all in our
mess had quite satisfactory meal.
There was a suffers store in the camp
run by the rebs, but so far as the majority
OF the prisoners was concerned it might as
well not have been there, for they had no
money. In Confederate money bread cost
81; onions, SIS each; sweet potatoes, $40 per
bushel. 1 don't believe there was Confed-
crate money enough in camp TO buy five
pound bag Of salt.
Tobacco was as hard to get as anything
else; quarter of my rations went daily for
it, Although / never was accustomed to
chewing until after entering Andersonville,
am satisfied that but for its use 1 should
not have survived.
The site of Andersonville Containing 16
acres) was ON two side hills, brook or
branch running through the center. Along
the branch above the prison the rebel troops
were camped. All their refuse was thrown
into the brook and foated down through the
prison, and, as the stream was narrow and
for use. even to wash in.
Under these circumstances, the procuring
of water fit for cooking, etc., was almost an
impossibility, as The only way that it could be
got was by reaching far out under the dead
line. thereby inviting a shot from the guard
on top of the stockade, not 80 feet away.
There was, day or night, always such
crowd at this spot after water that it was
only by the utmost exertion, and after wait
ing your chance for hours, that any could be
had.
Such was the state Of affairs up to Aug.
0, 1854, when something took place that was
singular, and certainly providential. During
a heavy thunder storm, some of the timbers
of the stockade, alongside of the branch at
the upper side of the camp. were washed
erably. After the storm it was noticed that
a beautiful, clear stream of water flowed
from out the embapk ment. After the stock
ade was replaced this continued to run.
AS this spring was inside the dead-line, the
rebs kindly put a trough in such shape
that it conveyed the water within the reach |
Of the prisoners. Although the stream was
small it was continuous and cold
BY waiting in line all prisoners could be |
served in turn, with no risk of being shot, |
and no further quarrels and fights, as had |
previously been the case. That gushing
stream was named by common consent
Providence Spring." and has run continu-
'usly from that day to this. This is about the
'nly thing at Andersonyile that still re-
mains as it was then, and old prisoners can
low take their bearings from this spot and
ocate their former places of abode.
ITO be coa1inuedA