The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-12

ground arsdnd rtksir tents, and some had
quite niece 1ittls flower beds and bits Of
grass. Many Of the men kept themselves
employed in making rings and trinksts out
Of bones obtained at the cook-houss and
from soft coal, which they FURNISHED and
polished to high degree. Some inserted
in these articles engraved metal pieces
made Of small silver money pieces, such
as five, 10 and % cent pieces. Some of
these productions were quite artistic. OF
course, it took much time to produce these
articles, but Of that they had plenty to
spare. These specimens Of their handi-
work and industry the officers allowed to
be sold, uldern restrictions, at the main
gate to citiEens,5 visitors or the guards.
Many prisoners were employed in the
hospital and cook-house. They were d.
vided in sections or companies, under ons
of their own number as Sergeant, and he
was held responsible for his company.
Daily roll-calls and counts were under the
supervision of Federal officers. One of the
duties of the Officer Of the Day was to
! inspect the cook house and Quarters and
hear complaints. Many times we were de-
tailed to this position, but never had 4
complaint, as, in fact, the food was the
same as the guards had outside, and the
prisoners had the advantage of a regular
cook-house while the guards had only out
door cooking in their complexities.
- haS q DuSy ulNC. anu VI COhISe, Duu
some uneasy spirits who some dark nights
would scare and annoy the sentinel on
top OF the fence by throwing pebbles or
stones at him. This would always make
some excitement and investigation, but /
never knew of a culprit being caught.
Several times the entire division was
called out by the long roll during the
night by some false alarm about contem-
plated outbreaks Of the prisoners; but
one night in September we had an out
break for certain. 1t was n dark night,
and before the tunnel under the fence was
discovered II prisoners had escaped.
There was no more sleep for the troops
that night. Parties were sent in differ
ent directions, but we never got track
of any of the fugitives. 1t was said the
Confederate Government had agents in
the town all the time to succor the prison
ers. There may have been such, as there
was no restriction on travel or going or
coming of any person in the town; but
such agents would have been of no. use
except to keep alert the prison guards and
officers. Most of the prisoners were sat
isied with their boarding place, and often
expressed surprise at their good treat
ment. On their release some remained
in the town, and they or their descendants
are there now.
The prisoners that did escape this night
undoubtedly were cared for by sympathiz-
ers in the town, and by scattering and 60
ing to adjoining towns could easily take
the trains in any direction.
We continued at this camp until our
term of service expired, when we were re-
lieyed by the United States Reserve or
Invalid Corps, under Capt. DOugherty.
This narrative of the 1921 Reg't 1T FL
mira would be the story of all the 100
days men ut the same place. Proceeding
home to New York City. we were mus
tered out of the United States service to
date Nov. Is, 1864. Every boy and sur
vivOr was and is proud OF the fact that he
was permitted to be enrolled on the roster
Of the Union army to preserve the Nation
and help in his humble way to put down
the wicked and c4useless rebellion.