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

method; we quickly placed handouts on
them and bayonst in the rear of them,
and notwithstanding the jesrs OF few
women we delivered them in this way to
the Provost Marshal, who complimented
US on our good work in getting through
with such a large party and small loss,
as this dishonest business was rampant
at the time, and every complement of re-
cruits had more or less losses on the way
to the front.
ELNIRA PRISON.
! After remaining at Barracks No. l d
short time we were detailed with other
regiments of the National Guard to do
duty at the rebel prison, which was sit
uated at the opposite side of the town.
| This prison was the camp formerly known
as Barracks No. 3. 1t was located on the
south side of West Water street, COM
mencing at Hoffman street. In area it
was about 40 acres; it was 1000 feet long
on Water street and 500 feet back to the
Chemung River. 1t was inclosed by a
12-foot board fence with platform about
nine feet above the ground on the out
side, with sentry-boxes at suitable dis
tances. On this board walk the guards
would have TO pace day and night. They
had to call the hours during the night, and
also exchange challenges with the guard
inside the fence.
When we went there, inside the inclos-
ure were mostly tents, laid out in COM
pany streets. Wooden barracks were
erected later, during the Fall and early
Winter.
The first consignment of rebel prison
ers arrived at this camp July, 1S64-649
in number.
During the month of July, 1864, 4,42i
arrived; during Au-Ust 5195 arrived and
from Sept. 1, 1864, to May u, 1865, 2, sos
We're added, making u total of II, 122 pris-
oGers in all received.
The total number of deaths to July l.,
1865, were 2,917: in hospital, July /, 1865.
21S; escaped, II; released June, 1860,
$50; total, 1922.
1t is astonishing that there should have
been so many deaths in such a short pc
Rod, as the prisoners had the best of med
ical attendance and proper food. Hope
lesSness, change of climate and nostalgia
must have had something to do with the
mortality, as well as typhoid fever, dys-
EMERY, diarrhea and kindey troubles.
A few men of the National Guard out
side the fence died also by disease and
accidents, but only a very few. We had
one member of our company who had a
weak leg from gun-shot wound at Fred
In catching ride on a freight
train passing through the town he fell
under the wheels and both legs were
ground off, and he died next day at the
military hospital.
Over 1900 of these dead prisoners now
lie in the beautiful WoodIawn Cemetery
of the city, and on Memorial Day their
graves are not overlooked T.
The consolidated reports of this time
are as follows:
Department of the East.
Maj.-Gen. John A. Dix.
Military District of Western New York.
Brevet Brighten. Alex s. Diven, EImira. |
Col. Benjamin f. Tracy.
2Sth n. G. n. Y, Col. David A. Bo-
kee; 54th n. G. n. Y, Col. Chas. II. |
Clark; seth N. G. n. Y, Col. John Q. |
Adams; 18Th N. G.. n. Y, Col Reuben
2. Wisner; nth N G.. n. Y, Col Thomas |
Lynch; 9Sth \. G. n. Y. Col. George |
Abbott; 99th y. G. n. Y, Col John |
DMahony; 1921 n. G. n. Y. Col. John
\. Wilsey; LIST Battalion, Batteries y and |
b, of the J0th Reg't. \. g. \. Y.
The other New York 10O-dayS regiments
we're the 69th. Col. James Bagley. at Fort !
and Firt Richmond, New York |
HarbOr; the S4th, Col. Fred A COnkling, |
at Washington, ID. c.. district of Alex
lndria; SD, Col. W. r. w. Chambers, at
Baltimore.
The 99th had been a Fenian organiza-
ion before it was a National Guard Tegi-
nent. Its Colonel, John O'Mahony, was
.iiS 4 itSitSih VA INT 1tioh AetpAb-
ic.
In the Official War Records we find
he following dispatch:
Buffalo, II. Y, Sept. %, 1864.
Hon. E. NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War:
There are two regiments of New York
militia at Elmira which can be ordered
% the front if needed. They have about
10 days to serve. Gen. Diyen, il instruct
ID, viii send them at once. They are I'M
where they are, but might be
If use before Petersburg.
JOHN A. DIX,
Major General.
Our daily and nightly duty was guard
ng the prison, furnishing guards for re
fruits to the front, and all other guards
needed, daily drills, even dress parade,
Ind occasionally brigade and division drill
md parade. Discipline inside the inclOs-
Ire was very strict. For a prisoner to
,rowd against or touch an officer or guard
made him liable to arrest. Ten or twelve
thousand men inside of this Enclosure
200 by 500 feet, made a very animated
cene and quite babel at times.
INSIDE THE sToCKADE.
While the men were under canvas many
,usied themselves by identifying the