The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-11-05
WAR STORIES.
a Story Of Prison Life.
Atlanta Journal.

prison life, from the time Of my cap
ture, at the fall Of Fort Gregg, on
April 2, 1865, until reached home
on the night Of July 3 following.
Though write from memory, it is a
memory kept green by oft rehearsals
to old soldiers as we would sometimes
meet and discuss or relate the stirring
incidents Of the war
Some events, as l will tell them
may seem incredible, when contrastcd
with the boastcd civilization and
Christian spirit Of the American pco-
pie. But what I will write is literally
true, except some minor points per
haps that would be immatcrial. Some
OF the incidents are indeed close calls
and blood curdling, and this, too,
after hostilitics had ceased, and Cen
erals Lee and Joinsto had capitu-
lated. But this dark cloud of bru-
tality and barbaric dcpravity aud sa-
tanic meanncss Of one man in authori-
ty over US has silver lining in the
considerate and ofttimes gentle treat.
ment accorded us by our captors. I
shrink from reporting the cruel treat
ment meted out to US as prisoners by
one inhuman wretch, while it is real
pleasure to chronicle the gentle and
considerate treatment by many Of our
captors, and / will add, that We did
not expect to be fed upon sugar
p'ums, or rccline upon downy beds.
After these predatory remarks will
begin my story. Immediately after
being taken prisoners we were march
cd under guard, across to the enemy's
lines: at the terminus of General
Grant railroad from City Point, just
in the rear Of his lines around Peters
burg. Here we saw the unlimited re-
sources Of our enemy, in thousands of
troops, with arms stacked, held in re-
serve, while we were pressed with
odds of at least four to one; also great
piles of meat, barrels Of -four, sacks of
corn, bales of hay, etc., that looked
like mountains to famished Confed-
crate. I saw the futility of further
resistance on our :part.
At sundown We were marched, with
complete line of soldiers epcircling
US, to City Point, on the James river.
Early next morning, April 3, we en-
barked upon an ocean steamer and
landed at Point Lookout, north of the
mouth of the Potomac river, and
lodged in prison. Here we found
twenty thousand prisoners, quartered
IN small tents upon fifteen acres Of
land, and only four wells to water this
vast host, the water was practically
exhausted by O'Clock p. m. of each
day, and at nightfall have seen 500
prisoners around ea.h well, pitiful
mass serambling for water. This
lasted until 8 O'Clock, when tattoo was
beaten, when the thirsty crowds must
disperse or be fred upon by the negro
guards sometimes On duty.
The Yankees explained that the
prison was overruu by the great influx
OF prisoners from Petersburg. Our
fare consisted of q piece of goldfish
about the size Of three fingers and
slice of loaf bread one inch thick for
each meal; except Thursday for din
ner we got bean soup in tin cup,
with hardly an eye of grease and con-
tanning about one half dozen beans,
which could be distinctly seen in tho
bottom Of the cup. This was luxury
here.
will have to pass 80 much detail to
compass the limits of newspaper ar
tiole.
The prison at Pt. Lookout resem-
bled miniature world. commercially,
containing many Confederate suffers,
who bought from Yankee sutler,
just outside the prison walls, through
window about one foot square, and
resold to other prisoners, who got
money by making all manner Of trink-
cts, such as finger rings, watch chains,
etc., and selling for fabulous prices to
excursion parties of ladies' aud gentle
men from Washington, d. c., Balti-
more, etc., who were eager to buy as
trophies anything made by rebel
prisoner.
Indeed there was a Confederate
prisoner, taken at the first battle of
Manassas, who was still in prison
when [ got there, and who had sold
his name for exchange three times for
twenty-five hundred dollars total.
Che parties purchasing going out of
prison upon his name and he remain
inc in priaon un1or kba;r noco oool