The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-25
ME- zs5 IVA
u llMZ!zl Inv
POINT
LOOKOUT
ReColleCtions Of Prison Lie
at That Place.
HUNGER AND CRUELTY
Such Was the Experience OF Conted-
crate Soldiers 1here--Some Anec'
dotes "reminiscences and
Poems.
HUNGER AND CRUELTY
written Tar The Times-Dispatch,

written for The Times-Dspatch)
For several years have tried to ina
dime to write up some incidents and hap
penings that fell to my lot as a prisoner
of war Now. by refreshing my memory
from diary. hopo to interest some OF
m. old comrades who shared my misfor-
tunes at Point Lookout in tho fateful
months of April May and June, 1865.
Some of the facts, at this late date
now past thirty-eight years-may appear
Incredible, but among the survivors OF the
tragedy of 1S6l-'65. and to those who en-
dured the mserios Of that pen of DEATH
there will be no ooupters,
Grant, with his hordes Of men. over
Tapped with his left Lees thin line OF
defense at Five Forks, in Dinwiddle, the
list day of April, 1865, and !, with the
most of that part of the line, was made
{: prisoner. In the confusion the officer
In command OF our forces allowed tho
heavy column Of the enemy to set conf
pletely in rear Of the position OF our
men, which we dismounted cavalry boys
were occupying.
IN a TIGHT PLACE.
Thus enveloped and shot at from, front
and rear there were only two ways to
escape--to go down into the earth or ~
heavenwards-ane nei'her OF these
routes was practical, we yielded to tho
inevitable.
] distinctly remember my lieutenants
breaking my carbnc down. | was about
10 discharge at a magnificently dressed
Yankee officer, only a few PAGES from
US. The most of our men had thrown
down their guns, and the bluecoats were
,irr dTo ,S M ! q
prisoner.
we poorly clad rebels. begrimed by Bit
ing off cartridges and in complete dis
array, We're hurried along parallel with
n heavy column of Yankees for some dis
tsnce and | heard more oaths IN this
short time than all during the war.
Our lines in a short time We're some
What restored, and the shot and shells
from our batteries came shr!eking over
prisoners and enemy alike. This gave us
the opportunity of seeing the discipline
pf the enemy under fire, and unhesitlting-
~ say that II the same brutal methods had
l,een attempted in d.sciplininS and fight
ing Southern men, many a man would
have died, and not from Yankee bullets.
Pretty soon our columns diverged, and
we were headed towards City Point.
After marching some miles baseless
report got to. tfis officer In charge OF the
prisoners that a division of flampton's
Cavalry had gotten IN the Federal rear.
Such hustling and running of us poor
fellows for seven miles | never saw tho
like Of After cruelty exhaustlng march
n long time into the night we We're hud-
died into a compact body, several pieces
OF nrtillery, shotted and bearing directly
or US, with guards doubled and placed
only few PAGES apart
POINT LOOKOUT.
on the bare earth, we spent the FIRST
the next day we reached City Point and
were placed upon a cattle transport like
herds. and got TO Point Lockout almost
dead and when the huge doors were
clos behind us. ! imagined that our
fate was realistic OF Dantes hero in the
internal abode, and that hope was left
behind.
After being searched and an old blue
oYercoat taken from me. | was placed
with several others In small bell
tent, and lay upon the bare earth. And so
VIC spent the first night In this den of
filth and death. The tongue of land be-
tween the Chesapeake Bay and the Po-
1omnc River seems by nature fitted
for q prison camp, Nature has made the
environment, suited for protection, and
there was little possibility of the escape
of any prisoner, There We're at that time
vast multitude Of prisoners confined
there, There were long lines OF tents, with
broad avenues between them and pail
sade running around the camp. Upon II
walked most OF tho time, the negrc
guards, The water was coperas and
splendidly suited 10 produce darrhUea
and scurYy,
IIARDsHIPS,
That batch OF men subssted on slops--
soup so-culed~ made OF coperas water, 4
few beans and a suspicion OF salt SER et
in pint lin cups from tables three ant
half feet tall, the men standing From
tin plate there was sor'cd what ~ai
called dcslcat5d meat. and one hard tacl
per man van little variation, this per
Torrance was repeated three times day
TO most Of the poor fellows the ratlun
were absolutely Inadequate TO satisfy mll
Eel, Even u the slun furnished had beci
Sufficient 70 appease hunger the villaluun
wafer would haze produced bowel truu
bles and scuryy, Thus tho hest govern
ment the world e'er saw WAS whipping
the rebels by not allowing exchange o
prlsoHers-doinS moro effective work b.
tbs torture than by bullets IN the field
Oh, II was pitiful to see these poor FOL
lows carted by the load each day 10 th
prison buryiHg ground thq dr~aFy day
repeating Themselves with eickening reg
uiarity. III etIeree passion Of our masters
Anergized by the tragic murder OF Nh
LlneolN Life was almcst uncomfortable
Ainlidst n all eleetcd my nature to q.
duFs ana tieht th!s last bsttle o! 10