The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-08-19

prisoner, II never before, L realized
the truth Of the saying attributed to
Sherman that "war is hell"
DO not remember clearly how long
we were "corralled" in that old field.
think we stayed there all the next
day and the next night, ard then we
were formed in line TO be marched to
City Point where we were to take
boats to Point Lookout. I say march
ed. but it would be more accurate to
say driven" There was no neccs.
sity for haste so far as we could see.
Things were nearing the end, and Lee
being in retreat from Petersburg,
there was no danger of attack, and yet
We were forced to move rapidly and if
anyone Jagged he was prodded with
the bayonet. My heel was sore and I
was limping, and yet huge brute in
blue pricked me with the bayonet
until the blood cume, simply because
l did not move along fast enough to
suit him. On our way to City Point
we passed at least ffty regiments of
Grants reserves who had never.
been in action. I understood that,
they were going to occupy Petersburg
in place OF their force that was follow.
ing Lee. They were iu high glee and
as they passed along would shout,
How arc you, Petersburg2' thus ex.
pressing their joy over the evacuation n
of city that had withstood nine
months siege by an army that out
numbered its defenders ten to one.
TIE YANKEES VAST ARMIES.
AS this vast host Of fresh troops
passed by I realized I had never seen
before the immensity Of the odds
against us inthe struggle we had been
waging. But let met me get on With.
my story. T. do not remember how
long it took us to march to City Point.
but | remember wildly that before
getting there we had to pass through
great encampment Of negroes or
"Contrabands, as they were termed
in Federal military parlauce. All Of
these, big and little. male and female,
lined the side of the road applying to
us allthe foulest ard viisst ep:skats
that mar, ever heard .s Even our
guards we're disgusted, and some Of
them, I am glad to, say, were liberal
users ofthe bayonet in pushing back.
this noisy and nasty horde Of semi
barbarians. At City Point after some
necessary delay we embarked on q
troop steamer for. Point Lookout,
Transportation must have been aoardR
for our boat was uncomfortablyrroW Wds,
ed; so much 50 that as we huddled
together on the decks we were in the
way Of tha;yrew who made no acruples
about cursing us and even kicking us
when they stumbled against ,us. One,
fellow nearly broke one Of my5ribs by
o blow from his booted foot. IS
/ At last We arrived at our destina-
tion and were disembarked aud taken.
into the prison. This was an immense id,
encampment on the point surrounded
by high stockade fence, the river Oh
one side and the Chesapeake bay BAY 81 on !,
the other. Inside of the stookade fluss Ne
were taken to q ahleared of space and
'thefe our descriptive list was taken
by number oflosderlies. Then We, s
were tolled of in companies and car.
iried TO where we were TO put up our
tents. This done our prison life
began. & !; n ~! 81 jajs.s
gs THE PRISON CAMP. ssss { ii
The prison camp was divided into
sections called divisions and mum. tllli.
tbered from one upward. Each diyi.s
sion was in charge OF a Federal SER
geant and corporal and each company
in Q division was in charge Of the
ranking Confederate !; . shat corapany.I
( was placed in charge cf the company
'toswbich I had been assigned and was
,told$it would be my duty to call tho
roll morning aud evening report the
sick, snperintend Sthe polioiag Of the
camp, march 1 them back aud forth
from the mess hall, etc. aud for this
duty ! received one extra ration. MY
duties commenced the next mo ming
afserour arrival at che camp, and T
am glad to say thas Unjust have per-.
formed them satisfaotprily, as there
was no complaint mad na ne..e of
my men were evsr PUT Sd BY the
prison authorities -man III bore were,
Our rAtions were q CUP es Pea soup, i, a.
hunk Of bread and s. piece 81 mess
pork. Nc variation in diss morning,
noon or night except that occasioinlailys
a piece OF beef was substituted for 4 has