The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-08

T0RISP and yellow with age. a copy
IL of The Daily Intelligencer, an
interesting and unique war paper
IlsoTl published during the years of the
49, civil war, after almost forty years,
has made its way north across Mason
and Dixons line into Indianapolis. The
paper is the property OF Mr.. ]. NJ
Jamson, manager of the Welsbach Lamp
Company. of this city. who is a native of
Tennessee and who came to indianapolis
about three months ago. Probably no other
copy of the old Confederate paper could now
be found in this part of the country and 1t Is
doubtful If there are many in existence.
The edition was given to Mr.. Jamison sew
eral years ago by a Confederate soldier,
who was attending reunion in Memphis.
Tenn. The old soldier had two copies OF
the paper, which he valued greatly for the
historical memories which they evoked
The Daily InteIligencer breathes the
atmosphere of slavery and war days in the
hearts of the Confederacy. Although II does
not compare with the newspapers of to-day,
it is intensely interesting in every depart
ment 1t was published by Jared /. Whita-
ker, with John II. Steele as editor. The
date Of the copy in the possession OF Mr..
Jamison is May IL. 1854. about the time when
the outcome of the war was still un-
certain The subscription rates, as adver-
tised were ''s5 for one month, SO for two
months, SIS for three months" in Confed-
crate money. while advertising space cost
s. per square.
QUEER OLD WAR NEWS.
The editorial part of the paper was de-
voted largely to war gossip many days
late, on account of the slow travel Of def
mite news. The telegraphic dispatches
were all dated three or four days previous,
while other pieces of news from vari-
Gus parts of the Confederacy were I'M
dated A characteristic dispatch follows:
Richmond May "a dispatch TO General
Lee. dated D. m Sunday, says. after re-
pulsing the enemy from Spottsylvania that
morning heavy attack was made on our
position, but was again handsomely driven
back. Nothing definite from Chesterfield
to-day except the enemy shelled our works
at Fort Drewry this forenoon. General
Stafford's funeral was preached this morn
ing; General Jenkins's this afternoon. The
members Of Congress attended in body.
Another interesting article in the paper is
the description of visit to Camp Ander-
son. in which a large number of Federal
prisoners were confined. THE lot in which
the prisoners are confined" said the writ
err contains about eighteen or twenty
acres. 1t is inclosed with a stockade twen-
ty feet high Sentry boxes are placed
above the stockade that the guards can
see what is going on in the prison and no
prisoner is allowed to approach within
twenty feet of the stockade. Nearly all
CT the prisoners have comfortable little
houses made out of pine tops. Some have
displayed a great deal of ingenuity in build
ing their houses. There is air of clean
illness around the whole camp. Notwith-
standing this, the mortality among the
prisoners is about eighteen a day. This
we consider not a very large average. con-
sidering the large number of prisoners in
the camp. Il is a much less number than
when they were at Richmond and that
could be expected under similar conditions.
They are not dying from neglect or want of
medical attention, but from exposure and
disease incident TO camp life Sufficient ra-
tions are issued. but the facilities for cook
ing are not altogether satisfactory. Yet
with the limited supply of cooking utensils
on hand they were able to prepare their
food for use. A stream Of water runs
through the center of the grounds, afford
ing an abundant supply for all purposes
but Judging from the appearance of the