The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-09-03

, finally decided that the officers
were all to be sent to Johnscn's
: Island. Only one ration was given
, US at the start, with a promise
that we would be furnished with
/ more in Baltimore, but when we
, got there, they found the excite
ment so great that the prisoners
We're marched through the city un-
der double guard in the middle of
the street, and as fast as possible, to
take train for Harrisburg, Pa. We
were again told that we would be
provided with rat;ons at this point;
bat the excitement ran high there,
so nothing was furnished US. The
public openly declared that hanging
was too good for the Rebel "S-B's"
This feeling was manifested at each
and every station from Washington
City to Johnson's Island, except Bal
tirore; where we found much sym.
pathy shown. Rations were once
more promised us at Pittsburg, Pa,
but when we arrived there only the
guards were provided for, the pris-
oners got nothing. At Mansfield
Ohio, / found some boys selling
maple sugar and as prisoners we're
not allowed on the platform of tie
cars nor allowed to raise z window.
requested one Of the guards to buy
me some of the sugar; but told him
| had only Confederate money to pay
for it with. How much do you
wish?" he asked l told him FIVE
dollars worth, which took all the boy
had. | was rather slow in giving
him the pay. as wished to hand him
the money just as the train was
starting off, for | knew the boy
would make howl when he saw the
kind OF money he was to get for his
pay. He did yell for a fact. He
called for ne to give him back his
sugar, and said he did not want that
"Oid Blue Money" but this was all
had, and all he got.
The sugar was fine, and it came in
good time to be appreciated. We
had been on the road from Washing
ton three days, and not ration had
been issued by the Government.
The distance to Johnson's Island was
about 1000 miles. The number of
prisoners yTas about LOO We
were in prison from April until June,
1865. Johnson's Island is situated
in Lake Erie. 1t was at this point
that the officers wire in prison. The
stockade enclosing the prisoners had
a wall around it twelve feet high.
There were four block houses, one
in each corner with a small cannon
on each side to guard against revolt.
In this enclosure there Weie 10 build
irgs to accommodate about 2, 500 Of
ficers. About 1872 men to each build
ing. The buildings were pretty well
packed. The allowance of rations
was about one fourth of that of the
regulation allowance per day, except
vinegar. which was given us in full
quaint y to sharpen our appetites.
Wharf rats infested this prison in
such large numbers, that the prison.
ers would catch them and use them
for food. After soaking them in
salt few hours, they were fine and
palatable. Barbecued rats become
very popular, and were often given
as delicacy for the sick. One rat
being all allowance, when more than
one was called for, the sick was de-
clared convalescent, and was put on
diet of bread coosh for few days
This dish was known only to the pris-
oners Of Johnson's Island, and differ
ed from Washington pie in one re-
spect orly-Washington pie was bak-
ed while coosh was not.
The most improved way of cooking
a rat, was to fasten his tail to q small
wire suspended over the fire, giving
him whirl, then applying the bast-
ing, which was a mixture of salt.
pepper, vinegar, and melted tallow.
This we would mop over the rat to
prevent its burning while cooking.
Rat pie was at first a very popular
dish with the men, until some of
them ate to much and were made
sick. This almost broke up the eat
ing Of rat pie. Some who had been
too ravenous were never able to en-
| Joy the rat after this. At one time
we were eating SO many that we were
frightened, lest the race would be-
come exterminated, and so we had
to abolish the diet and stop the sale
of rats. At this time / invented a
trap and thought l would soon be
able to corner the market on rats;
but my invention proved a failure
and / never succeeded in catching a
single one. They would go in the
! tran all right and eat the halt btlt