The National tribune., 1909-12-09
AT SALISBURY IN 1862.
Extracts From the Diary Of Comrade
Underwood.

Editor National Tribune: Recently
The National Tribune published a COM
munication from Thomas Fleming
Mendon. ILL.,, in which he controverted
the statements of Supt. Fonda, of the
National Cemetery at Salisbury, which
had been previously published in The
National Tribune. On Aug. Is last
Comrade Fleming sent me this matter
and also Supt. Fondas reply thereto.
Supt. Fonda makes this statement to
Comrade Fleming under date of Aug
2. 1909:
There is the least authenticated rec.
ord of this place of any of the impor-
tant places in the history of the civil
war"
1t is probably true that ct no point
where any number of prisoners were
held for any length of time where there
was any greater humanity shown or
more careful records kept than at Sails
bury during the first five months of the
year 1862. These records must have
been transmitted to headquarters, and
unless subsequently destroyed ought to
be available. / respectfully suggest TO
Supt- Fonda and to the authorities that
a vigorous search be made for these
records. in order that the memory of
the deceased comrades may be rescued
from oblivion, and, If possible. their last
resting places may be marked.
OF those who were confined in Sails
bury during the above-stated date there
are living here in Quincy 3. f. Under
wood and myself, while a few miles
away in the village of Mendon lives
Thomas Fleming, who came with me
from the old Parish Prison at New Or
leans, which place we left on Feb. 6.
1862, arriving at Salisbury probably the
18th to 10th. Comrade Fleming was a
member of the 18th Pa, think. while
| was then n member of Co. K, 27th
n. Y. Comrade Underwood at the time
was member of Co. II. 5th Mass. He
had been wounded at Balrs Bluff, and
captured Oct. %. 1861. After being re-
leased he was discharged for disability.
Recovering, he enlisted in Co. II, 5th
r. L., as a private on Dec. Is, 1852,
promoted to Corporal March 3, 1863,
and afterward was successfully promot-
ed Sergeant, Second Lieutenant, First
Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant. Was
mustered out July IS, 1865. Since then
he has been prominent as a speaker and
writer, is now and has been for 2 years
editorial writer of the Daily Journal, of
Quincy, H., very busy man. He was
desperately sick at Richmond for many
weeks. After a partial recovery he was
sent to Salisbury, N. c. From his note
book. commenced April 10. 1852, I am
permitted to quote. Under date of April
% he says:
AT present I am connected with the
hospital, serving as secretary. / came
here last February. and was here for
awhile a patient under medical treat
ment. On recovery in "a measure. 1 was
asked to remain and do the writing
here. consented, and have been here
ever since. We have the consolation of
taking care of our own sick. The pris-
oners have charge of about every con-
nection with the hospital"
On April "a, 1862, he wrote:
During January, 1862, there were
about 800 Federal prisoners here
Among them SO cases of sickness and
one death. OF 147 guards, 3S were
taken sick.
"In February there were 63 cases of
sickness among the> prisoners one
death; the number of guards, 500; cases
of sickness, 216.
In March there were 1,427 prison.
ers. PSI cases of sickness and II deaths
In March there were 800 guards and
255 cases of sickness. three deaths.
Several guards were taken sick in gar
rison, and went out on furlough and
died. No record is made of them.
=. During April, out of 1900 prisoners
1SS cases of sickness occurred; one
death
The same month, of s20 guards, PIG
cases We're treated; three deaths.
In May. of 1900 prisoners. some 200
cases of sickness; three deaths, two
from chronic diarrhea, one from cry
sipelas. On the way two more died,
one Efrom congestive chills, one from
dropsy. (E,vidently means ON the way
to our lines.-H. S. W. Poor Morrill,
can hardly refrain from tears when /
think of you, so anxious were you to be
among your relatives. Still, you died
under the flag of your country. How
hard, after months of Imprisonment and
sickness. to die at last without the joy
of seeing home"
Evidently the April and May record
could not have been made under date
of April "a, but as covering the same
subject was written later, leaving out
the date.
Now. Comrade Underwood could not
have gotten this data unless he had ac-
cess to the records. He tells me that
the names of the patients were all re-
corded, and it is but fair to presume
they were preserved. He further states
that the Confederate Surgeon took pride
in trying to preserve the health of the
men under his charge.
With the exception of Morrill,, above
mentioned. who evidently died on board
the steamer Guide, Underwood mentions
by name but one other. At sunset on
June S he said:
Il am now favored with a sight of
Atlantic iashed in fury. We are many
miles from land, rolling and cutting up
praults in a fearful manner. 1t seems
almost impossible that a steamer like
this would be able to keep right side up
in such a surface. One poor fellow,
Wheeler. I'd n. H., died to-day l had
him laid out and dressed in uniform
and on our arrival at New
York will probably be sent to his
friends. / think we will lose
no more at sea
"Midnight.-Our starboard hatchway
was stove in a few minutes since, There
is terrible sea on; considerable fear Is
expressed by some.''
Here. then, are the cases of 20 who
died at Salisbury from Feb. / to May
&C. 1852. This was the day that the
last of the prisoners who had been pa
rolled left Salisbury. The list was COM
posed of those whose surname began
with the last letters of the alphabet and
all those in hospital, about 20 in num-
Der. There We're left at Salisbury prob
ably 100 officers and a lot of political
prisoners. Among the officers we left
behind were Col. Corcoran, of the 69th
n. y, who came from Richmond on
May II. l had been confined in the
same prison with him at Richmond in
August. 1861.