The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-13
IN PRISON AT
POINT LOOKOUT
Slim Rations-Smart Dealings of Confederate.
Butler and Stanton
Visitors
Y isitors.
DY &. w. JONES,
of 9InFtiuky'flle.
tFrIvate Company II. Twenty fourth
Virginia CayalrvJ

e 'Hdiieh tlty courthouse, Va, q
portion of General shsridans cavalry
and our command engaged in a nercs
combat. witch resulted in the falling
back lowing to their superior number)
OF the Confederate cavalry md tho
capture OF tho larger portion CT the
troops was among the captured, and
made prisoner.
After the smoke OF the battle had
lifted ond preliminary arrangements
made for forced march, the troops
were formed In lire and the command
moved off In the direction of VIII
lip!nsburg. The horses captured In the
light we're used IN mounting two pris-
oners on one horse. md the marching
\ In haste 10 reach the Yankee lines.
In my company. which had been cap
tured, was an old Confederate Urish)
named Mckinney. who had an ex-
oelient hne animal. and which had
been appropriated 10 the use OF n
major in command. came rushing hy
at fun speed. very much 10 the dis
comfort OF" Mac. who. with great big
tears In his eyes. said 10 me: Well
George. me boy. there goes Billy"
After going into camp at the Burnt
ordinary. tho next morning we took lip
our line OF march for WILLIAMSBURG
and we prisoners were corralled in
old Fort Magruder, and from there
went TO Yorktown. from there TO Fort
Norfolk. and from Norfolk TO Point
Lookout This place is on a point OF
land where the Potomac River empties
into the Chesapeake Bay, where II
seems that nature formed II especially
FOR prison camp After day and
niGht-phssage in the hull OF an old
transport from Norfolk we landed
While was but q lad. and unused to
ihe hardshins OF the army and other
Nioissitudes. stood the trip better
than older and bigger Confederates
Our entrance Into prison made
weird impression on my youthful mind
The first obsolete scene presented %
my vision was q pile OF cofins Tor
dead rebels
The next diretul sign was prison
Camp. IN large circle over the
prison gate. The next embarrassing
exneriAnce was the hoys from Get,ys-
burg night. This being altogether new
10 me-, II brought about n very Sc
rious question rs TO my future vel.
fare: SO put my wits to work 10
ferret out my existence. as there
would be no moro exchanging OF nris-
oners OF war under the old cartel, so I
had TO reconcile myself to the fat.
of living or dying In prison until the
cruel war was over
The prison was laid off Into streets.
w." 81 pal uPcN Wall fourteen 1eet nigh,
and a walk near the top for the
guards, and there were about 1s.oOo
OF us "Lohnn'es" who had TO acutflo
fer ourselves, and those who could NOT
scu!fe had TO cave IN. 7. was amusing
TO see the ingenuity OF the prisoners
Every conceivable trick was resortod
to To mako buckle and tongue meet. RI
was root pig, or die" and what was
the then general term with the prls-
oners. was possumeyed time
The various occupations the schem
Ing. the trickine, the hustling for grus.
the thanking and pointing 10 the goal
Tor bareback and pickle pork trading
for rations were the issues, which re-
CURED no oratory nor preaching.
but chioanery and trickery. My strong
forte was molasses taffy and corn
mush, with black strap syru,. When
ever could collect enough of the ma
terial together would fry flap.
Jacks SO thin you could read through
them. and dilute the molasses so Z,
would run, on board. My price for
paletable dish was five hardtacks
and a chew Of tobacco. BY pushing my
trade would soon collect enough
hardtack and tobacco To last me a
week with careful economy. On one
interesting Instance an old soldier
from Tennessee came Struggling along
whole suit. probably Gettysburg
relic.
Reinforced with "graybacks." he
sp!ed my tempting outlay. His raven
Gus appetite allured him to my stand.
He invested his last cracker and che =.
of tobacco, and settled himself down
for delightful repast and l shall
never forget his disa prominent when
he had finished. We'll" says he. Il
was an overseer before the war in
Tennessee. have patrolled It, 1 have
log rolled, horse snapped. volunteered
In tho war. was in the battle of Gettvs-
burg. been through all the war up TO
prison; been hungry. cold and done
many things, but YOU have put the
confoundest swindle on me that |
have ever experienced in all my days
from boyhood to tho present time, and
hope the good Lord may have mercy
on you from now until this war Is
over"
Through the kindness OF the com
mandant Of the prison, Major Brady,
IAN excellent, brave and good soldier.
and Captain Barnes. hero and all
round. kind. benevolent comrade al
lowed the prisoners the liberty Of
Congregating on the shore of tho
Chesapeake outside of the prison camp
for recreation and exercise between
the hours of . md 2. The conglom-
Grated mass OF lousy. ragged and
hungry rebels was n sight to behold.
especially in the winter days. when
they could bask In the sun. Every
type of humanity was exhibited in all
the different phases of prisoners
life In this assemblaL- a variety OF
proceedings We're carried on-the
pious praying, the wicked hghtlng. the
tradesman tricking and the thieves
stealing: all kinds of gaming from
trick ards. keno lotto. dice and dumb
bellsS$J was an adept in making Glasses
tatfy," that was done by boiling mo-