Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-27
LIFE IN FEDERAL PRISON CAMP HAD
BRIGHT AS WELL AS DARK SIDE

piece of plank. in the shape of "r."
the crime for which ne was punished
was specified, AS: ~ am thier': az
am Il liar; dog eater" Captain Whit
on. the man who bossed the commits
sary department., had fat setter.
which two OF the prisoners killed and
ate. do not know the details.
CITIZENS OF ELMIRA
PAY TO SEE PRISONERS
citizen. whose land luy near the
palisade, proposed TO turn an honest
penny. For this purpose he erected IL
building, which overlooked the pals
AIDE thus affording to the citizens OF
liimira who had the curiosity. sight
OF the 'Rebs" at their diversions On
tn" occasion. now present to my mind.
the observers We're of bUth sexes, and
the boys seemed determined that they
should gt the worth OF their money.
They made an elephant. by STOPPING
behind each other. leap-frog fashion,
/ and placing blanket above they
stood OH each others shoulders in the
manner OF show men in a circus; they
sang rebel songs, and were employed
in other ways Of which ! shall not
speak. We never saw the. green
backs which our friends sent us. At
Point Lookout the authorities Issued
tickets OF perforated paper. like the
Sunday school tickets given us at
Leeds Church about 1915.
At Point Lookout we were allow ed
to buy sugar, lemons. etc. AT Elmira
we were allowed to buy only tobacco
and vegetables, apples and stationery.
The sutlcr was in position to max e
money. az he put his own prices OH
the articles sold TO the prisoners un-
less they We're regulated by the prison
authorities
F. The authorities commenced the ercc-
ton OF barracks In the early fall. The
prisoners did most of the work. being
paid = cents a day, and an extra meal
with coffee. AS ] was not mechanic
and had reasonable supply Of money.
] was among the unemployed. Our
ward. thirty-seven did not get into
barracks until after the middle of No
vember, as remember distinctly we
were in tents on election night. was
awakened some time during that mig nj
by the beating OF the long roll and
! the cry Of Fall in!" and heard the
rumble Of artillery as II moved towards
the city. ] dressed. hoping that the
"Copperhcads" were going to release
us. But II eventuated In nothing.
Houltz. Harris and myself procured n
bunk with "A window at one end, Just
opposite the large lamp and quite near
{ Two In a bunk was the complement.
hut we were members of the same
company. We hung together.
THREE IN ONE bunk
TOO MANY FOR COMFORT
Being the slenderest. | had to take
the middle. but that position was far
too warm when in bed. and the tran
s!tion To very cold weather outside far
too sudden to be healthful. and felt
! the effects before undergoing this state
Of things very long, and welcomed the
day that Houltz obtained the position
OF nurse in the hospital. not that |
was DESTROYS OF parting with him
per Sc. for he was my favoriie In the
! company, but on this occasion his room
was decidedly preferable To his COM
pany. II was very trying on the con-
/ stitution TO leap out OF warm bed.
dress In hurry ana go outside TO
! stand according 10 the caprice Of a
! Yankee captain. In the cold. Every
( tenth day they had what was called
a muster. and on such occasions We
were detained much longer. What was
/ the object OF this muster ! never could
1 find out. When ranks were broken
I there was II rush for the end door, and
being one OF the featherweights. /
was fain 10 seek the side door, arriving
at The stove after the charmed circle
had surrounded 1t. There was nothing
for II but To climb TO my bunk. pull
of my shoes. rub and stamp stamp
and rub, until circulation was restored
/ and crostbitc averted. There was no
! possible reason why the roll should not
! have been called within the barrack.
! But l anticipate little. When il
grew decidedly cold before the barra ck
which was 10 be the winter quarters
{ for ward thirty-seven, was finished the
{ authorities allowed us one stick OF
wood, about two feet long and not
( heavier than n lady could handle, and
not hickory. oak or ash. Nothing was
7 furnished with which to cut or split it.
We were forced To build our own chin
ney. and succeeded in building n pretty
good on" Harris cut a substitute for
I brick on the campus with butcher
( knife. and we others carried them To
I the tent. We succeeded in getting a
! fine place, where we could warm al
, least our feet, and sit with our
{ blankets around us until bedtime
! During the day, II the sun shonc, we
| could make ourselves comfortable cN-
ercising on the campus. Through the
| efforts Of Eugene Davis. a school for
! the prisoners was organized about this
! time. II was quite helpful to the IL
! literate, who would make use of this OPP
portunity TO learn at least to read There
was class in Latin. French, algebra,
geometry. natural philosophy, arithme-
| tic and English grammar. taught
| grammar. but was frequently called on
| to hear other classes.
! ROBERT. A. MARSHALL.
! Delplane, Va.