Year: 1864

Arrived on the Island, We were hud-
died into an enclosure covering three
acres Of ground. among about 10000
prisoners Some Of US we're fortunate
enough 20 get under an old rotton tent,
while others had no shelter--aos even
bianket-to keep of the cold rain and
snow Our rations, daily for the krst
month were o. of meat and lib. of
bread made OF corn meal (cobs grosnd
with.ihe corn) without sitting aud with
ont salt The next month we drew the
above amount OF bread and one-half
spoonful Of beans, raw, and no fire to
cook them nor any vessel TO cook them
in tour largest vessel were quart cups
made Of old fruit cans) After that We
bad only bread, with once in long time
very little rice. Our wood ratious
were two small sticks Of pine cordwood
daily, for twenty men, and half the time
none at all Prisoners who were fortu-
nate enough to have money could pur-
chase provisions at very high rate,
and some would trade Of their scant
supply of clothing for bread. We saw
one old man sell his hat for . loaf not
larger than biscuit, and 20 barehead-
ed ell the winter afterwards We all
suffered very much with cold, and
great many were frozen TO death Nine
men were found frozen one morning
Many had their feet and hands badly
frozen, and can never recover the use Of
them.


Sergeant Whitbee, Of our regiment,
and who is now at the exchange barracks
in this city, had his feet so badly frost
bitten that he will be unable to do duty
during his term of service.


One day prisoner snatched blan-
ket belonging to the guard and ran out
of sight behind some tents; the
guard swore he would have revenge,
| Jumped upon the embankment surround
ing our camp aud discharged his gun at
1 the thiekest crowd OF prisoners, instant
/ ly killing two men and badly wounding
three others The officers Of the guard
/ laughed, put took no iurther notice, not
removing the soldier from his post


An old German belonging to some
Ner York regiment had lost his reason,
from want and exposurei we all knew
him--so did the guard One night he
| got up and went TO the guard line; when
challenged by the sentry he said he Was
going home The rebel said he would
give him home; and shot him dead
The camp quartermaster (Roe)had beat
him with club not long before for beg
ging bread


Our men sometimes bought provisions
from the guards. In all cases they were
required TO pay over the money IN sd-
vance. We have often seen their haver-
vance We have often seenstheir haver-
sacks returned filed with sand. One
day soldier sold his overcoat for twenty
three dollars in Confederate money, aud
received roll, which on examination,
proved to be vast paper covered with g
one dollar rebel note These little, mean
swindles were constantly going on anc
there was no remedy, for should priso-
ner report such cases to officers in


charge he was fortunate indeed to be buck
ed and gagged for his pains For sever


Ell days after about the middle Of Febrn
ary, squads of FIVE hundred prisoner.


were sent to Georgia every other day
Our men were so anxious TO get off any
) where, that they crowded the passing
ways on the days Of starting, endeavor
ing to be among the fortunate ones
One day a rebel Sergeant Hoyt Zone,
orderly to Gen. Pope, Of the Federa


army, caught the gun of 8 guard an,
knocked prisoner down with it, an


pinned him to the ground with the bayo


net, after running it through the bod
twice, remarking at the tins, thst h
IS had put him there for an example


Not long after We were put on the Il
land the space was to be enlarged an
/. prisoners we're detailed to level the en-


bankment A prisoner in charge {


the squad was ordered BY sentinel
3 sit on the embankment and see that Ia
WORK was well done.


When the Lieutenant went ava,


one OF the guards ordered the sergeaI


to get down and before an explanatio


could be made, shot aud killed him.