Life and death in rebel prisons: giving a complete history of the inhuman and barbarous treatment of our brave soldiers by rebel authorities, inflicting terrible suffering and frightful mortality, principally at Andersonville, Ga., and Florence, S. C., describing plans of escape, arrival of prisoners, with numerous and varied incidents and anecdotes of prison life

Front matter

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CHAPTER 1. Page. Situation of Plymouth, ----- 21

The Garrison ; Forts and Naval Fleet, - - - 22

Sabbath Attack of the 17 th of April, 24

First appearance of Cavalry Pickets in Town, - - 25

The Federal Forces holding the Town ; Attack upon Fort Gray, 26

Wives of Loyal North Carolinians sent to Roanoke Island, 27

Wounding of Captain Burke, - - - - - 28

Effect of National Airs at the Breastworks, - - 29

Sinking the Southfield, ----- 30

The Rebels charge upon Plymouth Redoubts, 32 Gen. Hoke demands surrender ; the Federal Officer refuses, and

the capture of his men is the result, - - 33 March to Secessia ; Camping-ground at Night, - - 35 Treatment of the 35th N. C. Regiment, as Guards, - 36 Arrival at Williamstown, N. C. The Soldiers send letters North, 37 Entrance into the yard of a man who had taken the oath of allegiance to Uncle Sam, ----- 38 Reflections the first Sabbath after the capture, - - 30 The ranks searched for Rebel Deserters, - - - 40 Yankee Trades to satisfy hunger, - - - - 41 Prisoners sent to Goldsboro, N. C, - - - - 43 The remainder sent from Tarboro, - - - 46 Miserable Fare at Wilmington, - - - - 48 Immense Fire kindled by a Soldier, - 49

CHAPTER II. The First of May in Charleston, - - 50

Reception of the "Plymouth Pilgrims," - - - 51

The Georgia Central Railroad ; Arrival at Macon, - - 53 The Regiment reach Andersonville ; manner in which they were

classed and divided, ----- 55

Fearful spectacle on entering the Prison, - - - [56

Rations; efforts to procure shelter ; Death's exchange, - 59

Warnings of the old Prisoners concerning the "Dead Line, 1 ' Gl Gen. Cobb's Visit of Inspection ; Plan of Escape ; Elood-hound3

put upon their track, ----- 64

Narrow escape from Death, .... 65

The Lawless Gang, called " Mosby's Raiders," in Prison, - 67

The Lifeless Eudies of Ten Men lying at the Gate, - 69 A Sick Man's Path in the Prison Stream, - - .70

Demonstration at a Sham Fight, - - - 71

Treatment oi' Prisoners by Rebels and Federals contrasted, - 73

The eruel suspicious forced upon men, - - - 75

True spirit of the Union Soldiers, - - - - 76

Dopes excited by the Promise of Exchange, - - 77 Account of the Battle between Grant and Lee, by the "Macon

Telegraph," - - - - - 79 A Rebel Officer calling for a Sergeant who could write his name, 80

The Thirteen in a Hospital Tent, - - - - 81

Rebel Forces sent to Dalton to oppose Sherman, ... 83

Arrival of Prisoners ; slight attention to comfort, - 85

CHAPTER III. The Rebels discover a Tunnel ; threats in consequence, - 87

A Secret Organization to devise new Plans of Escape, - 88

A Picnic among the "Johnnies," - - - 90

New Prisoners robbed by the Prison Marauders, - - 91

Richmond History, called "The Second Year of the War," 92

The Messenger Rainbow, ----- 93

Sabbath in Rebel Prison, ----- 94

A Cripple shot for going inside the "Dead Line," - 95

Death again in the Tent of the Thirteen ; a Prayer Meeting, 96 Punishment for Violation of Orders, Captured Men from Resaca, - - - -

Enlargement of the Prison Limits, - - -

The Stockade undermined, ----- 103

Disclosure of the Plot to Capt. Wirtz, - - - 104

Notice of Captain posted upon the Prison Gate, - - 105 The Men from Grant's Army robbed of Coats, Blankets, and

Haversacks, - - - - - -106

Energy of Character necessary for the Prisoner, - - 107

Rebel Effort and Yankee Ingenuity, - - - - 109 loo 102

Manner of Distributing the Rations, - - - 110

Camp Raiders and False Promises, -

The "Old Dutchman," -

Entrance of some of the lsi Mass. Regiment into Prison,

The "Modus Operandi" of Tunneling, -

A severe Rain Storm, -

Jeff. Davis asking for an Armistice,

Visit to the Woods, -

Agitation of the Rebel Element, -

Camp Surroundings, - -

The caving of a Tunnel after being sunk ninety feet,

Hints concerning Retaliation, -

Measures to Retain Activity of Mind, -

Question raised by suffering from Cold and Exposure,

CHAPTER IV. Prisoners from Butler's and Grant's Army, with the Dog "Trip," 139

A Yankee Traitor, 140

Confidential Talk with a Union Man, ... 141

A Man buried alive ; two Men wounded ; Gen. Sturgis, - 143

Gold News from New York ; Corporal B , - - 144

Reward for Shooting a Soldier, .... 146

How the Remedies for the Sick were obtained, - - 147 July 7th, the promised Day of Exchange, - - - 149 Prisoners who had been Robbed, sent to Gen. Winder for settlement, ...... 15"

Going for Wood ; Story of the Lost Knife, - - 1 '■■

An exciting Robbery ; one Man Killed, - - - 155

The Rebel Quartermaster and Limber Jim, - .156

Completion of the Addition to the Stockade, ,- - 157

Night efforts of the Prisoners to obtain Fuel, - 158

A School for Patience, - - - - - 159

Discouragement leading to Insanity, - - - 162

Prison Celebration of July 4th, - - - - 163

Visit of the Catholic Priest, - - - - 163

Meeting by the Brook-side, - - - - 165

Death of J. Hoskins, - - - - - - 166

Suffering for the want of Good Watei, - - - 168

Sentence of Death by Hanging ; Escape of one of the Victims ;

His Re-capture, - - - - - 171

Chapter V

Building a Mud Stove ; Capt. Wirtz declaring a new Outbreak

disclosed, ...... 17T

Sudden Marshaling of the Rebel Forces, - - - 178

Preaching by Elder Shephard, - - - 180

Last Hours of D , of the 16th Regiment, - - 181

A Petition of the Prisoners, urging the President and Governors of States to procure release for them, - - 182 Within and Without, . - - - - - 183 Men caught while at work in a Tunnel, - - - 185 Bartering a Gold Pen for Food, - - - - 187 A Vote upon the "Petition" called for, - - - 188 Early's Cavalry Prisoners, - - • - -189

White Flags, 190

Attempt to entice Prisoners to make Shoes for the Confederate

Government, - - - - - 191

Conversation with one of the Rebel Guard, - - 192

Peculiarities of Southern Dialect, - - - - 193

Views of a Kentucky Surgeon upon Slavery, - - 194

Service of a Confederate Chaplain, - - - 195

Thunder Storms, - - - - - - 1 96

Victim of Insanity in the Prison Stream; Various Forms of

Derangement, - - - - - - 197

A Living Man devoured by Maggots, - - - 198

Lines on a Blank Leaf of a Bible, - - - - 199

Sentiments of a " Secesh " Young Lady as written to her Lover, 200

The Rebel Flag, 201

Lieut. Strains and his Party, - - - - 203

Organization of the Regimental Church, - - - 204

Corporal Flower, of Hartford, Ct, - - - 206

A Prisoner accidentally shot, - - - - - 208

A Terrific Rain Storm, ... - - 209

Risking Life to obtain Wood, - - - - 210

Chapter VI

Confidence in the Government, - - - - 215 Human Nature as manifest in the Confederacy ; Taunts of a certain Officer of the Day, - - - - 218 Intensity of Home Longings, - - - - 220 Jimmy B , of Company A, - - - 221

CONTENTS.

Photographic Artists from Macon,

The appearance of Scurvy, -

Joy at news of the arrival of Northern Letters,

Effect of Peace Sensation Stories, -

Sickness of Capt. Wirtz ; Character of his Successor,

Visit of a Confederate Captain, -

Personal attack of Scurvy, ...

New Regime instituted by Lieut. Davis,

Eebel Boastings of Prison Representatives,

Queries upon conditions of Exchange,

Return of the Prison Commandant,

Kind Act of Gen. Winder, ...

Demise of Orderly Sergeant L , of Co. C,

Desire of the Prisoner to die at Home,

The Day of Deliverance hailed with Joy,

The dying Message of Evans, ...

Loyal North Carolinians, -

"Flanking out;" Orders to be ready for moving, -

Sorrowful Thoughts induced by leaving,

CHAPTER VII. Wide felt Interest in the Hospital

Its situation at Andersonville, ...

Reluctance of the Men to enter so wretched a place,

The miserable condition of the Sick,

A Sacrifice seemingly useless, -

Loyal Men treated like Convicts, -

Character of Physicians,

The Sick-call, .....

A Prisoner Shot while warming himself,

Cruel manifestation of selfishness, -

Rations for the Sick, ....

Living Skeletons — variety of disease,

Fearful working of Gangrene,

The Sick Men tormented with Vermin,

Rebel Testimony respecting Hospital Treatment,

Tenacity of Life, .....

Incident in the life of D. S. Birdsell, -

The Dead-House, ......

Marking and Numbering the Dead ; Manner of carrying out, - -

Place of Burial, ...... 0*79

Want and Woe leaving Devotion to the Union Cause unimpaired, - - - - - - - 231

CHAPTER VIII. Departure from Prison, ..... 283

Delight at beholding the Green Earth again, - - 284 The Soldiers' Reception at Augusta ; Kindness of Mrs. O'Don-

Interview with a Rebel Soldier, - - - - 287

Entrance into Charleston ; the Men told it was but a hurried

The Race Course appropriated as Camp Ground, - - 290

Disappointment of the Men ; A New Organization, - - 292

Xo escape from the " Dead Line," - 29-4

Call of a Rebel Officer for Volunteers to do Service for them, - 295

Sisters of Charity, ...... 296

My admission into the Hospital, - - - - 29 9

The reasonings of Faith to inspire Courage, - - 300

Act that savored of Inhumanity to the Men, - - - 302

A Scene in the Room for Amputation^ ... 304

The Rebel Sutler and Ids Prices, .... 306

A Rebel Soldier's Disobedience of Orders, - - 307

Anecdote of the Young Surgeon, .... 308

Shelling of the City by Union Soldiers, - - - 311

Appearance of the Yellow Fever; Humorous Incident, - 312

Journey to Florence; Story of the Man who feigned Death, - 314

The Darkie Woman and her Bread, - - - 315

CHAPTER IX. Night Entrance into Florence ; Emotions at sight of the Stockade, 316

Oath of Allegiance to the Confederacy, - - - 319

Admission to the Florence Hospital through Dr. Strother, - 320

Detailed as Hospital Steward ; Signing Parole of Honor, - 322

Sentiments of Assistant Surgeon, Junius O'Brien, - - 323

Supplies from the Sanitary Commission, ... 323

Insufficiency of Medicines, ..... 324

Dr. Garrett and the Plantation Burials, ... 325

The Doctor who was an Original Signer of the Secession Act, 326

Exchange of Cotton for Potatoes, - - - - 327

Excitement at the Presidential Election — Ballots and Beans, £29

Barbarous Punishment at Florence for attempting to Escape, 331

O'Brien's Instructions to the Prisoners, - 335

Amusing Trade of a " Johnnie," - - - - 336

Employment of Slaves, .... - 337

Religious Element of the Negro, .... 338

Character of their Songs ; Rev. Mr. Gardner, of the 135th Ohio

Regiment, a Victim of Death, - 339

Sad Reduction of Rations at the Hospital, - - 340

Cruelty of Lieut. Barrett, - - - - - 3-11

Thanksgiving Day as a Prisoner, - - - - 342

Signing the Parole, -._-.- 343

A Stolen Interview of two Rebels. ... 344

Introduction to Savannah ; A Wealthy Cotton Factor ; The Pie

Saying of Dr. Orme to Steward Reed, of the 12th N. Y. Regiment, as he was leaving, .... 343

What was felt at Sight of the Old Flag, - - - 350

Receiving and Clothing Ship, ----- 351

The Feeding Ship Crescent, ... - 352

Manifestations of Joy by the Released Prisoners, - • 353

Meeting with a Naval Vessel, ... - 355

Weighing Anchor at Annapolis, . - - 356