The National tribune. [volume], September 02, 1882, Image 1

About The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
"TO CARE FOR HIM WHO HAS BORNE THE BATTLE, AND FOR HIS WIDOW AND ORPHANS."
ESTABLISHED 1877.-Whom: No. 55. WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1882.
NEW SERIES. V01" II, N- 3.
BUMSIDE'S EXPEDITION.
CAPTURE AND OCCUPATION OF ROAN
OKE ISLAND.
Concentration or tho Coast Division and
Fleet of Vessels at Annapolis, aid.
Rendezvous at Fortress Monroe Peril
ous Voyage to Ilntleras Inlet A Fort
night of Terrific Gales Capture of Roan
oke Island, New Rerac, and Reaufort,
After Some Hard Fighting.
From tho personal narrative of Mnjor-Gcncml
Burnside, rend before tho Rhode Island Soldiers
and Sailors' Historical Society.
The Soldiers and Sailors' Historical So
ciety of Ehode Island publish in neat
pamphlet form the papers relating to events
in the war of the rebellion read before the
society. These are personal narratives or
events described by eye-witnesses, and are
published by N. Bangs Williams & Co., of
Providence.
As Little Rhody distributed her regiments
through the various armies, it fell to the lot
of Ehode Island soldiers to participate in
many of the most important campaigns of
the civil war. Ono of the earliest and most
important in which they were engaged is
that described in No. 6, second series of tho
"Personal Narratives."
General Burnside was appointed brigadier
general on the Gth of August, 1861, and on
the 23d of the following October orders were
issued for the organization of troops at An
napolis, to be known as a coast division,
whence they were to embark in a fleet of
vessels for operations on the coast of North
Carolina. After many vexatious delays, a
snfiicient number of light-draught vessels
were collected in New York harbor, whence
they were ordered to rendezvous at Annapo
lis, and on the 4th of January, '62, orders 1
were promulgated for embarkation.
C03I3IAXDEBS SELECTED.
General Burnside selected as commanders
of the three brigades into which his com
mand was divided three of his "West Point
riiMsmnfos and trntftd frionds. Generals G.
' j
Foster, J. L. Reno, and X G. Parke. The
"""SfKnation of the expedition woa Hattoras
Inlet, wksjre' operations would be extended
to the inlanchtfaters of North Carolina.
The troops commenced embarking on
the 5th of January, and on the morning of
the Sth the last -regiment, the Sixth New
Hampshire, marched down to the wharf
from the Academy grounds and aboard the
transport awaiting it.
The scene in the harbor was inspiring.
Bands were playing, steam whistles scream
ing, soldiers cheering, flags waving, and on
the following morning the fleet of eighty
vessels dropped down the bay with orders
to rendezvous at Fortress Monroe where
they all arrived on the night of the 10th.
SECRET ORDERS.
General Burnside alone of all the officers
knew the destination of the fleet. Sealed
orders were given to the commander of each
vessel to be opened at sea. Great anxiety
was expressed at "Washington to know the
destination of the expedition, and such was
the unseaworthiness of many vessels of
the fleet that disaster was predicted by
nautical men. But tho secret was jealously
guarded. A statesman high in authority
approached President Lincoln and almost
demanded to know whither the fleet was
bound. After exacting a promise of secrecy
the President informed him that the expe
dition was "going to sea." The fleet sailed
on the night of the 11th. General Burn
side, moved by the criticisms that had been
freely indulged in upon the unseaworthi
ness -of the vessels, left his quarters on
board the large steamer George Pcabody
and took passage on the propeller Picket,
one of the smallest vessels of the fleet
INTREPIDITY OF 3JURNSIDE,
The headquarters flag was saluted with a
cheer by the men, who highly appreciated
this practical evidence of the faith of their
commander in the adaptability of the vessels
to the work assigned them. Their weak
ness was well known to the intrepid Gen
eral, but they were the best that could be
procured, and although he could not foresee
the storm by which they were overtaken,
his orders to proceed were imperative, and
it was necessary that the service should be
performed even if some of the vessels went
to the bottom. A voyage of two nights and
a dy through a terrible storm, in which
the smaller vessels were tossed about, the
playthings of tho mighty waves which con
stantly threatened to engulf them, brought
the advance vessels of the fleet to Uattcras
Inlet, where they were met by a tugboat
Bent out to pilot them over the bar. The
ricket led the way, and bravely fought the
waves until Bhe was safely anchored inside
the harbor. Vessel after vessel followed in
her wake, and during the day most of the
fleet were safely riding at anchor inside
.the bar. The propeller City of Kcw York,
laden with army supplies, grounded out
side the liar and proved a total loss. Her
officers and crew clung to the rigging until
next day, when they were rescued by
surf-boats sent to their assistance. Such
of the vessels as wero of too ieavy draught
to pass over the bar anchored under the
cape. The only lives lost during the voyage
were Colonel Allen and Sergeant Miller, of
the Ninth New Jersey, who visited General
Burnside from one of the vessels anchored
outside. On their return the boat was
swamped and they were drowned. The ship
Pocahontas, with 100 horses on board, and
the gunboat Zouave were both sunk after
reaching the inlet, but no lives were lost.
A TERRIFIC GALE.
From the 14th until the 26th a terriGc
gale of wind prevailed. Many vessels
dragged their anchors and grounded on the
swash and bar. Collisions were of daily
occurrence, causing great damage to ' the
fleet, and at times a general disaster ap
peared imminent. The coal and water ves
sels, being unable to cross the bar, put to sea
for safety, scarcity of water prevailed, and
signals of distress floated from many of tho
transports. General Burnside says in his
naiTative :
"On one of these dreary days I for a
time gave up all hope, and walked to the
bow of the vessel that I might bo alone.
Soon after, a small, black cloud appeared in
the angry gray skjr, just above tho horizon,
and very soon spread so as to cover tho en
tire cauopy ; and in a few moments after, a
most copious tail of rain came to our relief.
Signals were given to spread sails to catch
the water, and in a short time an abund
ance was secured for the entire fleet. I
was at once cheered up, but very much
ashamed of the distrust which I had allowed
to get the master of me."
DEEPENING THE CIIAXNEL.
The General's account of the method of
deepening the channel from the inlet into
Pamlico Sound is quite interesting. He
says:
" Wo had been led to believe that there
were eight feet of water upon the swash,
but when we arrived we discovered to our
sorrow that there were but six feet; and as
most of our vessels, as well a3 tho vessels of
the naval fleet which we found at Hatteras
Inlet on our arrival, drew more water than
that, it was necessary to deepen the channel
by some process. The current was very
swift upon the swash, which circumstance
proved to be much in our favor. Largo ves
sels were used in going ahead, under full
steam, on the bar when the tide was run
ning out, and then anchors were carried out
by boats in advance, so as to hold the ves
sels in position. The swift current would
wash the sand from under them and allow
them to float, after which they were driven
further on by steam and anchored again,
when the sand would again wash out from
under them, and so on tho process was con
tinued for days, until a broad channel of
over eight feet was made, deep enough to
allow the passage of the fleet into the sound.
" On the 26th one of our largest steamers
got safely over the swash and anchored in
tho sound, whore some of tho gunboats had
preceded them. By the 4th of February
the entire fleet had anchored and had passed
into the sound, and orders were given for
the advance on Roanoke Island. Detailed
instructions were given for tho landing of
the troops and the mode of attack.
THE START.
"At an early hour on the morning of the
Sth the start was made. The naval vessels,
under Commodore Goldsborough, were in
advance and on the flanks. Tho sailing
vessels containing troop3 were taken in tow
by steamers. There were in all sixty-five
vessels. The fleet presented a most impos
ing appearance as they started up tho sound.
The day was most beautiful, and tho sail
was enjoyed beyond measure by the sol
diers, who had been so long penned up in
the desolate inlet At sundown signal was
given to come to anchor within ten miles
of Roanoke Island. At eight o'clock the
next morning the signal to weigh anchor
was given, but our progress was very much
retarded by a gale that sprung up, so we
anchored, but very little in advance of our
position of the night before. During that
night all lights were carefully concealed.
The naval vessels were well out in advance
to protect the transports from the inroads of
the rebel gunboats.
the attack:.
" On the morning of tho 7th tho gunboats
passed inside the narrow passage known as
Roanoke Inlet; and were soon abreast of the
lower part of Roanoko Island. Soon after
the naval fleet had passed through, the
transport fleet began its passage. The rebel
gunboats were seen close inshore under tho
batteries of the island. At half-past ten
o'clock a signal gun was tired from one of
the forts announcing our approach. At half
past eleven, one of the naval vessels opened
lire, which was replied to by the rebels.
Signals were given by the commodore of
the fleet to begin the action, and by noon
the firing became rapid, and soon after the
engagement became general. The rebels
had driven a line of piles across the main
channel to obstruct the progress of our ves
sels, leaving a narrow space for them to re
treat through, and as our naval vessels
pressed them they availed themselves of this
means of safety. Our guns soon got the
range of their batteries, and by mOst extra
ordinary skill and rapidity of firing, almost
silenced them. I ordered a reconnoissanco
just before noon, by a small boat,-with a
view of ascertaining a point of landing. A
young negro, who had escaped from the is
land on our arrival at Hatteras Inlet, had
given me most valuable information as to
the nature of the shore of the island, from
which I had determined that our point of
landing would Imj at Ashby's Harbor, which
was nearly midway up the shore. Tho re
connoitering party was accompanied by this
young negro, and all that he had told us
proved to be correct, so that I directed the
landing to be made there.
"At ono o'clock the quarters of the garri
son in one of tho forts were fired by one of
our shells. Tho rebel gunboats retired up
the sound, but still continued a brisk fire as
they were followed by our vessels. Or
ders were given for the troops to land at
three o'clock. Tho ground in the rear of
Ashby's Harbor was cleared by shells from
the naval vessels, and our large surf-boats
were lowered, rapidly filled with troops and
towed up in long lines by light-draught ves
sels until they came near to tho shore of the
harbor, when each of the surf-boats was cut
loose and steered for the shore. There was
no obstruction to their lauding. In less than
an hour four thousand troops were ashore,
and before midnight the entire force was
landed, with tho exception of one regiment,
which was landed on the morning of the
8th.
CAPTURE OF ROANOKE ISLAND.
On tho morning of tho Sth of Febrnary
the advance was ordered. Gen. Foster in
advanco in the centre, Parke on tho right,
and Reno on tho left.
In their front lay a marsh, across which a
causeway had been built, at tho end of which,
a mile and a half from Ashby's Harbor, a fort
stood flanked by marshes on either side. Fos
ter pressed on in front, Reno and Parke led
their men waist deep in mud around the left
and right through almost impenetrable thick
ets, and the work was covered by a simulta
neous assault, when tho entire garrison sur
rendered. Tho naval fleet pursued the rebel
gunboats, nearly all of which, however, were
destroyed by their crews to prevent capture.
The capture and occupation of Roanoko
Island by tho Union troops marked an era
.of great importance in the war. It was tho
beginning of offensive movements in tho
East, and, combined with Mill Springs, Fort
Henry, Fort Donelson, and tho occupation of
Nashville in theWest, convinced the confeder
ates that rebellion against national authority
was no childs' play.
Gen. Burnside thus describes tho capture
of New Berne and Beaufort:
"Tho troops enjoyed their rest at Roanoke
Island, but were not allowed to remain idle
long. On tho 26th ofFebruary, orders were
given to make arrangements to embark for
New Berne, and within four days they were
all on board.
THE ATTACK ON NEW BERNE.
" On tho 12th of March, tho entire com
mand was anchored off the mouth of Slo
cum'8 Creek, and about fourteen miles from
New Berne. Tho approach to the city had
been obstructed by piles and sunken vessels.
About four miles from New Berne a largo
fort on tho shore had been built, with a
heavy armament, and a line of earthworks
extended from the fort inland, a distance of
some two miles, where it ended in almost
impassable ground.
"On the night of the 12th, orders wore
given for landing, and on the morning of tho
13th the troops were put ashore, in very
much the same way that they were at Roau-
okc. By ono o'clock the debarkation, wasJ
finished, and tho troops were put in hue of
mareh. About this timo tho rain began to
fall, and tho road became almost impassable.
No ammunition could be carried except what
the men could carry themselves. No artil
lery could be taken except the small howitz
ers, which were hauled by tho troops with
drag ropes. This was ono of the most dis
agreeable and difficult marches that I wit
nessed during tho war. We came in contact
with the enemy's pickets just before dark,
when it was decided to delay the attack
until morning. A most dreary bivouac fol
lowed that night. Early the next morning,
notwithstanding the fog, tho disposition for
tho attack was made. General Foster was
ordered to engage the enemy on the right,
General Reno to pass around on the extreme
left, and General Parke to occupy the centre.
We were much nearer to tho enemy than we
expected, and wero soon in contact with
them. General Foster rapidly closed with
them, and met with severe resistance. He
asked for reinforcements, but was told that
every man had been ordered into action, and
that there were no reserves. The contest
was sharp but brief. Tho Fourth Rhode
Island broke the enemy's line near where it
crossed the railroad, after which the enemy
wavered, and a general advanco of our whole
lino placed us in possession of the works.
The enemy fled to New Berne, burning the
bridge behind them. Our troops rapidly
pursued, but tho fact that they had to cross
the river in boats, prevented them from cap
turing tho main body of the enemy. As it
was, large numbers of prisoners and arma
ment fell into our hands.
" In the meantime tho naval vessels had
worked their way up to tho city, and aided
in tho transportation of the troops across,
and New Berne was ocaupied on the after
noon of the 14th.
REDUCING FORT MAPON.
"It still remained for us to reduce Fort
Macon. To this work General Parke's bri
gade was ordered. The country between
New Berne and Beaufort was immediately
occupied, and a passage by hand-car was
made between tho two places, all tho roll
ing stock having been run off the road. By
the morning of the 11th of April, regular
siege operations had been begun by General
Parke, and were pressed rapidly forward,
and by tho 26th of April tho garrison at
Beaufort had been forced to surrender.
" Thus another victory was to be inscribed
upon our banner. The Rhode Island troops
bore tho most honorable part in this conflict
After that, several small expeditions were
sent into the interior of the country, all of
which wero successful.
"Much to my sorrow, on the 3d of the fol
lowing July, I was ordered to go to the Pe
ninsula to consult with Gen. McClellan, and
after that my duties as comiiianding officer in
North Carolina ended, but a largo proportion
of the troops of the expedition served under
me during tho remainder of the war, as
members of the gallant Ninth Corps.
" Tho Burnside expedition has passed into
history; its record we can be proud of. No
body of troops ever had more difficulties to
overcome in the same space of timo. Its
perils wero both by land and water. -Defeat
never befell it No gun was lost by it. Its
experience was a succession of honorable
victories.
It is a mystery what supports "the gaze-at-the-girls-young-man,"
who. can always bo
found on tho street corners. Jloston Glohc.
As a rule it is the solid brick wall of the
block. New Jlaven Ileguster,
A SCRAP OF HISTORY.
General KHpat rick's Dosncratc Encounter uitli a
f Rebel 3Lijor.
George H. Chase, of Portage, who was a
member of the Harris Light Cavalry, a New
Yorksegiment, equipped by ex-Senator Har
ris, and who was, in 1862, one of Gen. Rnfus
lving' orderlies, was in the city a short time
sincei
8
"01? course Kilpatrick was popular with
hisrcunont?"
"M&stofthc time, yes."
"When wasn't he popular?"
"W'aeu his needless recklessness put us
into,, positions where wo got cut to pieces
without any good coming from it. At Orange
Court House our brigade Kilpatrick was 'a
general? then was run into a place where
General J. E. B. Stuart's rebel division sur
round'id it Littlo Kil came around to our
regiment and told us we wero in a tight
placeimt,wo must cut our way out at all
hazards. We did cut our way out, but at the
expense of ono hundred and forty men in
less than, half an hour. Such business as
that was not calculated to make us love
him ; hut the first thing we knew he would
do suea gallant thing that wo would all be
in love with him again."
"Whit's that story about Kilpatrick's cut
ting down a rebel major?"
"-Wajl, he slashed him, that's certain. It
was , at that Brandy Station cavalry fight.
It wa.' one of the sharpest cavalry fights we
had int'fche Army of the Potomac. I never
saw Kilpatrick go at them with such fierce
ness. ,rn"oue of the rebel regiments there
was iVIajor Brown, who was at West Point
when iSlpatrick was there. They were bit
ter enemies, and had had several knock
downs.whilo at tho academy. At that Brandy
btatiotffight Kilpatrick caught sight of
Browned with drawn sabre made for him.
BrownBaw him coming, drew his revolver
and shirty at him, but missed, and then, draw
ing hisjlftrcrd, moved to meet his old adver
sary. &theyj,mct, tho business commenced.
Both meh fought like very tigers at bay.
Brown -gave Kilpatrick a slight cut on the
arm, buVin3tead of disheartening him it
seemeio!have made him more tigerish, and
he pua3ju,t which made Brown reel, and
then snfe. him a slashing cut which killed
him. 7K3upiitnck rode back to his
his brigade
and sIyaidft VThnt rights a wron
hav "nfted to meet him ever since the war
T .
TOOK TrlE GENERAL'S ADVICE.
A member of Company , One Hundred
and Fortieth Pennsylvania, furnishes tho
following and vouches for its truth :
While this regiment was encamped near
Fal month, Virginia, it suffered much from
want of sufficient quantity to say nothing
of qnaiity of rations. A member of tho
company, Jim Blake, while on guard in
front of General Hancock's quarters was ac
costed one morning by the General, hatless,
coatles.-?, and bootless, who asked him his
regiment and in regard to rations, and if they
had enough to eat. The answer wa3, "No."
" Have you half enough." " Yes, about that
much.' "Then," says the General, "I
wouldn't, give a damn for a regiment that
couldn't steal the other half."
In tiie course of an hour or two tho Gen
eral's breakfast, all nice and hot, was set for
him under a fly of tho tent, but whilo the
cook was looking elsewhere Blake seized
and emptied the plate of biscuit into his
haversack and resumed his march on the
beat.
Soon the General came and sat down to
the table, but immediately commenced
abusing the cook for havuig no bread on the
table.
Cook declared ho had placed biscuit upon
the table. Tho General arose, marched out,
saw thft swollen appearance of Blake's haver
sack, from which tho steam was issuing, and
then walked over to tho guard headquar
ters and ordered Blake to bo relieved from
all duty for three days.
It is needless to say that Blake took up
his liuf' of march for his own quarters, where
the General's biscuit proved a great treat to
himself and his half-ied comrades.
THE PAYMENT OF PENSIONS.
An old soldier residing at Spottswood, N.
J., eoDixibutes the following interesting ar
ticle to tho New Brunswick Frcdonian:
Some people appear, to have an idea that
as tiny are the owners of a little property
they are heavily taxed for the huge expense
the Government is under for granting and
pai'ing pensions to tho soldiers of the late
war, or their widows and mothers. Not only
do they ignore tho immense obligations tho
country owes these persons, but they be
grudge them the paltry sum of perhaps
twenty-five cents a year, which tho late pen
sion act may cause them to pay but it is
doubtful if these croakers and grumblers
pay one cent of tax for that purpose, for tho
reason that our internal-revenue taxes and
our tremendous custom-house receipts, with
other resources, more than pay our pension
bills, iuterest on tho public debt, largo por
tions of the debt itself, and other numerous
Government expenses, and still we have a
surplus of fifty millions in tho Treasury at
the end of tho year this was tho surplus
last year, according to the report of tho Sec
retary of tho Treasury, and no one, we hope,
doubts his figures. This fiscal year our re
resources will increase far beyond our ex
penses ; and suppose it is tho reverse, what
do these small property -holders grumble
about? when they are paying even $1.00 a
year or less towards rewarding those who
suffered that the country might live and
that Oieso croakers might have a prosperous
and happy land to live in? You must ex
cuse the above effusion, but we cannot help
it, when wo hear men who aro intelligent
and should know better, talk in this man
nerif they cannot afford to pay the small
mite they may bo called upon lor, lot them
abstain from the use of tobacco, and other j
luxuries, and devote the amount they so ex
pend towards a suffering class of people, to
whom they owe so much. It is very doubt
ful whether a man could purchase his
whiskey and tobacco any cheaper, if the tax,
or a part of it, was removed from the same,
for there must always bea"2W 2ir0 2"-"
Tho last quotation was penned before we
saw the miserable pun, so you must excuse
it T. H. L.
A WAR REMINISCENCE.
A Noted Ffcht ttIiicIi Ias leen Enlirclj Overlooked
by Literary Soldiers An Historical! Link.
George A. Ellsworth, General Morgan's
telegraph operator, has contributed several
interesting chapters to the newspaper library,
which, though they can claim no place in
literature or even gain recognition as thrill
ing narrative, are full of interest for small
boys and replete with memory food for the
daring soldier who participated in tho ex
ploits described. Although Mr. Ellsworth
writes with that precision which makes as
sertions as though a well-kept diary were in
the back ground, yet his description of
Morgan's capture of Boone, at Gallatin, is
incomplete if not inaccurate. It is true that
Morgan entered the town quietly, having
evaded the pickets, proceeded to the hotel,
captured Col. Boone, and then took posses
sion ot tne lair grounds ana Uoone's regi
ment which was quartered there. But no
where does Mr. Ellsworth describe a fight,
of decided warmth, which occurred shortly
after the surrender of the troop3. Perhaps
it is well for us to fill in this missing link of
history. When the sun arose that memo
rable morning and exchanged glances with
the dew-jeweled lawns surrounding the
town, there seemed to be a glorified beauty
of existenco which every dny did notpossess.
The restless drum had not rolled its morn
ing call, when away up the "pike" a dust
arose. Women and children gathered in the
streets aud "whispered with white lips."
The dust rose higher, and amid its clouds
sunlight leaped in and greened the gleaming
sabre. In a moment more B oone was a pris
oner, and the streets, just arousing from tho
quiet of a summer night, rang with iron
hoot. The town cow came cown the street
a rude piece of architecture compared with
tho warrior's horse, but a vhiiT from the
weeds which she had bcencheswing all night
in preference to sweet grasses would make
tiitr war horse bow in submission. The boys-j
of the town were delighted. With them,
the southern confederacy had gained every
thing. The cartridge boxe3 and belts strewn
around were tangible evidences that the war
had come to a close. Just here, among those
tangled munitions of war, occurred the fight
which Ellsworth omitted. For some timo a
drummer boy, belonging to Boone's regiment,
had made himself conspicuous in annoying
the writer of this article. " Why don't you
whale him?" the bo3rs would say. "Just
wait," the hero would reply, "Just hold on
a while till I get a good chance. He's got a
lot of soldiers to 'back him now, but wait,
will you ? "
While a party of boys, including the hero,
were standing around, watching the process
of paroling soldiers, an impudent little scamp
said to the hero: "There's your drummer
over yonder. Why don't you give it to him?"
" I'll catch him one of these days," rejoined
tho hero, and lucklessly endeavoring to
change the subject, he made some remark
about going home that his mother wanted
him. "He's afraid to bounce him," said
another boy. " Didn't I tell you he wouldn't
fight?" The drummer boy approached the
tree under which the hero and the party of
would-be avengers were standing.
" Now's your time," was whispered.
" Say," exclaimed tho hero, advancing, " I
told you that I was going to whip you when
I caught you out You've been trying to
run over me long enough, and dog-gone if I
don't whip you right here. My pa told me
not to let you run over me no longer, dog
gone you."
"Pitch into hira!" yelled the avengers.
" What d'yer want oulen me ?" asked the
drummer.
" You've got to take that back that you
called me."
" Put it to him !" yelled the avengers.
" What d'l call you?"
"Put it to him!"
" I dun forgot now, but if you have called
me anything will you take it back?"
" Oh, if you're after a fight, here's your
chance."
The conflict was desperate. Federal and
confederate soldiers gathered around. With
in three minutes from the time the engage
ment began the hero was in bad shape. Tho
drummer climbed all over him. Several
persons who were present declare that the
hero howled. Perhaps he did, but any way
this is tho fight that Ellsworth failed to
mention. East St. Louis Gazette.
GERMAN SAILORS.
The following, says the London Post, is an
extract from a letter received from an officer
of our English ships in tho Pacific : " There
is a fine German corvette here. The men
are everlastingly drilling, and consequently
are in a wonderful state of proficiency both
at fighting, exercise, and sail drill. They
seem to go in for things more thoroughly
than we do. For instance, all their men land
once a week for aiming drill, which is simply
each man
at, say, a rock, and an
officer or petty officer comes and looks along
his sights to see if he is ainiiug straight.
Then at the guns on board they clear for
action in a wonderfully short time and per
fectly silent The same at sail drill, when
an officer stands with his watch in his hand
and takes time as each order is given, and if
it is not done within a certain time they have
to do it again. We do a good deal of sail
drill and sending up and down masts and
yards, but we neglect the most important
thing, which is fighting exercise."
SOUTHERN PRISON LIFE
SOME ADDITIONAL
THE DIARY OF
CHAPTERS FROM
is
FRUE LANCE."
Ono Death In Every Eleven Minutes Tho
Ball-.and-CImin for Prisonrrs Tho State
ments Sustained by tho IJeport of Con
federate Surgeons Heroism Displayed,
by Prlvonors Aristocracy in the Prison
Pen "Dreams of tho Starving."
Written fob .The National Tribune by Free Lance.
IX.
Oct. 5t7i. Three detachments and one mess
left us last evening on the cars. Nobody
knows where they have gone. A man who
has been working around the deadhouse
says that 120 dead men were carried out of
the stockade on the lGth of August, and that
1'IP were carried out on the 17th or 18th of
August. (According to the death roll of
Andersonville the greatest number of deaths
on anySone day was on August 27th, and
was 127, or one death for every eleven min
utes. There is no reason to believe that all
who died there have been accounted for.
Where are tho names of the men who were
shot by the sentries? Not one is given, on
the death roll. Two hnndred and seven
men died during one fay of August) More
than nine men out of ten who have been
sent to the hospital have died there. In
almost every case of amputation death re
tail ts. These amputations are not wholly
for the treatment of wou .ids, as I have sup
posed, but are resorted io in cases of gan
grene. If a man gets the gaugrene or
ar.y other fatal disorder here, the most
sensible thing he can do i3 to walk
over the dead line and set shot, as many do.
The ou.tside men say that the bloodhounds
can be eluded if the fugitive walks a long
distance in the water. The way to do is to
trivel down a creek; at least, the slaves say
so. There is a blacksmith shop outside
where many Union prisoners have gone to
have iron collars put around their necks,
and to be loaded with chains, or to have
bills and chains attached to their ankles.
These punishments are inflicted for ordinary
attempts to escape, or for breaking paroles: .
N one of as regard a parole to the rebels as
binding, if a good chance is offered to get
a way. A small bar of soap now sell3 at $5
in greenbacks. Soap is an article we no
longer have use for. I have not come in
contact with soap since the day I was can
tered. When I want to think of something
pleasant I recall the happy days when we
campaigned in West Tennessee. Such a dis
asi er as being captured never occurred to me
thun.. We were gay and light-hearted, and
were bounteously fed; our camps were clean
and beautiful ; we bathed in the meandering
Htchie, roamed through the green woods
as free as schoolboys, and held possession of
a 1 and that teemed with fruit and flowers.
(Lest the reader may imagine that my
descriptions of Andersonville are gross exag
gerations, J will make a few extracts from
the official reports of confederate surgeons
who were on duty there. In a special re
port dated August 1st, Surgeon L. H. Hop
kin s attributed the mortality in the stockade
to ''the large number of prisoners crowded
together in a small compass ; the entire ab
sence of all vegetables as diet, so necessary
as a preventive of scurvy ; the want of bar
racks to shelter the prisoners from sun and
rain; the inadequate supply of wood and
good water; badly-cooked food ; the filthy con
dition of prisoners and the prison generally;
the morbid emanations from the branch or
ravine passing through the prison, the con
dition of which cannot be better explained
than by naming it a morass of human excre
ment and'mud." In the middle of August
Surgenn Thornburg reported his patients
"in a deplorable condition, some of them
being without clothing of any kind. In the
first, second, and third wards we have no
bunks, tho patients being compelled to lie
on the ground, many of them being without
blankets or any covering whatsoever. H
there a.re any beds in Dixie it is to be hoped
that tlujy will be procured. ;: We need straw
very bs.dly, especially for the fifth ward
We have men in this ward who are a living
mass of putrefaction, and cannot possibly h
cured of their wounds unless we can make
them more comfortable." Some of the sur
geons declared that the food furnished
would " produce disease among swine." On
September 5th Surgeon J. D. Pelot reported
as follows: "As officer of the day for tho
past twenty-four hours I have inspected the
hospital and found it in as good condition as
the nature of circumstances will allow. A
majority of the bunks are still unsupplied
with beddling, while in a portion of the divis
ion the tents are entirely destitute of either
bunks, bedding, or straw, the patients being
compelled to lie upon the bare ground. I
would earnestly call your attention to the
article of diet ; the corn bread received from
the bakers, being made up without sifting,
is wholly unfit for the use of the sick, and
often, as in he last twenty-four hours, upon
examination the inner portion is found to be
perfectly rav. The meat and beef received
by the patients does-not amount to over two
ounces a day, and for the last three or four
daj'S no flour has been issued. The corn
bruid cannot be eaten by many, for to do so
would be to increase the disease of the
bowels, from which a large majority are suf
fering, and it is therefore thrown away.
All their rations received by way of sus
tenance is two ounces of boiled beef and half
a pint of rice soup per day. Under these
circumstances all the skill that can be
brought to.boar upon their cases by the
medical officer will avail nothing. Another
point to' which I feel it my duty to call your
attention is the deficiency of medicine. We
s