Life in Southern Prisons: From the Diary of Corporal Charles Smedley, of Company G, 90th Regiment Penn'a Volunteers, Commencing a Few Days Before the "Battle of the Wilderness", In Which He Was Taken Prisoner ... Also, a Short Description of the March to and Battle of Gettysburg, Together with a Biographical Sketch of the AuthorSmedley, Charles
History
Life in Southern Prisons: From the Diary of Corporal Charles Smedley, of Company G, 90th Regiment Penn'a Volunteers, Commencing a Few Days Before the "Battle of the Wilderness", In Which He Was Taken Prisoner ... Also, a Short Description of the March to and Battle of Gettysburg, Together with a Biographical Sketch of the Author
Smedley, Charles
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons
_1st day, 6th mo. 12th._ Cloudy, rain in the afternoon. I am as unwell
as ever. Received corn bread and pork. There are many rumors of us
being paroled and sent to Savannah. The news is that the officers at
Macon are being sent away.
_2d day, 6th mo. 13th._ Was very damp and cold, with showers of rain;
last night it was also raining. Griffith got sick yesterday and was
very ill all last night and to-day. Had roll-call. All the sick and
wounded were taken out for medical treatment. All the rumors about
the parole proved untrue. Have suffered very much with the chronic
diarrhoea, which gets no better.
_3d day, 6th mo. 14th._ This was a cold, drizzly day.
_4th day, 6th mo. 15th._ Took down our blanket and had it for a cover.
It rained all night, and until towards the middle of the day, when it
became much warmer. There were over twelve hundred more prisoners put
in to-day from the Army of the Potomac. Sold a loaf of bread and meat
for twenty-five cents, and bought an onion and made some soup with it.
Had corn meal and pork for supper. Griffith is a little better. An old
shoemaker, who had taken the oath of allegiance to the Confederate
States, came in to-day to try to raise one thousand shoemakers, to go
out and do as he has, and work for the rebel government. Some of the
boys caught him, shaved his head and marched him around camp.
_5th day, 6th mo. 16th._ There is as much rain as usual. Am getting
along in the same old style. Sold a loaf of bread for fifteen cents and
bought an onion. Drew boiled rice and meat. The rice is so dirty and
gritty that it is not fit to eat. About one thousand more men were put
in to-day, mostly from the Army of the Potomac.
_6th day, 6th mo. 17th._ Rained all day--lay in the house most of the
time. I made some thick corn meal soup for supper. One thousand more
prisoners put in to-day.
_7th day, 6th mo. 18th._ It rained all night and was showery most of
the day. My disease is some better--am very weak and losing flesh.
The number of petty hucksters seems to increase in the main street.
Cucumbers are from 37 to 50 cents; onions from 25 cents to $1.00;
turnips from 12 to 20 cents; rutabagas, same price as turnips; squashes
25 to 50 cents; peanuts from 20 to 25 cents per half pint; beans 20 to
50 cents per half pint; flour at the rate of $1 per pound; four ginger
cakes 75 cents to $1; rice 30 to 40 cents per pint; salt 75 cents per
quart; soda 25 cents per spoonful; rations of meal for 20 and 25 cents;
molasses, of the poorest quality, for $2.75 per quart; tobacco, 50
cents for a small plug. These are offered for sale on the main street
at the above prices. A good many have got to making corn beer, at 10 to
25 cents per drink of half a pint. There are rumors that General Winder
is here, and that three detachments and all the sick are to be sent
away to-morrow.
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