RAVAGES OF THE SCURVY AMONG THE CHICKAMAUGA PRISONERS.--TOO LONG WITHOUT FRUIT OR VEGETABLES.--THE HORRORS OF THE SCURVY.--CERTAIN DEATH.--FRIGHTFUL MORTALITY.--FORTUNATE REMOVAL FROM ANDERSONVILLE.--ARRIVAL AT CHARLESTON, S. C.--TRANSFERRED TO FLORENCE, S. C.--DESCRIPTION OF THE LATTER PRISON.--SHORTEST RATIONS EVER ISSUED.--CERTAIN STARVATION ON THE RATIONS.--EFFORTS FOR MORE FOOD; PROVIDENTIAL SUCCESS.--THREE DAYS WITHOUT RATIONS.--PRISON-KEEPERS CRUEL AND INHUMAN.--TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS DURING THE WINTER.--UNPARALLELED MORTALITY.--RAW RATIONS AND INSUFFICIENT FUEL.--LIFE UNDER GROUND.--SWAMP FEVER.--TAKEN WITH THE FEVER.--FLIGHT FROM FLORENCE.--WILMINGTON.--GOLDSBORO'.--HARD TIMES OF A SICK MAN.--PRISON EXCHANGE FOOLERY.--BACK TO WILMINGTON. I shall now attempt a description of the ravages of the scurvy among the Chickamauga prisoners. It must have been during the month of July, 1864, that this dreadful disease made its appearance,--I mean among the men with whom I was identified (the Chickamauga men); how much sooner or later it afflicted other classes of prisoners, I am unable to state. Our men seemed to be doing well at this time, having shelter, and the rations still being tolerably fair. But it was all outward show, the inside being rotten. We had lived too long without green vegetables, or acids, or fruit of any kind. The first symptoms of the scurvy appeared in the mouth, the gums becoming black, swollen, and mortified. Then in quick succession the lower limbs were involved,--large, dark spots appearing near the knee or on the calves of the legs. These spots gradually became larger and more sore and disabling; at the same time, the cords under the knees becoming so contracted as to draw the calves back against the thighs, or nearly so. The spots varied a trifle in color,--that is, as to shades,--but generally bore the same heavy, dull, dead, blackish appearance, as though the blood had congealed in one place underneath the skin, and then putrefied. It usually took the disease several months to run its course, the spots growing larger, and the whole system becoming greatly shaken; the victim, long since deprived of the power of locomotion, lies helplessly on his back, calmly awaiting his Lord's release from his terrible suffering; until, at length, the disease reaches his bowels and vital parts, when his chain is broken, his fetters fall loosely from him, and his spirit speeds its winged flight, glorious with its sudden joy, to that prisonless realm of everlasting peace. Hundreds upon hundreds lay upon their backs in this condition, the number decreasing day by day as the quota of dead was carried off. No hope for them on this side of the valley,--and well they knew it, and died like heroes. Twenty good-sized Irish potatoes would have cured any case of scurvy before it reached the vitals; but if two would have done it, they could not have been obtained, as the rebels did not