OUR PRISONERS: Three Thousand Names of the Dead; MORE EVIDENCE OF CRUEL TREATMENT (11/28/1864)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 11/28/1864

[Homer_J_Simpson]

From Our Special Correspondent.

PORT ROYAL, S.C., Tuesday, NOV. 22, 1864.

I.

My time was insufficient up to the closing of my last letter, to give you all the facts and material at my disposal concerning the cruel incarceration of our men at the Andersonville prison. The following letters conclude the record for the space of one month, of the treatment and sufferings of the prisoners, as detailed candidly and deliberately from day to day by the rebel surgeons in attendance:

MILITARY PRISON, Aug. 20, 1864.

As Medical Officer First Division, I have the honor to make the following report; Having visited and inspected the various wards, I find the tents generally in bad condition most all leaking, and the sick without anything to lay on; also find the most of the sick complaining for the want of something to eat, and very frequently the amount allowed them falls to get to them: also find the stock of medicines very deficient, especially astringents and emetics. I would most respectfully recommend that bunks or scaffolds be made for the sick, and get straw, or something to make them comfortable; also recommend that more beef tea be made, as all the sick much prefer it to any other nourishment allowed them.

(Signed,) W.J. REEVES,

Act. Asst. Surgeon.

To Dr. MCGILL, Medical Inspector.

HEADQUARTERS, ANDERSONVLLE PRISON, Aug. 21, 1864.

SIR: AS Division Officer of the Day, I have the honor to report as follows: The general appearance of the division is neat and cleanly, taking into consideration the means and material afforded. The policemen and other attendants do make it so. I would again call your attention to the condition of the water barrels, and the importance of improvements. Very respectfully, obedient servant,

(Signed) R.M. PATTERSON,

Acting Asst. Surgeon,

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

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To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Our Prisoners: Three Thousand Names of the Dead – 2-8
Sherman’s March: His Rapid Progress Through Georgia – 8-9
A Rebel Pirate Seen – 9
The Plot to Burn the City: Several Arrests Made – 9
The War in Tennessee: Hood’s Army Concentrting at Columbia, Tenn. – 9-11
News from Washington – 11
Editorial: The Southwestern Campaign – The Armies of Hood and Sherman – 11-12
Editorial: The Rebel Incendiary Plot – Measures of Precaution – 12
Editorial: The Loyal Martyrs of the Southern Prisons – 12-13
The British Peacemakers and Their Address – 13
Brooklyn News – 13
New-Jersey – 13
Alleged Grand Larceny – 13

[bakeneko]

Meanwhile Confederate POWs were dying in their thousands at Camp Douglas in Chicago.

[bk1000]

Elmira, NY. Every bit as bad as Andersonville, but rarely talked about. I have just started looking over some of these newspapers of that day, and from the language used, the North can kiss my lily white a**. Enemy, indeed. The South just wanted to leave the Union and to be left alone, for whatever reason. If anyone was the enemy, it was the Union. Today I am a proud American, but reading this crap makes me so angry. It is the same garbage those people feed us today. I’m done with them.

[Islander7]

Yes, including my great, great grand father. He’s buried in mass grave near Chicago. And, of course, there is no mention of murders, rapes, and pillage committed by Sherman’s troops.

[RedMonqey]

And, of course, there is no mention of murders, rapes, and pillage committed by Sherman’s troops.

That's one thing I often wondered about, it would ve the first time a conquering army didn't plunder of rape its does citizenry. I doubt humanity changed for this conflict

[ozarker]

It was the union that stopped the exchange of prisoners The south treated prisoners poorly because of lack of resources, the southern civilian population was also starving. The north had plenty of resources, they starved and mistreated prisoners out of hatred and revenge.

[cowboyusa]

I knew that you lost causes would be here. Just be glad that Trump’s hero Andrew Jackson wasn’t President, or traitors would hav3 been on trees all over the South.

[cowboyusa]

Mabey don’t try to rip apart the US
No sympathy here.

[rdl6989]

I had an ancestor who died at Andersonville. I read a book called “Portals to Hell” about civil war prison camps. Johnson’s Island near Sandusky, Ohio was another very bad place.

[vmpolesov]

I figure I was lucky. My great-great-grandfather was captured and quickly paroled by the confederates, and kept his word not to participate further in the conflict as an armed combatant (he transferred to recruiting).

[RedMonqey]

You’ll get no argument from me.
Had a great great uncle who was captured after the fall of Fort Donaldson and was lucky enough to be exchanged a few months later.
Had he been captured later, he would have likely spent the rest of the war at Camp Clinton or died there.