USA > New York > History of the 27th regiment N.Y. Vols. > Part 16
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The weather is very warm, and we are more and more afflicted with vermin. A great many of the men are sick. I fear we shall all die if we are left here much longer. Charley Platt, a member of my company, was taken to the hospital to-day. It is terrible to be sick here.
Wednesday, July 31st .- The weather still continues very hot. More of the men are getting sick. I continually think of home and of what our folks are doing. Haying and harvesting are now over ; the barns are full ; fruit must be abundant. But we are shut up here, our friends not know- ing whether we are dead or alive. If I could only hear from them. it would do my soul good. I wonder what they think has become of me, and if mother worries about me. If this trouble could only be settled! God grant that it may be, that we may return to our homes and live in peace, and this nation become a great and happy one. How is it possible that such a state of feeling as now exists could have sprung up? Why did God permit it? We cannot see now, but He has some wise end in view. May
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that end speedily come. I am willing to wait His time and not complain. I will not say aught against His dealings with me, for " He doeth all things well." He suffered His ancient people to go into slavery and trouble, and even His own Son to die. But they were made soon to triumph over their enemies and dwell in peace. Will he not do so with us? We have the promise in His Word. And may the lesson which God would teach us by this reverse of fortune be understood by us, and we come out as silver from the furnace, refined and purified, more perfectly fitted to do our Master's will. I love Him more and more every day, and I will try to continue in His love as long as I live, that at the end I may not be found wanting, but ready to die and go to my heavenly home.
Time passes away rather fast but drearily. We have succeeded in getting a few books, and I am now reading a volume of Anderson's Travels in South Africa. One of the men has been allowed to go into the city and has bought a quantity of apples, crackers and nicknacks to sell to the boys. These are purchased quickly by those who have money, and the edibles are eagerly devoured.
August Ist .- Yesterday was the hottest day of the season since we came here; we could scarcely breathe, and it is very warm and muggy this morning. Rumor says that some of us are to be removed to another building to-day. I hope it will be done, for there are 332 men on this floor, which is 108 x 40 ft., a floor space of 2 x 6 ft. to each man. We have to bring water a long distance in buckets, and suffer a great deal for lack of enough to drink and wash in. Another of our men was shot at this morning while sitting in the window. This makes the fifth time that shots have been fired into this building, but no one has been hurt yet, although the balls came right among us. We hope to have revenge on these cowardly fellows some time, although we would gladly forgive them if it would do any good.
Arrangements having been made for another building, fifty of the prisoners were taken over this forenoon to clean it, and another squad of fifty have been over this afternoon.
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A NEW PRISON OPENED.
I went with them and helped to sweep and remove rubbish from the room. This, too, is a tobacco factory, and we found large quantities of good tobacco, of all kinds. I per- suaded the officers in charge to let the boys from our regi- ment move into this building, which is just across the street from our former quarters, where we occupy the second floor. Just at night we came over, together with the men of the 2d Wisconsin and Ist Massachusetts, in all about seventy men. These quarters are much cleaner and more pleasant than the old ones, and we are very lucky to get them. This room is well lighted with gas, so that our evenings are pleasant, and it has also twelve large win- dows, and is 40 x 60 ft. in size. On one side is a large tub, and a hydrant that brings river water, so that we can wash, and each man is cleaning himself up. This is the first time since the battle that we have had water enough to wash in.
Quartermaster Warner has charge of all the cooking and feeding arrangements, but the cooking is done by eight or ten darkies. The coffee, meat and rice are boiled in large iron kettles, holding nine gallons each, and there are about thirty of these kettles.
August 2d .- I have had a good night's rest in our new quarters. We had no supper last night, and there is no prospect of any breakfast this morning. We are getting very hungry. I am feeling well this morning, and I hope I . may continue to enjoy good health, for it is discouraging to be sick here. We hope to go home soon, though there is no prospect of it now. The people here say that they are willing to exchange prisoners, if President Lincoln will. We hope he will, for we think it would be better for our cause than to leave us here, doing no good ; but we trust his policy is a good one.
There appears to be but little business going on in the city now. All the tobacco factories are stopped, as there is no demand for the article outside of the city, on account of the blockade, which is injuring them very much.
Breakfast has finally come, about 11 o'clock, consisting of bread and coffee. Many wounded prisoners were brought
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in during the night, and, having to be fed, occasioned the delay of our breakfast. We are to have but two meals a day after this. Our supper, of bread and meat, came about 5 o'clock.
To-day we have adopted a code of rules for our personal cleanliness, and a police force has been elected to enforce these rules. Every man is required to take off all his cloth- ing twice a day, and carefully search the seams, and kill all the body lice. So we hope to keep quite clean now.
We can get the city papers at our quarters, for five cents apiece, but they are so rabid and lie so much, that we hate to read them. We do not know anything of what is going on in the country, or what is to be done with us.
August 3d .- Several of our men are quite sick We had breakfast about 10 o'clock, of bread and coffee. We get half a loaf of bread apiece, and have to go rather hungry now-a-days, because there are so many here to feed. More are coming all the time. I think they will soon get tired of keeping us, for grub is very scarce. There is some talk that we are to be sent further south, but we hope it is not so. The rebel papers report that their prisoners at the North are treated very cruelly, but we do not believe it. More wounded were brought in last night, and placed in the building we first occupied,-so that about 130 more men were brought over from there to this building, making our quarters very crowded. How we wish we could get hold of some school books, or more books to read. that we might improve our time in studying, but we fear it will be impos- sible to do it.
Sunday, Aug. 4th .- The most of the men are very quiet this morning, but many are regardless of the Sabbath. I had wished several times this morning that we might have preaching in the prison to-day, when about eleven o'clock a rough-looking man came in and said : " We will have divine service." At first I thought he was some stranger from the city, but he proved to be the Rev. Hiram Eddy, of Litch- field, Conn., Chaplain of the ed Connecticut Regiment. The services were opened with singing by the men. After
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NURSING A WOUNDED COMRADE.
this a prayer, and a more earnest one I never heard. The men were quite still during the prayer, which compre- hended all that our circumstances would suggest. After prayer, he read the 14th Chapter of St. John, with com- ments, and then took his text from the first verse of the same chapter. He spoke at some length, and held the un- divided attention of the men. It was the most interesting and delightful hour of worship I ever spent-the talk and the chapter applying so well to our circumstances, were very affecting. He urged all to accept Christ, read the Bible and be saved. Nearly all the men seemed affected, and must have profited by the sermon. It seemed like church at home, and made us more contented here, more willing to wait God's time to bring us out and return us to our friends, who must be very anxious about us. After service I had a very pleasant chat with the preacher. God grant that much good may be done here, and that all the men may learn to reverence their God. For since we feel God's presence, we can be happy.
About 5 o'clock seventy more prisoners were brought in, increasing the number on our floor to one hundred, so that we are somewhat crowded, but we shall have to put up with it.
At 6 o'clock I was requested to go to the hospital and help take care of Sergeant Wellman, of Co. "I," of our regiment. I found he was wounded in the leg, below the knee. I remained with him all night. I also found in the same building (the one we first occupied) S. A. McKune and Will. Sampson, of Co. " D." McKune was wounded in the abdomen, the ball passing in a slanting direction across his body. I think he will soon recover. Sampson was hit in the ankle, and has a dangerous wound. I also found four others there from our regiment, all badly wounded. As I had had nothing to eat for a day before coming into the hospital, the bad smell from the putrid wounds made me very sick, but I kept on with my work till morning.
Monday, August 4th .- I returned from the hospital about 10 'clock, sick and hungry, not having had anything
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to eat. We did not get breakfast till nearly noon, then had some meat, rice and mush. Nothing more till 12 o'clock at night, when some meat and bread were brought in to us. It looks as though they want to starve us to death. They say that food is very scarce in the city. As prisoners of war we are treated very shamefully. We fast so much we are very weak, and it will take years for us to recover from the effects of prison life I have been quite ill all day, but hope soon to recover.
August 6th .- I am a little better than I was yesterday. My comrade, Charley Trowbridge, takes good care of me. It is now nearly 12 o'clock, and nothing to eat yet. I am afraid we shall all starve to death. God forgive them for treating us so. Breakfast came about noon-some coffee, rice and mush. We had supper about eight-a very small supply of meat and rice.
August 8th .- One of our men, by the name of Crandall, is sick with the measles. Our wounded are mostly doing well. Oh! how we long to go home ; we shall appreciate home if we ever return. The men are getting very dirty and lousy, some are completely covered with vermin. It is with great difficulty that I can keep myself free from them. I am a good deal worse to-day than I have been ; the more I doctor the worse I seem to get. We have had enough to eat to-day, for a wonder.
August 9th .- I rested quite well during the night, and we have had a very good breakfast this morning, of meat, bread and coffee. Those who have money live first-rate, for they can send out by the guards and buy fruits or any- thing they wish. The men find all the tobacco they want in the upper rooms of the prison. Several boxes of plug and twist have been opened to-day.
The weather is very warm, and the wounded are dying off fast. We had supper about 8 o'clock, and then all lay down for the night. It is a funny sight to see so many men stretched out on the floor. There are so many of us that when we lie down the floor is completely covered. One cannot cross the room without walking on the men.
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RUMOR THAT WE ARE TO BE EXCHANGED.
There are many rumors as to what may be done with us. One is that we are to be sent to work in the coal mines : another, that we shall be taken further south in a day or two ;. and still another, that we are to be sent home soon on a parole of honor. The time set for this happy event is Monday next. Of course we do not credit this, but let it go the way it came.
August 10th .- I am quite well to-day, for which I am truly thankful. We hope that the government will soon see fit to exchange prisoners, for we are doing no good here. ' But as we do not know the policy of our govern- ment, we will not complain, but bide our time.
Orderly Davis, from Co. " C.," came over to our quarters to-day. He says there are six or eight of our boys with him in another prison. So there must be fifty or sixty of our regiment prisoners, wounded and all.
Sunday, August 11th .- Three weeks have passed since the memorable battle, and we are still here in prison, pass- ing away our time to no purpose. Amid the noise and bustle of a hundred men, it is hard to keep the Sabbath. What a luxury it would be to be alone for a little while, but not for one moment can one escape from the crowd of noisy men.
Mr. Eddy came in and preached to us to-day, and we had a delightful hour of worship. The men were very atten- tive, and all passed quietly. His text was, "God is Love." He spoke exceedingly well, and the service did us a great deal of good. We went back, in imagination, to the old church at home, where we had so often heard the " Word of Life;" and where perhaps, at this very time. our friends were worshiping, and earnestly praying for us: for we felt that God was very near, comforting us by his Holy Spirit. I am room orderly to-day, and have had a great deal to do, cleaning the floor and keeping it in order. Some of our doctors have been sent home to-day, on parole. They were granted this favor for an act of kindness to a wounded rebel colonel. It seems hard to fight against our brethren, but when we see their acts of treason, it is a great incentive
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to action. But I think this trouble could have been settled without blood-shed, and I hope there will be no more fight- ing. But the right will triumph. May God prosper the right, and all be well.
August 12th .- After breakfast I got the guards to pass me to No. I Hospital. Here I found three wounded men from our regiment-Corp. Wood, one of the color-guard who was shot through the hand. and a man by the name of Bond, . from Co. "I." I remained with them a short time, and then went over to the other hospital, where McKune and Sampson are. I found them doing well. The doctors wanted more help in the hospital ; so I volunteered as a nurse. I went back to my quarters, got my coat and things, and returned to the hospital, where I am now, beside McKune's cot, writing by the gas light. There are one hun- dred wounded men on this floor. Most of them are doing well. One man died this afternoon. He belonged to the 2d Rhode Island Regiment. He has been deranged several days, and has suffered a great deal. He was a long time dying. It seemed sad to see him go. We have had preach- ing in the hospital to-day, by an Episcopal minister,-the same one who preached when we first came here. One of the men died just as he finished talking. Twelve men were sent home on parole to-day. I sent a letter by them.
August 13th .- It is 9 P. M. I have had a hard day's work, and have just finished. I have had enough to eat, and my health is excellent. Nearly all the wounded are doing well. One man died last night. Besides nursing the wounded, I have assisted in cleaning the floor of the third story, where the nurses and sick are quartered. This hospital is the building where we were quartered when we came to the city. A rebel soldier died to-day, in a hospital which is just across the street from ours. On the hearse that carried the body out for burial were four small secesh flags. This is going it big, we think. Wonder if he will change his colors when he gets on the other side ! Mr. Eddy has been in to see the wounded. I had a pleasant chat with him. I am tired, and must go to bed. Good-night. I sleep on the bare floor,
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DEATH OF COMRADE PRESCOTT.
with my boots for a pillow, beside McKune's cot. Most of the wounded are provided with cots and mattresses.
August 15th .- One poor fellow died to-day, by the name of Jacob Sparahall, from the 4th Maine Regiment. I think another will die to-night, for he is but just alive. The rest seen: to be doing well. McKune and Sampson are gaining. Reports of another battle are prevalent, but we cannot get any particulars. The wounded soldier mentioned above died during the night. He was one of the 14th Brooklyn Regiment, by the name of Charles R. Prescott. He was a very intelligent and well educated man. JIis leg had been amputated twice, but the operation was badly performed : it was taken off near the hip, and the bone left several inches bare. He lived five days on nothing but whiskey, suffering a great deal. Death, for which he had long prayed, finally came and released him from his suffering.
August 16th .- Several prisoners, that had escaped, have been recaptured and put in irons to-day. This is rather hard. We do not see why our government does not ex- change prisoners. We see nothing to hinder it. Many of the men are getting sick, and we are all very anxious to get back to our regiments. One of the wounded men received a letter from his brother to-day. Oh ! how I wish I could hear from my home.
Sunday, August 1Sth .- To-day I had a talk about religion with one of the wounded boys from our regiment, by the name of Johnson. He is badly wounded in the thigh, and I fear he will not live long. He seems to be serious, and tries to repent. His father is a Presbyterian minister. living near Syracuse, N. Y.
August 20th .- Death, with his arrow, has again entered the hospital, and cut down two of our number. Two strong men have survived their injuries four long weeks, but at last they have died. Joseph Campbell, of Co. "C," 14th Brook- lyn, has gone to his long home. He trusted in Christ, re- pented, and has gone to meet Him in heaven. He has suf- fered a great deal, and died hard ; but we never heard him complain. . His home is 142 Plymouth St., Brooklyn, N. Y.
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August 21st .- Another man has died to-day. He was wounded in the thigh,-the whole fleshy part of his hip was carried away by a cannon ball. His leg was not broken, but the veins sloughed off, and he bled to death.
August 22d .- I am doing all I can in the hospital for the wounded. Many of the prisoners are getting sick. I fear that some malady may break out among themn. All the wounded from our regiment are doing well, except John- son. For a couple of days he has been out of his head, and he thinks he sees his mother, brother and sister near him, and tries to speak to them-often wishes me to call them to him. I think he will not live through the night. It seems hard to die now, after having lived so long since the battle. I sat down by his cot about S o'clock, and thought him dying then. His pulse had ceased, and the cold sweat stood in thick drops on his brow. He lay in this state some time, breathing very short. I thought him dying, but we raised his head and gave him water. The water seemed to revive him, his pulse beat again and his limbs became warm. He seemed easier after this and slept a short time, but kept muttering broken sentences, only a few words of which I could understand. He repeatedly commenced the Lord's Prayer, but could only say a few words when his mind would wander, and he would seem to be speaking to his mother and his sister, but his meaning we could not make out. About 3 o'clock he passed away and his body was carried out. I think from what he told me before his mind wandered, and from what he said afterward, that his heart had been changed and that he died happy. He suf- fered very much from his wound, but had as good care as we could give him here. His wound was so bad that we could not move him, and his clothes had not been taken off since he was wounded. The doctors fixed his leg in a sling suspended by cords from the ceiling, so that it could be dressed. He was not strong enough to undergo an am- putation. I have the things that were found on his per- son, a prayer-book and several letters, which I shall en- deavor to send to his friends, if I live to get out of prison.
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The book was a present from his mother. His name and date of receiving this parting gift are on the fly-leaf. May God comfort the mother !
P. S. After reaching home, I sent the things to his mother. She came to see me, and has written me a letter every year since.
August 23d .- I awoke this morning feeling very sick. The steward directed me to take a drink of whiskey, which made me feel better. This is the first liquor I ever drank. I have had to work hard all day and am very tired to-night. My work consists in removing the bandages, cleansing the wounds, replacing the dressings, and feeding and nursing the helpless ones. I prefer this work to lying idle in the prison.
Some of the rebel reserve guard got to fighting among themselves last night, and killed one of their sergeants-his name was Hamilton. He had put one of his men in irons, for some breach of discipline, and when he went to lock him in the guard-room, the fellow seized a musket and let drive at him, the charge passing through his body.
August 27th .- To-day I have had a falling out with the old sergeant who is acting steward of our ward, or rather he has with me. He is a very cross, crabbed old chick, and got jealous of me because I took too good care of some of the men. He told me to leave the hospital, which I did. But when one of our doctors came in, the boys all took my part and told him the circumstances. He sent for me and took me over to headquarters, and told the rebel doctor that he wanted him to appoint me superintendent of the hospital cook-house. This was done, and I am to go into the hospital and carry things to the boys whenever I like, and also have a pass to visit any of the other prisons. The cooking is all done in the open yard without shelter. We have to make great quantities of beef tea for the wounded. The work is very hard, but we get plenty to eat and enjoy the luxury ot being in the fresh air.
Sunday, September Ist .- Have worked the same as on a
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week day. Another man died to-day-Charles Durant, from Rochester. He was sick with fever.
September 2d .-- We have made but one kettle of beef tea to-day, and in the other we cooked a mess of beef, cab- bage and potatoes, for the wounded-got them up a regu- lar farmers' dinner. The cooking is done in two large iron kettles, holding about ninety gallons each. This supplies all the hospitals. I get a little time each day to cook a beefsteak and roast a few potatoes for some of my friends in the hospital
September 3d .- To-day some of our men who have been treated in the general hospital, which is further up town, have been brought down to our building. They have nearly all recovered from their wounds. Among them was George Coon, from Co. " D." He told me that Pardee and Snedaker, both from the same company, had died of their wounds, in the general hospital.
September 10th .- The same routine of daily work in the cook house continues. To-day one hundred and fifty of the prisoners have been sent to Charleston, S. C., twenty- seven of them officers, and among them Col. Corcoran, of the 69th. It is rumored that others will go soon.
September 11th .- One of the assistants in the cook-house was among the men sent off to the South yesterday, and I asked the quartermaster to detail my friend Charley Trow- bridge to assist in the work, and he is now with us. Soon after I left the prison and came to the hospital, Charley, with a number of others, was moved to another building, a factory in the lower part of the city. Here they suffered still more for the want of rations than before I left them : and sometimes when he would come with others to head- quarters to draw rations for his comrades, I would give him an extra loaf, some sugar, coffee, etc. After a little, he was not able to come, so he sometimes sent his haversack, ac- companied by a note. The following is a copy of one :
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IS IT EVER RIGHT TO STEAL?
RICHMOND, Sept. 6-Friday Eve.
FRIEND CHARLIE :- I write you these few lines, hoping that you will do something for a poor body that is about half starved. 1 do not uphold a man in stealing. Still I do not think it would be laid up against him for stealing something to eat,-that is, if he were as hungry as I have been for the last three or four days ; consequently I am going to call on you. If you cannot get it without stealing it, I want you should take it. I send you my haversack, which you can send back by the upper floor squad. I cannot get the chance to come after rations every time. When you see this haversack coming, please look at it, and think that I am hungry. Hunger compels me to write this.
Your friend, C. E. TROWBRIDGE.
P. S .- Can't you get me a chance to help you around the kettles? I want to get out into the open air.
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