USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > The story of Camp Chase; a history of the prison and its cemetery, together with other cemeteries where Confederate prisoners are buried, etc > Part 17
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196. April 20, from W. S. Smith, Camp Chase, to his mother, Mrs. Ann Pows, Black Creek, Choctaw County, Ala.
--. April 21, from John Custer, Camp Chase, to Mrs. M. A. Custer, Marion County, Ala.
198. April 22, from Z. M. Hall, Camp Chase, to his sister, Mrs. S. S. Griffin, Butler, Ala.
199. April 20, from Lieut. W. R. Felton, Ist Ala. Regt., Camp Chase, to his sister, Mrs. J. L. Strend, Richmond, Va.
200. April 20, from H. Y. Shine to his father, J. F. Shine, Goodman, Miss. 201. April 20, from R. H. Woolen to Joseph N. Moss, McNutt, Miss.
202. April 21, from Lieut. Jeff Thompson to Mrs. Jeff J. Thompson, Greensburg, La.
203. April 21, from Thomas F. Kneeland, Camp Chase, to Ben May, Esq., Bank of West Tennessee, Grenada, Miss.
204. April 21, from J. T. Whitfield, Camp Chase, to Lieut. M. C. Pratt, Prattsville, Ala.
205. April 20, from J. T. Williams, Camp Chase, to W. C. Williams, Memphis, Tenn.
206. April 21, from C. C. Moore, Camp Chase, to Mrs. Louise Moore. Houston, Miss.
-. April 21, from Thomas Filly, Camp Chase, to Private Jasper Ander- son, Co. B, 5th Ky. Vols., Breckinridge Brigade.
208. April 21, from T. T. Foster, Camp Chase, to T. Boyd Foster, Steven- son, Ala.
209. April 21, from J. M. Jackson, Camp Chase, 42d Tenn., to Dr. W. B. Garrison, Guntersville, Ala.
210. April 20, from J. C. Hubbord, 40th Regt. Prov., to W. R. Marshall, DeWitte, Ark.
211. April 21, from F. M. Whittaker, Camp Chase, to Jessie Whittaker, Monticello, Ark.
212. April 20, from W. R. Seludge, Camp Chase, to T. T. Carlock, Fallon, Ark.
213. April 19, from Camp D. W. Ramsey, Ist Ala., Camp Chase, to Rev. A. C. Ramsey, Allenton, Ala.
214. April 19, from 'T. J. McGehan to Hon. Thomas H. Foster, Rich- mond, Va.
215. April 21, from Theodore Kelsey or Thomas F. Knulland to Ben May, Memphis, Tenn.
216. April 21, from Lieut. E. A. Poe, 11th Ark., Camp Chase, to Mrs. Martha J. Poe, Belfast, Ark.
217. April 20, from J. Stoughton Carruthers, Adjt. 5Ist Tenn. Vols., to Mrs. B. Fannie Carruthers, Mason Depot, West Tenn.
218. April 19, from Lient. Henderson, Ist Ala. Regt., Camp Chase, to John Henderson, Talledega, Va.
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183
AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS.
219. April 20, from R. Gailland, Camp Chase, to Hon. Thomas H. Watts, Richmond, Va.
220. April 21, from Charles B. Carters, Camp Chase, to Mrs. Eliza Carters, Waynesboro, Va.
221. April 21, from Charles B. Carruthers, Lieut. Heavy Artillery, Camp Chase, to Rev. John R. Harrison, Jackson, Tenn.
222. April 21, from Lieut. Felton, Camp Chase, to Noah Felton, Loacha- poka, Ala.
223. April 20, from Capt. J. P. Jackson to G. W. Jackson, Erin, Ga.
224. April 20, from J. F. Whitfield, Camp Chase, to his wife, Mrs. J. F. Whitfield, Montgomery, Ala.
225. April 21, from Lieut. C. C. Knowles to W. W. Drake, Auburn, Ala. 226. April 19, from S. L. Knox, Camp Chase, to his father, Dr. J. C. Knox, Talladega, Ala.
227. April 20, from Mrs. W. D. Riblett, Millfall, Va., to Michael Riblett, Camp Chase.
228. April 21, from Lieut. J. Z. Wall, Camp Chase, to Mrs. Pauline R. Sittoon, Ponchatoula, La.
229. April 20, from Charles B. Carter, Camp Chase, to James Carter, Meheny River, Va.
230. April 20, from J. M. Jackson, Camp Chase, to Dr. John Ball, Rich- mond, Va.
CHAPTER XIV.
JOHNSON'S ISLAND.
A Prison Comfortable in Summer, but Cold in Winter-The First Prison- ers to Arrive at Sandusky-The Town Turns Out to See Them-A Sad-Faced Lad-Making a Rope of the Flag-The Chaplain's Consoling Words-Letters from Johnson's Island-The Number of Prisoners upon the Island Each Month in 1862, 1863, 1864.
THERE certainly could not have been a more pleasant spot chosen for a military prison than Johnson's Island, at least in the summer. Put-in-Bay and Cedar Point are now popular summer resorts, both within a few miles of Johnson's Island. The island was evidently fixed upon for prison purposes because of its safety for a large number of energetic and intelligent men who had an abundance of time to devise ways and means of escape. Men could tunnel out of the prison in the summer, but there was the lake, and the shore was three miles away. Prison- ers sometimes undertook to escape in winter ; but if accomplished, it was ever a desperate undertaking.
An account from the Confederate Veteran of July, 1900, is so liberal and fair that it is here reproduced with no little satisfac- tion. The article in the Veteran is vouched for by Lieutenant Cunningham, of Louisiana, who was at. Johnson's Island sixteen months. Lieutenant Cunningham says :
I am satisfied that, as compared with the enlisted men at Point Lookout, Elmira, Rock Island, Camps Morton, Chase, and Doug- las, the officers merely tasted purgatory; the men. went beyond that.
The Veteran says :
Johnson's Island is situated at the mouth of Sandusky Bay, overlooking Lake Erie, and is about a mile long and a mile and a half wide. It was an ideal spot for a prison post. The grounds were inclosed with a fence twelve feet high, with a platform top, upon which sentinels moved night and day. To the north Lake Erie stretches away for fifty miles; on the east, across three miles of water, lies Sandusky ; while west and south of the island are broad stretches of Sandusky Bay.
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JOHNSON'S ISLAND ( NEAR SANDUSKY, OHIO) IN WAR TIMES
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
The island was used almost exclusively as a prison for officers, the total number confined there from first to last aggregating over fifteen thousand. The first prisoners were taken there in April, 1862, and in September, 1865, the last of them were sent to Fort Lafayette, when Johnson's Island was abandoned as a prison post.
- The men confined on Johnson's Island represented the chivalry of the South. They were largely professional men and planters, among them being many who were prominent in science, liter- ature, and art.
These men were treated during the period of their imprison- ment as befitted men in their station of life, so far as circumstances would permit, of course. They were lodged in comfortable houses, provided with suitable clothing, and their tables were furnished with an abundance of the substantials and many of the luxuries. They were subjected to no petty tyranny ; but, on the contrary, were granted privileges enjoyed by prisoners at no other military prison in the North, an exception being made in their case, because, as a class, they were considered superior to. ordinary prisoners, and were put upon their honor in many in- stances when it would have been hazardous to have trusted men with less scrupulous regard for their words.
While this was true as to 1862, and perhaps 1863, in 1864 the cords were drawn and unnecessary cruelties were practiced. It is doubtless true that Johnson's Island was one of the best. Had prisoners, North or South, been guarded by veterans who had fought, the stories of cruelty would have been different. As a regiment, the Eighty-Eighth Ohio, at Camp Chase, was never outside the boundary of the State. Many of these men-not all, perhaps-enlisted to stay at home and do guard duty. The vet- erans from the front, returning home for reenlistment, disliked this regiment much more than they did any regiment of "Jolin- nies." The treatment of prisoners, as a general thing, in 1864 and 1865 was a great, dark blot, an imperishable stain, upon American civilization.
While Johnson's Island is within three miles of Sandusky, the county seat of Erie County, the island belongs to Ottawa County. In Ohio's war history the story of Johnson's Island is the story of Sandusky. The establishing of a prison on Johnson's Island was brought about through the energy and exertions of a few of the leading business men of Sandusky. These gentlemen saw that such a station would be of great value to trade in that
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JOHNSON'S ISLAND, CONFEDERATE PRISON.
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
city, and that the officers' quarters would be in and about the town rather than on the Island.
The War Department sent an officer to look over various sites for a prison, and he was inclined to favor Detroit, and went to Sandusky with but little thought of locating the prison there. The business men, however, accorded him a warm re- ception, and made such offers of substantial aid to the government that he could not do otherwise than select the Island.
Greater interest and importance was given this prison through the exploits of John Yates Beall, who made a fruitless attempt to rescue the prisoners of the Island.
The first prisoners to arrive there were curiosities to the in- habitants. As soon as the news spread that there were two hun- dred Southerners coming-men who had fought and were con- sidered dangerous mortals-and that these soldier prisoners wear- ing gray uniforms were to sojourn for a time on the beautiful island over in the bay, excitement ran high.
The Sandusky Register said :
The great agony is over, and some of our people-in fact, a good many of them-have seen Rebels. For the benefit of such as could not get out last evening, we will give a minute descrip- tion of them. In the first place, they have the build of men- ordinary men. They would not have visited our city with just such an escort as they had yesterday, from choice. They were clad variously. We learn they were all officers, and some of them had the carriage and bearing of gentlemen. Some had the don't-care-a-dime swagger, some were sullen, and others jocose. One lad we saw leaning against the stay irons to the smokestack, after they were on board the Queen, looking musingly into the water with something of sadness on his face.
The war had so blinded the writer of the above that he could not see in imagination a far-away Southern home, where the flow- ers were blooming and the birds singing. The editor could not see the tears that would come to a mother's eyes, even though she sought to be brave, as she felt it to be her duty. Perhaps the lad, who was an officer, saw as he looked into the water a face so fair and sweet that there was not another like it in all the world. Perhaps he saw in the depths of soulful eyes the look they wore when he marched away. The editor, though not heart- less, could not see the "wrinkled front of war" as it loomed up darkly between that far-away home in the South and the sad-
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JOHNSON'S ISLAND.
faced boy on the boat. "Some were mischievous," the paper con- tinued. "Captain Orr had hoisted the national flag, and one of the prisoners wadded up one corner, spat upon it, and wound it around the flagstaff. The Captain spoke to him in a friendly way, which so changed his mind that he untied the flag and did not trouble it more."
On April 28, as a train bearing a number of Confederate pris- oners was nearing Sandusky, a daring man, whose name was not given, made a leap from the train and took to the woods. The- train was stopped and a search made. but the guards could not find him. The sequel to this story was told June 30. The pris- oner remained hidden until the 30th, when he went to Green Springs, Ohio, and entered the South-bound train. The con- ductor proved to be the one in charge of the train from which he escaped, and recognized him. When the train arrived at Kenton, the police were notified and the Confederate was taken to the Island.
On the 20th of August four Confederate prisoners were re- leased on taking the oath of allegiance. They announced their intention of entering the Union army. Three of them said they were from the North and had been impressed into the Confederate service. The Register, commenting upon the case, remarked: "It is singular that impressed men were made officers." They were released, however, and gave their names as follows : S. B. Moore, impressed in Alabama ; H. C. Wringer, Lancaster, Pa., impressed in Arkansas; W. H. Rupert, Pekin, Ill., impressed at Memphis ; and J. W. Swanson, from Tennessee.
Whitelaw Reid, in his historic work, "Ohio in the War," gives the following as the number of prisoners at the post during the different months : 1862, average for April, 444; May, 1,074; June. 1, 105 ; July, 1, 149; August, 14,524; exchanged during the month of September, 1,123. Average for September, 595 ; aggregate Oc- tober 31, 893 ; aggregate November 30, 295 ; December 31, 200.
Mr. Reid further adds in this work :
It should be remembered that a cartel for a general exchange of prisoners of war had long been expected, and was finally agreed upon July 22, 1862. Under that cartel and special ar- rangement exchanges went on until July, 1863, and a continuance was expected. This expectation, with the belief of general loy- alty in the North and the want of help in Canada, had its legiti-
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RUINS OF OLD FORT, JOHNSON'S ISLAND.
PRISON GROUNDS, JOHNSON'S ISLAND, 1904.
JOHNSON'S ISLAND, 1904.
CONFEDERATE CEMETERY, JOHNSON'S ISLAND, 1904.
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
mate influence on the prisoners, and undoubtedly prevented efforts at outbreak and resistance until late in the fall of 1863.
The stoppage of exchanges, followed by the assembling of considerable forces from the Confederate army and navy in Can- ada, and the machinations of disloyal organizations in Ohio, In- diana, and elsewhere, known to intend a rescue of these prisoners, with attendant devastations on the lake towns and commerce, showed these posts (Johnson's Island and Sandusky) to be un- safe without considerable reinforcements. Six companies of the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, with the Twenty-Fourth Battery (six guns) and two detachments of the First Ohio Heavy Artillery (with seven heavy guns), were sent to the Island early in Novem- ber, 1863, followed promptly by the Forty-Ninth and Fiftieth Regiments of the National Guard and a Pennsylvania battery. These National Guard commands remained only a short time ; the other troops remained all winter.
The First Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, includ- ing five regiments, attended by two brigadier generals from the Army of the Potomac, reached Sandusky on January 13, 1864. Four of these regiments, with General Shaler in command, were stationed on the Island. The other regiment, with Gen. H. D. Terry commanding the whole, was at Sandusky. They all re- mained until April 14, 1864, when three regiments, under General Shaler, returned to the Army of the Potomac, Sixth Corps.
It is learned officially that there were on January 31, 1863. 2,603 prisoners on 'the Island; February, 2,206; March, 2,192; April, 2,088 ; May, 2,134 ; June, 2,309; July, 2,441 ; August, 2,556; September, 2,663 ; October, 2,621 ; November, 2,747 ; December, 3.209 ; while the numbers at the end of each month for the year 1864 were : January, 2,603 ; February, 2,206; Marchi, 2,192 ; April,. 2,088; May, 2,134; June, 2,309 ; July, 2,441 ; August, 2,556; Sep- tember, 2,662 ; October, 2,621 ; November, 2,747 : December, 3.209.
Except about one hundred, they were officers of the Confed- erate army and navy, of all grades from second lieutenant to. major general.
The following letters from Johnson's Island were found among the Camp Chase letters at the Ohio Statehouse :
SANDUSKY, OHIO, April 25, 1862.
MY DEAR MAMMA: An opportunity for sending letters through to Richmond has at last presented itself ; consequently, I write to inform you that I am in good health. I arrived here yesterday evening, having been quartered at Camp Chase, near Columbus, up to this time, and regretted very much to leave there. We were.
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JOHNSON'S ISLAND.
kindly treated and well provided for in every necessary way by the authorities, headed by Governor Tod. Only myself and Lieutenant Anderson came from our mess yesterday, but I learn all the prisoners now here are to come in a few days. The ob- ject in removing us is our health during the summer and fall; but I believe I would rather have risked that for the considera- tion of other advantages, etc.
I am now in a mess with Alex Trotter and three strangers. Say to Willie that Trotter is in fine health.
I never suffered more in my life than for six weeks after our surrender, principally from cold. I am now suffering in mind for want of news from home. You can have an idea of the solicitude which I feel for my friends, and also my country's interest. You must all write me long letters, addressed to this place.
I shall hope to hear from you all by Mrs. Clark, if she remains in Richmond long enough to get your letters; and if not, it is possible to get them through by flag of truce via Norfolk.
My best love to all my friends, particularly the feminine portion of them. It seems I would give the world for an hour of liberty at home now, yet I entertain bright hopes for the future, more so than I have ever done. My love to all the family.
Your son,
WALTER A. ASHBY.
P. S .- I have not touched on matters relating to the war-our struggle at Fort Donelson-fearing that it would not be allowed, and in consequence of which my letter might be stopped. Tell Mrs. Everett-that John M. E., John Garborough, William Mc- Queen, and George Estis were all well last week. WALTER.
SANDUSKY, OHIO, April 25, 1862.
DEAR UNCLE: There being such a slight probability of this ever reaching you, I shall make this a mere note. I am well and as comfortably situated as could be expected .. Give yourself no uneasiness, and be assured I will be provided for-if not com- fortably, at least well. Mr. Cornell is with me. McGowan is at Camp Chase. I just received a letter from Eggleston, who says the deaths from our county in the Fourteenth at Chicago are W. J. Woodward and T. B. Evans, Shubuta County ; Ed Welling- ton and W. G. Strangham, Enterprise County; John T. Hardie.
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You can let their friends know of their fate. With love to all, your devoted nephew, ALEX TROTTER. To Gen. W. B. Trotter, Quitman, Miss.
These were the only letters from Sandusky, Ohio, in the box of letters found in the Statehouse.
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CHAPTER XV.
STORIES OF THE PRISON IN SANDUSKY BAY.
Prison Rules at Johnson's Island-The Grapevine Telegraph-The Opin- ion of Whitelaw Reid-The Execution of Corbin and McGraw-A Pathetic Letter-A Deserter Shot-Campbell, the Spy-Wanted Back in Prison-Adventure of Capt. Gubbins-How Lieut. Bowles was Killed -- A Brave Kentuckian Calmly Meets His Fate.
THE government report shows a total of 7,357 prisoners at one time or another at Johnson's Island, and there are 260 graves. The record shows that only two were killed for disobeying rules.
REGULATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY PRISON AT JOHNSON'S ISLAND.
HEADQUARTERS HOFFMAN'S BATTALION, DEPARTMENT OF PRIS- ONERS OF WAR, NEAR SANDUSKY, OHIO, March 1, 1862.
ORDER No. I .- It is designed to treat prisoners of war with all the kindness compatible with their condition, and as few orders as possible will be issued respecting them, and their own comfort will be chiefly secured by prompt and implicit obedience.
ORDER No. 2 .- The quarters have been erected at great ex- pense by the government for the comfort of prisoners of war ; so the utmost caution should be used against fire, as in case of their destruction the prisoners will be subjected to much ex- posure and suffering for want of comfortable quarters, as others will not be erected and rude shelters only provided.
ORDER NO. 3 .- All prisoners are required to parade in their rooms and answer to their names half an hour after reveille and at retreat.
ORDER NO. 4 .- Meals will be taken at breakfast drum, din- ner drum, and half an hour before retreat.
ORDER NO. 5 .- Quarters must be thoroughly policed by 10 o'clock in the morning.
ORDER No. 6 .- All prisoners will be required to remain in their own quarters after retreat, except when they have occasion to visit the sinks ; lights will be extinguished at taps, and no fires will be allowed after that time.
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STORIES OF THE PRISON IN SANDUSKY BAY.
ORDER NO. 7 .- Quarrels and disorders of every kind are strictly prohibited.
ORDER No. 8 .- Prisoners occupying officers' quarters in Blocks I, 2, 3, and 4 will not be permitted to visit the soldiers' quarters in Blocks 5, 6, 7, and 8, nor go upon the grounds in their vicinity, nor beyond the line of stakes between the officers and soldiers' quarters, nor will the soldiers be allowed to go upon the ground in the vicinity of the officers' quarters, or beyond the line of stakes between the officers' and soldiers' quarters.
ORDER No. 9 .-- No prisoners will be allowed to loiter between the buildings or by the north and west fences, and they will be permitted north of the buildings only when passing to and from the sinks ; nor will they approach the fences anywhere else nearer than thirty feet, as the line is marked out by the stakes.
ORDER No. 10 .- Guards and sentinels will be required to fire upon all who violate the above orders. Prisoners will, therefore. bear them carefully in mind, and be governed by them. To for- get under such circumstances is inexcusable, and may prove fatal.
By order of William S. Pierson.
B. W. WELLS, Lieutenant and Post Adjutant.
In speaking of that great news agency in all prisons, "the grape- vine telegraph line," Colonel Barbiere says in his "Scraps from Prison Mess :"
The grapevine of Johnson's Island is one of the most remark- able things on the island. It is under the control of men whose . reputation for creating expedients are of camp-wide notoriety. They build up the most wonderful stories of speedy exchange, of paroles, of great victories by the Confederate armies, utter annihilation of Federal hosts, and the taking of thousands of prisoners. It has an agent in each mess, whose arrival with the latest news is received with strained eyeballs and palpitating hearts, every word of which is eagerly swallowed, because the wish is father to the thought; and hope is the strongest element in our nature, lasting beyond the grave.
I think the grapevine line was a powerful agent in assisting to develop the slumbering element that burst upon the country with the inauguration of war. Legislatures were influenced by its action. The grapevine line did much in bringing this bloody and fraternal strife upon the country. There are true men who know this to be a fact.
The sutler, Joe, is the Sandusky agent of this line, and is quite a character in his way.
Captain Riley is the chief, but Joe is the "Friday" of tlie es- tablishment. Joe winks at you and says, "It is all right," smug- gles in a drop of the "crather," and charges you double price.
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
Joe is a clever fellow and, for a sutler, is as honest as a sutler can well be. He has been kind and obliging to us, and has our hearts' remembrance.
Speaking of affairs at Johnson's Island in 1864, the Hon. Whitelaw Reid, in his "Ohio in the War," says:
Here. were officers enough for an army and navy of eighty thousand men. They were within a short distance of the Can- ada main, and still nearer to a Canada island. The prevailing sympathy in Canada was largely in favor of the Rebels, and their every facility and encouragement, short of direct participation in our war, was extended to the large Rebel force from its army and navy maintained in Canada to effect a rescue of these officers.
If by such efforts war could be brought on between the United States and England, a great point would be gained by the South. No other depot of prisoners was on the frontier or exposed like this. During the season of navigation it could be reached from Canada in a few hours' night run, and during the winter season men and teams could conveniently cross the lake from island to island, not over five miles of ice intervening in any place.
During the season of ice the location of the depot of prisoners practically ceased to be an island. The capture of that depot, or the rescue of the prisoners confined there, would not only be of immense advantage to the Rebel cause and give them great eclat, but would be a deep humiliation to our government and people, and would almost certainly be attended by attacks upon our lake commerce and devastation of our lake towns.
The officers confined on the Island had a large range of friends and acquaintances in the loyal States. For them the Rebel emis- saries traveling in those States, and in the secret orders known as "Knights of the Golden Circle" and "Sons of Liberty," had an especial sympathy, and were anxious to aid them by means of rescue, or with places of refuge or concealment. They had the means of knowing cach cther.
These facts, with the difficulty about exchanges, stimulated. machinations for rescue, front and rear, and kept the prisoners constantly on the qui vive for any desperate adventure until after the fall of Petersburg.
During the month of May, 1863, a number of sympathizers with the Southern cause were brought to Johnson's Island to serve sentences at hard labor. One of these was named Thomas Sullivan, who had attempted to enlist a company of men for the war. He was ostensibly recruiting for the Union army, but sub- sequent events showed that he hoped to get his men South. He
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STORIES OF THE PRISON IN SANDUSKY BAY.
was court-martialed in Cincinnati and sent to Sandusky in irons, but no further mention is made concerning him in the newspapers of that day.
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