Part 3

_5th day, 6th mo. 23d._ Flying clouds and very hot. There seems to be a good breeze going, but it cannot get to us here. Over seven hundred more prisoners were crowded in to-day. Drew corn bread and bacon, and would have drawn fresh beef, but some objected to it on account of not having wood.

_6th day, 6th mo. 24th._ The weather was similar to yesterday, only hotter. Done nothing of any account.

_7th day, 6th mo. 25th._ Very warm. Drew mush and meat at dark and fried the mush into cakes.

_1st day, 6th mo. 26th._ The weather like yesterday. Drew the same kind of rations, and fried the mush, because it is never more than half done.

_2d day, 6th mo. 27th._ The weather seems to be getting warmer. My diarrhoea gets no better--am so weak that I can hardly walk about. There has been enough prisoners put in the last few days to make nearly twenty-five thousand. (25,000).

_3d day, 6th mo. 28th._ Had a fine shower this afternoon and night. I am very low and weak with the diarrhoea.

_4th day, 6th mo. 29th._ Was very warm, had a thunder storm in the evening. Am weaker than ever and can hardly get along. Did not get any rations, because some of the men took the "raiders"[6] in hand, and after knocking down, and I guess killed some, arrested sixty and gave them over to the old captain. It is said he shot one. Last night they killed a man, and an Indian killed one of them. I took two bacon rinds, and after roasting them by the fire, ate them.

_5th day, 6th mo. 29th._ Was very warm; lay in the tent most of the time; so weak with the chronic diarrhoea that it was as much as I could do to take care of myself.

_6th day, 17th mo. 1st._ Was as hot as ever. I suffered as much as yesterday; am weaker, and still very ill; my head is so dizzy; could hardly walk. The new stockade was opened this forenoon, and all above the forty-ninth detachment were moved in and crowded as close together as we were before. All of us could not put up our shelters in the place allotted to us. Griffith and I made our bed in the street, which is only six feet wide. The new place is on good high ground with plenty of wood. The rumor is that we are to draw raw rations; drew fresh beef and corn meal, of which I ate heartily.

_7th day, 7th mo. 2d._ There was a good breeze all day. After I got up, went to the creek and took a wash, got a canteen and coffee pot full of water, and then a little wood. Made the same kind of breakfast as we did supper last night. About eight o'clock moved down with Clark and Strong, and then crowded nearer the old stockade and towards the lower end of the detachment, and put up our blanket at the end of Strong's tent. All the wood is gathered up by the men, which leaves us with scarcely any. There have been prisoners put in here from all parts this week. Twenty-five thousand is a low estimate. I feel stouter to-day than I have for two weeks; my complaint hardly troubles me. Drew salt for yesterday and meal, beef and salt for to-day. The rumor now is that we will be paroled or exchanged soon, to commence on the seventh, &c., &c. Captain Moore, of the 72d Ohio, was in here to-day and gave this piece of news to us. He has been a prisoner at Macon, was lately exchanged, and came here to see some of the boys of his regiment.

_1st day, 7th mo. 3d._ Griffith and I went to the creek to wash this morning at five o'clock. The creek was dirty and full of black mud, so much so that I would not go in. I took the coffee pot and washed out of it. Got some water and prepared breakfast of beef soup, thickened with corn meal. Had roll-call this forenoon, the first time for three weeks; it was difficult to get the men together, and was eleven o'clock before they got through. Drew no rations to-day, why I know not.

_2d day, 7th mo. 4th._ Was very hot until three o'clock P. M., when we had a heavy thunder storm. Our house let the rain in almost like a riddle. The numbers of the detachments were changed to-day; all that were not full were filled up to two hundred and seventy; our detachment is now number thirty-two, and my mess is the second mess. We got no rations until this evening, when we received meal, boiled and raw beef, and pork. Bread and salt were issued; we got raw beef and miserable bread, with a pinch of salt. We made a pot of mush for our breakfast, coffee and stewed meat for supper; we eat only twice a day. My disease has left me and I am stouter. Was down to the creek this morning at four o'clock and took a good wash.

_3d day, 7th mo. 5th._ To-day was very hot, with a good breeze and flying clouds. Got up this morning at four o'clock, and went to the run and washed my grey shirt and a pair of drawers, without soap. We made a pot of soup with corn meal dumplings. Had roll-call at ten o'clock. Drew meal, fresh beef and a pinch of salt. Made flap-jacks for supper, and fried some of our beef on my plate. Traded some corn meal for a piece of pork to grease the plate with.

_4th day, 7th mo. 6th._ Hot as ever. Over two hundred more men put in to-day. According to rumor, to-morrow is the day to commence paroling. A new rumor says seven thousand are to be taken out to-morrow. Got breakfast of soup off our beef, with corn meal dumplings, and supper of flap-jacks and fried pork. Drew mush, bacon and salt. _I am very well indeed._

_5th day, 7th mo. 7th._ Spent the day as yesterday. No signs of paroling. Very hot to-day. Fred. Smith, who was taken prisoner at Mine Run, came to see me to-day. Drew rotten bacon, corn meal and salt.

_6th day, 7th mo. 8th._ The heat in the afternoon was almost scorching. I borrowed a book of Hatfield, which I read half through. This is the first reading I have done since we have been here. There were one hundred more men put in to-day, all of whom were captured at the James and Morris Island.

_7th day, 7th mo. 9th._ This day was hotter than any day we have had. At four o'clock P. M. had a heavy thunder-shower which lasted until sunset. Spent the day in reading, sleeping, and walking about camp. Two hundred and fifty more prisoners put in to-day. They were mostly from the Potomac Army.

_1st day, 7th mo. 10th._ Drew rations as usual, consisting of meal, pork and salt. Cooked flapjacks and made gravy for supper. Our wood is almost out and I know not where the rest will come from; there is plenty in the place, but it is claimed by others. There were six hundred more prisoners put in to-day from Grant's army.

_2d day, 7th mo. 11th._ Hot, with a little shower in the afternoon. Drew meal, salt and bacon. I had a hard time cooking cakes for breakfast and mush for supper; the wood and roots were too wet. Six of the "raiders" were hung, inside the stockade, by our own men, at five o'clock this evening. The rope of Moseby broke when the drop fell, and let him to the ground; they made him mount the scaffold and try it the second time. One broke loose before he mounted the scaffold and ran through the crowd, but was arrested. I was down helping to draw rations and saw the execution. A large number of prisoners put in to-day.

_3d day, 7th mo. 12th._ Was busy most of the day getting wood out of the run, but could not get much. We are out of wood. I made a small furnace to put my plate on. Was running about a good deal--am as well as I could wish to be. There were two hundred more men put in to-day. I was determined to get an axe to cut some wood, but did not quite get it. I got on the right side of a rebel sergeant, who is a mason, but he could do no more than ask for me of the one who had charge of the shovels and axes.

_4th day, 7th mo. 13th._ Very warm. Could get no axe to-day, but got the promise of one in the morning. Our furnace works first rate. We gathered some roots out of the run, and both of us went down to-night and worked and fished for roots until after ten o'clock. Have got the floor of our tent raised so that the water will not flood us.

_5th day, 7th mo. 14th._ Very hot day. I was up early this morning and down at the run and spring. Got a pot of mush made before roll-call. Got the axe for an hour; we cut enough good pitch pine off a large stump to last us nearly three weeks. Could do little else but lay in the tent after cutting the wood, I was so tired. The diarrhoea shows signs of coming on me again. General Winder had the three sergeants of each detachment taken out, and he told them that he knew of an organized gang of six thousand who were going to get out, &c., and that the men must not get in crowds within one hundred yards of the gate, or he would fire on them with shot and shell; that they had tried to get us exchanged, but could not, and were compelled to keep us; and that they had plenty to keep us with. I noticed plenty of good-looking pies in market for one dollar and fifty cents, watermelons for two and three dollars, and apples for twenty-five and thirty-five cents each.

_6th day, 7th mo. 15th._ Suffered very much with the diarrhoea, which has come back on me as bad as ever.

_7th day, 7th mo. 16th._ The weather continues to grow hotter. I am some better to-day; made gruel by soaking corn meal and boiling the water of it. Yesterday drew a ration of wood which was only half enough to cook a meal.

_1st day, 7th mo. 17th._ The hottest day we have had. I lay in the tent, very weak from the diarrhoea, which is getting better. Made some corn meal gruel for my breakfast. Drew meat, salt and molasses, six spoonsful of the latter as a ration. Had flapjacks for supper.

_2d day, 7th mo. 18th._ Cloudy and cool all day, with rain in the afternoon. The diarrhoea has left me, but I am very weak yet. Had a pot of mush for breakfast. Drew nothing but corn meal to-day; they issued bacon to some of the detachments, but it did not get to us. Some of the men are trying to get up a petition to be sent to the United States, asking its influence towards getting us released.

_3d day, 7th mo. 19th._ Cloudy and pleasant; last night was very cold. Am getting over the diarrhoea again. Drew yesterday's pork at nine this forenoon; then got a breakfast of flapjacks, fried pork and gravy. There was a meeting held to-day in reference to the petition to our Government for our release. The committee appointed at yesterday's meeting reported. General Winder gives his hearty co-operation to the movement, and suggests that six instead of three be sent to our Government with these petitions, which the meeting took steps to appoint. Last evening I got a pint of beans for five postage stamps, and this morning got a _dagger_ for five more.

_4th day, 7th mo. 20th._ Was up soon after four this morning. Cooked G. Hatfield a pot of gruel before roll-call; got our own breakfast after roll-call. Washed a pair of drawers and stockings this morning. The rebels threw up some earthworks as if they expected to be attacked. They appear to be getting reinforcements here. The rumor is that the railroad between here and Macon is cut, and that they are expecting a raid by our cavalry, and that Atlanta is ours.

_5th day, 7th mo. 21st._ Got breakfast after roll-call--had "corn dodgers" and gravy. Drew meal and molasses; got wood for three days. Traded a ration of pork for twenty-five cents worth of wood, and traded a ration of pork for tobacco for Griffith. The rebels seem to be busy fortifying outside. They put a few prisoners in every day.

_6th day, 7th mo. 22d._ Very cloudy and hot. Lay in the house most all the time. Have contracted a cold. More prisoners put in to-day. The rebels are still busy at their earthworks. They find out a tunnel every day and fill it up. Drew meat, salt and meal.

_7th day, 7th mo. 23d._ I caught a bad cold last night, and suffered considerably all day from it. To-day the weather was rather cold.

_1st day, 7th mo. 24th._ Last night was the coldest we have had for some time. My attack of bronchitis has extended far into the chest, and is going to bring on that terrible "army scourge" again. The day was very warm with a good breeze. Drew fresh beef and rice only.

_2d day, 7th mo. 25th._ Suffered last night very much with the cold. This night was the coldest yet. The diarrhoea has returned and is very bad. The day was warm with a good breeze. Drew rice, raw bacon and no salt. I sold a ration of pork and bought two spoonsful of salt.

_3d day, 7th mo. 26th._ Was a pleasant day. Made corn meal gruel for breakfast and supper. Borrowed Clark's infantry tactics and read and slept all day. Drew meal, salt and bacon.

_4th day, 7th mo. 27th._ Was rather pleasant all day. Spent the day as yesterday and drew the same kind of rations. There are a great many rumors about our going to be paroled about the fifth or sixth of next month. There were over two hundred prisoners, mostly one hundred days' men, from the Shenandoah valley, put in to-day.

_5th day, 7th mo. 28th._ To-day is pretty warm. Eat nothing but gruel and boiled rice. About two hundred prisoners put in to-day from Sherman's army. Just as they were ready to enter, the rebels fired a shot across the camp.

_6th day, 7th mo. 29th._ To-day some of the detachments drew molasses; I traded a ration of pork for molasses for supper. Had gruel for breakfast, and boiled rice with the molasses for supper. To-day was warm, with a heavy shower in the evening.

_7th day, 7th mo. 30th._ Was warm. I sold two rations of my meat for twenty-five cents worth of soap, and after roll-call, washed my red shirt. Sold a piece of meat, which Griffith and I had a dispute about, for five cents, and got him a chunk of tobacco.

_1st day, 7th mo. 31st._ Eat my breakfast and lay in the tent most all day. Am very weak from the diarrhoea which I cannot get rid of. J. Matthews is a prisoner here and has come to see me.

_2d day, 8th mo. 1st._ Lay in the tent most of the time. Took a pill which "Gad" got for me to-night; he got one opium and two other pills.

_3d day, 8th mo. 2d._ Took the rest of my medicine to-day, and think I am better. They commenced taking the sick out and away this morning--suppose they have gone to Macon. During fifteen minutes this evening, we had the heaviest shower I ever saw; Griffith was at the spring and got caught in it. Have been drawing rice, salt and bacon this week.

_4th day, 8th mo. 3d._ They have been busy taking the sick away. Drew meal instead of rice to-day. Borrowed Roberts' Bible and read some. Took an opium pill last night which made me sleep until roll-call this morning.

_5th day, 8th mo. 4th._ Was in the shade under the tent most of the day reading the Bible and getting to sleep. Helped to wash Dr. Buckley this evening; he has been very sick all day. Drew pork and rice. Had no roll-call for the first time since we have been in the new stockade. Some sick were sent out to-day--rumor says they are being sent into our lines. To-day was a warm one.

_6th day, 8th mo. 5th._ Spent most of the time in the house. Dr. Buckley is some better; we were going to carry him out. The sick of the first eleven detachments were taken out this afternoon. Drew fresh beef, salt and rice. The diarrhoea has left me again; am pretty stout. Ate only rice soup. Occupied in reading the Bible to-day.

_7th day, 8th mo. 6th._ Was very hot; lay in the house, slept and read. Drew fresh beef, salt and a pint of meal.

_1st day, 8th mo. 7th._ Lay in the tent most of the day, slept and read. Dr. Buckley still keeps poorly.

_2d day, 8th mo. 8th._ Had a heavy shower this afternoon. Spent the day as I do most of them. Read almost through Deuteronomy to-day. Dr. Buckley is no better, but gets worse. Have been drawing fresh beef, meal and salt. We make soup. Reports are favorable to our being paroled, but as yet we know nothing certain about it. The Quartermaster came in yesterday, and told it around among us, that a parole or exchange was to take place soon, and they were going to commence in a few days.

_3d day, 8th mo. 9th._ Was cloudy until about four o'clock this afternoon, when there came up one of the heaviest showers of rain we have had since we came here; it flooded the run and washed some of the stockade above and below, and moved it in several places. They fired off two guns as a signal and out came a large guard. Drew no rations to-day for our detachment; they ceased to issue after getting up to the twentieth. Tried to sell my red shirt, but could not get more than half I asked for it, so I kept it. They have got the frame of a large barracks, large enough for a detachment, at the upper end of the stockade.

_4th day, 8th mo. 10th._ Rather warm. From 9 A. M. to 3 P. M. had a very hard rain, which did not stop until midnight. We got wet, the tent leaking very badly. Did not draw rations until this morning, when we got beans and half a ration of bread. This evening drew half a ration of bread, salt, and a _very small_ ration of beef. Had beef and bean soup for supper; nothing to eat before of any account. I was detailed to draw rations. I carried up a hind quarter of beef. Went and gave Dr. Buckley a sponge bath and washed his shirt in the run.

_5th day, 8th mo. 11th._ George Hatfield died last night or early this morning. Dr. Buckley is getting better. The "Rebs" have got the stockade almost repaired; they are busy putting up a stockade outside of ours. They have some of our boys putting up barracks near our detachment. Had a heavy rain this afternoon. Did not get our rations until very late; got fresh beef and half a ration of bread, but no salt.

_6th day, 8th mo. 12th._ Spent the day reading the Bible and sleeping; it was warm and pleasant. Gave Buckley a sponge bath this afternoon; he is improving rapidly. Have had roll-call the last two mornings. Drew a little meal, a ration of beans, a small ration of beef and a half ration of salt. They are cutting down the rations. The committee of six which were to go into our lines with the petition, went last First day.

_7th day, 8th mo. 13th._ Was cloudy most of the time and pleasant. After roll-call, got five others to help to carry Dr. Buckley to the gate to sick call. The person that Gad sent to attend to his man, ran off, and we did not get him out. Dr. Buckley fainted twice in our hands; carried him part of the way, and helped him the rest. I washed him this evening--he is better. I am busy reading the Bible. There are many rumors about the parole commencing on the 15th. Drew a ration of beans and half a ration of bread and fresh beef. We ate only two pots of bean soup. Sold a ration of beef for ten cents and bought two spoonsful of salt.

_1st day, 8th mo. 14th._ Was a very hot day. Buckley was much worse during the day, but seemed to get better in the evening. I wrote a note to Dr. White, on the outside, asking relief for Buckley, and took it to the Doctor outside, at Doctor's call. Some one told me to put it in the letter box, which I did, after consulting two Masons I had found; one belongs to Ohio and the other is a sergeant in the ninety-eighth detachment. I washed Buckley this evening. Drew beans, half a ration of beef and bread, with a little salt. Ate bean soup for breakfast and rice soup for supper. Have the diarrhoea.

_2d day, 8th mo. 15th._ Spent the day as we did yesterday.

_3d day, 8th mo. 16th._ Was very warm, like yesterday. No signs of a parole yet--rumors are all false about it. Have given Buckley a washing every day; he seems to grow better.

_4th day, 8th mo. 17th._ The weather has been extremely warm. Have been drawing half a ration of bread, fresh beef, salt and beans. I have quit eating beans.

_5th day, 8th mo. 18th._ Was out and got prescribed for. After roll-call got six pills; am very weak; am busy reading the Bible. Still give the Doctor a washing every day; he continues to improve.

_6th day, 8th mo. 19th._ Suffered very much with the diarrhoea. Am getting weaker. Went to the Doctor's and got my medicine continued. Did not get any medicine to-day. Sold my ration of bread and Griffith's for twenty cents, and two and a half rations and one of my own for twenty-five cents, which made me twenty cents in cash. Had a heavy rain this evening.

_7th day, 8th mo. 20th._ Was very warm, with a heavy rain in the evening. Was so weak that I only got out of the tent four times. Buckley was worse. I was not able to bathe him to-day.

_1st day, 8th mo. 21st._ Was in the tent most of the day. Went to the run in the evening and took a bath; gave Dr. Buckley a washing. Had some rain. The Doctor gave me his photograph.

_2d day, 5th mo. 22d._ Very warm. Diarrhoea no better--am very weak--lay in the tent most of the day. Buckley is worse, and has a prospect of getting out to the hospital, through the influence of his friend Rickers.

_3d day, 8th mo. 23d._ Drew rice, molasses and a little pork yesterday, and an old ration of beef, beans and bread, with a little salt to-day. Carried Buckley out of the gate at seven o'clock this morning; got him out among the first, but could not get him in the hospital on account of too many being admitted yesterday.

_4th day, 8th mo. 24th._ About as hot as ever. Went to the Doctor's call and saw Rickers, but there was no chance for Buckley, except by his own surgeon. Have got no medicine for three days. Drew fresh beef, a mouthful of bacon, corn meal, beans and salt. Ate two rations of beans to-day, which is going to make me worse. Some of the commissioned officers, who have been passing off for privates, were taken out to-day, it is said, to be exchanged. Rumors are favorable to a speedy parole.

_5th day, 8th mo. 25th._ Did not go to the Doctor's to-day. Diarrhoea something better. Lay in the house most of the day. Bathed Buckley, who is still very low. Drew one-half ration of bread, salt pork, boiled beef and rice; they are going to give us cooked rations now, and some other detachments raw ones.

_6th day, 8th mo. 26th._ Very warm. Changed our sergeant of mess by putting out Warner and electing George Suson. Went out to the Doctor's and got prescriptions for Buckley, who has the scurvy. My complaint is almost well. The cooked rations agree with me very well. Drew one-half ration of bread and salt, about a pint of boiled beans, and a ration of molasses. Took a walk over to see Mathews this evening.

_7th day, 8th mo. 27th._ Was out to the Doctor's call for Buckley. Spent the day in the old way. Drew some extra molasses this forenoon, and boiled rice, beef, pork and salt for our rations this evening. There was only a mouthful of bacon and the rice only half cooked.

_1st day, 8th mo. 28th._ Was extremely warm. Spent the day as usual.

_2d day, 8th mo. 29th._ Was not well the fore-part of the day and did not get out to the Doctor's. Repeated the vote again for Suson, which elected him, as before. Put Warner in for sergeant of detachment, in place of the sergeant-major, who went out on parole to take charge of ration wagons.

_3d day, 8th mo. 30th._ No Doctor's call. Buckley was worse; I bathed him and washed a shirt for him.

_4th day, 8th mo. 31st._ Washed my drawers this forenoon, and lay about most of the day afterwards. Drew bread, boiled beans, beef, salt and a bit of bacon. Traded my beef for a ration of beans; ate my beans and pork for supper; traded Griffith's bread for tobacco. Was a warm day.

_5th day, 9th mo. 1st._ Was out to the Doctor's call--no medicine--no prescription. Lay in the house most of the day reading the Bible--have got through Jeremiah. The news in the Macon papers is favorable to a speedy exchange. Buckley gets no better. Traded half my bread and beef for beans; ate nothing but a ration and a half of beans for breakfast. Drew the same kind of rations except beans--rice only partly cooked. Last night was so cold that I could not sleep.

_6th day, 9th mo. 2d._ Lay in the house--slept and read most all day. Drew the same rations as yesterday--got a piece of pork as large as my fist for a mess of thirty.