l away. On one occasion for sixty hours
we had not a morsel to eat.

At Roper Hospital Prison, in Charleston, our exact rations were
for ten days, two and a third quarts of corn-meal, two quarts of
rice, three pints of black beans (including bugs,) and four
ounces (daily) of fresh beef, or in lieu thereof, two ounces of
bacon. No cooking utensils were to be had. We certainly should
have starved to death here, had it not been for an arrangement
made for obtaining money which enabled us to purchase food of
the citizens. The authorities gave us Confederate money in
exchange for our drafts (in gold) on the North.

At Columbia we were turned into an open field like a drove of
cattle to pass the winter months, without any shelter whatever,
neither cooking utensils, axes, spades or anything were issued
that would enable us to make ourselves comfortable. With scanty
clothing, but few blankets, some without shoes, we were left
here to pass the winter as best we could. Rations consisted of
corn-meal and rice. Twelve days rations of rice made one meal.
Salt was issued in small quantities, and for four consecutive
days we had none at all. On September 26th and 27th, we had
nothing to eat. One or two issues of flour were made, but no
meat of any kind was provided.

While on our way to Charlotte, the train ran into a drove of
cattle, killing three, which were issued to us, making the only
meat rations we had had for four months and ten days. At Raleigh
we met several trains loaded with enlisted men going north to be
paroled. Nearly all were sick and very dirty and black; no soap
having been issued to them for six months. Nineteen out of one
train had died since leaving Salisbury, a distance of 132 miles,
mostly of starvation, though some who were on the top of the
cars were frozen to death. On Monday morning they had half a
loaf of bread, weighing not over five ounces issued to them,
since which time the rebels had issued _not a particle of food_.
It was then Thursday noon. How soon thereafter rations were
issued to them I am unable to state.

FOOTNOTES:

[3] So named, because that was the principal ration we received
while there.

[4] The first six months of prison life one is called a "fresh
fish," the next four months a "sucker," the next two a "dry cod,"
and the balance of hi