went north on Yankee transports, Buckner went with them. There were 15,000 Confederates captured that day. They were all sent north to the prison camps. Seven thousand of the men were sent to Camp Douglas, Ill., three of them were the BAILEY brothers. WILLIAM EDWIN, EZEKIEL M. & ROBERT N.

 The steamboats left on Monday the 17th. The prisoners didn't know their destination. The weather was still very cold. They arrived at Alton, Ill. the following Saturday, the 22nd they were marched to boxcars, into which were crowded fifty to a car. Eighteen hours later they emerged at Chicago.

 It was Sunday, they had no fires and nothing to eat or drink, only a tin cup full of hot coffee for each man. They were marched to Camp Douglas prison. Most of the men were stricken with erysipelas.

 At Camp Douglas. Ill, there was only one surgeon for a prisoner population of over 7000. Some thought was being given to employing some civilian surgeons to help with the treatment of the sick.

 Among the first steps to he taken in caring for the prisoners was getting their name enrolled. To each mess, according to international law and the regulations of the army, was to be issued the same food in quality and quantity as was given to the enlisted soldiers of the forces of the United States. In addition, those for whom the prescribed ration did not furnish sufficient luxury or variety, were permitted to purchase from a licensed sutler other food and necessary supplies, except intoxicants. The prisoners were allowed to have money for these purchases, although large amounts sent or given to prisoners were administered by the commanding officer. Visitors, except close and loyal relatives of the sick, were not permitted. Finally, the prisoners were not permitted to leave the confines of the camp.

 Placing the prisoners in confinement, and establishing rules for the proper discipline of the camps weren’t the only necessities to which the United States had to attend. The laws of war oblige the captor to feed the prisoners, to clothe them, and to provide them with the necessary comforts of life. This was a minimum requirement, and might be modified by, conventions with the enemy to supply specified kinds of food and clothing or to allow other privileges to the captured. Since there was no arrangement with the forces of the seceding states, Gen. Meigs early pointed out that the United States was only obliged to give the prisoners one ration a day. In case they needed clothing, they might be placed in a position to earn it by their own labor. The regulation ration, which the prisoners were to receive, consisted of three-fourths of a pound of bacon or one and one-quarter pounds of beef, one and one-third pounds white or one and one-quarter pounds of corn-bread, one-tenth pound of coffee, one and one half ounces of rice or hominy, one-sixth pound of sugar, a gill of vinegar, one candle, a tablespoonful of salt, and beans, potatoes, and molasses in small amounts. It cost ten to fifteen cents per prisoner a day. The prisoners were required to do their own cooking.

 Since these rations, which consisted mainly of meat, bread, and rice or hominy was considered too much for men leading a sedentary life; portions of the issues were ordered withheld.

 In addition to feeding the prisoners, it was necessary for the United States Government to guard them against exposure due to their insufficient clothing. Prisoners were allowed to receive gifts from friends but it was obvious that this method would not suffice to keep any large proportion of them well clad. Meigs instructed Hoffman to furnish them with "such clothing and bedding as may be absolutely necessary for their health and comfort." In the latter part of January 1862, Hoffman was informed that defective clothing, which had been rejected as unfit army use, was to be issued to the prisoners of war. He was also authorized to issue army blankets, as they were needed. Hoffman decided that blankets and clothing would both be needed, as he believed that it would be necessary to discard the filthy clothing worn by prisoners when they arrived at a camp.

 When the prisoners from Fort Donelson arrived, Hoffman found his expectations justified. Reports from Camp Butler declared that they were the "hardest looking set of men ever brought together." Their uniforms were rags of all colors, and they were equipped with strips of carpets for blankets. Such of their clothing as was fit for use was adapted to a warmer climate than that of the northern camps. Clothing was issued to the prisoners from the condemned stock; and from supplies of materials not of the regulation color or cut. Friends were allowed to send clothing to the destitute and some of the prison commanders had a tendency to neglect issuing clothing in order to force the prisoners' friends to take action in their behalf. New clothing was issued even to the eve of exchange, being stopped just before exchange was completed since such issues would be gifts to the Southern armies

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Last Update Friday, 09-Mar-2018 02:40:33 CST