management.

Mr. John A. Reaume, a well-known resident of Indianapolis, who was hospital steward at the city hospital, says:

In our hospital, so far as I ever knew or heard, the prisoners were delighted with their treatment. I often meet some of their number, especially in Kentucky, and they never fail to refer with gratitude to their treatment at our hospital.

COLD WEATHER.

MR. WYETH Complains that he and his associates had no straw, and yet the official records at Washington show that during the months of February, March, October, November, and December, 1863, and January and February, 1864, 78,792 pounds of straw were issued to the prisoners at Camp Morton, and that the total amount issued during the winter months to the prisoners confined there was 234,272 pounds.

He says further: "The only attempt at heating this open shed [barracks No. 4] was by four stoves placed at equal distances along the passage-way, and that up to Christmas, 1864, I had not felt the heat of a stove." The building being eighty feet long, and the stoves being but twenty feet apart, it follows that the farthest a man could get from a stove was ten feet! Dr. P. H. Jameson, Surgeon-in-chief of Camp Morton, and still one of the most prominent physicians of Indianapolis, says:

I remember those stoves. They were of the regulation camp kind, large cast-iron box affairs taking in a four-foot stick of wood. There was a plentiful supply of wood in camp all the time. Prior to January 1, 1864, I went through those barracks often and had no difficulty in getting as close to the stoves as I wanted to, sometimes closer. When Wyeth came into camp he had the pneumonia as had hundreds of his comrades, and the seemingly high death-rate at that time was owing to that fact, as the high death-rate at Denver, Colorado, is owing to the fact that persons go there with the seeds of the disease in their systems so far developed as to render cure impossible.

Mr. Wyeth says: "A number were frozen to death, and many more perished from diseases brought on by exposure added to their condition of emaciation for lack of food. I counted eighteen dead bodies carried into the deadhouse one morning after an intensely cold night."

In this statement he evidently refers to what is remembered in Indianapolis as "the cold New Year's day," viz., January 1, 1864. From

VOL. XLII.-97.

The morning of New Year's day presented us with the coldest weather ever known here. On Thursday, December 31, at one o'clock P. M., the thermometer was 40 degrees above zero, at which time it began going down rapidly until it reached zero before eleven o'clock and 20 degrees below most moderate temperature on New Year's day before daylight on New Year's morning. The was 12 degrees below zero, and it did not rise above zero until Saturday afternoon, thus being more than 36 hours below zero.

The "Indianapolis Journal" of January 2, 1864, stated:

soldiers belonging to the veteran reserve corps, who were guarding the prisoners at Camp Morton, were frozen to death on the night previous. Governor O. P. Morton requested General H. B. Carrington, United States Army, then on special duty in this State, to visit all of the camps and hospitals in and around the city, to inspect and report as to their condition and the amount of suffering that had resulted from the intensely cold weather. The following is an extract from his

There was a rumor that several of the union

report:

"Among the prisoners there is less sickness than usual. I visited nearly every barracks and the hospitals. The men were cheerful and thankful; in fifty letters sent out nearly every one spoke kindly of their treatment. One prisoner said to me, It would be extravagant to ask for anything else.' Seven hundred extra blankets and many shoes had been issued. They lacked for nothing indispensable to their personal health and comfort."

The "Indianapolis Journal" of January 4, 1864, says:

We are pleased to state that the item in Saturday's journal relating to soldiers freezing to death at Camp Morton is incorrect. Although the late cold snap has been very severe on the had their ears, noses, and feet nipped by the icy guards on duty there, and quite a number have winds of the past few days, no fatality has resulted

therefrom.

There was issued to prisoners at Camp Morton during January, 1864, 600 cords of wood, and in February of the same year 560 cords. There was issued in all 11,641 cords.

Mr. Wyeth was afflicted with double vision when he "counted eighteen dead bodies car

ried into the dead-house." The coldest weather during his imprisonment was in the months of January and February, 1864. A letter from the War Department says that "during the months of December, 1863, and January and February, 1864, the records show that the mortality among the prisoners on no one day was greater than nine deaths. No one died from freezing." This statement corresponds with the books of the undertakers who buried the dead from CampMorton. They show that the largest number of deaths that ever occurred among the rebel prisoners at

OLD CITY HOSPITAL, INDIANAPOLIS.

Mr. Elijah Hedges, a reputable citizen of Indianapolis, who resides at 305 East New York street, and now the oldest undertaker in the city, was an employee of the firm who buried those who died at Camp Morton. He says "there never were eighteen dead bodies in what was called the dead-house at one time."

Dr. J. W. Hervey, one of the oldest and most respectable physicians in Indianapolis, was surgeon-in-charge of "Burnside Barracks," which were occupied by the Veteran Reserve Corps, the principal guards on duty at Camp Morton. He says: "I remember the cold night, January 1, 1864. Our guards suffered fearfully, but no soldier or prisoner of war was frozen to death."

Camp Morton in one day was nine, on the 25th day of January, 1864.

General A. A. Stevens says:

I remember the cold January very well, and worried a great deal about the men. Without authority I made a requisition on the Quartermaster for several hundred blankets. I was liable to be hauled over the coals for doing it, but something had to be done. Indianapolis never had such weather before nor since, and we were not prepared for it. I was so worried about the condition of the prisoners that I could not sleep and almost froze myself. They suffered no more than the rest of us after the new order for blankets was given out.

Hard Bread. Soft Bread

Corn Meal

REGULAR RATION.

A. E. Winship, of the 60th Massachusetts Volunteers, now the editor of the "Boston Traveler," says: "There used to be some tall swearing by the sentries on those nights, as in their loneliness they braved the weather, while the prisoners were comfortably freezing to death, shut in by the high fence, amply protected by the barracks, with four stoves, and under three blankets."

THE RATION.

MR. WYETH says that at no period during his imprisonment was the ration issued sufficient to satisfy hunger, and that he knew from personal observation that many of his comrades died from starvation. He does not give the name of a single person who died from starvation nor offer a particle of testimony to substantiate his remarkable statement. During the first half of his imprisonment the prisoners received the full army ration. But this being in excess of the needs of inactive men, it was slightly reduced June 1, 1864. The two rations are herewith subjoined, and each reader may de

14 oz., or

18 oz., or

18 oz.

Soap..

Hominy or Rice

Sugar

Rio Coffee, ground.

Tea

Soap

Candles-adamantine

Candles-tallow

Salt...

4

lbs. for each 100 men.

termine for himself whether men who should

receive the reduced ration would starve or suffer from hunger.

A letter from the War Department says:

The difference between the ration as above established and the ration allowed by law to soldiers of the United States army constituted the "savings" which formed the "prison fund." With this fund was purchased such articles not provided by the regulations as were necessary for the health and proper condition of the prisoners, as well as table furniture, cooking utensils, articles for policing, straw, the means of improving or enlarging the barracks, hospital, etc.

That the Government did not intend to stint the prisoners is shown by the fact that the difference in the cost of the two rations was credited to the "prison fund," and that a ration about equal to the full army ration was given to such prisoners as were employed upon the public works, and by regulation No. 3: "If the ration of soap, salt, or vinegar is found to be insufficient, it will be increased in such proportion as may be deemed proper by the commanding officer of the post, not to exceed in quantity the ration allowed soldiers of the United States Army."

Tables prepared by Wm. H. Hart, Third Auditor of the Treasury, at Washington, D. C., in whose office the accounts of commissaries of subsistence are filed and settled, show that the whole number of rations issued to prisoners of war at Camp Morton from February 22, 1862, to July 31, 1865, was 2,626,684. I herewith append, as a sample exhibit, a statement for the year 1864, which shows in detail the kind and quantity of rations issued.

Mr. Wyeth states in a note that "it would be interesting to discover how many times the contract to feed the prisoners at Camp Morton was sublet. I have no doubt the Government intended to issue to each prisoner the regulation prison ration above given as official, but I know it never was received. I believe (in fact I heard while there) that it dwindled under the contract system." away

It is, perhaps, just as well that Mr. Wyeth did not make this charge more definite. It is no credit to his ability to judge what was done in Camp Morton, or to his subsequent information about army matters, to assert, or not to know that the Government did not let contracts to feed its soldiers or the prisoners of war. The Commissary of Subsistence for this department was required to advertise every sixty days for bids for such articles as he desired, and to let all contracts to the lowest reponsible bidder. These goods were to be received and delivered at such times and places and in such quantities. as the Commissary should direct. Every article

2918

90,463

31

2861

80.108

28

2552

79.226

31

2252

67.561

Apl. 1

Apl. 30

138 Lbs. 16 Bbls. &

S 473 Bbls. &

21,991

......

42.237

188 Lbs.

2550

79.528

May I

May 31

32.299

......

24.369

11,134 10,134

168

411 Bbls.

3201

96,046

June I

June 30

29,629

42.560

&3 Lbs.

13,551

3.996

14.407

...

..

1,635

4901

50096

4915

5351

5017

...

...

5152

contracted for was to be the best in the market, and all goods received were to be carefully inspected, and if found to be below the standard were to be rejected. Were these requirements obeyed? Let us see. The rations for Camp Morton were issued by Captain Thomas Foster, now of Greenbrier, Tennessee, and Captain Joseph P. Pope, the present QuartermasterGeneral for the State of Indiana, and a resident of Indianapolis. These officers issued supplies direct to Assistant-Commissaries John J. Palmer, 60th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, now a resident of Chicago; W. C. Lupton, 54th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, long since dead; Captain L. L. Moore, now connected with the Quartermaster's Department, U. S. A., and Captain N. Schurtleff, of Peoria, Illinois. The rations were issued by these officers direct to the heads of the various divisions—who were prisoners-upon the order of the commander of the camp, who compared each requisition with the morning reports, to ascertain the number of prisoners present at roll-call. The following is an extract from a card published by Captain Foster in the "Nashville (Tennessee) Banner," April 8, 1891:

I was, during the most of the war, commissaryin-chief of the military district of Indiana and Michigan, and was stationed entirely at Indianapolis, where I had United States commissary warehouses, from which, on regular requisitions,

rice.

I issued the usual army rations of provisions to both the National troops and the Confederate prisoners. They fared exactly alike. The rations to each were the same in quality and quantity. There were no differences made between the prisoners and National troops in the field; the Camp Morton prisoners had even better fare, for instead of hardtack, a well-equipped bakery on the spot furnished them soft and fresh baker's bread daily, my commissary depot supplying a prime article of flour for the consumption of the bakery. The best bacon and fresh beef were issued to the prisoners, and coffee, sugar, beans, hominy, and could consume the liberal rations furnished by Neither the troops nor the prisoners the Government, and both made large savings, and the United States Commissary of Prisoners, in his frequent periodical rounds, was not slow to demand of me promptly in cash the value of the prisoners' savings, which he expended in getting them tobacco and various other comforts not in the line of regular rations. It is within my knowledge that the winter quarters and bedding were troops in the camp who guarded them, and who about as good as were enjoyed by the National really suffered hardships from the winter severities when mounted as sentinels on the high platform near the top of the fence of the corral. . . . Governor Morton was not the man to tolerate any but the most humane treatment of prisoners under his care and watchful eye, as were those of Camp Morton. . . . It is true the prisoners' camp was not a paradise — it was not a parlor, nor were feather-beds issued to them by the Quartermaster's Department, but they were made comforta

ble, had plenty to eat, pure water to drink and for washing, and were urged to keep themselves in good health by athletic sports and ball-playing, which I have seen them engaged in and apparently much enjoying. Some of the prisoners thought trustworthy and honorable were allowed to go out on parole [returning at night] and to engage in pursuits by which they earned a little money to send to their families. I employed one or two clerks of this kind myself.

Captain Joseph P. Pope succeeded Captain Thomas Foster as Commissary of the Department of Indiana during the summer of 1864. Captain Pope says:

My purchases were made through public advertising every sixty days. The supplies bought were not surpassed in quality anywhere. The issues of flour reached one hundred barrels per day, which was made up in one-pound loaves of soft bread, unsurpassed in quality by any private family or public bakery. Samples of the baking were sent to my office daily. The bakery was within the inclosure where the prisoners were confined, and was under charge of State authorities, and to General Stone, who was directly in charge, there was paid by me from $6000 to $8000 every month for and on account of the savings" on flour alone. This money was expended for supplies not furnished by the Government, and these supplies thus purchased were issued to the rebel prisoners as well as to the Union forces, including the guards. The rebel prisoners received better supplies than our own soldiers, owing to the fact that almost daily their "friends" were bearers of large hampers of provisions, etc., not embraced in our purchases or furnished by the Government, and these baskets of supplies were delivered to them. The only complaints ever reaching my ears came from our own soldiers in not receiving "outside supplies" in comparison.

Full rations were issued daily. The best quality of fresh beef was issued every other day, and it is a well-known fact that the "poor, emaciated " rebel prisoners left Camp Morton fat and in good condition. I was in this camp many times, and can testify to what I saw ; there was no complaint of want of food; there were immense sugar caldrons into which the best quality of fresh beef by quarters was cut up and placed, making soup by the one thousand gallons. Potatoes by the carload were purchased and issued.

It is a significant fact that every officer connected with the subsistence department at Camp Morton during the war was then and still is a poor man, and no one has ever dared to impugn the integrity of any of their number.

General Stevens says:

I went to Camp Morton November 1, 1863, took command immediately, and remained there until the end of the war. The food was good and there was plenty of it. It is true the prisoners were not given ice-cream and pie, but they had bread, pork or bacon, fresh beef, beans or peas,

hominy, potatoes, besides vinegar, salt, and soap. We never heard any complaints of lack of food. There were no cases of starvation. The rations were served regularly, and every prisoner received his share. Wyeth tells of a man who used to eat out of the swill-barrel. There was such a case, but the man was a low-lived sort of a fellow, and the other prisoners when they found it out ducked him in the barrel. There was one instance of rateating, and I also heard of the men eating a dogstew, but these cases were similar to that of swilleating. We had thousands of prisoners, and among them were many of the dirtiest and lowest specimens of humanity possible to imagine. Dr. Charles J. Kipp says:

I know that the refuse material of the swill-bar

rels of the hospital was often carried away by the prisoners. I reported this fact to the officers, and was assured by them that the men who did this had either sold their rations or lost them through gambling.

General A. P. Hovey, the present Governor of Indiana, was in command of this district from August 25, 1864. He says:

My headquarters were at Indianapolis, and Camp Morton, containing from 3500 to 4500 rebel prisoners, was under my command during all of that period. I visited and inspected the camp once or twice a week during the time of my command. The food of the prisoners was ample, and I never heard any complaint of the scarcity of provisions, or that the prisoners suffered from hunger. They fared better than our soldiers in the field, and many luxuries were sent them from their friends.

General H. B. Carrington, United States Army, a part of whose duty was to inspect and report on the condition of the camps and hospitals at Indianapolis, says:

There never was any restriction upon the prisoners receiving favors from friends nor upon correspondence except what was necessary to prevent plots to escape. There never was a time when a reasonable complaint as to rations or treatment was rudely or wrongfully disregarded. There

never was a time when the rations were insuffi

cient or unwholesome. The bread was of the best. No prisoner was either starved or frozen to death. On one occasion I made a visit to every barracks, and half a day was spent in inquiry as to their condition and wants; not a single comacted upon. . . . The complaint most common plaint was made, except a suggestion, which was outside was that the prisoners were permitted too many favors from friends.

William J. Robie, a well-known and prominent citizen of Richmond, Ind., was a member of the 60th Massachusetts Volunteers, and a guard at Camp Morton. He says:

I talked freely with the prisoners, and never heard them complain that they did not receive the full ration ordered by the War Department.