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Sherman's forces from Atlanta； with the design of liberating their
captive brethren； however； about fifteen thousand prisoners remained
confined within the limits of the Stockade and Confederate States
Military Prison Hospital。
In the Stockade； with the exception of the damp lowlands bordering the
small stream； the surface was covered with huts； and small ragged tents
and parts of blankets and fragments of oil…cloth； coats； and blankets
stretched upon stacks。 The tents and huts were not arranged according to
any order； and there was in most parts of the enclosure scarcely room for
two men to walk abreast between the tents and huts。
If one might judge from the large pieces of corn…bread scattered about in
every direction on the ground the prisoners were either very lavishly
supplied with this article of diet； or else this kind of food was not
relished by them。
Each day the dead from the Stockade were carried out by their fellow…
prisoners and deposited upon the ground under a bush arbor； just outside
of the Southwestern Gate。 From thence they were carried in carts to the
burying ground； one…quarter of a mile northwest； of the Prison。 The dead
were buried without coffins； side by side； in trenches four feet deep。
The low grounds bordering the stream were covered with human excrements
and filth of all kinds； which in many places appeared to be alive with
working maggots。 An indescribable sickening stench arose from these
fermenting masses of human filth。
There were near five thousand seriously ill Federals in the Stockade and
Confederate States Military Prison Hospital； and the deaths exceeded one
hundred per day； and large numbers of the prisoners who were walking
about； and who had not been entered upon the sick reports； were suffering
from severe and incurable diarrhea； dysentery； and scurvy。 The sick were
attended almost entirely by their fellow…prisoners； appointed as nurses；
and as they received but little attention； they were compelled to exert
themselves at all times to attend to the calls of nature； and hence they
retained the power of moving about to within a comparatively short period
of the close of life。 Owing to the slow progress of the diseases most
prevalent； diarrhea； and chronic dysentery； the corpses were as a general
rule emaciated。
I visited two thousand sick within the Stockade； lying under some long
sheds which had been built at the northern portion for themselves。 At
this time only one medical officer was in attendance； whereas at least
twenty medical officers should have been employed。
Died in the Stockade from its organization； February 24； 186l to
September 2l 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。3；254
Died in Hospital during same time 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。6；225
Total deaths in Hospital and Stockade 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。9；479
Scurvy； diarrhea； dysentery； and hospital gangrene were the prevailing
diseases。 I was surprised to find but few cases of malarial fever； and
no well…marked cases either of typhus or typhoid fever。 The absence of
the different forms of malarial fever may be accounted for in the
supposition that the artificial atmosphere of the Stockade； crowded
densely with human beings and loaded with animal exhalations；
was unfavorable to the existence and action of the malarial poison。
The absence of typhoid and typhus fevers amongst all the causes which are
supposed to generate these diseases； appeared to be due to the fact that
the great majority of these prisoners had been in captivity in Virginia；
at Belle Island； and in other parts of the Confederacy for months； and
even as long as two years； and during this time they had been subjected
to the same bad influences； and those who had not had these fevers before
either had them during their confinement in Confederate prisons or else
their systems； from long exposure； were proof against their action。
The effects of scurvy were manifested on every hand； and in all its
various stages； from the muddy； pale complexion； pale gums； feeble；
languid muscular motions； lowness of spirits； and fetid breath； to the
dusky； dirty； leaden complexion； swollen features； spongy； purple； livid；
fungoid； bleeding gums； loose teeth； oedematous limbs； covered with livid
vibices； and petechiae spasmodically flexed； painful and hardened
extremities； spontaneous hemorrhages from mucous canals； and large； ill…
conditioned； spreading ulcers covered with a dark purplish fungus growth。
I observed that in some of the cases of scurvy the parotid glands were
greatly swollen； and in some instances to such an extent as to preclude
entirely the power to articulate。 In several cases of dropsy of the
abdomen and lower extremities supervening upon scurvy； the patients
affirmed that previously to the appearance of the dropsy they had
suffered with profuse and obstinate diarrhea； and that when this was
checked by a change of diet； from Indian corn…bread baked with the husk；
to boiled rice； the dropsy appeared。 The severe pains and livid patches
were frequently associated with swellings in various parts； and
especially in the lower extremities； accompanied with stiffness and
contractions of the knee joints and ankles； and often with a brawny feel
of the parts； as if lymph had been effused between the integuments and
apeneuroses； preventing the motion of the skin over the swollen parts。
Many of the prisoners believed that the scurvy was contagious； and I saw
men guarding their wells and springs； fearing lest some man suffering
with the scurvy might use the water and thus poison them。
I observed also numerous cases of hospital gangrene； and of spreading
scorbutic ulcers； which had supervened upon slight injuries。 The
scorbutic ulcers presented a dark； purple fungoid； elevated surface； with
livid swollen edges； and exuded a thin； fetid； sanious fluid； instead of
pus。 Many ulcers which originated from the scorbutic condition of the
system appeared to become truly gangrenous； assuming all the
characteristics of hospital gangrene。 From the crowded condition； filthy
habits； bad diet； and dejected； depressed condition of the prisoners；
their systems had become so disordered that the smallest abrasion of the
skin； from the rubbing of a shoe； or from the effects of the sun； or from
the prick of a splinter； or from scratching； or a musketo bite； in some
cases； took on rapid and frightful ulceration and gangrene。 The long use
of salt meat； ofttimes imperfectly cured； as well as the most total
deprivation of vegetables and fruit； appeared to be the chief causes of
the scurvy。 I carefully examined the bakery and the bread furnished the
prisoners； and found that they were supplied almost entirely with corn…
bread from which the husk had not been separated。 This husk acted as an
irritant to the alimentary canal； without adding any nutriment to the
bread。 As far as my examination extended no fault could be found with
the mode in which the bread was baked； the difficulty lay in the failure
to separate the husk from the corn…meal。 I strongly urged the
preparation of large quantities of soup made from the cow and calves'
heads with the