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to give a considerable degree of consistency to the soil。 The internal
structure of the hills； as revealed by the deep wells； is similar to that
already described。 The alternate layers of clay and sand； as well as the
oxide of iron； which forms in its various combinations a cement to the
sand； allow of extensive tunneling。 The prisoners not only constructed
numerous dirt huts with balls of clay and sand； taken from the wells
which they have excavated all over those hills； but they have also； in
some cases； tunneled extensively from these wells。 The lower portions of
these hills； bordering on the stream； are wet and boggy from the constant
oozing of water。 The Stockade was built originally to accommodate only
ten thousand prisoners； and included at first seventeen acres。 Near the
close of the month of June the area was enlarged by the addition of ten
acres。 The ground added was situated on the northern slope of the
largest hill。
The average number of square feet of ground to each prisoner in August
1864： 35。7
Within the circumscribed area of the Stockade the Federal prisoners were
compelled to perform all the offices of lifecooking； washing； the calls
of nature； exercise； and sleeping。 During the month of March the prison
was less crowded than at any subsequent time； and then the average space
of ground to each prisoner was only 98。7 feet； or less than seven square
yards。 The Federal prisoners were gathered from all parts of the
Confederate States east of the Mississippi； and crowded into the confined
space； until in the month of June the average number of square feet of
ground to each prisoner was only 33。2 or less than four square yards。
These figures represent the condition of the Stockade in a better light
even than it really was； for a considerable breadth of land along the
stream； flowing from west to east between the hills； was low and boggy；
and was covered with the excrement of the men； and thus rendered wholly
uninhabitable； and in fact useless for every purpose except that of
defecation。 The pines and other small trees and shrubs； which originally
were scattered sparsely over these hills； were in a short time cut down
and consumed by the prisoners for firewood； and no shade tree was left in
the entire enclosure of the stockade。 With their characteristic industry
and ingenuity； the Federals constructed for themselves small huts and
caves； and attempted to shield themselves from the rain and sun and night
damps and dew。 But few tents were distributed to the prisoners；
and those were in most cases torn and rotten。 In the location and
arrangement of these tents and huts no order appears to have been
followed； in fact； regular streets appear to be out of the question in so
crowded an area； especially too； as large bodies of prisoners were from
time to time added suddenly without any previous preparations。
The irregular arrangement of the huts and imperfect shelters was very
unfavorable for the maintenance of a proper system of police。
The police and internal economy of the prison was left almost entirely in
the hands of the prisoners themselves； the duties of the Confederate
soldiers acting as guards being limited to the occupation of the boxes
or lookouts ranged around the stockade at regular intervals； and to the
manning of the batteries at the angles of the prison。 Even judicial
matters pertaining to themselves； as the detection and punishment of such
crimes as theft and murder appear to have been in a great measure
abandoned to the prisoners。 A striking instance of this occurred in the
month of July； when the Federal prisoners within the Stockade tried；
condemned； and hanged six （6） of their own number； who had been convicted
of stealing and of robbing and murdering their fellow…prisoners。 They
were all hung upon the same day； and thousands of the prisoners gathered
around to witness the execution。 The Confederate authorities are said
not to have interfered with these proceedings。 In this collection of men
from all parts of the world； every phase of human character was
represented； the stronger preyed upon the weaker； and even the sick who
were unable to defend themselves were robbed of their scanty supplies of
food and clothing。 Dark stories were afloat； of men； both sick and well；
who were murdered at night； strangled to death by their comrades for
scant supplies of clothing or money。 I heard a sick and wounded Federal
prisoner accuse his nurse； a fellow…prisoner of the United States Army；
of having stealthily； during his sleep inoculated his wounded arm with
gangrene； that he might destroy his life and fall heir to his clothing。
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
The large number of men confined within the Stockade soon； under a
defective system of police； and with imperfect arrangements； covered the
surface of the low grounds with excrements。 The sinks over the lower
portions of the stream were imperfect in their plan and structure； and
the excrements were in large measure deposited so near the borders of the
stream as not to be washed away； or else accumulated upon the low boggy
ground。 The volume of water was not sufficient to wash away the feces；
and they accumulated in such quantities in the lower portion of the
stream as to form a mass of liquid excrement heavy rains caused the water
of the stream to rise； and as the arrangements for the passage of the
increased amounts of water out of the Stockade were insufficient； the
liquid feces overflowed the low grounds and covered them several inches；
after the subsidence of the waters。 The action of the sun upon this
putrefying mass of excrements and fragments of bread and meat and bones
excited most rapid fermentation and developed a horrible stench。
Improvements were projected for the removal of the filth and for the
prevention of its accumulation； but they were only partially and
imperfectly carried out。 As the forces of the prisoners were reduced by
confinement； want of exercise； improper diet； and by scurvy； diarrhea；
and dysentery； they were unable to evacuate their bowels within the
stream or along its banks； and the excrements were deposited at the very
doors of their tents。 The vast majority appeared to lose all repulsion
to filth； and both sick and well disregarded all the laws of hygiene and
personal cleanliness。 The accommodations for the sick were imperfect and
insufficient。 From the organization of the prison； February 24； 1864； to
May 22； the sick were treated within the Stockade。 In the crowded
condition of the Stockade； and with the tents and huts clustered thickly
around the hospital； it was impossible to secure proper ventilation or to
maintain the necessary police。 The Federal prisoners also made frequent
forays upon the hospital stores and carried off the food and clothing of
the sick。 The hospital was； on the 22d of May； removed to its present
site without the Stockade； and five acres of ground covered with oaks and
pines appropriated to the use of the sick。
The supply of medical officers has been insufficient from the foundation
of the prison。
The nurses and attendants upon the sick have been most generally Federal
prisoners； who in too many cases appear to have been devoid of moral
principle； and who not only neglected their duties； but were also engaged
in extensive robbing of the sick。
From the want of proper police and hygienic regulations alone it is not
wonderful that from February 24 to September 21； 1864； nine thousand four
hundred and seventy…nine deaths； nearly one…third the entire number of
prisoners； should have been recorded。 I found the Stockade and hospital
in the following condition during my pathological investigations；
instituted in the month of September； 1864：
STOCKADE； CONFEDERATE STATES MILITARY PRISON。
At the time of my visit to Andersonville a large number of Federal
prisoners had been removed to Millen； Savannah； Charleston； and other
parts of； the Confederacy； in anticipation of an advance of General
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 nort