Have been reading over the last few pages of my diary. It
sounds well, but the rebel flag still floats over Belle Isle. Our escapade was
a grand fizzle, and all hands have been punished in more ways than one in the
last few days. Bossieux suspected something going on among us and had us
secretly watched, and long before we had made a move toward fulfilling our
projected plans we were thrown into a guard house on the island; next morning
taken out of it, and underwent a severe cross-questioning He found our rebel
clothing, food we had packed, found the lock to the boat broke, and numerous
other signs of an abandonment. Well, the result has been that we were bucked
and gagged twice a day for an hour each time, and for four hours each of us
carried a big stick of wood up and down in front of the gate, a guard to prick
us with his bayonet if we walked too slow to suit him. Then Hendryx has been
strung up by the thumbs. Nights we have been thrown into a damp, cold guard
house to shiver all night. Every day now for six days we have walked with our
sticks of wood so many hours per day, and last night were turned inside with
all the prisoners to stay, Bossieux says, till we rot, he can place no
dependence in us.
SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 30
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