A weak and disagreeable
state of body since last date has waived my practice of noting; but everything
has been as now—"hell upon earth." We have a few dottings of this
kind: the Rebel quartermaster is from Baltimore, and to counteract some
suspicions of his speculating in rations, makes lots of promises when he comes
in of late. One of our fellows got thick with him and told him where to find a
tunnel, for a plug of tobacco. Soon after he came with a squad of negroes armed
with feeling rods and spades, found and filled it. It had baffled their
scrutiny for three days. The man who revealed the secret betrayed himself and
that evening was hunted out, given a clean shave of his head and on his
forehead was tattooed the word. "Traitor." Next day rations were
ordered withheld till those who did the job reported at the gate. I don't know
that anyone reported but rations came the day after leaving us a vacuum of one
day.
Petitions have been
circulating praying our government for relief. I did not sign. They are
sanctioned by Rebel authority, intended to produce political effect and to
leave the impression in the North that the prisoners condemn government policy
in reference to exchange, therefore to serve a purpose of its enemies. It
abounds in dictation and censure, suppressing facts.
Reports of movements
in north Virginia are true. Sherman is up to Atlanta; Johnston relieved by
Hood. They think Johnston, fights on the principle that "He who fights and
runs away will live to fight another day." Federal cavalry at Montgomery
and Taladega, Ala., and at Macon, Ga., only 60 miles away, which causes great
excitement here. The Rebels are fortifying. Droves of negroes are brought here
from plantations and put to work. Troops and citizens, all sexes and sizes,
flock in and quarters are being built, making a ville of the place. We look
over to it from high ground and reflect that it is one of the new born of
Secessia. A man near the stream cut his own throat today. Several hundred Rebel
soldiers are shipped by rail for Macon. Three men brought in whom the Rebels
suspect were scouts. They were put in the stocks several hours, but gave no
information. James English of our company, of New York City, died July 17th.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 92
