John Smith is here and numerous of his family. So many go by
nick-names, that seldom any go by their real names. Its “Minnesota,” “Big
Charlie,” “Little Jim,” '”Marine Jack,” “Indiana Feller,” “Mopey,” “ Skinny,” “Smarty,”
&c, Hendryx is known by the latter name, Sanders is called “Dad,” Rowe is
called the “Michigan Sergeant,” Lewis is called plain “Doc.” while I am called,
for some unknown reason, “Bugler.” I have heard it said that I looked just like
a Dutch bugler, and perhaps that is the reason of my cognomen. Probably thirty
die per day. The slightest news about exchange is told from one to the other,
and gains every time repeated, until finally its grand good news and sure
exchange immediately. The weak ones feed upon these reports and struggle along
from day to day. One hour they are all hope and expectation and the next hour
as bad the other way. The worst looking scallawags perched upon the stockade as
guards, from boys just large enough to handle a gun, to old men who ought to
have been dead years ago for the good of their country. Some prisoners nearly
naked, the majority in rags and daily becoming more destitute. My clothes are
good and kept clean, health fair although very poor in flesh Man killed at the
dead line.
SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p.
46-7
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