Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: June 26, 1864

The same old story, only worse, worse. It seems all the time it was as bad as could be, but is not. They die now like sheep — fully a hundred each day. New prisoners come inside in squads of hundreds, and in a few weeks are all dead The change is too great and sudden for them. Old prisoners stand it the best. Found a Jackson, Michigan man, who says I am reported dead there. Am not, however, and may appear to them yet. Jimmy Devers is very bad with the scurvy and dropsy and will probably die if relief does not come. Sergt. Rowe also is afflicted; in fact all the mess except Battese He does all the cooking now. He has made me a cane to walk with, brings water from the well, and performs nearly all the manual labor for us. He is a jewel, but a rough one.

SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 71-2