Can see in the distance the cars go poking along by this
station, with wheezing old engines, snorting along. As soon as night comes a
great many are blind, caused by sleeping in the open air, with moon shining in
the face. Many holes are dug and excavations made in camp. Near our quarters is
a well about five or six feet deep, and the poor blind fellows fall into this
pit hole. None seriously hurt, but must be quite shaken up. Half of the
prisoners have no settled place for sleeping, wander and lay down wherever they
can find room. Have two small gold rings on my finger, worn ever since I left
home. Have also a small photograph album with eight photographs in. relics of
civilization. Should I get these things through to our lines they will have
quite a history. When I am among the rebels I wind a rag around my finger to
cover up the rings, or else take them and put in my pocket. Bad off as I have
been, have never seen the time yet that I would part with them. Were presents
to me, and the photographs have looked at about one-fourth of the time since
imprisonment. One prisoner made some buttons here for his little boy at home,
and gave them to me to deliver, as he was about to die. Have them sewed on to
my pants for safe keeping.
SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p.
85-6
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