Emilio, Luis F., History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry , 1863-1865

[414] had no shelter whatever. There was but one privy, never cleaned out. It was the most horrible place he was confined in. The stench was dreadful. The exposure, vile air, scanty clothing, and insufficient food made many sick. When protest was made they were told ‘it was good enough for damned Yankee sons of b——s.’ In the Roper Hospital near by, to which the sick were taken, the room was sufficient, but rations were scanty. Both Union officers and Rebel guards had yellow fever there. Later, many enlisted men were brought and filled the jail-yard to overflowing. In the hall of the jail was a sutler, who but tantalized the prisoners by a display of food held at prohibitory prices, except for a few fortunate ones. Only the visiting Sisters of Charity expressed any sympathy for the unfortunates, and they by acts, and not in words. In the yard the enfeebled, naked, and sometimes idiotic prisoners lay about under the few trees. The rebels did not try to do anything for the sufferers. ‘The only ones who did anything for them were the negroes who were captured on Morris Island and who were allowed to go there and take care of these men. They were the only ones who acted as nurses.’ The men died off very rapidly, and seemed to have no desire to live. The rebel surgeon in charge at Charleston was Todd (Mrs. Lincoln's brother). He acted badly towards them. The officers said he would come around among the men and kick and abuse them without trying to benefit their condition in the least. Later in his testimony, Captain Coats says that there were about twenty-five colored prisoners in the jail. They had nothing to eat but a small loaf of corn bread. They were compelled to clean out the jail and carry out all the filth from the prisoners, a work the whites were never made to do. One negro had charge of a ward where our officers were. Each ward had a kind of wash basin. One of our deserters confined there took out the basin, although the negro told him the doctor would not permit it. But the deserter took it out nevertheless. Later the deserter abused the negro who replied: ‘You have no right to talk in that way,—a man who deserted from the United States Service.’ Said he, ‘I am a soldier in the United States service, and you are a deserter.’ The deserter told Doctor Todd, who called up the