[
429]
H. T. Blecky, 112th Penn. Infantry was there in June, 1864, and testifies,—
‘One colored soldier laid in the swamp with a wound in his abdomen, from which his bowels protruded; he was perfectly helpless, and the lice and maggots were literally devouring him.’
William Davis, First Mass. Heavy Artillery, testifies that he was at
Andersonville and that—
‘These colored soldiers that belonged to the 54th and 55th [?] Mass.
regiments, who were prisoners there, were detailed to carry out the dead, and the dead were thrown into wagons outside and carried off.’
Elgin Woodlin, Eleventh Mass. Infantry, testifies that in the summer of 1864 there were colored prisoners at
Andersonville.
‘Some of these men were wounded, and the rebels refused to do anything for them; they received no medicine or medical treatment.
They were compelled to load and unload the dead who died daily in the stockade.
In the issue of rations they were counted in a squad with white prisoners, and received about the same.
They were treated worse than dumb brutes, and the language used toward them by the rebels was of the most opprobious character.’
Henry C. Lull,
sergeant One Hundred and Forty-sixth N. Y. Infantry, testifies,—
‘No medicine was given to colored soldiers, although they were sick with the scurvy and other diseases, and applied to the surgeon for them.
I saw them take one of the colored soldiers, and strip him, and give him thirty lashes until the blood ran, and his back was all cut up. This was because he was not able to go out and work as he had been in the habit of doing.’
Oliver B. Fairbanks, Ninth N. Y. Cavalry, testifies in answer to the question whether there were colored soldiers in
Andersonville,—
‘There were a few,—I should say fifty altogether; but most of them had lost a leg or an arm, or were badly wounded in some way. They seemed to have a particular spite toward the colored soldiers, and they had to go without rations several days at a time on account of not daring to go forward and get them.’
