William M Smith, Corporal, 8th Kentucky

Corporal WILLIAM M. SMITH, sworn and examined

            I am twenty-two years old; from Kentucky; enlisted in the 8th Kentucky regiment September 24th, 1861; was captured September 20th, 1863; taken to Richmond, Virginia; was captured at the battle of Chattanooga.

            I was put in Smith’s building, after being some six days at Belle Isle; in Smith’s building about two months.

            Had on good clothes when taken in; they took blankets and oil cloth, extra shirt and drawers, &c., from me; while we were in Richmond, there were some Sanitary clothes sent there; they were needed mighty bad; the rebels have taken a heap of Sanitary clothing, I think.

            At Belle Isle, laid out on the naked ground; it rained some two days.

            I took the small-pox in Danville; I was then taken to the hospital; I wore the same clothing I had before I got it; I wore the same clothes when I came on here; I believe I had a shirt and my dress coat washed; I washed my drawers myself.

            I came here the second of May.

            My health was pretty good when taken prisoner; when I left I was taken out of the hospital; I guess it was the small-pox, erysipelas and diarrhœa which brought me down.

            When I was in prison, before I was taken sick, got a piece of corn bread about the size of this bible, (the same referred to by the other witness;) got meat three or four days in the week; when sick, got a small piece of wheat bread — as much as I could eat then — a piece of beef with it, about two ounces; sometimes a little beef soup, with red peas in it, and rice; we had coffee made out of rye — sometimes, once a day — most every day; I took the small-pox first; I was there about a week before I took it; felt pretty well before; did not get enough to eat before; hungry all the time.

WILLIAM M. SMITH.

Sworn to and subscribed before me,

  May 31st, 1864.

    D. P. BROWN, JR.,

      United States Commissioner.

Certification for statements taken May 31 and June 1, 1864 (There was only one certification in the document; however it is being included here on the web-page for each applicable statement - MpG ):

I certify that the foregoing testimony was taken and reduced to writing in the presence of the respective witnesses, and by them sworn to in my presence, at the times, places, and in the manner set forth.

D. P. BROWN, JR., United States Commissioner.

Evidence of Officers and Soldiers of the United States Army Returned after Confinement in Rebel Prisons.

Testimony taken at Annapolis, Maryland, at United Slates Army General Hospital, May 31, A.D. 1864.