County of Washington,
Testimony taken at Lincoln Hospital, Washington, D. C., taken June 4,1864.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT. — Dr. Wallace, Mr. Walden.
WILLIAM H. FERGUSON; 11th Mississippi infantry; twenty-six years old; private in Confederate service three years; health good while in service and up to the time of my capture.
Had walled tents sometimes, and cabins sometimes when in winter quarters.
Always had this kind of covering except while in active service; then we had no tents or cabins, say from first of May till we go into winter quarters.
We commonly carry one blanket.
Could have more if we wanted it.
Could take captured tents and carry and use them if we chose.
We were comfortable as far as body clothing and blankets are concerned; when one coat or pants wears out we can get more from our own quartermasters.
A day’s ration is one and one-eighth pounds wheat flour or one and one-fourth pounds corn meal; one and one-fourth pounds beef, fresh (could generally get fresh beef, driving cattle along with us), or half-pound bacon in place of beef; we also drew during the first year of war, coffee, sugar, and rice; second and third years had no coffee; sometimes we could get sugar and rice; since Christmas last we got coffee again.
We always had plenty to eat and sometimes more, while not on campaign; but on campaign, then we always had enough, but none to spare.
Since our capture we get enough grub to keep us from hunger; we don’t suffer; we have a full allowance; we are as well treated as your own men.
I was wounded in my right leg just above the ankle; healing kindly now.
Kindly treated by the officers and subordinates since our capture.
I have not been, and never have seen any of our boys, robbed or otherwise ill-treated by the Union men; I have seen and heard some occasional rough talk and swearing at us, but nothing more than that; this was from a few of the privates; not a general rule.
We have had civil talk and argument as a common thing with the Union soldiers on the subject of the war.
I was captured 5th of May, 1864.
Our food in the Confederate army was of good quality.
Our corn meal that we had was very good; we had generally white, sometimes yellow meal; it was bolted or sifted, and of fine grain.
We never had grains of corn or bits of cob in our meal.
WILLIAM H. FERGUSON,
Company D, 11th Mississippi Volunteers.
I have been in the Confederate service two years and six months; was captured on fifth of May, 1864. Was wounded through the right shoulder and chest. I am improving in strength; and I suppose I am gaining flesh now, though I am not as strong or fleshy as when I was captured.
I have been present at the statements made by William H. Ferguson, 11th Mississippi Volunteers; I have heard them all; I substantiate their accuracy from my experience and observation as to our condition in the service, though I was attached to a different corps of the army.
W. O. QUARLES,
Company H, 3d Alabama Regiment, Infantry.
LARKIN A. GRIFFIN, native of South Carolina; home in Florida; belong to 1st South Carolina rifles.
The statement made by William H. Ferguson has been read and shown to me. It agrees with my observation and experience except as noted below. I have been in Confederate service nearly three years; my health was always excellent while in the service; I was well and strong when wounded and captured; captured on 12th May, 1864.
During the winter of 1862 and 1863, we had full rations of bread, but only half rations of bacon for about three months.
Our corn meal was very finely ground, but the hull was not sifted out.
In a few isolated cases our captured men were directed to leave their knapsacks and haversacks behind them; it was not a general thing at all.
I never saw nor heard our men sworn at or cursed by the Union soldiers.
L. A. GRIFFIN.
I have seen and had read to me the statements made by William H. Ferguson. They are correct as proved by my own experience and observation generally. I hate been in the Confederate service three years; my health and strength while in the service was good during the third year; better than before.
We had coffee always, except during 1863, up to about Christmas.
A Union lieutenant once damned me and told me I was not worthy of a place. I replied, “I hoped the Lord would forgive him and make him a better man.”
PLEASANT H. REESE,
Company I,13th Georgia Regiment.
I have seen and had read to me the statements made by William H. Ferguson.
They are correct as proved by my own experience and observation generally. I have been in the Confederate service two years; my health was not very good till this last winter; then it was tolerably good; could do all my duties. Through last summer we did not draw coffee.
JOSEPH F. DAVIDSON,
Company A, 49th Georgia Regiment.
VIRGIL CARROLL, aged twenty-one; artillery, Virginia.
Clothing always good and warm.
Plenty of blankets and good shelter; shelter tents.
Plenty to eat. Rations — coffee, sugar, bacon, meal, occasionally fresh meat, potatoes (Irish), rice, peas, wheat bread.
Always enough; much as we could consume; this especially during the last three months.
Clothing very plentiful.
Fourth year in the army; never suffered for food or clothing.
VIRGIL CARROLL.
I corroborate the above statement of Virgil Carroll.
S. P. TWEDY,
Company C, 11th Regiment, Virginia.
Joshua Barker, 4th South Carolina Rifles.
I corroborate the above statement of Virgil Carroll
JOSHUA BARKER
C. A. Bowman, 32d North Carolina Infantry.
I corroborate the above statement of Virgil Carroll.
C. A. BOWMAN.
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | |
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County of Washington, |
Personally appeared before me the within named William H. Ferguson, W. O. Quarles, L. A. Griffin. Pleasant H. Reese, Joseph F. Davidson, Virgil Carroll, S. P. Twedy, Joshua Barker, C. A. Bowman, who, being severally sworn, say that the statements set forth by them are correct and true to the best of their knowledge and belief.
Given under my hand and seal at Washington, D.C., this fourth day of June, A. D. 1864.
M. H. N. KENDIG,
Notary Public.