Testimony taken at Fort Delaware, June 2lst, 1864.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT — Dr. Wallace, Judge Hare.
Captain GILBERT S. CLARK, sworn and examined:—
I came to this post 18th March, 1862, and the Subsistence Department at this post has been under my charge since May, 1862.
The rations were as follow:
Bread —18 ounces per ration; or,
Corn Meal — 20 ounces per ration.
Beef— 1 pound per ration; or,
Bacon or Pork — ¾ pound per ration.
Beans— 8 quarts per one hundred men; or,
Hominy or Rice —10 pounds per one hundred men.
Sugar —14 pounds per one hundred men.
Rio Coffee—7 or 9 pounds per hundred men.
Adamantine Candles—5 per one hundred men; or,
Tallow Candles — 6 per one hundred men.
Soap—4 pounds per one hundred men.
Salt — 2 quarts per one hundred men.
Molasses — 4 quarts per one hundred men, twice per week.
Potatoes— 1 pound per man, three times per week.
When beans were issued, hominy or rice not issued.
These were the rations to which the prisoners were entitled. Bread was issued, in point of fact, and not corn meal. Fresh beef was issued, during this time, four times a week. When we had to give them hard bread they received a pound. When fresh beef was given, a pound and a quarter was given, and a less proportion of salt meat.
This was done by orders of the commanding officer, with a view to the sanitary condition of the men.
According to instructions for the Commissary-General of Prisoners, a fund was created by selling all surplus rations, under regulations, and with this fund were purchased vegetables in addition to the regular rations. The order referred to, under which this course was adopted, was as follows:
CIRCULAR.
* * *. * * *. * * *. * * *. * * *.
"V. A general fund, for the benefit of the prisoner, will be made by withholding from their rations all that can be spared without inconvenience to them, and selling this surplus, under existing regulations, to the Commissary, who will hold the funds in his hands, and be accountable for them, subject to the commanding officer’s order to cover purchases. The purchases with the fund will be made by or through the Quartermaster, with the approval or order of the commanding officer, the bills being paid by the Commissary, who will keep an account book, in which will be carefully entered all receipts and payments, with the vouchers ; and he will keep the commanding officer advised, from time to time, of the amount of this fund. At the end of the month he will furnish the commanding officer with an account of the fund for the month, showing the receipts and disbursements, which account will be forwarded to the Commissary-General of Prisoners, with the remarks of the commanding officer. With this fund will be purchased all such articles as may be necessary for the health and comfort of the prisoners, and which would otherwise have to he purchased by the Government: among these articles are all table furniture and cooking utensils, articles for policing purposes, bedticks and straw, the means of improving or enlarging the barracks accommodation, extra pay to clerks who have charge of the camp, post-office, and who keep the accounts of moneys deposited with the commanding officer, &c.,
The provisions, according to my return, actually issued, were the same as for the garrison troops. The rations detailed above were the rations actually given to the men. The amount drawn on the books, for their account, was larger — and as large as that issued to the garrison, with the exception of flour or bread, which was eighteen ounces instead of twenty-two ounces. When I say actually issued, I mean when entered on my returns as issued. The difference between the amount thus issued, and the amount given as above, was sold and converted into a fund for the benefit of the prisoners, as I have stated, according to the order of which I have given an extract.
This fund was expended and applied for their use in the purchase of extra vegetables and articles of comfort.
This course is pursued towards our own troops in camp and garrison; the surplus which they do not use being sold for their benefit to the Commissary of Subsistence, and regularly entered, and the proceeds applied to their use.
The surplus rations sold for the prisoners were about the same as those sold for the garrison at the same time, showing that the amount actually consumed by the prisoner was abut the same, per man, as that consumed by the garrison. When hard bread is issued, prisoners not unfrequently leave a portion of it on the table. A large amount of bread has been found stowed away by them in the barracks. The rations are precisely the same as that used for garrison, and of very good quality.
My expenditures for vegetables alone, for the use of the prisoners, out of the fund arising from the sale of the surplus rations, amounted, at times, as high as from $2,000 to $3000 a mouth. For instance, I would buy extra quantities of potatoes and onions, turnips, cabbage, pickles, carrots.
I have frequently asked my overseers if the prisoners complained of not having enough, and if they did, to give them more, and to let no man want, as I could afford to do from the savings. During all the time I have been here, I have scarcely heard a complaint. No material change was made in the rations given to the prisoners till the first of this month, (June ‘64); since this date, the following has been the ration given the prisoners:
The rations issued on the returns remained the same as before. The amount given was reduced to the following quantity, by order of the Secretary of War:
“B.”
“RATION:
|
Pork or Bacon |
10 ozs. (in lieu of fresh beef.) |
||
|
Fresh Beef |
14 “ |
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|
Flour, or Soft Bread |
16 “ |
||
|
Hard Bread |
14 “ (in lieu of Flour or Soft Bread) |
||
|
Corn Meal |
16 “ (in lieu of Flour or Soft Bread) |
||
|
Beans or Peas |
12 ½ lbs |
 |
to 100 rations |
|
or, Rice, or Hominy |
8 “ |
||
|
Soap |
4 “ |
||
|
Vinegar |
3 qts |
||
|
Salt |
3¾ lbs |
||
|
Potatoes |
15 “ |
||
Sugar and coffee, or ten, will be issued only to the sick and wounded, on the recommendation of the surgeon in charge, at the rate of twelve (12) pounds of sugar, five (5) pounds of ground or seven (7) pounds of green coffee, or one (1) pound of tea, to the one hundred rations. This part of the ration will be allowed only for every other day.”
The difference between the ration given and the ration issued continues to be sold, and the proceeds applied to the benefit of the prisoners, as before. The consequence is that the surplus fund for their use is larger.
I refer to the circulars issued by the War Department, April 20th, 1864, and June 1st, 1864, as containing the regulations under which I am now acting, hereto appended, marked “A” and “B.”
The bread, as now issued, is made one-fifth of corn meal and four-fifths of flour. This change was made at the request of the prisoners. I use the same quality of bread.
GILBERT S. CLARK,
Captain and C. S. Vol.
Sworn to and subscribed before me,
June 21st, 1864.
D. P. BROWN, JR.,
United States Commissioner.
Certification for statements taken June 21, 1864 (There was only one certification for this date in the document; however it is being included on the web-page for each applicable statement - MpG ):
I certify that the foregoing testimony, taken at Fort Delaware, June 21st, 1864, was taken and reduced to writing by me, in the presence of the respective witnesses, and by them sworn to and subscribed in my presence, at the time and in the manner set forth.
D. P. BROWN, JR.,
United States
Commissioner.
Evidence evidence relating to United States stations for rebel prisoners. Testimony taken at Fort Delaware, Delaware, June 21, A.D. 1864.