By Daly Walker, from the diary of his great grandfather, First Lieutenant WAW Daly Company B, 5th Indiana Cavalry
Andersonville was published in "Civil War Memories" and will appear in the summer issue of "The Southampton Review."
The second of August 1864 Near Macon, Georgia
A humiliating day for the 5th Indiana Calvary
We are in the hands of the rebels
The Johnny’s took our guns and blankets, horses and mules
Marched us to Andersonville
No grub to eat, it’s very hot
We were ushered into the prison and find a hell of a place
There is 30,000 Yankees inside the stockade
And it only covers 18 acres of ground.
I never saw as great amount of depravity in so small a space
The prisoners die here at an average of 100 per day
The guards shoot two or three
There is thousands of men that have no shelter
From the burning sun of the day or the dew of night
We lie with only shirts and drawers exposed to the climate
Kicked and cuffed by the camp bullies
Cheated by the camp thieves
That are the way time goes by in Andersonville
Many guns bear down on this hell on earth of unarmed invalids
For we are invalids here after staying a few days
Time passes slowly, drearily
But we are wearing it away the best that we can
Oh to be a free man once again
Wednesday the 10th
Heavy rains washed the filth out of the camp
Drenched the men to the hide
Still every prospect looks gloomy
The Johnnies have cut our rations
Rotten beef, a few raw beans, corn-cob bread, shin bone soup
Not fit for a dog
We starve by inches
I had a hard chill yesterday
I fear I’m taking fever
No doctoring here
A sick man has a thin chance
I cannot go only a few rods from my tent
Without seeing some poor fellow stretched on Mother earth
Ready to be carried to the dead house
Like a hog at a slaughter house
No friendly tear shed to his memory
Dozens of suffering mortals have passed to eternity
They are better off now
Death would be preferable to me than long confinement in this hell
I want to live only for my family’s sake
Only God knows how they will fair now that I am here
My dreams are of them nightly
Sunday the 4th
Another sabbath with no change in situation or fare
A little drizzly this morning
My tent and mess mate, T.M. Barnes, still lingers
Without hope of getting well
Lying in the agonies of death
It appears hard for him to give up life
I wish I could help him
I’m growing weaker day by day
We die by inches
Monday October 24th My 32nd birthday
Today times look gloomy in this miserable place
These are melancholy days for me
I have no heart to write
The Rebs will starve us here
Death and disease stares us in the face
T.M. Barnes departed this life
His spirit winged its flight
To that unseen and untried world
The boys done the best they could for him
But the best was very rough
I’m a little under the weather
Been running with the diarrhea
I think for the want of bread
For three days all I have is one piece two inches square
I am very hungry, long for meat to thicken my beans
Why should free-born men suffer this
Is it for the good of our country
I long to see my family’s faces, long for something fit to eat
I would give considerable to spend the day with them
And have a good meal but that privilege is denied me
I would give the world for a kiss from my mother and wife and children
Home. Oh when shall I again see my dear home
Sunday March 7
A lovely morning, a little cool
Sherman’s army did the right work
The Rebs are paroling us today
A thrill of joy passed through my heart
I thank God I am alive with enough strength to write a few lines
My hands and feet are swollen
I can not walk two rods
I’ve lost near 80 pounds
I am played out entirely, a near skeleton
I know the God that stood by me as a soldier
Will not desert me now as an invalid
We travel all night, sixty half-dead men in an open gravel car
A little mush and hard tac for grub, no molasses
Heavy Yankee shelling flares the sky
A rough and tedious trip
Sunday March 17th 1865 Annapolis, Maryland
A beautiful Sabbath has dawned
The sun is hid by friendly clouds
The sight of the old flag gives me hope
Once more in the hands of human beings who treat us like men
I drew rations and clothing
Took a good bath and dressed
Muster for pay later today
Will start home tomorrow