T. Hunton Foster

"Prisoner of War"

"Point Lookout"

Md. May 18^th 64

 

"Hammond General Hospital"

 

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I was captured on the 13^th Septb 1863 in a fight at Brandy Sta. V^a between the advance of Genl Meade's advancing columns, and a portion of our regiment ( [?] V^a Cavly) there as the reserve of the Pickett. Was carried from Brandy, in charge of infantry, to Culpepper C.H. and detained until next morning, when I was sent to Genl Warren's Hd qrs, where I found about one hundred of our boys. We were then sent to Genl Patrick's Hd Qurs, which were near Bealton Station the O & H RRoad.

 

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We arrived there in the night hungry and tired. Got nothing to eat until next morning. Were put that night in a dirty filthy pen, and slept on the ground. One officer, a Lt Mohler of the 11^th V^a Cavly, gave the guard the dodge before we got to Patrick's Hd Qurs & made good his escape. Next day the 15^th after taking down our names &c we were marched to "Warrenton Junction", and put on the cars, and landed in "Old Capitol Prison" Washington D.C. As we passed through Alex. the ladies (God bless them)

 

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the shewed their sympathy for us in many ways, and followed us to the boat with baskets and buckets of eatables—Nothing could have been more acceptable

"Oh! Woman in our hours of ease

Uncertain coy and hard to please

But when pain and anguish rend the brow

A ministering angel thou"

In passing down the familiar streets of old Alexandria, which has proven herself so true to her state and the South, though under the eyes of the tyrant who rules at Washington, I was discovered recognised by John Cutts of P. W^m who slipped to me a ten dollar bill.

 

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I shall long remember him for that act of kindness. Arrived at "Old Capitol", I met a number of acquaintances, among whom were six or seven members of my Company—Jno Newman & Dick Horner among them. Prisoners here fare well in comparison with the treatment at any other of the prisons. Wrote to Geo Tavenner Esq^r while here, but heard nothing from him. After remaining here 8 or 10 days the officers, myself among them, were sent to "Fort McHenry". We remained here in a little narrow

 

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dirty cramped room, on "hard tack" and coffee for breakfast and supper, and a small piece of meat for dinner three nights and two days. Two weeks at this place I think would have killed me. T'was here that I got a little foretaste of the hardships and sufferings of a prisoner, who is in the hands of a cruel and unscrupulous foe. On the 28^th of Septb. we were marched from the Fort to the Depot in Bltm, and put on the cars, and started for "Johnson Island", where we arrived on the night

 

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Nathaniel A. Foster

Capt. 52^nd Regt. NC Troops

            Wilkesboro

                        N^oCarolina

 

Captured

July 14^th 1863 Near

Falling Waters Md

 

William Hays MD

1^st L't Co "B" Ky Cav

Gen'l J. H. Morgan, Div

            C.S.A.

Surgeon in Chge

Officer, Camp Hospt

Point Lookout, M.D

Of

            Compton

                        Kentucky

 

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P. Woolfolk

Capt Lt Artly

            Alexanders Batty Arty

                        Bowling Green

                                    Caroline Co

                                                Va

Best wishes & a speedy

recovery Old frd—

                        PW

 

Paul Stratton

Capt 49^th Va Regt

            Tye River Ware House

                        Nelson Co

 

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of the 29^th of September 1863. Johnson's Island! is a name that will stink in the nostrils of every man who has ever been there as a prisoner. Those who selected and arranged it as a prison depot are guilty of the murder of many human beings. An Island situated in the frozen regions of the north, surrounded by the waters of "Lake Erie" is selected for a prison. Quarters are built, such as no farmer would consider warm enough in winter for his horses. Sinks and wells are dug almost

 

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side by side, while the water from the lake is percolating all through the earth five feet below its surface. Of course the water from the wells is impregnated, and sickness and death ensues. Winter comes on, the weather grows colder and colder, until the thermometer gets 24º degrees below zero. Then such suffering! Seventy five men in a room unsealed, nothing but planks to protect them from the shivering blast without, are hovering around a small stove with a scant supply of wood. I shudder now to think of it. Men

 

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were frostbitten, and had to use some exertion to keep from freezing to death. Now the cry of harsh treatment to their prisoners is raised, and every paper in the North has some terrible tale to tell. (All turned out to be a base lie as they afterwards admitted.) Retaliation is the word. The Sutler is removed. The rations, small enough and short enough before, must be curtailed. It is all done. And we poor prisoners are hungry and freezing; yet we uttered no word of complaint

 

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but looked hopefully forward to a time when we would be free. So much for "Johnson's Island", where there is only one spot that claims our remembrance and is dear to us. That spot is the place where is buried our deceased friends and fellow prisoners, who fell victims to the cruel and inhuman treatment of our captors. So much for kindness the humane intentions of those who selected that Island to confine Southern officers. They should never open their lips about the

 

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treatment of their prisoners. So much for the manner in which the best Govt. the world ever saw prisoners are treated by "the best Govt. the world ever saw". Where rulers return good for evil, and love a christian & humane people.

All this has been borne for Liberty, but death would be gladly welcomed before under considerations, we would consent to live with in any connexion such a vile people again.

 

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I was in want of clothes when I arrived at the "Island". Met with Willie and a good many other acquaintances. Was soon supplied by a Mrs Sullivan of NY with clothes and with some money by (a few dollars) Willie. Took a good wash, and put on some of W. clothes, got a good breakfast and felt comfortable. As winter approached I ordered some heavy articles of clothing from Noah Walker & Co of Baltm, who furnished them on the a/c Foster & Co who traded

 

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largely with them. The articles consisted of an overcoat, grey sack under coat, 1 pr lined buck gloves, 2 over shirts, 2 Bro. linnen shirts 1 vest ½ doz linnen collars and 2 pr socks—Heard nothing from home until late in the fall when I recd a letter from my father stating among other things that 100$ had been deposited with a banking house in Baltm. for my benefit. Luckily before drafting for it I wrote to ascertain if the deposit had been made, and received for answer in

 

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reply that it had not. I was in want of money at this time, but would not call on any of my father's old friends because I expected this one hundred dollars spoken of. Month after month rolled by, my wants still unsupplied, yet have no tidings about the above sum of money. Spring comes on and I give up the ghost, and write to Jno. H. Brent of Alexandria for twenty five dollars. He immediately sent me what I asked for. About this time I receive a letter from father—

 

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expressing his surprise that I had not recd the money, & telling me how it was to be sent and all about it.

 

June 19^th 1864.

            Officers Camp Hospital

Point Lookout Md—

I undertake this morning while I am feeling better to finish up my little history of imprisonment. This diary was not commenced until my sickness began, and much of it has been written when the mind was suff sympathizing with the diseased body.

 

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I had been suffering for some time, ever since my capture with "chronic Diarrhea";—not chronic when captured but it assumed that form in the spring. The Doctors had not been able to cure a single case of this disease. In April I had to go to the Hospital. After being there for about ten days, we were informed that all the sick would be sent South. No one can imagine my joyous feelings at this news. It seemed a divine interposition to

 

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save many of us from death. We left the Island with bounding hearts and swelling feelings of joy at the bright prospect of meeting so soon our parents relatives and friends, on the 22^ond April 1864 and arrived at Point Lookout on the night of the 25^th of same month. Our quarters were the Hospital buildings, which were commodious and comfortable. Two exchanges took place after our arrival, in which about forty who came from the Island got of. The balance remained in our quarters enjoying

 

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many privileges and comforts not heretofore enjoyed by any prisoners, until the fights in V^a commenced when we were sent to the Officers Camp to enjoy tents, rough fare &c again. I wrote to W^m Bayne of Baltm for twenty-five dollars soon after my arrival at the Point from "Johnson's Island". Not hearing from him I wrote to other parties—my health being in such a condition that I was in actual need of it. About one month after I had written to Mr B

 

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I received a letter from him desiring to know if I had received the cheque he sent me. I then sat down and wrote to the Provost Marshall about it, and was informed that there were two cheques for me "which would be delivered soon". One of them came to his office on the 5^th of May the other on the 19^th same month

 

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Lt T. Huntin Foster was admitted as a patient into the Officers Camp Hospital Prison Camp June 3^rd 1864. He had been suffering for months past with "Chronic Diarrhea" and at the time of his admittance he was quite weak and very much reduced in flesh. He was still able to be about occasionally. On this the 20^th day of August 1864 at 10 Oclock A.M. he died.

 

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He expressed a great desire to be exchanged and be again with his dear friends at home. On the evening of 19^th I spoke to him of his approaching end. he seemed to be perfectly aware of his condition. His effects consisting of He was decently buried in the best clothes of his wardrobe. His effects consisting of shirts, a comb, pr boots &c $1.25 in cash were distributed amongst the nurses who had so

 

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faithfully attended to his every want during his sickness.

Accompanying this are quite a number of letters which may be of interest to his friends.

                                                Respectfully &c

                                    William Hays MD

                                    Surgeon in Charge

                                    Officer's Camp Hospt

                        L't. Co "B" 2^nd Ky Cav.

                                    Morgan's Div

                        Point Lookout Md

                                    August 20^th 1864

 

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Rec'd discharge July 2^ond 1865

went to Washington, recd my pay and started for Balto. 3^rd and started from Balto for New York the 6^th arrived there put up at the Western Hotel stayed

 

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The following is the

address of some parties

to whom I have occas-

ion sometimes to

write

 

Mrs Mary M. Sullivan

PO Box 2656

            New York City

 

Miss Dora Hoffman

            Baltimore City

                        Md.

 

Miss Lou. A. Harman

            No 5 Columbia St

                        Baltimore

                                    Md.

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J. A. Seawell

            Care Matthew

                        O'Keefe

 

No 71 Queen Street

north

 

C Farrar

            Buckfield

                        Maine

SOURCES