The following regulations heretofore established for the government of the camp of the prisoners of war are republished for the information of all concerned: I. Hereafter at reveille the bugle will sound in front of the sergeant major's quarters, when the several details for general and company police will be formed under their respective noncommissioned officers, and a thorough police of the entire camp will be made. II. The acting first sergeant, detailed from the prisoners of war, will be under the direction of the corporal of police for their respective divisions, and will give special attention to their company streets and quarters, causing all filth and waste water to be thrown into a barrel kept for that purpose, and emptied every morning, and oftener if necessary. III. Breakfast hour will be at 6 o'clock a. m., dinner at 14 p. m., which will be announced by the sound of the bugle. IV. There will be two stated roll-calls each day; that of the enlisted men will take place at reveille and retreat. Each company will fall into line at the sound of the bugle, and the first sergeants will make their reports to the sergeant major promptly. Sergeant E. Young will call roll in the officers' camp at 7 a. m. and 5 p. m., and will make his report to the A. P. M. immediately. V. No prisoners will be permitted to pass above the lower ends of the kitchens unless employed in cook and mess room, except to their meals. VI. Every company and division, commencing with the first in number, will be kept at their maximum number of one hundred and one thousand men each, and in all cases when any company or division is reduced below the standard by sickness, exchange or otherwise, they shall be immediately filled by men from the last division, or those discharged from hospital, and all fractional companies shall be provisioned at a designated cook-house, from which all extra meals, coffee, and rations issued to other than prisoners will be supplied. VII. Mess and cook rooms will be provided for one thousand and fifteen hundred men each, in which stoves, cauldrons, and all other necessary cooking utensils will be placed. VIII. A sufficient number of men will be provided from the prisoners to perform the various duties required. The arrangement for the present will be as follows: Four men will be assigned to the duty of cooking the victuals, ten to drawing the rations, two to providing the cooks with wood and water, and four to attend to the duties in the mess-room. This will include the setting of the tables, cleaning floor, tables, and all other articles used in mess room. IX. Each room will be under the superintendence of a sergeant from among the prisoners, who will be held responsible for the faithful performance of the duties assigned to his room, and will be required to report any neglect of duty by the men under him to the lieutenant in charge of the commissary department, who will make frequent inspections of the quarters. X. The prisoners will be marched to and from the mess-room by the sergeants in charge of squads, and no man being absent when his squad is called to meals will be allowed to fall in with another squad. XI. Loud talking when in the mess-room will be strictly forbidden, and it will be the duty of the sergeants in charge of cook and mess rooms to see that no unnecessary waste is made, and also that a degree of cleanliness is observed. Meal calls will be made ten minutes before opening the mess-room doors, when the sergeants in charge will see that their men are ready. XII. The sergeant major will make all details for fatigue duty from those eating at the first table on the day such detail is called for. All working parties will be formed and marched by the sergeant in charge precisely at 74 a. m. to the main entrance, but no detail for any purpose whatever shall be allowed to leave the camp without a sufficient guard and the written authority of the provost marshal. Neither will any prisoner be permitted to visit the Point for any purpose whatever without special permission from the general commanding. All persons in charge of detachments from the camp will be held strictly responsible for their return before sunset, when the gates will be shut and no one allowed to pass or re-pass except the guards and officers having proper authority. XIII. Prisoners will not be allowed to hold any communication whatever with the guard or any individual without special permission from the provost marshal, and no letters will pass to or from prisoners except through the proper channels. The guard and patrol will not permit any prisoner to remain outside of his tent after dark except on business of necessity. XIV. A police sergeant will be detailed with a sufficient number of men from each company to attend to the constant and thorough cleanliness of his company street and quarters. An efficient non-commissioned officer and fifty (50) men will be permanently detailed as general police, whose duty it shall be to keep scrupulously clean the vicinity of the kitchens and parts of the camp not occupied. XV. Fires and lights will be promptly extinguished and all loud conversation suspended in the camp of enlisted prisoners at taps; in the prison camp for officers, lights and conversation will be permitted one-half hour later. XVI. No citizen, enlisted man, or officer, except those on guard duty or general officer from headquarters, will be permitted to walk upon the fences around the prison camps without special permission from the provost marshal. By command of Brigadier General James Barnes: A. G. BRADY, Major and Provost Marshal. (a.) Copy of the weekly inspection report of the provost marshal at Point Lookout, Maryland, of the prisoners of war, April 2, 1865. Submitted with report of the provost marshal. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF ST. MARY'S, Point Lookout, Md., April 2, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following inspection report of the condition of the prisoners of war at this station for the week ending April 2, 1865: 1. Conduct-Good. 2. Cleanliness-Good. 3. Clothing-Fair. 4. Bedding-One blanket to each man. 5. State of quarters-Good. 6. State of mess-houses-Good. 7. State of kitchen-Clean and in good order. 8. Food, quality of-Good. 9. Food, quantity of-Fair, and in accordance with regulations. 10. Water-Good. 11. Sinks-Clean and in good condition. 12. Police of grounds-Good. 13. Drainage-Fair. 14. Police of hospital-Good. 15. Attendance of sick-Good; there are 358 attendants. 16. Hospital diet-Good, same as that of United States General Hospital. 17. General health of prisoners-Good. 18. Vigilance of guard-Good. Remarks and suggestions. There were received during the week (4,040) four thousand and forty prisoners of war at this station, as follows: From Fort Monroe, Va., (162) one hundred and sixty-two; from City Point, Va., (3,043) three thousand and forty three; from Washington, D. C., (149) one hundred and forty-nine; from United States General Hospital at this post, (120) one hundred and twenty; from Newbern, N. C.,(566) five hundred and sixty-six. Transferred to Washington, D. C., (10) ten officers. Paroled and transferred to Aikin's Landing, Va., for "exchange," (500) five hundred prisoners of war. Released upon taking the oath, (4) four prisoners. The average rate of mortality for the week was (44) four and one-seventh per day. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier General JAMES BARNES, A. G. BRADY, Major and Provost Marshal, Inspecting Officer. A true copy: M. H. CHURCH, Captain and Asst. Pro. Marshal. Remarks by commanding officer. Respectfully forwarded. I have nothing of particular importance to add to this report. Respectfully referred to the commissary general of prisoners. J. BARNES, Brig. Gen'l, District of St. Mary's. HEADQUARTERS District of ST. MARY'S, Provost Marshal's Office, Point Lookout, Md., April 18, 1865. Statement of clothing issued by the United States to prisoners of war at Point Lookout, Md., from July 1, 1864, to February 13, 1865, since which time the so-called rebel government have issued supplies of clothing. I hereby certify that the above is a true statement of the clothing issued to prisoners of war during the time named. Sworn to before me. A. G. BRADY, OFFICE OF A. C. S. OF PRISONERS OF WAR, GENERAL: I have the honor most respectfully to submit the following statement of the amount of rations daily issued to prisoners of war, mode of issuing the same, and extra rations allowed prisoners employed on public works. Prisoners of war, in accordance with General Order No. 1 of Brigadier General H. W. Wessels, commissary general of prisoners, dated Washington, January 13, 1865, are now allowed the following rations, viz: Pork or bacon, 10 ounces, (in lieu of beef;) salt or fresh beef, 14 ounces; flour or soft bread, 16 ounces; hard bread, 10 ounces, (in lieu of flour or soft bread;) corn meal, 16 ounces, (in lieu of flour or bread.) To 100 rations: beans or peas, 123 pounds; or rice or hominy, 8 pounds; soap, 2 pounds; vinegar, 2 quarts; salt, 2 pounds; which rations are of the same quality as those issued to the United States troops, and are drawn by the assistant commissary of subsistence of prison camp from the post commissary on requisition for the number of prisoners in camp, and reissued to each mess-house in bulk, there to be cooked in large boilers made for the purpose, and served out to the prisoners thus. Each cook-house-of which there are seven, originally intended to feed one thousand men per diem, being able to accommodate five hundred at a time-is now made to furnish food for two thousand and upwards-is under the charge of two sergeants, one to superintend the cooking of the rations, and the other (both are prisoners) the serving of them out. The camp being laid off in divisions of a thousand men each, it is so arranged that each cook-house, as far as practicable, shall feed two divisions twice a day, and, to avoid any confusion, each division furnishes to the cook-house where it gets its food daily the number of men present, which must agree with the number stated on the morning the report is made to the provost marshal. Bread is delivered each noon, for the twenty-four hours succeeding, to the sergeant in charge of companies of one hundred men, who issue it to the men they have in charge. Each day at dinner the prisoners receive a large cup of bean or pea soup, and in the morning receive the ration of beef or pork, as stated. They are marched up by companies to the number of five hundred at a time to each cook-house, and eat the rations prepared for them and set on long tables, out of tin ware, which is always kept clean and bright. Rations are drawn from the post commissary by the assistant commissary of subsistence of prison camp once every ten days, and consist usually of two days' pork, two days' fresh beef, two days' salt beef, and four days' salt fish, together with beans or peas, salt, vinegar, and soap. Occasionally, by order of the general commanding, potatoes are drawn and issued to the prisoners over and above the regular ration. Rations are issued to the cook-houses by the assistant commissary of subsistence of prison camp daily, and for the exact number of men reported in the divisions that each house feeds. It requires the entire forenoon to prepare the soup issued at dinner, and as it is necessary to commence cooking the meat for the next day immediately after dinner has been served, it is impossible, for want of time, to furnish more than two meals daily. Every care is taken to keep the cook-houses perfectly clean and the food properly cooked and served. Once each week the provost marshal inspects the houses, and the medical officer of the day inspects the food daily. The assistant commissary of subsistence of prison camp visits each house daily, and is strict in seeing that food, utensils, and houses are kept clean, and that each of the employés attends to his duty. Sugar and coffee or tea are issued to the sick or wounded, in conformity to General Order No. 1, above referred to, in the manner therein specified. Prisoners employed on public works are allowed the following rations, viz: Pork or bacon, 12 ounces, (in lieu of beef;) salt or fresh beef, 16 ounces; flour or soft bread, 18 ounces; hard bread, 12 ounces, (in lieu of flour or soft bread;) corn meal, 18 ounces, (in lieu of flour or bread.) Per 100 rations: beans or peas, 15 pounds; rice or hominy, 10 pounds, (in lieu of beans or peas;) coffee, (ground,) 5 pounds; coffee, (green,) 7 pounds, (in lieu of coffee;) tea, 16 ounces, (in lieu of coffee;) sugar, 12 pounds; vinegar, 3 quarts; soap, 4 pounds; salt, 34 pounds; which they receive in the following manner: These prisoners receive daily, in the same way that other prisoners do at the cook-houses, the same rations that are issued to the bulk of the prisoners, and once every ten days the assistant commissary of subsistence of the camp issues to the sergeant of each detailed squad the difference between the ration already received and the allowance as above. The sergeants in charge of details then divide this surplus equally between the men under them. There are about one thousand men employed on public works, viz: 350 on fortifications, and 650 by the post quartermaster. Soft bread is almost invariably furnished; in fact, hard bread has never been issued except to prisoners arriving at this depot too late to have bread baked at the bakery on the Point. In all instances the rations are fresh and good, and are the same in quality as those issued to the United States troops. Every care is taken to have the rations (and they are) fairly served out, and especial care is taken to have them properly cooked and prepared. Rations are now issued to about 19,500 prisoners, exclusive of those in hospitals. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. H. WHITTEMORE, Lieutenant and A. C. S. of Prisoners of War. Brigadier General JAMES BARNES, Comd'g District of St. Mary's, Point Lookout, Md. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF ST. MARY'S, Provost Marshal's Office, Point Lookout, Md., April 20, 1865. Sworn to before me this the 20th day of April, 1865. A. G. BRADY, No. "B2." List of articles with their appropriate numbers composing the extra diet. Gross amount of articles purchased from hospital fund for extra diet from July, 1864, to March, 1865, inclusive. I certify that the above is a true statement, compiled from the monthly statement of hospital fund for the months included above. J. H. THOMPSON, Surgeon U. S. Volunteers, in charge. C. PRISONERS' HOSPITAL, Point Lookout, Md., April 15, 1865. GENERAL: In compliance with your request, I have the honor to submit the following report regarding the medical treatment of prisoners of war under your command: The camp is divided into divisions of one thousand men each; each division is under the charge of volunteer medical officers from among the prisoners, whose duty it is to treat those slightly sick in quarters, and report all serious cases to the United States medical officers in charge of all the divisions of camp, for examination with reference to their admission into hospital. A daily sick call is held in each company, the same as in regiments of our own troops. The hospital proper consists of nine large wooden wards, each ward having sixty hospital beds, complete. In addition to these wards there are sixty hospital tents, floored, and with beds. There are separate and detached wards for measles, erysipelas, and other contagious diseases. (See accompanying plan “A.") The hospital for small-pox is located one mile from the prisoners' camp and hospital. The medicines drawn for use of the prisoners are the same in kind and quantity as issued to our own troops at military posts. The diet of the sick is the same as in United States general hospitals for the treatment of our own sick. The savings on the army rations constitute the hospital fund, and is expended the same as in other hospitals, in the purchase of articles of extra diet for the sick, such as butter, cheese, milk, corn starch, farina, vermicelli, macaroni, soda crackers, eggs, apples, onions, and such other vegetables as the market affords; the amount thus expended from July, 1864, to March, 1865, inclusive, being fourteen thousand four hundred and forty-eight dollars and six cents ($14,448 06.) (See accompanying list and abstract “B2.") Large issues of clothing have been made to prisoners coming to the hospital in a destitute and suffering condition. A large percentage of the sick treated have been those received from the front in a feeble condition, or coming from other parts. Especially is this true of scurvy and diseases of scorbutic and malarial origin. Accompanying this report (abstract "C") is a copy of the general summary of monthly report of sick and wounded, with a tabular list of the most common diseases and deaths, by which it will be seen that, with an average of nine thousand three hundred and seventyfour (9,374) prisoners per month, from July, 1864, to March, 1865, inclusive, there were one hundred and forty-seven deaths monthly, being a ratio of fifteen and seven-hundredths per one thousand men. From September, 1863, to June, 1864, inclusive, with an average of seven thousand four hundred and ninety-one (7,491) prisoners per month, there were sixty-two deaths monthly, being a ratio of eight and four-tenths per one thousand men. This, I think, will be regarded as a remarkably light percentage of deaths under the most favorable circumstances, and especially so when we consider the debilitated condition in which many of the prisoners are when received, and the depressing effects of long imprisonment, if rendered ever so light. The prevailing diseases are diarrhoea, dysentery, remittent, intermittent, and typhoid fevers, pneumonia and scurvy. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. THOMPSON, Surgeon U. S. Volunteers, in charge. Brigadier General J. BARNES, Commanding. HEADQ'RS DIST. ST. MARY'S, PROVOST MARSHAL'S Office, Sworn to before me this the 20th day of April, 1865. A. G. BRADY, Major and Provost Marshal. |