Andersonville

Chapter 42

SOME FEATURES OF THE MORTALITY--PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS TO THOSE LIVING

--AN AVERAGE MEAN ONLY STANDS THE MISERY THREE MONTHS--DESCRIPTION OF THE

PRISON AND THE CONDITION OF THE MEN THEREIN, BY A LEADING SCIENTIFIC MAN

OF THE SOUTH.

Speaking of the manner in which the Plymouth Pilgrims were now dying,

I am reminded of my theory that the ordinary man's endurance of this

prison life did not average over three months. The Plymouth boys arrived

in May; the bulk of those who died passed away in July and August.

The great increase of prisoners from all sources was in May, June and

July. The greatest mortality among these was in August, September and

October.

Many came in who had been in good health during their service in the

field, but who seemed utterly overwhelmed by the appalling mi