Summary
August 7, 1864: Request for more tents and instructions on clothing for the prisoners. A prisoner requested to be allowed to purchase tool to repair shoes.
August 9, 1864: Report for a shooting that occurred on July 31, 1864. Sent with the letter are statements from the officers involved in the shooting.
August 12, 1864: Tents were sent to the camp. Clothing was to be allowed, as long as it was of gray color. The request to purchase tools for repairing shoes was denied.
August 17, 1864: Report of the pond in the camp growing "very offensive." A solution was reached to dig a ditch to drain the pond with. A report made by the surgeon was attached.
August 21, 1864: Permission to purchase medicines to combat the scurvy that was spreading in the camp.
August 25, 1864: Report of the inspection of the camp. 226 were reported sick.
August 25, 1864: Request for more clothing for the prisoners. Friends of prisoners were sending packages of clothes for them to wear. An application from a tailor was sent along. It was asking permission to help friends and family in the sending on clothes.
August 26, 1864: Scurvy cases have risen to 793 out of 9,300 prisoners. Medicines were becoming too expensive "costing $300 per month for a single ration per day."
August 28, 1864: Report on the camp's conditions with four endorsements.
August 28, 1864: The mess hall was too small to accommodate the now 10,000 men in the camp. More barracks had been turned over to the hospital for their use.

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HEADQUARTERS DEPOT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR,
Elmira, N.Y., August 7, 1864
Col. William Hoffman

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D.C.

COLONEL: I am out of tents for prisoners of war, and I respectfully request that you will urge the Quartermaster-General to forward a supply according to the requisition I forwarded to you a few days since before the next detachment of prisoners arrive here. Tents had to be supplied to six companies Veteran Reserve Corps, four regiments of militia, and one battery. Part of another regiment of militia - Twenty will arrive during the week. The latter I have put in Barracks No. 1, having no tent for it. Two of the wards for hospitals are so nearly completed that it is probable that they can be used for the sick in a day or two. It will be necessary to erect three more as soon as lumber can be obtained, and also another mess-room and kitchen; the mess-room to seat about 2,000. Shall old citizens' clothes be issued to the prisoners? There are some on hand that have been turned from deserters and others. Application has been made by one prisoner for permission to purchase a few shoemakers' tools and leather, for the purpose of mending and making shoes for the prisoners. Shall it be permitted?

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. EASTMAN,
Lieutenant-Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding Depot

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HEADQUARTERS DEPOT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR
Elmira, N.Y., August 9, 1864
Col. W. Hoffman, U.S. Army,

Commissary-General Prisoners of War, Washington, D.C.:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that on the night of July 31, 1864, one of the sentinels on post at Barracks No. 3, over the prisoners of war, shot one of them, wounding him slightly with a buckshot. I ordered a board of officers to examine into the case and make a report, which I forward to you. In my opinion, the sentinel was justified in firing on the prisoner. He was ordered three times to halt and did not obey the order. On that night the sentinels were very vigilant, and all the troops under arms in anticipation of a break out by a portion of the prisoners.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. EASTMEN
Lieutenant-Colonel, U.S. Army, Commander Post

[Enclosure]

ELMIRA, N.Y., August 4, 1864
Lieut. Col. S. Eastman, Commanding Post, Elmira, N.Y.:
COLONEL: In compliance with orders, the board selected to investigate the circumstances attending the shooting of A.P. Potts, prisoner, by Granville Garlans, sentinel, on the night of the 31st of July, was convened at Barracks No. 3, at 10 a.m. August 4, 1864, and received the following testimony, which we have the honor to submit:

Capt. J.G. Cramer, One hundred and eight New York Volunteers, said:

I was officer of patrol on the night of the 31st of July. Between 8 and 9 o'clock I was sent to the post opposite the mess hall and asked the sentinel his instructions. He replied that he was to allow no one to cross over the bank to commit nuisance. I saw two men at the edge of the water and asked him what they were doing there. The sentinel replied that they were washing their feet and he had allowed them to cross for that purpose. I then instructed him to allow no one to cross his beat on any pretext whatever. Between 8 and 9 o'clock a shot was fired by this sentinel. I ran to him to ascertain the cause of the firing. He stated that a man had crossed his beat; that he challenged him but he paid no attention to it; then he fired. The man ran into the building; he was not hit. I told the sentinel he had done his duty, and to fire upon any man who attempted to cross his beat after he had challenged him three times. About 10 o'clock I heard another report. I ran to the sentinel and asked the cause of the firing. He stated that a man had crossed his beat but that he paid no attention to him, and then he fired as he was instructed. The man ran to the barrack, crying, "I am shot."

Corp. M. Turk, Company G, Tenth New York Cavalry, said:

I was sergeant of the guard on the night of the 31st of July. The sentinel had been stoned from the post near the mess-hall the night before, and so I selected Granvelle Garland as the best man I had for that post. I gave him instructions to allow no one to cross his beat for any purpose. A prisoner attempted to cross, Garland halted him three times, and then fired at him. I was but a short distance from the post. I went up to Garland and ask him what he had done. He said he had fired at a man who had crossed his beat, and hit him. This was about 10 o'clock. He had previously fired at a man that night.

Corp. D.A. Rudd, Company E, One hundred and twenty-sixth, New York Volunteers, said:

I was at the sutler's the night of the 31st of July. As I passed the beat near the mess-hall I heard sentinel cry "Halt!" I answered "It is I, sentinel; I am all right." He replied "I didn't mean you, sergeant; I meant this other man;" and again cried "Halt!" I then saw a man a few feet from me approaching the sentinel's beat. I reminded him that the sentinel had halted me. In a moment afterward, I heard the sentinel cry "Halt!" again, and added "Keep away from there." The man paid no attention to him. The sentinel then fired at him. The man ran to his quarters crying "Oh God, I am shot!" I do not know the exact time, but should think it was not far from 10 o'clock.

Very respectfully, your obedient servants,
N.F. STEELE, captain
J.B. KENNEDY, captain
CHAS. B. ROUNDS, lieutenant,
Board of Examination

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OFFICIAL COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS
Washington, D.C., August 12, 1864
Lieut. Col. S. Eastman,

Commanding Depot Prisoners of War, Elmira, N.Y.:

COLONEL: Your letter of the 7th instant is received. On the 9th instant I requested the Quartermaster-General to order the tents estimated for to be forwarded without delay. It is not expected that there will be mess-rooms sufficient for all the prisoners to take their meals at once, and unless additional [room] in absolutely necessary no more will be erected. Please report fully on this subject. The old citizen clothing which you mentioned may be issued to prisoners if it is not of a color to disguise them as Union citizens. Only gray, or some shade of gray mixed, can be allowed. A prisoner cannot be allowed to purchase tools and leather for repairing shoes.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. HOFFMAN
Colonel Third Infantry and Commissary-General of Prisoners

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HEADQUARTERS DEPOT PRISONERS OF WAR,
Elmira, N.Y., August 17, 1864
Col. William Hoffman,

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D.C.:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report to you that the pond inside of the prisoners' camp at Barracks No. 3, has become very offensive, and may occasion sickness unless the evil is remedied very shortly. The only remedy for this is to dig a ditch from the pond to the river to that the water will run freely through it. I have given orders to have a survey made. The ditch will have to be about one mile in length. The only objection to this is that a freshet might do some damage to the land through which the ditch will run, and the owners would call on the United States for that. They have, however, no objection to having the ditch dug. I respectfully request that you will give instructions in regard to this with al little delay as possible, for if this work is to be done, it should be done immediately. I forward herewith a report of the surgeon on this matter. The sinks are removed from the pond, and large vaults have been dug in place of them.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. EASTMAN,
Lieutenant-Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding Depot

[Enclosure]

HDGRS. BARRACKS NO. 3, CHIEF SURGEON'S OFFICE
Elmira, N.Y., August 13, 1864
Lieutenant Lounsberry, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:
Pursuant to your orders I have the honor to report that I carefully examined the pond inside the enclosure of Barracks No. 3 and the sources of the disgusting odors therein. The trouble does not seem to arise altogether from the decaying matter, which is thrown in, but from the daily accumulation. The drainage of the camp is into this pond or pool of standing water, and one large sink used by the prisoners stands directly over the pond, which receives its fecal matter hourly. The new sinks will be completed in a day or two, when one source of miasma will be removed, but this does not remedy another very important cause. Seven thousand men will pass 2,600 gallons of urine daily, which is highly loaded with nitrogenous material. A portion is absorbed by the earth, still a large amount decomposes on the top of the earth or runs into the pond to purify. Again without constant care and watching, more or less of the garbage or its washings finds its way into the pond. An estimate was made of the quantity of antiseptics necessary to neutralize the poisonous odors. The estimate varied from one-tenth to equal parts of disinfectants to the amount of decaying material. It will be necessary to ascertain the number of pounds of decaying material in the pond. Suffice to say that it will require many barrels. It must be borne in mind that disinfectants rapidly generate sulphuretic, carburetic, and chlorinayed gases, which of themselves are injurious to health, and that all these chemicals only retain their disinfecting properties while the chemical changes are going on. The changes with the escape of gases being rapid, disinfectants will have to be put into the pond daily, as disinfectants do not stop decomposition, but merely neutralize the odors while the gas is being generated.

It is questioned by scientific persons whether disinfectants exert any chemical changes upon miasmata, or whether the obnoxious odors are merely displaced or overpowered by the stronger, less disgusting, and more rapidly evolved gases of disinfectants. If such is the case, by the use of disinfectants we have two deleterious gases in the atmosphere instead of one. The less disagreeable to the olfactories overcoming the more obnoxious, consequently the only benefit derived from disinfectants would be overcoming a gas obnoxious to health, which still pervades the atmosphere by a less disagreeable gas to the senses. I see no remedy, which will effectually remove the odors and improve the sanitary condition of the prisoners than passing a current of water through the pond to carry off all the effects, material, and causes of disagreeable odors. Chemicals might be used which would stop decay, but the quantity and expense precludes their use.

I am satisfied from long and continued experience that vaults will not answer for a large number of men crowded into a limited space without drainage. The best and most perfect disinfectant is earth, and sinks to smell sweet must be dug narrow and deep and daily covered with earth, but this cannot be in the prisoners' barracks, as the whole ground would be dug over in a short time. The remedy then is to pass a current of water through this putrid matter. The drainage of the camp of very imperfect. A large drain should be dug through the lose run in the camp proper, and emptying drains should be dug from the main drain to the pond. In this way the ground can always be kept dry and the washings carried off. Unless the laws of hygiene are carefully studied and observed in crowded camps disease is the inevitable consequence. Two cases of gangrene have already appeared.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
E.F. SANGER
Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers, in Charge

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OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS
Washington, D.C., August 21, 1864
Lieut. Col. S. Eastman,

Commanding Depot Prisoners of War, Elmira, N.Y.:

COLONEL: In the absence of Colonel Hoffman, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the report of Surg. E.F. Sanger relative to the prevalence of scurvy among the prisoners at Elmira, referred by you to this office, and in reply to call your attention to letter of August 1, 1864, which authorizes the purchases, with your approval, of anti-scorbutics for the prisoners generally whenever in the judgment of the surgeon they are necessary, to be paid for from the prison fund, and also for the sick when the hospital fund is to limited to meet such expenditures.

I am, colonel, very respectively, your obedient servant,
G. BLAGDEN
Major, Second Mass. Cavalry, Asst. to com. Gen. of Prisoners

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HEADQUARTERS DEPOT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR,
Elmira, N.Y., August 25, 1864
Col. W. Hoffman,

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D.C.:

COLONEL: I have the honor to forward the report of the inspector of prison camp at this post for August 21, 1864, with the following remarks:

·  Drainage is being made complete;

·  Cook-house and mess-room is too small;

·  The kitchen is being made a little longer;

·  The mess-room will seat from 1,600 to 1,800;

·  Another of about the same size should be erected; I will write more fully on that point.
There are a sufficient number of medical officers now here to attend to the sick daily, and they are dedicated to do so. Some of the prisoners have no blankets. Shall every one have a blanket issued to him? I have written to you in relation to the stagnant water in pond.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. EASTMAN
Lieutenant-Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding

[Enclosure]

PRISON CAMP
Elmira, N.Y., August 21, 1864
Lieut. T.R. Lounsberry,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to state that I have made the inspection required by Special Orders, No. 289, headquarters depot for prisoners of war, dated Elmira, N.Y., August 17, 1864, and submit the following report:

·  Police of camp, good;

·  Police of quarters, good;

·  Police of guardhouse, good;

·  Drainage of camp, progressing, but incomplete;

·  Sinks, nearly finished on the north side of the pond, and good sink south of pond commenced;

·  Cook-house and mess-rooms in good condition, but insufficient in size;

·  Hospitals in good condition, but not sufficient for the wants of the camp.

On the 20th instant 226 were reported sick in hospital and a large number in quarters. Many of those in quarters are unable to attend sick call and in some cases had not been visited by a surgeon in four days. Some are destitute of blankets and proper underclothes, and all without hospital rations; clothing of prisoners decently, especially in blankets and shirts. The stench arising from the stagnant water in the pond if still very offensive.

B. MUNGER
Captain, Forty-fourth New York Volunteers, Inspector of Camp

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HEADQUARTERS DEPOT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR
Elmira, N.Y., August 25, 1864
Col. William Hoffman

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D.C.:

COLONEL: I respectfully request some further instructions relating to the issue of clothing to prisoners of war. The friends of the prisoners are sending clothing almost daily for their use, and I have some doubt if it can be issued under Circular No. 4, dated August 10, 1864. They are in need of clothing, and if it were permitted to issue all that is received it will save the Government considerable expense, and I respectfully recommend that it be done. It is difficult to tell whether the clothing came from a friend or a relative. I send with this an application from Noah Walker & Co., of Baltimore, to know if they can send clothing to prisoners when ordered by their friends. Shall I answer in the affirmative?

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. EASTMAN
Lieutenant-Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding Depot

[Enclosure]

BALTIMORE

August 22, 1864
Commander of Post, Elmira, N.Y.:
DEAR SIR: A recent restrictive order in relation to sending goods to prisoners puts us under the necessity of troubling you with an inquiry. We have numerous packages on hand, ordered from us by relatives of prisoners, and we have many orders, as yet unfilled, which we hesitate to act upon. We have been accustomed to furnish only the commonest and most indispensable articles. Applications are handed to us, endorsed, examined by the proper officer at the post. Are we to understand that such endorsement authorizes us to fill the order of the prisoner? We desire to comply in the strictest manner with the requirements of the Government, and any information from you as to our duty will be thankfully received.

Yours, very truly,
NOAH WALKER & CO.

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BARRACKS NO. 3, SURGEON'S OFFICE,
Elmira, August 26, 1864
Lieutenant Lounsberry

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

Pursuant to your orders I examined in person the prisoners at the barracks, 9,300 in number, and found 793 cases of scurvy. I observed that the prisoners more recently from Point Lookout were more exempt from scurvy than the old ones. We may account for this either from the fact that our recent captures were from home guards, unaccustomed to the exposure and privations of a soldier's life, or from better diet at Point Lookout. I am inclined to believe it is partly from both. The prisoners at this station have prisoners; rations, with the addition of two rations per week of mixed vegetables. Scurvy has been on the increase. It would seem, therefore, that an increase of quantity and variety of anti-scorbutics was called for to improve the standard of health and prevent an increase of scurvy. The scurvy existing does not arise from any sanitary neglect, if we exempt the sinks, which cannot be remedied without authority from Washington. I find it will be impossible to furnish anti-scorbutics from the hospital fund for so large a number. It would require $300 per month for a single ration of potatoes daily for the scurvy cases. Our fund amounts to about $500, and we are drawing upon it largely at present to feed hospital patients. Without change of diet we may reasonably except an increase of scurvy. I would therefore suggest an extra issue of one ration per week of potatoes, cabbage, or onions to the prisoners for the present, and a daily issue to the scurvy cases. As soon as our straw comes we shall have accommodations for 400 patients in hospital. The total number who should receive hospital treatment is rising 550. Very many of these are scorbutic patients. The barracks put at our disposal will accommodate 200 for dietetic treatment, leaving 593 in quarters to receive daily issues of fresh vegetables in their quarters.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
E.F. SANGER
Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers, in Charge

[Endorsement]

HEADQUARTERS DEPOT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR
Elmira, N.Y., August 28, 1864
Respectfully referred to Col. William Hoffman, Commissary-General of Prisoners.
As the hospital fund is not sufficient to supply the necessary amount of vegetables for the sick prisoners of war, I respectfully recommend that a supply be furnished from the prison food, and that the sutler to prisoners be permitted to sell green vegetables to them during the time that scurvy prevails in camp. This will give great relief. The prisoners have plenty of money and will purchase these vegetables for themselves if permitted.

S. EASTMAN
Lieutenant-Colonel, U.S. Volunteers, Commanding Post

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PRISON CAMP
Elmira, N.Y., August 28, 1864
Lieut. T.R. Lounsberry:
LIEUTENANT: In obedience to Special Orders No. 289, I have the honor to report the police of this camp good; quarters good, with the exception of wards 24 to 30, inclusive. Ward 32 is overcrowded and the building unfit for quarters; guardhouse, good: mess-house, filthy; hospitals, very good. The two wards, Nos. 2 and 4, which were cleaned for patients on Tuesday last are not occupied for want of straw.

Respectfully, yours,
B. MUNGER
Captain, Forty-fourth New York Volunteers, Inspector of Camp

[First Endorsement]

HEADQUARTERS DEPOT PRISONERS OF WAR,
Elmira, N.Y., September 5, 1864

Respectfully forwarded to Col. William Hoffman, Commissary-General of Prisoners.
S. EASTMAN
Lieutenant-Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding

[Second Endorsement]

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS
Washington, D.C., September 10, 1864
Respectfully returned to Col. S. Eastman, commanding, Elmira, N.Y., and attention invited to instructions which require comments of the commanding officer. Explanations are required why the mess house is in filthy condition and why straw has not been provided for the sick. The report of very brief and imperfect.

W. HOFFMAN
Colonel Third Infantry and Commissary-General of Prisoners

[Third Endorsement]

The causes of the filthy condition of the mess-house were: First, the building is in such constant use it is difficult to keep it tidy; and, second, there was a temporary neglect on the part of the officers in charge.

B. MUNGER,
Captain, Forty-fourth New York Volunteers, Inspector in Charge

[Fourth Endorsement]

HEADQUARTERS DEPOT FOR PRISONERS,
Elmira, N.Y., September 15, 1864
Respectfully returned with endorsement of the inspector of prison camp. Over 9,000 prisoners are fed daily in this mess-room, which leaves but a short time after meals to police it thoroughly. It is swept after each meal and washed as often as possible. Straw cannot be purchases here at this time. Hay will be used in place.

S. EASTMAN,
Lieutenant-Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding Post

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HEADQUARTERS DEPOT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR,
Elmira, N.Y., August 28, 1864
Col. W. Hoffman

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D.C.

COLONEL: I have the honor to state that the mess-room and kitchen for prisoners of war at this depot is to small to accommodate 10,000 men. The present mess-room will seat from 1,600 to 1,800, and it requires from two to three hours to feed 10,000. By erecting another mess-room and kitchen to accommodate from 1,000 to 2,000 they can be fed in half that time. A mess-room should also be made for the hospital. The surgeon has applied for it. There is a kitchen attached to the hospital, and will be ready for use as soon as the stoves are put in, which will be done in two or three days. Three wards for the sick have been completed, and a wash-house. Three more wards are being built as fast as lumber can be obtained. When they are all up they will be insufficient for the number of sick now on the sick list.

I have also turned over to the surgeon in charge four barracks for hospital purposes. I would also request to be informed if any arrangement is to be made for winter quarters for prisoners of war, and the troops now guarding the, who are in tents. If so, it should be commenced immediately, owing to the difficulty of obtaining lumber at this point. If temporary barracks are not to be erected I should recommend that Sibley tents be supplied in lieu of the common tent now used.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. EASTMAN
Lieutenant-Colonel, U.S. Army, Commanding Depot