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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 329
pany officers; the buildings are large, new and commodious, and the
grounds extensive . . . The prison covers about fifteen acres of
ground enclosed by a fence similar to that at Camp Chase. The grounds
slope to the east where they border upon the lake. Upon the west the
trees of a dense forest reach to and within the enclosure, and furnish
abundant shade, while a carpet of fine grass covers the ground everywhere.
Altogether Sandusky is the least disagreeable prison I ever saAV
or heard of. The officers in command are civil and courteous—the lake
breeze robs the summer sun of his heat, the view of the city, lake and
neighboring islands is fine, the restrictions upon the prisoners are few,
and altogether it is a salubrious, pleasant place."
The folloAving shows the vieAvpoint of the soldiers guarding the rebel
prisoners on Johnson's Island and is quoted in the Register of January
19, 1863, from the CleA'eland Plain Dealer of January 14th :
"Visit our barracks and take a look at things as they really are.
Opening the door you see before you a vast army of bunks in three tiers,
one above the other, each bunk supposed to contain tAvo men. Immediately
after breakfast you will find all bunks made up, floor SAvept,
benches and tables piled up, arms and accoutrements in their respective
places, and everything in good order. One table being left in the center
of the room is occupied the principle part of the dgy by groups at their
honest little games of seven up and poker—merely to pass the time—as
the paymaster has not yet been seen. In another corner of the room is
a musical soiree composed of two one-horse fiddles, trying to squeeze
out 'The Girl I left Behind Me' in a manner to set a fellow's teeth on
edge and to cause the blood to run cold. Another group seated around
the stove are conversing on politics. At another end of the i^om a corporal
is drilling IICAV recruits, called the 'Awkward Squad,' in the manual
of arms in which they take every position but the right one.
"We have between 300 and 400 rebellious individuals in our pen.
The principal part of them were captured in Kentucky. They are mostly
bush-Avhackers, and not a very intelligent looking set, I assure you. They
somewhat resemble the last rose of summer run over by a small wagon.
We have 46 men detailed for guard every day, so we make out to keep
things straight in the prison yard. Everything is satisfactory to the rebs
Avith the exception of the cold weather Avhich keeps them in the buildings
most of the time. "We have good living as there is considerable variety
about it. For breakfast fried beef, bread and coffee; dinner, boiled
ditto, potatoes, bread and water; supper, bread, molasses and tea. Sometimes
for a change beef soup or rice,.''
The Register of May 16, 1863, contains a two column account of
the execution of two rebel prisoners, William Corbin and T. P. McGraAV,
convicted of recruiting for the Confederate Army within the lines of the
U. S. forces, and of carrying mail and information to the rebels.
The Register of January 4, 1866, contains the folloAving article:
"When the rebel prisoners all officers and many of them high in
rank AA'ere confined on Johnson's Island opposite this city, they exhibited
a far greater amount of ingenuity that they were ever willing to acknoAvl-