Chas. W. Hill to Hpagrs. U. S. FORCES, JOHNSON'S ISLAND AND SANDUSKY, January 8, 1865

January 8, 1865.

Johnson’s Island, Ohio, January 8, 1865. Col. CHARLES W. HILL, 128th Ohio Vol. Infty., Comdg. U. S. Forces, Johnson’s Island, Ohio:

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 January 8, 1865: i

Conduct—good. Cleanliness—good. Clothing—comfortable. Bedding—plenty of blankets, but little straw, and that old. State of quarters—fair. State of mess-houses—fair. State of kitchen—fair. Food, quality of—good. Food, quantity of—prisoners’ ration. Water—lake water and good. Sinks—fair. Police of grounds—good. Drainage— good. Police of hospital—very good. Attendance of sick—good. Hospital diet—-good and abundant. General health of prisoners—good. Vigilance of guard—good. :

Remarks and suggestions.— Whole number of prisoners, 3,219; number in hospital, 46; number deaths since last report, 3. One death from smallpox, and one case of smallpox in pest-house. Prisoner Lieut. Amos C. Smith, Nineteenth Tennessee Infantry, has been in close confinement on low diet since November 17, 1864, for assisting a fellowprisoner to escape. It is respectfully suggested that his punishment has been sufficiently severe, and that he be restored to his original status. Prisoner Col. Daniel R. Hundley, Thirty-first Alabama Infantry, made his escape January 2 and ce captured 7 anuary 6, 1865.

respectfull our obedient servant, ee ae E. A. SCOVILL, Lieut. Col. 128th Ohio Vol. Infantry and Inspecting Officer.

Lieutenant-Colonel Scovill omitted to mention the escape of Lieut. Rufus C. Jones, Ninth Alabama, on the 5th instant. That case, the

case of Colonel Hundley, Thirty-first Alabama, and Captain McKibbin, of the same regiment, are fully reported in a letter of this date herewith sent. I approve of the recommendation in regard to Lieutenant Smith, in close confinement for personating another prisoner at roll-call with a view to concealing his escape. The pest-house has been constructed in the prison yard as authorized, and every means taken inside and outside of the prison to prevent the spread of smallpox. Respectfully referred to the Commissary-General of Prisoners. CHAS. W. HILL, Colonel 128th Regiment Ohio Vol. Infantry, Comdg. the Post.

Apars. U. S. FORCES, JOHNSON’S ISLAND AND SANDUSKY, Johnsows Island, January 8, 1865. Brig. Gen. H. W. WESSELLS, Inspector and Com. Gen. of Prisoners, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following statement in relation to prisoners of war recently escaped from this post, the only successful escape since the 25th day of September last: On the 24th ultimo Capt. Robert McKibbin, or McGibben, escaped, probably about 9.30 in the morning; his absence was not discovered until the roll-call the next morning. On the 2d instant, immediately after the roll-call that morning, Col. Daniel R. Hundley, Thirty-first Alabama, escaped, but his absence was not known until the roll-call of the next morning. He was recaptured at Fremont, about twenty-five miles from here, on the afternoon of the 6th instant, and returned to the prison yesterday noon. The most vigorous and persistent efforts within my control were made not only to recapture these prisoners, but also to ascertain by what means they escaped and to prevent the recurrence of like incidents. Notwithstanding the formation of ice around us has deprived this place of its island characteristics, and knowing that the prisoners could now count upon crossing swamps, ponds, and streams everywhere with safety, and upon help from their copperhead friends in the country, thus inducing the most ingenious, determined, and unremitting efforts at escape, I still thought that, except by direct assault upon the guard in considerable numbers, no escape was practicable without the direct complicity or criminal negligence of some portion of the guard, and felt vexed and disgraced by these two escapes. The prisoners induced many to believe that McKibbin escaped when out upon the bay with a large party of prisoners after water, and that Hundley escaped from a burial party who had been out to the rebel grave-yard. l was not inclined to believe either statement, and was following up a caretul investigation of the facts about noon of the 5th instant when I found cause to believe that another prisoner had escaped that morning about 9.30 o’clock. I immediately sent parties in pursuit to those points where I might hope to intercept him, not then knowing who he was, and ordered a muster of the prisoners and search for contraband articles and disguises. The muster and search was not concluded until about 4 p. m. of the 5th instant, and then it was discovered that Lieut. Rufus C. Jones, Ninth Alabama Infantry, had left since the morning roll-call of that day. I at once telegraphed to the proper points, sending descriptions there, and also to my pursuing parties, and I advertised the escape, offering a reward of $100. I append a copy of the advertisement. I offered alike reward in the case of Colonel Hundley. This reward offered for Jones occasioned the arrest of Hundley by a citizen at Fremont, who at first supposed him

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION AND CONFEDERATE.

to be Jones. Neither McKibbin nor Jones has been recaptured, and while there is scarcely any hope as to McKibbin, I feel pretty contident that I shall get Jones. I think I must have hedged him in unless he crossed the lake at the upper islands, where the ice has been practicable for footmen for nearly a week, but I doubt much if he would dare try that route. I rely much upon the stimulus of the little reward, with the other measures I have taken for his recapture. I have had repeated searches made in the prison for our uniform clothing and other contraband articles.

It appears that the Port Hudson prisoners of 1863 were allowed to take into the prison many garments of our military clothing. At each search the last season some articles of military clothing were found, and stilla few more on the 5thinstant. The prisoners had kept these articles secreted for disguises. I am now satisfied beyond all doubt that McKibbin, Hundley, and Jones all passed out dressed in our uniform with our roll-callers, and yet they could not have passed even with such aids if my orders to the gate-keepers to pass no one except under the immediate direction of an officer in the discharge of his duty, or where they themselves positively identified the person, who, in addition, must have the proper pass. Before these three cases, and without my knowledge or authority, the assistant superintendent of the prison, intending to aid the gate-keeper, had advised him to depend upon the uniform and customary equipments of the roll-callers. It was all meant well, but with a little dullness of the gate-keeper it produced bad results. Dress and trappings were noticed and personal identity scarcely regarded. I have relieved the gate-keeper, corrected the error of the assistant superintendent, and, as I trust, effectually stopped the leaks, so far as clandestine escapes are concerned, and everything has been done that can be, so far as J know, to secure the utmost vigilance of the guard; and though it is plain that these 3,000 and more of commissioned officers have intelligence, desperation, and strength enough temporarily to break our guard-line at any point, yet we fear no escape from sucha cause. Weare ready for them and their outside friends, whether they come from Canada or elsewhere, at any minute, day or night.

Since the 13th ultimo my officers and men have regularly turned in without undressing and will continue to do so until our locality becomes an island again.

I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant

Colonel, Commanding.

Hpagrs. U. S. FORCES, JOHNSON’S ISLAND AND SANDUSKY,

Johnson’s Island, Ohio, January 5, 1865.

escaped from this post about 9 o’clock this morning. He is supposed

to have been in the uniform worn by our soldiers, including the fatigue

cap and light blue overcoat, and probably had other clothing under the