American Genocide “On June 28, 1864, as a means of extracting information or persuading the rebels to pledge loyalty to the Union Army, they created a wooden structure, similar to that of a carpenters sawhorse. The jagged and splinter-laden, center beam plank, turned up edgewise, stood nearly four feet off the ground. This provided entertainment for the guards. If any prisoner did anything that displeased them, they forced them to ride, The Mule. To make it even more excruciatingly painful, buckets of sand would be tied to each foot. This was referred to as spurs. Men were made to sit bare-back in the harsh climates of the bitter cold of winter, or the searing heat of the summer. By 1865, The Mule had inclined to fifteen feet in height and a ladder was imperative to climb onto it. It severely injured the genitals, and many men were crippled and were never able to walk again after their experience. Others sat for such extended periods on the sharp edge until they fainted and fell off from sheer exhaustion. Another ruthless torture included what the Yankees called, Reaching for the Grub. This was done by making men bend over for several hours, keeping knees completely straight and locked, with fingertips touching the ground. Some stayed in the position for so long, that the blood surged from their mouth and nose. At times, the eyeballs protruded until almost bursting from their sockets. Other common means of punishments were whippings or beatings. By positioning men over a barrel, they would use sharp-edged belts with a metal clasp until they cut through their skin. Another was by forcing the captives to stand at attention in the environment for hours without moving. Guards would ensure no footprints could be found, or further punishment would be imparted on them. To disturb the sleep of the weary prisoners who were assigned three to a bunk, guards would aimlessly shoot into the crowded barracks, that averaged 25 by 70 feet. Prisoners were hanged by their thumbs and those who were weak or moved too slowly were shot on the spot. Humiliation was commonplace at Camp Douglas. The cruel and curious citizens of Chicago paid a small fee to climb to the top of the observation tower and watch prisoners being paraded back and forth with half a barrel over their head. This gave them the perfect opportunity to yell, laugh, and curse the rebels. All northern and southern prisoner of war camps had what they called, The Deadly Deadline. Boundaries were established specifically for when nature called. This could have been the perfect opportune time for an escape. Several Confederate prisoners violated or crossed the restricted limits at Camp Douglas and were shot or bayoneted to death, usually while in the act of relieving themselves. Lastly, solitary confinement, in which no man wanted to experience, consisted of a ten-foot square room with a floor of earthen dirt and one ten-inch ventilated window. Twenty prisoners could be crammed into confinement at one time”. Gary
Posted on: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 20:40:43 +0000
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