Bartlett Yancey Malone

[PaigeBooth]

Have currently been reading "The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone," A Civil War Confederate Soldier enlisted in the 6th North Caroline Regiment. Though the book is small, it is surprisingly insightful and is a very personal look into the life of a soldier. Prior to the war, Malone was a farmer and eventually joined the army in July of 1861. He entered the army as a twenty-three year old private, and rose to the rank of sergeant. After Malone's capture on November 7, 1863, he was imprisoned at Point Lookout, Maryland, where he remained a prisoner until his release on February 24th, 1865. I found Malone's description of what he was given to eat at Point Lookout and also his experiences in January of 1864 to be quite interesting and thought I would share them. (I have corrected Malone's spelling errors and have added punctuation so it is easier to read):

In Malone's own words, regarding his rations at Point Lookout: "Our rations at Point Lookout was 5 crackers and a cup of coffee for breakfast. And for dinner a small ration of meat, 2 crackers, three potatoes, and a cup of soup. Supper we have none."
Here is Malone's description of January of 1864: "I spent the first day of January '64 at Point Lookout M.D. The morning was pleasant, but toward evening the air changed and the night was very cool. Was so cool that five of our men froze to death before morning. We all suffered a great deal with cool and hunger. Two of our men was so hungry today that they caught a rat and cooked him and eat him. The 6th was cool and cloudy, and we had 9 men to die at the hospital today. Our beds at this place are composed of Sea feathers. That is we gather the small stones from the bay and lie on them. The 7th was very cool- a snow fell after night. The 10th was a nice day, and I saw the man today that makes coffins at this place for the Rebels, and he says that 12 men dies here everyday. The 22th day of January '64 was a very pretty day. And it was my birthday which made me 25 years of age. I spent the day at Point Lookout, M.D. And I feasted on crackers and coffee. "

Also, since today is May 10th, I would like to add my birthday wishes to John Wilkes Booth and mention that I am also in mourning for the death of Stonewall Jackson who died today, in 1863.