George W. Ahl, Captain, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General and Commissary or Prisoners, Fort Delaware, Delaware

Captain GEORGE W. AHL, sworn and examined:—

            My rank is Captain; Acting Assistant  Adjutant-General for six months, and  Commissary of Prisoners for about a year  and a half.

            Q. Can yon state whether the rations is sued to prisoners at this post were actually  given them in full ?

            A. To the best of my knowledge and belief they were.

            Q. Were the rations issued sufficient for  their subsistence? had they at any time  saved any rations, and was there any waste  of their rations at any time ?

            A. The rations issued to them were at all  times sufficient for their subsistence; and  sometimes greatly in excess of what they could eat. In policing their barracks some time ago we tore up the lower bunk board, under which we found about eight (8) barrels of hard bread and meat, which they had secreted there, because there was more than they could eat. At that time we had only about three thousand prisoners here.

            According to official monthly reports made to the Commissary-General oft prisoners, there were at this post in July, 1863, 8,982 prisoners, of whom 111 died during the month.

 

August, 1863, 8,822 prisoners, of whom 169 died.
September, 1863, 6,490         “           “           327    “
October, 1863, 2,987         “           “           377    “
November, 1863, 2,822          “           “           156    “
December, 1863, 2,765         “           “             82    “
January, 1864, 2,600         “           “             78    “
February, 1864, 2,655         “           “             42    “
March, 1884, 5,712         “           “             62    “
April, 1864, 6,149         “           “             74    “
May, 1864, 8,126         “           “             62    “
To June 2l, 1864, 8,536         “           “             42    “

 

            The greater mortality during the summer and fall months of 1863, was attributable to the following causes: Small-pox; the majority of the prisoners not having been vaccinated before they came here, and those who were vaccinated had been vaccinated with impure matter; at all events, the vaccination resulted in breaking out over their body in sores; and from the prostrated condition of the prisoners from Vicksburg, a great many of whom had to be carried, on their arrival here, from the boat to the hospital, and many of whom represented that they had been limited to half and quarter rations of an inferior quality during the siege of Vicksburg. Many died also from wounds received in different engagements. Many, when brought here, were suffering from chronic diarrhœa and other diseases. The general effect of our treatment of the prisoners at this post has resulted in great benefit to their physical condition. In reference to vaccination, being desirous of obtaining the true cause of its bad effects on their system, I inquired of them (the prisoners) the cause of it; they stated that they had been vaccinated by their own men with impure matter.

GEORGE W. AHL,

Captain and A. A. A. G. and

Commissary of Prisoners.

Sworn to and subscribed before me,

   June 21st, 1864.

      D. P. BROWN, JR.,

        United States Commissioner.

Certification for statements taken  June 21, 1864 (There was only one certification for this date in the document; however it is being included on the web-page for each applicable statement - MpG ):

I certify that the foregoing testimony, taken at Fort Delaware, June 21st, 1864, was taken and reduced to writing by me, in the presence of the respective witnesses, and by them sworn to and subscribed in my presence, at the time and in the manner set forth.

D. P. BROWN, JR.,
United States Commissioner.

Evidence evidence relating to United States stations for rebel prisoners.  Testimony taken at Fort Delaware, Delaware, June 21, A.D. 1864.