English Diary 2

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May 3, 1865. I am one of the lucky ones who escaped the sad disaster. I was well taken care of when I arrived here about a week ago. We are going to start to our Northern homes tomorrow to Annapolis, Md.

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May 6th. After three days ride we arrived at Annapolis, Md., tired and worn out. Will stay here for a couple of days and will then start for Philadelphia, to he mustered out of the service.

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May 9th. Arrived at Philadelphia this noon; they say that we are going to be sent to a place called Spring Mills until we are discharged.

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June 27, 1865. Discharged at Spring Mills today. Arrived at Bristol, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, this afternoon, to the great joy of my mother and sisters and not forgetting myself. I am more dead than alive after all my trials of suffering and hardships, with shattered constitution and crippled with rheumatism and scurvy from my long confinement in Southern prisons. When I left for the Army I weighed one hundred and fifty pounds, now I really believe I do not weigh one hundred.

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I placed myself under the care of Dr. E. J. Groom, and in less than one year he had me in a fair condition, and was able to go to work. I cannot stand much yet, for the disease contracted in those prisons is in my system, and will be, I suppose, as long as I live; I suffered for 23 months and 17 days in Southern prisons.

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I have carried you hastily through these scenes, but you have not seen all, as it is beyond the power of pen or brush to portray or tongue to tell of those scenes, which will haunt me to my grave. The reality calls for a better light and a nearer view than your clouded, distant gaze will ever get.

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Believe me, I have told you the truth as to what we have suffered in Confederate prisons, which you never can and which I pray God your children never may.

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As you would have your own woes pitied and your own cries for mercy heard, I beg of you to read the accounts written by the prison survivors, for while they seem so horrible and you mentally suffer, you will be paid a thousand-fold in being the better able to appreciate the many blessings you now enjoy, and to encourage the efforts of a poor survivor to teach the youth of our Republic to show an undivided patriotism for one county and one flag.
MICHAEL DOUGHERTY,
Late Co. B and Co. M, 13th Pa, Volunteer Cavalry.

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Medals of Honor,
I have been presented with a handsome gold medal by the Colonel of my regiment, afterwards Brigadier General M. Kerwini for bravery in carrying dispatches from General Mulroy's head-quarters at the battle of Winchester. June 16 to 19, 1863, in the three days' fight.

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I have also been granted a medal of honor in accordance with an Act of Congress, which entitles me to membership in the Medal of Honor Legion; and the publication issued by the War Department relative to those receiving medals of honor gives the following data:

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"Name rank at date of
action, and organization .... Michael Dougherty,
Priv.,Co. B, 13th Pa.Cav.
Date of issue January 23, 1897.
Place Jefferson, Va,
Action
Date October 12, 1863.
Ground of award ... At the head of a detachment of his his company, dashed across an open field, exposed to a deadly fire from the enemy, and succeeded in dislodging them from an unoccupied house, which he and his comrades defended for several hours against repeated
attacks, thus preventing the enemy from flanking the Union forces."

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The following is a copy of the communication I received from the War Department advising me of the award of this medal:
Subject: Medal of Honor. 432, 1 39
RECORD AND PENSION OFFICE,
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington City,
January 23, 1897.
Mr, Michael Dougherty,
Late private, Co. B, 13th Pa. Cav.,
Bristol, PennsN Ivania.
Sir:
I have the honor to inform you that, by direction of the President and in accordance with the act of Congress approved March 3, 1863, providing for the presentation of medals of honor to such officers, non commissioned officers and privates as have most distinguished themselves in action, the Assistant Secretary of War has awarded you a medal of honor for most distinguished gallantry in action at Jefferson, Virginia, October 12, 1863. In making the award the Assistant Secretary used the following language.

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"This soldier, at the head of a detachment of his company, dashed across an open field exposed to a deadly fire from the enemy and succeeded in dislodging them from an unoccupied house, which he and his comrades defended for several hours against repeated attacks, thus preventing the enemy from flanking the position of the Union forces." The medal has been forwarded to you today by registered mail. Upon receipt of it, please advise this office thereof.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) F. C. AINSWORTH,
Colonel, U. S. Army,
Chief, Record and Pension Office.

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SUMMARY
The variation — from month to month — of the proportion of deaths to the whole number of living is singular and interesting.
The following facts were taken from the official report, shows:
In April, one in every sixteen died.
In May, one in every twenty-six died.
In June, one in every twenty-two died.
In July, one in every eighteen died.
In August one in every eleven died.
In September, one in every three died.
In October, one in every two died.
In November, one in every three died.
Does the reader fully understand that in September, one-third of those in the Pen died, that in October, one-half of the remainder perished, and in November, one-third of those who still survived, died?
Let him pause for a moment, and read this over carefully again, because its startling magnitude will hardly dawn upon him at first reading.
It is true that the fearful disproportionate mortality of those months was largely due to fact that it was mostly the sick that remained behind, but even this diminishes but little the frightfulness of the showing.
Did anyone ever hear of an epidemic so fatal that one-third of those attacked by it in one month died; one-half of the remnant the next month, and one-third of the feeble remainder the next month?
If he did, his reading has been much more extensive than mine.

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Day and date of greatest number of prisoners at Andersonville — 33,114— August 8th, 1864.

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Day and date of greatest number of deaths, August 23d, 1864, 127. Number of Prisoners received during its occupation, 45,613. Daily average of deaths during its occupation, 29. Ratio of mortality per i.ooo of mean strength, 24 per cent. Mortality of 18,000 registered patients, 75 per cent.

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Number of Prisoners received during its occupation, 45,613.

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Daily average of deaths during its occupation, 29.

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Ratio of mortality per 1,000 of mean strength, 24 per cent.

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Mortality of 18,000 registered patients, 75 per cent.