The hardships of prison life provided a daily challenge for each prisoner in his own way. Here we have James adapting his own methods of survival. |
To read a different profile of Frederic Augustus James, click one of the items below:
Exercising Mind and Body
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James was a very intelligent and resourceful individual apparently even before our meeting him in his role as citizen of East Boston, Massachusetts. Certainly as a prisoner of war, he was such as he presents himself in Salisbury, N.C. and Andersonville, GA. He was extremely active in correspondence to and from his family and individuals at home, with particular focus on his wife, mother and sisters. He was the recipient of Victor Bartlett's mail following Bartlett's death in Salisbury, and often responded to Victor's father in Plymouth, MA. He received mail and wrote to people we know little or nothing or about, such as a Mrs. Crane. He maintained an active correspondence in Andersonville with his friends and shipmates, Richard Tinker and Joseph Connaton. James was a well-read person and as a prisoner continued almost a daily habit of reading books, a few of which he specifically mentioned in his diary, e.g.:
He received reading material from Chaplain Trumbull at Columbia, S.C., and from other prisoners at Richmond, and from citizen prisoners in Salisbury. Among the items received from home were a variety of books and magazines. He often speaks in his diary about trading books and even selling them for food. In Andersonville he wrote on June 22: "Raised a little money today on books & had some nice white beans for supper" and again on July 19: "Sold some of my Harper's magazines @ .50 & .75 each ." He developed the "art of horse hair chain links" from his friend Tinker. In one place he speaks of continuing to make "my hair chain for our little Nellie" (James' only surviving daughter). Cleanliness of self, clothing and physical surroundings were a major preoccupation of his in prison. He wrote in Salisbury of "taking a bath which has become a daily habit with me more as it used to be at home". In a scrubbing-fit, "I scrubbed out the floor of our berth" at Salisbury. When weather and circumstances permitted, physical exercises in the various prison grounds became a necessity for James. On May 5, at Salisbury, he writes: "Spent the day reading and exercising in the yard. I find that more outdoor exercise is essential for my health & have made up my mind to be out at least two or three hours every day, if possible. " He never dwelt on the hardships and unpleasantnesses of life in prison. He began each daily entry in his diary with the statement "pleasant day". Even with the hanging of the six Raiders on July 11, he wrote "I did not go near the gallows, having no relish for such scenes and only saw them from the other side of the camp after they were dead." Through it all, he endeavored to keep a sense of humor, even if only for himself. On March 21 at Salisbury, he writes this humorous one-liner: "Had to put off my usual washing, & as it was too cold to read, or do anything in particular, I did nothing in particular." In spite of such positive attitudes and activities, Frederic Augustus James succumbed to prison life on September 15, 1864. |
Importance of Cleanliness
| James placed great importance on personal hygiene, and spoke often about taking care of himself and his environment. It would appear this was an ingrained habit in him, a ship builder and navy person himself, concerned about keeping order in very small spaces aboard ship. His sailor's pride in maintaining a sense of order was evident in one reference in his diary when he writes: " At Richmond we were very much infested, being obliged to quarter somewhat with army prisoners who, as a class, are not neat in their habits & persons." Other diary references on this topic include: |
1864
at Salisbury Prison February 22 "We scrubbed the floor of our room on Monday for the first time since we occupied it, and have washed it (i.e.: our berth) up with a hand mop twice in the course of the week, since. We bought a new broom made of a kind of wild grass called "broom sedge", today - price fifty cents C.S. currency = to about 11/2 or 2 cts. in specia [United States currency]. It is not very tough or durable, but is a much better article for a clean sweep than the stiff birch "scrub" brooms furnished us by the "C.S."
March 8 "I forgot to mention that under the influence of a scrubbing-fit, I scrubbed up the floor of our berth yesterday."
April 27 "Clear & warm "growing weather". Our room was scrubbed out today for the second time since we have occupied it. "
May 7 "Our room & all the others were scrubbed out today. This caused a heavy draft upon the well & it was nearly emptied, & a man was sent down to clean it out."
May 17 "Sunshine & showers again. Read & exercised in the yard. We washed our room out in the forenoon."
May 25 "Whitewashed & scrubbed our room today, - a good thing for health. "
His attempts to keep himself clean extended even to the filthy conditions at Andersonville:
1864 |
at Andersonville Prison |
| June 2 | "Washed out my underclothes and took a thorough bath. The water is quite good though a trifle riley." |
| June 11 | "The rain washes & purifies our camp, & is quite a benefit to us in this way. Many of our men are so filthy & careless in their habits that these showers are quite necessary for the prevention of the breaking out of a plague." |
Buying and Selling
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1863-1864 |
at Salisbury Prison |
| December | "We have been able to buy a few potatoes & some corn bread with which to vary our diet & have lived quite comfortably thus far." |
| February 26 | "Our mess has bought 1/2 bushel of potatoes @ 6.00 1 qut. bean @ 1.25 & .75 worth of salt this week. " |
| March 12 |
"We bought 1 1/2 pecks of irish potatoes, splendid quality, today for 5.00 (C.S.)." |
| April 13 |
"We bought a doz. eggs today for $5.00 and 2 1/2 lbs of flour @ 1.00 per lb." |
| May 8 |
"We have also been able to buy a few leeks, or wild onion tops, which when cut up & cooked in our soup, are very good." |
| May 14 |
"Sunshine & Showers" again today. Bought 40 onion stalks for greens @ 2.00 for the lot." |
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1864 |
at Andersonville Prison |
| June 1 |
"The Camp is flooded with greenbacks, & the prices "current" range very high. Butter is $2.00 for a small cupfull, say 2/3 of a pint, Beans .35 for a pint, Salt .25 for two desert spoonsfull, Flour 1.00 to 1.50 per lb., Dried apples 1.00 per pint, molasses 1.50 per pint, Brown Soap 3.00 for a bar = to about 1/3 of a Yankee bar. Onions 1.00 each &c &c. Other pecularities will be noted down from time to time as they are observed." |
| June 22 |
"Joe [Connaton] bought a sack of flour today & we made some "wheat & indian" bread for tomorrow." |
| June 30 |
"Raised a little money today on books & had some nice white beans for supper." |
| July 19 |
"Pleasant, with a slight shower. Sold some of my Harper's magazines @ .50 & .75 each." |
| July 20 | "Pleasant & quite warm. Traded in cooked rice today & earned two good meals, a cup of rice, & a cup of beans." |
"What's in the box?"
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1863 |
at Salisbury Prison |
| December | "We also had blankets & clothing issued to us, it being sent to Richmond under Flag of Truce by the U.S. Government." |
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1864 |
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| February 29 | "My wife has also forwarded a couple of boxes of clothing &c to Richmond. Bartlett's father has forwarded also two boxes to Richmond, and two to this place. These six boxes are all in Richmond, and Capt. Galloway offers to endorse a letter written by us, to the officer in charge at Richmond, requesting him to forward them to this place. Sent off a letter to Capt. Monroe through Gen. Winder to Richmond (endorsed by Capt Galloway) for our boxes, although we have but little faith that they will ever be sent to us." |
| March 31 | "A box came for me today but was left at "headquarters". It is said to be in good order &c. "So mote it", & so may it prove." |
| April 1 | "My box was delivered to me at 5 P.M. & I found it all right, everything being in perfect order... I sent word home in my letter that the box had arrived. It was started from home on the 23d of Feb." |
| April 2 | "Unpacked & arranged the contents of our box to have them convenient for use. A part of the cargo was reading matter, which is quite a treat for all hands." |
| April 4 | "Remodeled the box in which my things were sent to me from home & made it convenient for us to take along with us in case we start upon a tour for exchange or otherwise." |
| April 6 | "Received a few articles from the contents of some boxes that were left here by mistake when ours came (Apr. 1st). They were divided among those of us who lost boxes. According to Capt. G's invoice I ought to have recd. two boxes last Friday instead of one. I got some butter, crab apple preserve, & a can of oysters, & have the promise of some ham." |
James' health in Andersonville
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1864 |
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| July 25 | "Last night was a cold one & I caught somewhat of a cold which brings me under the weather for the first time since I have been a prisoner." |
| July 26 | " Last night was warmer & as I kept a wet cloth on my head & took some picra I felt a little better. Joe Connaton went out to the hospital & reported me & Tinker sent me in four powders. I neither ate nor drank today." |
| July 27 | "Felt rather better this morning. Soaked my feet in hot water at four P.M. & took quite a sweat by the help of flannel drawers & a fresh undershirt & socks." |
| July 28 | "Rather close & hot. Felt about the same & ate but little." |
| July 29 | "Dog day weather. Felt a trifle better today." |
| July 30 | "The air is a little clearer today & I feel better than I did yesterday. Ate some bean & rice soup & had some tea." |
| July 31 | "Rather cloudy. Kept a wet girdle around me today & it helped me much." |
| August 3 | "Kept on my wet girdle & felt stronger for it. My bowels are not quite so open as yesterday." |
| August 4 | "Felt considerable better today." |
| August 16 | "I lived upon rice water thickened with flour as my bowels are a little out of tune & it helped me some." |
| August 22 | "Did not wash out my underclothes as I did not feel as well as I have averaged lately. Ate some raw potato as I begin to suspect that the scurvey is at the bottom of my troubles." |
| August 23 | "Wore a wet girdle last night & had a cloth on my head & so slept more comfortably than I have done for some nights past." (This was the final entry written by James in his diary.) |
To read a different profile of Frederic Augustus James, click one of the items below: