Rock Island County IL Archives Military Records.....Watson, Doctor March 18, 1864
Civilwar Rock Island Confederate Prison
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com February 11, 2015, 1:35 pm

Rock Island Confederate Prison


    Dubuque Daily News, March 18, 1864

    DR. WATSON IN CHARGE OF PRISON

    The total number of deaths of rebel prisoners at the Rock Island prison barracks
up to March 15th was 790. We learn from a physician who has just returned from Rock
Island, that when the prisoners arrived at that place they were the most filthy set
of beings that were ever seen north of Mason & Dixon's line. Their hair was long,
hanging down on their shoulders, being completely filled with vermin and their
bodies were fairly encrusted with a coating of filth. Dr. Watson, formerly of
Dubuque, recently took charge of the prison and at once set to work to improve the
conditions of the prisoners. Squads were detailed from among them to act as barbers,
and soon these sons of chivalry were shorn of their hair and handed over to yet
other squads, who after diligently applying soap and water to their filthy casing
with a liberal dose of scrub brush, turned them over to Dr. Watson for inspection,
really looking as though they had been raised somewhere in the neighborhood of white
men, since which operation and others equally efficient, the health of the prisoners
is rapidly improving.



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