Written while its author was being held at Johnson's Island, a Federal prison camp for Confederate officers in Lake Erie's Sandusky Bay, this poem discusses one of the more commonplace aspects of life in captivity -- getting enough to eat. One wonders just how often the lowly rat was pressed into service as a commissary officer.

Little "Reb" was the captives' pet terrier.

"Ratdenlinden"

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Last modified 18-April-2001