Steve, the hard nosed Yankee officer to whom he referred to was 1st Lt. Alexander Sankey the Provost Marshall at the Camp Chase Prison at the time. Sankey was tough but also fair. Before the War Sankey had been a sheriff in Gurensey County Ohio and would enter the War as a private in the 74th OVI and be stationed at Camp Chase. Later when the 88th OVI took over Sankey would be made a 1st Lt. and take over the position as Provost Marshall.

Sankey fought for cleaner conditions and better water but to NO avail. It is ironic that after the War Sankey himself tried to get an additional pension because of his health that he blamed on conditions at Camp Chase. He would NOT get it and would die in 1899 in Blue Mound, Kansas.

Sankey also arrested the Yankees who took the Confederates personal belongings of the prisoners at Camp Chase and tried to sell them. It was also Sankey who arrested the grave robbers at Camp Chase. Sankey's methods were harsh but he was fair and many Yankees also faced his punishments.