We blackened one set with pitch pine soot, found a piece of plank that would answer for a board and purchased it from its possessor for part of a ration of meal, and so were fitted out with what served until our release to distract our attention from much of the surrounding misery.
Every one else procured such amusement as they could.

Newcomers, who still had money and cards, gambled as long as their means lasted.

Those who had books read them until the leaves fell apart.

Those who had paper and pen and ink tried to write descriptions and keep journals, but this was usually given up after being in prison a few weeks.

I was fortunate enough to know a boy who had brought a copy of "Gray's Anatomy" into prison with him.