USA > New York > History of the 27th regiment N.Y. Vols. > Part 18
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We reached Augusta, Ga., about 2 o'clock in the morn- ing. Here, even at this unseasonable hour, we found a very large number of citizens assembled to see us. They hooted and yelled at us all the time, like so many fiends, but we were not allowed to retaliate with a word. From here we pass on to Atlanta, and on to Montgomery. Ala., and are now in the very heart of the Confederacy. Mont- gomery was the Confederate capital until the day before the battle of Bull Run, when it was moved to Richmond. Here we were treated more civilly by the people, and there
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were not so many out to see us as in some of the smaller places through which we passed.
. September 26th .- Breakfasted on hard bread and bacon, about 8 o'clock, when we went on board a steamer and started down the Alabama river, for Mobile. The ride is not very pleasant, as we are kept on the lower deck, and the banks of the river are so high that we cannot look out upon the country. We do not like sailing under the rebel flag ; but when we remember that the bunting from which it was made was stolen from us, and is good Union stuff, it is not so bad.
September 27th .- I have not slept well during the night. The engines made a noise like thunder, and I had to lie close beside one. No sleep would come to my eyes, so I do not feel well this morning. We breakfasted on a small piece of corn cake and bacon. We do not get half enough to eat.
At daylight, the 28th, we arrived in Mobile bay, and as we sailed down to the city we were favored with a gorgeous sunrise on the waters, which for a time took away all thought of our forlorn condition.
We were escorted through the city to the Jackson depot by two companies of home guards, in new uniforms, the finest dressed soldiers that we have seen at the South. We were put on board of box cars with plank seats, and arrived at Jackson, Miss., at I P. M., Sunday, the 29th, having had nothing to eat since we left Mobile, 24 hours before. Jack- son is a most beautiful city, built upon a sloping hill. The streets are wide, paved, and lined with a great many shade trees. The public buildings, on a hill to the right, are very fine. The people turned out en masse, the churches closed, and all made a rush to see the " Yankees." They were surprised to find that we looked like their own men, sup- posing that a " Yankee " was some kind of an animal. We had a great deal of sport chafing them, playing upon their credulity and turning jokes upon the guard that was with us, who, like ourselves, were jaded with their nine days' ride. A good dinner was served to the guard by the
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citizens, and the remnants of this dinner were given to the prisoners. I was hard sick and not able to eat anything.
Soon after dark we left Jackson, and arrived in New Orleans in- the forenoon of the following day. Here we found a larger crowd than at any previous place, but the troops were not ready, and the officers in charge fearing that the mob would ill treat us, ordered the train to back out of the city several miles. About noon the train ran in again, and found them ready for us. The soldiers had driven the crowd back from the depot, and were drawn up in open ranks to receive us, making a fine display. All who were able to walk were ordered out of the cars into the line, and, escorted by this large body of soldiers, were marched nearly all over the city. Everywhere there was an immense crowd of people. The housetops were covered, the windows and every available spot were thronged with curious gazers, all anxious to get a sight of the prisoners. The most of them looked on in silence, but many hooted and derided us shamefully. When we reached the city, I was very sick too weak to stand, and was lying on the floor of the car That fiend, Wirtz, in whose charge we are traveling, came through the car after the others were out, and finding me still there, gave me a kick and told me to crawl out, which I did, and sank down helpless on the platform. Two other sick comrades were found, and we were put in charge of a policeman. While we lay here, nearer dead than alive, a crowd of unfeeling men and boys gathered around us and commenced the same tune that we have heard at every place through which we have passed : " What did you come down here for? Think you can subjugate us ? Come down here to destroy our homes and firesides ? You miser- able Yanks, you ought to die." Such was our welcome to New Orleans. The police soon drove off the crowds, and told them they were cowards for insulting unarmed pris- oners. After a little, the sick were put on a two- wheel dray or "float." without springs, and, drawn by a couple of mules, we started on to bring up the rear of the column. Too sick to hold our heads up from
.
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the platform, we were jolted for hours over the pavement. Occasionally there was a friendly face mid all that vast throng which was following us, and once, when the line halted, a man came near and asked if I was a prisoner. I told him I was, and he threw me a half dollar in silver, and another for the comrade who was with me. Soon after this, as we halted again, a young lady came near and in a kindly manner asked about our condition, and where we were from. She brought something for us to eat, and sev- eral times, as the line halted, brought us a refreshing drink of water, and kept near us through all the long march.
We did not know our destination, but at last the line halted in front of Parish Prison, with its frowning, gray walls and grated windows. The sight sent a shudder through our weak frames. Surely, we thought, we are not to be incarcerated here, like thieves and murderers. But it was so. The men were thrust into the dirty cells and locked in ; prisoners of war in felons' cells. I was taken to the hospital, on the second floor, where I remained for several weeks, suffering from a severe attack of typhoid fever. In the hospital we had cots and moss mattresses to lie upon, but we received very little attention from the nurses, who were civil prisoners. After coming into the prison, I was left for two weeks before my hands or face were washed, or my clothes taken off. or once lifted from the bed. About this time one of my comrades, George Dunn, of Co. "C," was allowed to come in and see me. He was kind enough to take my clothes to the yard and have them washed, and afterwards gave me a sponge bath. From this time, I began to improve, and after seven weeks was able to leave the hospital. The doctor came in every morning, but hav- ing but little medicine, he could do us no good. Morning after morning, as he would pass my cot, I would hear him remark to the nurse, " Isn't he dead, yet ?".
Gen. Palfrey was in command at New Orleans, and often came in to see the prisoners, and many of the citizens were allowed to visit the hospital and prison. A few Christian men often came in and brought us instructive books to
7
EXTERIOR OF PARISH PRISON, NEW ORLEANS, LA.
INTERIOR OF PARISH PRISON.
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read, and showed their kindness in many ways. Among those most attentive were A. D. Donovan, Rev. G. L. Moore, and - Bartlett ; and our doctors. C. Beard. W. L. Lips- comb, and - Smith, were as kind as they were allowed to be.
October 3Ist .- I left the hospital and joined my com- rades in the prison proper. The prison is built in the form of a hollow square-a brick wall thirty feet high, on one side, and on the other the cells in three tiers, one above the other, and a balcony in front of each. Most of the cells are 10x12 feet, and sixteen men are confined in each cell. Our cell is 12x20, and twenty-four men in it. There is no light, and only a small hole less than a foot square, in the middle of the door, for ventilation, and this space is covered with iron bars, as is also a small crescent-shaped opening near the top of the cell, communicating with a cell in the other division of the prison.
The men are kept locked in these cells from 4 o'clock in the afternoon till eight next morning. It is very warm, and the air is almost stifling. During the day, the doors are opened, and a part of the men at a time are allowed to take exercise in the yard, which is 90x40 feet. We have few blankets, and only the bare floor to sleep upon. Each man when lying down occupies a floor space of less than sixteen inches wide. So we have to lie spoon-fashion, and if one wants to turn over, the word is given, "Spoon" and all must turn over together. In one corner of the yard is a large square tank, in which the men are allowed to bathe. In the opposite corner is the cook-house, containing two large iron kettles, in which all the cooking is done. Water from the Mississippi river is used for cooking and drinking. and is always very roilly. Our food consists of bread, fresh meat, and a kind of tea made from the wild youpong. a plant that grows along the coast of the Gulf States. In the morning we receive a small loaf of wheat bread, weigh- ing about eight ounces, and a pint of the youpong tea, without sugar. Fresh meat, the refuse from the city mar- kets, is brought in about 8 o'clock, and taken to the cook-
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THE STANDARD REMEDY FOR SCURVY.
house by a man detailed from each cell. Here it is boiled in the river water without any salt. After the meat is cooked, a little rice is put into the pot liquor, and this is issued to us as soup. A pint of this soup with a small bit of the meat, makes our dinner. We had no supper during the four months we were in New Orleans, and no change in this diet, except at one time thirteen barrels of molasses were sent in by a man who was said to be the largest slave- holder in the state. At another time, a few Irish potatoes and some cabbage were issued to the men, to be eaten raw, and also a lot of wild sour oranges, as a cure for the scurvy, from which many of the men were suffering.
There were various forms in which scurvy manifested itself. The most common was a soreness of the mouth and gums. The teeth would all become loose, and often drop out ; no solid food could be eaten. In another form, the limbs of the patient would swell to an immoderate size and turn black. Still others would break out in sores and erup- tions over the body. The standard remedy, when it could be had, was raw potatoes or cabbage, with a little vinegar, or a supply of wild oranges, which are about three degrees sourer than a lemon.
A large number of the men busy themselves making rings, little books. watch charms and trinkets from the pieces of bones found in the beef ; and when we cannot get bones enough, the guards sometimes bring them to the door and sell them to the men. Many of these trinkets are nicely carved and inlaid with colored sealing-wax, and are readily sold to the officers and visitors who come in to see the prisoners. In this way many of the boys are able to buy extra rations for themselves and do not suffer so much from hunger.
November 9th .- We hear a rumor to-day that our forces have captured Port Royal, near Savannah. Our confine- ment is getting almost intolerable. Many of the men think they cannot stand it much longer. We pray that God will keep disease from our midst, and that He will give us strength until the appointed time. One of the boys. George
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T. Childs, from Boston, has received several letters from home to-day, and a trunk containing clothing.
Sunday, November 10th .- The weather continues very warm. We had preaching this morning by an Episcopal minister. His text was from Luke xviii : 13. It was not a very interesting sermon. He angered the boys very much by praying for Jefferson Davis, President of the C. S. A. Most of the boys would not listen to him, and made a great deal of noise, so that he did not stay long. After- wards he apologized and said he was obliged by the rules of "The Church," to always remember their President in his prayer. But the boys "could not see it." Mr. Dono- van came in with more reading matter. There is a ru- mor, that there is to be an exchange of prisoners soon, but we dare not believe it. They probably say it to keep up our spirits. It causes a great deal of talk, and each asks the other if it can be so. Oh ! such a longing to be free; no one not a prisoner can imagine it. We held a Bible-class in our cell at 3 o'clock. It was attended by twenty or more, and was very interesting. The lesson was from John iii. One of the men, a minister by the name of Alexander Parker, 7th Ohio, takes charge of the class.
November 11th .- From some of the papers that are smuggled in once in a while, we learn that provisions are very high in the city. Pork is not to be had. Salt beef is $32 per barrel; flour, Sto to $15; corn meal, $1.50 per bushel ; candles, 90 cts. per pound. Molasses and rice are the only things that are cheap.
November 12th .- It is reported in the papers to-day, that our government, having sentenced the crew of the privateer Savannah to be hung, the rebels have selected fourteen of our officers, by lot, and confined them in a dungeon at Charleston, and threaten to retaliate by executing them, in case the above sentence is carried into effect.
The following is from the diary of Corp. Merrill, who was in Richmond at the time :
"On the 10th of November, General Winder entered the prison, called the commissioned officers together, and read the following order, as addressed to himself :
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DRAWING HOSTAGES BY LOT.
C. S. A. WAR DEPARTMENT. 1 . RICHMOND, Nov., IS61.
SIR :- You are hereby instructed to choose by lot, from among the prisoners of war of highest rank, one who is to be confined in a cell ap- propriated to convicted felons, and who is to be treated in all respects as if such convict, and to be held for execution in the same manner as may be adopted by the enemy for the execution of the prisoner of war Smith, recently condemned to death, in Philadelphia.
You will also select thirteen other prisoners of war, the highest in rank of those captured by our forces, to be confined in cells reserved for pris- oners accused of infamous crimes, and shall treat them as such so long as the enemy shall continue to treat the like number of prisoners of war cap- tured by them, in New York, as pirates. As these measures are intended to repress the infamous attempt now made by the enemy to commit judi- cial murder on the prisoners of war, you will execute them strictly, as the best mode calculated to prevent the commission of so heinous a crime. .
Your obedient servant,
J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War.
To Brigadier-General John Winder, Richmond V'a.
The reading of this order was listened to in silence, but with deep sensation. At its conclusion, Gen. Winder re- marked that he regretted very much the unpleasant duty devolving upon him, but he had no option in the matter. The names of six colonels were placed in a can, and Mr. Ely was required-much to his own reluctance-to draw from them.
The first name drawn was that of Col. Corcoran, 69th Regiment N. Y. S. M., who was the hostage chosen to an- swer for Smith. Mr. Ely was very much affected when the name of his friend and messmate was drawn by his own hand.
In choosing thirteen from the highest rank, to be held to answer for a like number of prisoners of war, captured by the enemy at sea, there being only ten field officers, it was necessary to draw by lot three captains.
During the drawing, the most profound silence prevailed,
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and great anxiety was exhibited on the part of the officers whose names were in the can.
When completed, the list stood : Cols. Corcoran, Lee, Coggswell, Wilcox, Woodruff and Wood; Lieutenant-Cols. Mowman and Neff ; Majors Petter, Revere and Vodges ; Capts. Rockwood, Bowman and Kaffer."
November 20th .- One of the nurses having been dis- charged, I was asked to take his place in the hospital, and am now caring for the sick. There are four of us connected with the hospital : The Steward, W. Blydenburgh, of the 14th Brooklyn ; A. F. Howland, Clerk; John Paxson, Cook.
The doctors have entire charge of the hospital, and feed us better than the contractor feeds the men in the yard. There are now twelve sick in the hospital.
I remained at this work the balance of the time that we stayed in New Orleans, and it fell to my lot to care for every man who died while we were in Parish Prison, and to com- fort them as much as possible in their last hours. It is a remarkable fact that, although many of the men had the fever, only nine died out of the five hundred who were sent here-as the papers said-to be killed off by the fever.
The bodies of our dead comrades were never buried, but were carried out into the swamps, a prey for the buzzards and hyenas.
December 12th .- The same routine of daily duties con- tinues. Time is passing rapidly. The winter is now upon us, with no prospect of our release : and unless our Congress does something to settle the question of exchange, we must expect to remain here a long time. It will seem like in- gratitude if they neglect to help us. I have read President Lincoln's message to-day, from one of the rebel papers. He does not mention the case of the prisoners, and seems regardless of our sufferings. To-day nine prisoners cap- tured from the blockading fleet were brought to the city and confined in the prison with us.
December 25th, Christmas Day, 1861 .- The weather is fine, and the boys, thinking that the day for their release is not far distant, are feeling pretty well. They have organ-
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MY FIRST LETTER FROM HOME.
ized into companies, and to-day had a masquerade drill and march in the yard, which made a great deal of sport. After this we had a good time singing patriotic songs, cheering for the Flag and the Union, and made the old prison ring: It brought comfort to five hundred loyal hearts. Those of us in the hospital managed to get some red, white and blue cloth from the female prisoners in the other department of the prison, and made a little flag, about two feet long. To- day I took it out into the long hall, and when the officers were not about, I waved it from a window overlooking the yard. Such a shout as went up when the boys saw it, was never heard before in this city. The noise attracted so great a crowd about the prison that the officers came in, and tried to stop us. Then they locked us all up, but the boys kept up the singing until late into the night. So, after all, we had a " Merry Christmas."
We are not guarded by soldiers here, but are under the civil authorities, and the turnkeys are all civil prisoners, whom the officers send in to lock us up. These men come into the yard jingling a bunch of ponderous keys, and shout : "Get to your holes, you - - Yankee -s!"
Every Sunday we hold a Bible-class in one of the cells, and for some time a daily prayer-meeting has been held.
December 27th .- Our prayer-meeting this afternoon was the most interesting that we have held. and was attended by about forty, all crowded into a single cell. One sick man was made a special subject of prayer. Another man expressed his determination to be a Christian. There was much feeling, and although in these peculiar circumstances, we were happy.
December 28th .- Oh ! happy am I. I have received a letter from my father to-day -- the first time I have heard from home since I was captured. My friends have heard where I am, and all are well ; but the letter brings the sad news of the death of my comrade, Charley Trowbridge, in Richmond.
December 30th .- The Angel of Death has again come to us and taken another comrade, by the name of Wing. He
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died at three this morning, after an illness of nine weeks. He was a nurse in the hospital when I was sick, and little did he think he would go first. He had as good care as I could give him, and I think he died happy. He was very wicked and profane during the first part of his sickness, but I have talked with him about dying, he has been prayed for in the meetings, God seemed to have called him, and he is happy. He said he was willing to give up this world for a home above.
January Ist, 1862 .- Another man, by the name of Beard, from the 7th Ohio, died last night. He had been sick about a week, with typhoid fever. He had a hemorrhage of the bowels about 8 o'clock, and died about 11. He did not know of his condition till I told him he could not live till morning. Not being a Christian, he desired me to pray with him, which I did, and taught him to pray for himself He repented and implored forgiveness of his Saviour, and told me that he thought his prayer was heard and that he would be happy in heaven. It was a solemn New Year night to us, and one long to be remembered.
The boys are rejoicing greatly, having heard that the government has agreed to an exchange of prisoners. There is now some hope that we shall be released. We all have "exchange on the brain."
January 4th .- My birthday : twenty years old to-day. We are not allowed the city papers, and can only get them by stealing them out of the pockets of the officers or the doctors, or sometimes from the convicts on the other side of the prison. To-day some of the officers suspecting that the men in cell No. 4 had got a paper, searched all the men in the cell. They found no paper, but did find a diary belonging to one of the men. This man was taken out and put in irons, locked in the dungeon, and fed on bread and water for many days.
The shackles which they sometimes put on the men. for punishment, weigh one hundred and thirty pounds, and consist of two iron clevies, which encircle the ankle ; then an iron bar is put through the eyes of the clevies, and keyed
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in by a bolt, which is headed down with a heavy sledge hammer. These cannot be removed except by cutting the key with a cold chisel. We were then told that they would search every cell, and take away every diary they found: So I have to hide mine in a rat hole in the floor, and at night I take it out and write in it.
January 15th .- To-day we have each received a new suit of clothes from our government-a hat, coat, blouse, pants, shirt, two pairs drawers, shoes, stockings, and overcoat. So we are comfortably clothed once more. Many of the men were almost naked, and all of us were without under- clothing. We are feeling very happy to-day. My health is good. Eleven in hospital.
January 28th .- The Massachusetts men have each re- ceived two dollars, which was sent to them by friends at home.
February 5th .- To-day the commanding officer, General Palfrey, came in and told us that we should leave to-morrow for the North. Many of the boys are very jubilant at the prospect of going home, but some of us dare not believe it. for our enemies are very treacherous. A brighter day must dawn some time. None of the men have ever tried to tun- nel out or make their escape from this prison, as they often did in Richmond, for we are so far from the Union lines, it would be a hopeless task to attempt to reach them.
February 6th .- We left Parish Prison, the whole five hundred, at 2 o'clock, having been told that we were going to North Carolina to be exchanged. We were marched to the depot through the same street by which we came to the prison. It was a very hot and sultry day, and the march to the station almost overcame the men. So we bid good-by to New Orleans, glad to get out of that miserable prison, where we leave no pleasant associations.
We started in passenger cars, and made the journey over about the same route by which we came south ; but will not weary the reader with the details of the trip. We reached our destination, which proved to be Salisbury. N. C., at 2 o'clock A. M. of February 14th, one of the darkest and
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stormiest nights I ever saw. We were ordered out of the cars, and, marching through a line of bayonets, brought up in some building, and were left in the dark to grope our way about the room. We soon lay down, for all were wearied by our long ride of nine days. We awoke in the morning to find ourselves in another strong prison. This did not look much like going home, and it seems to be the darkest day of our imprisonment, for we can now see no signs of our release.
PE
KED
CONFEDERATE MILITARY PRISON, SALISBURY, N. C. (An Old Cotton Factory.)
Salisbury Prison is a large cotton factory, three stories high, and built of brick. The rooms have been filled with rough board bunks, in four tiers, with narrow aisles between. The windows have strong iron bars across them, and the sash and glass have been removed, so that the cold wind comes sweeping through, day and night. At first, our food was quite good, consisting of fresh meat, and soup made from the Southern black pea or beau. But, after a little,
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A RARE SIGHT.
the rations were very short, and instead of fresh meat, we were fed on bacon and salt junk. This was meat that had been cured from the carcasses of horses and mules which had been condemned in the service. We would never have complained had we been given even enough of this.
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