674 NortH Caro.ina Troops, 1861~’65.

lition in character, interspersed with political works. The
committee then refused to have anything to do with them
and the large box containing them was sent to the gate to be
returned to the Federal chaplain. The Yankee chaplains be-
came very indignant and said to the committee that they were
very glad that they had rejected same, as the officers had not
only taken them, but had applied to them for more for dis-
tribution. Colonel Lewis and the committee felt that they
have been treated very disrespectfully by some of the officers
here, so a meeting was called yesterday, consisting of one del-
egate from each block. I was elected to represent my block
at the meeting. ‘The committee met, each block having a
representative. A question arose upon which much debate
and difference of opinion was expressed. Several reports
were offered, but none were adopted. The committee finding
it impossible to act harmoniously together, abandoned the
idea of taking any action whatever upon the subject. The
Sunday following we were all very much surprised when one
of the Yankee chaplains came into our block to hold services.
Most of the officers attended out of curiosity. Others were
indignant and considered it an insult and an outrage. There
was some little disturbance during the service, and after he
got through, an officer from Kentucky mounted the stand and
read that portion of Mr. Allen’s inaugural address that refers
to Northern clergymen—this created some excitement, some
contending it was right, others that it-was wrong. Blows
were exchanged and a bitter feeling engendered, destroying
what little good feeling there was among the men confined
here.

March 12, 1864.—It snowed yesterday, but the weather is
not very cold. We are kept warm now upon the exciting
question of being exchanged. It certainly does look a little
more encouraging, but hope has been deferred so often that
the heart sickens when it thinks of again being disappointed.
This special exchange will damage our cause. It is strange
that favoritism will extend even to prisoners of war. We
have some men who have been here over twelve months, oth-
ers who have been here only a few months, and the latter
are made objects of special exchange. This is unjust and

Prison Lire at Jonnson’s ISianp. 675

men will not submit to it. The past week I received from
Mrs. Webb, of Louisville, Ky., a box containing a fine lot of
dried fruits, a box of candies, a lot of fine soap, a pair of
shoes, a carpet bag and other things very acceptable. I learn
that we are again to have a sutler who will sell us anything we
want. ‘This will be a great convenience to us. Then we
can purchase vegetables, ete. My men at Point Lookout
write me sometimes. They say that they fare as well there
as we do here. J am now sleeping by myself, having bed
clothes sufficient of my own to make me very comfortable.
March 26.—I am getting letters very regularly from home.
They are a source of great pleasure to me. This month has
been very cold and we have felt it more keenly than in the
winter. The lake is now frozen over, but as the weather is
warm, the prospects are that it will soon be over and break
up. I heard yesterday in a letter from Amanda, of your
marriage. I must confess I can hardly realize it, but still I
am glad for I think you will be happy. I promised you to
state facts in this rough sketch of prison life, and my style
of writing is a good barometer of my feelings. So I will
honestly confess that I did envy you your happiness. This,
my dear friend, is natural. My situation is so miserable and
unhappy, you will never know, nor will I ever be able to tell
you my sufferings here. It is at times almost maddening. I
write cheerfully to my friends, particularly to my wife. I
have two reasons for this. One is I dare not complain; the
other, I do not wish to add to her unhappiness by letting her
know the truth of my situation. This prison is different
from any other in the United States. One is not allowed to
write for anything only to a relative. The consequence is the
officers here have a large number of cousins and aunts. An
incident of this kind happened to me. A lady of Louisville,
Ky., by the name of Webb, wrote me. (She is a niece of
John Webb, of Granville.) She heard of my being a pris-
oner and immediately claimed mé as a cousin and sent me a
lot of very nice presents. She also wrote to me to learn to
which branch of the family I belonged. I answered her let-
ter and explained to her who I was. This did not satisfy
her. She insisted that I was related to her and must let her