680 Norta Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

them to their cold-hearted cruelty. Another thing, is the
neglect on the part of our government in regard to special
exchange. I am in prison with men who have been confined
for nearly two years, good, true, and faithful officers, while
others by using a little money and having a few friends have
succeeded in getting through on exchange. I can justly com-
plain, even in my own case. Has the government had an
officer serve them more faithfully than I have, while some
captured at the same time that I was, have gone through,
though hardly smelling gun-powder? Such injustice is dis-
heartening and if persisted in by our government will cause
many men to exchange themselves. Injustice is hard to bear
under any circumstances. I have not complained, nor will I
unless I have just cause. I have suffered much here, more
perhaps than you will ever know, but by the help of God I
will try and bear it. I cannot hear from home, I suppose
owing to the active hostilities in Virginia, but we have
learned to wait.

June 4, 1864.——There has been but little change since I
wrote the above. We still get through the Northern journals
the most gloomy accounts of affairs in the South, but we put
little confidence in them. I have not had a word from home
yet, but have just heard that my regiment was at Plymouth,
and was engaged in the taking of that place. We have now
on this island four regiments of infantry and one of artillery
to guard the prisoners, who number about two thousand of-
ficers. Two-thirds of the Yankee force are national guards
of militia. They are as a general thing, a fine looking body
of men, and well equipped. Some of them are mere chil-
dren in appearance and present a strange contrast to the grim
warriors whom they guard. We have all kinds of rumors as
usual floating about. One is that a thousand more prison-
ers are to be sent to our usually crowded quarters. This is
certainly one of the best guarded prisons in the world, and
all attempts lately to eseape have proved futile. A tunnel
was cut from one of the blocks last week, a distance of some
thirty or forty feet, but just about the time it was completed
and arrangements made to leave, the Yankees, like magic,
discovered it. Last night another attempt was made by dig-

Prison Lire at JoHnson’s IsLAND. 681

ging a tunnel from the dead house, but this was also discov-
ered before an opportunity was offered to use it. It is an
evident fact that we have spies among us. Last Sunday we
were all turned out of our blocks by a guard and a general
search was made. Some strange articles were brought to
light. Among them were ladders, sails, spades and various dig-
ding tools. An escape here is a very rare thing. Even if one
succeeds in getting out of the enclosure, his troubles have just
begun. The island is small with a heavy patrol all the time
along the shores, and the nearest point to the mainland is a
good mile. You would hardly believe the amount of dishon-
esty that prevails here, even by men who call themselves of-
ficers and gentlemen. This I consider a delicate subject,
for prison life levels us all and one is obliged to associate
with those who are in fact not fit to associate with the vilest
of the vile. It is only in the dead hours of night, when all
is still, that your ears are not saluted with some horrid oath
or some vile epithet. Such is prison life. We have had but
little warm weather, yet 1 June we had to roll up in our blan-
kets to keep warm, our stoves are taken away, and in my
room there are four windows and not a glass is left in one of
them. It is by far the filthiest den it ever was my misfor-
tune to inhabit. I remember in one of the marches I was
doing duty on the upper Rappahannock with my regiment on
picket. During the night there was a heavy storm and I took
shelter under cover of a corn crib. The next morning I
found that I had a sow for a companion during the night,
but I have often thought that that was a nice clean place
compared to this den I now inhabit.

June 10.—We have another’ very important change on
this island. Colonel Hill, of this State, relieves Colonel Pier-
son in command of the post. We are now beginning to feel
to some extent the vengeance of the Government of the United
States. They have stopped our rations of sugar, coffee and
candles. We get nothing but bread and meat with a few
beans. This, of itself, is not so bad, had it not been for an
outrageous order from Colonel Hill, holding each man re-
sponsible for any attempt to escape on the part of any pris-
oners by withholding entirely the rations, or in other words,