682 NortH CaRroLina Troops, 1861-’65.

starving us entirely unless we turn spies and infomners upon
our fellow prisoners. This is an outrage that meets with the
scorn and defiance that it is entitled to. The situation of
military affairs is very cheering to us. Lee stands with a
bold front, hurling death: and destruction upon his foes at
every turn, repulsing them every time they attack him. John-
ston has found a resting place for his weary troops and now
confronts his foes. Still more cheering news from the trans-
Mississippi of utter defeat and ruin of the Federal armies
and better still, Morgan is carrying it with a rough hand in
Kentucky and threatens this State with his legions. All this
cheers the hearts of the prisoners and causes them to look
with brighter hopes to the future. The weather today is
cold, and we are shivering in our bunks. An old fellow re-
marked at roll call this morning that he did not mind freez-
ing to death in winter, but he protested against it in summer.
An order was issued day before yesterday and carried out,
which was to the effect that the prisoners were not allowed to
receive a letter that was over a half a page in length, written
even on note paper. This was very hard to many of us.
Just to think for a moment, that you had been separated for
years from the companion of your bosom, at last a letter
would arrive and the envelope would be handed to you and
the letter carried off to be burned.

I saw a very affecting incident to-day—a gentleman con-
fined here for the war for running the blockade. His wife,
who lives in Nashville, came here on a visit and she was not
allowed to speak to him, but was allowed to mount the wall
with two beautiful little children and look upon that fond
father and affectionate husband. When those little inno-
cents kissed their little hands in token of sad farewell to one
who had fondled them so often with parental kindness, I
could bear it no longer. At last I have heard from home
with the glad tidings that all are well.

June 14.—For the past four days the weather has been
very much colder and I have never felt anything like it be-
fore in my life. One lays down here sometimes suffocated
with heat and wakes up the next morning almost freezing.
I have also fallen into very bad habits. I sleep until nearly

 

Prison Lire at Jonnson’s Isuanp. 683

8 o’clock in the morning in addition to a nap every evening
after dinner. I do this more to kill time than anything else.
Our rations now are very slim. The meat we get is about
enough for one meal a day. We get beans about once a
week ; also four potatoes. For supper or breakfast it is dry,
stale bread, unless one can afford 40 cents a pound for
butter. Notwithstanding the dull monotony of this place, it
is not destitute of changes. General Shaler, of Sedgwick’s
Corps, who commanded this post late in the winter, is now a
prisoner and Major Belvin, who had charge inside, is badly
wounded. The two officers who called our roll are killed or
prisoners, and even the Sergeant is missing. Last week a
regiment of Ohio National Guard who had domineered it
over the prisoners, left suddenly for Kentucky. Yesterday
‘ve learned they were gobbled up by John Morgan. I can as-
sure you that there were not many tears shed here for them.

June 29.—We still continue to receive various and conflict-
ing reports from the seat of war. One thing is certain, the
Yankees are not very jubilant over what they claim great
victories. Morgan’s raid in Kentucky was a great failure,
as the number of his officers sent here as prisoners will tes-
tify. We have also received a lot from General Sherman.
Also the officers captured in Virginia by Hunter. All the
officers captured from Lee are sent to Fort Delaware and
Point Lookout, as this prison is full to overflowing. At the
present time we get along very quietly with the authorities.
Our rations are small and hardly sufficient to satisfy hun-
ger, but the larger portion of the men have money and they
buy from the sutler at very high prices. We have had some
of the warmest weather here that I ever experienced in my
1ife. The water in the lake is quite warm, but the Yankees
very kindly supply us with ice which is sold at 1 cent a ponnd
and is quite a luxury. Yesterday and to-day the weather
has been quite cool and at this time there is a terrible drought
prevailing in this country. There has been no rain since
early in May. Everything in the way of vegetables are
burnt up, corn is out of the question and the farmers say
that they will not make more than a half crop of wheat.
From the extensive arrangements being made to improve this