692 NortH Carorina Troops, 1861-’65,

not remembered), were directed to seek an interview with
Colonel Chas. W. Hill, commandant, of the post. The com-
mittee communicated with him by letter, stating the purpose
of their proposed interview, and received a favorable reply.
We were then permitted, under guard, to go to his headquar-
ters, near the entrance to the prison grounds, and were cour-
teously received. He was informed of the plans proposed for
organizing the “government” and enacting such statutes as
might be considered necessary by the prisoners for the regula-
tion of their affairs—with a president to execute and a judi-
ciary to interpret the laws. There was no suggestion that we
wished to have diplomatic relations with the United States or
any other foreign power, for we were satisfied that any repre-
sentative we might accredit would be persona non grata. Nor
was it our purpose to discriminate against any government
in the free delivery of goods of any sort to the prisoners—no
duties would be imposed. But the commandant said he had
no power to grant the application, but would submit it to the
* War Department at Washington and advise the committee of
the result. Then came rumors of exchange which produced
a condition of anxious excitement, obstructed the flow of en-
thusiasm for the movement and increased the desire to leave
the island upon which the proposed “government” was to be
established ; and we were never informed whether our appli-
eation received further consideration.

After a while the authorities gave notice of the time when
the names of those selected to go upon the paroled list would
be called, and when the time arrived the whole body of pris-
oners assembled near the gate—each with the hope of re-
sponding to the call of his name. All wished to be released,
but it was ascertained that only a comparatively small num-
her would be. The occasion created the most intense ner-
vous expectancy. The scope of one’s imagination may take
it in, but it is doubted whether the pen of the most experi-
enced and accomplished writer could fully describe it.

In this connection I will give a copy of a letter received, in
reply, from the commandant, which is the only document I

 

JOHNSON’sS IsLAND. 693

found among my old war papers in my search for data in
preparing this sketch. It is as follows:

“Hrapquarters U. S. Forons,
“Jounson’s Istayp, Ouro, 23 February, 1865.

“GENTLEMEN :—I have your note of yesterday alluding to
the matter of making up rolls for exchange and tendering
assistance in the clerical labor. I thank you for the offer
of assistance. I have received like offers from other pris-
oners and to some extent have accepted them, and will grate-
fully accept of such assistance when a proper dispatch of
business requires that I should do so. You are in error as to
the rule under which rolls for exchange are being prepared.
Rolls have already been made up to 1 July, 1863. In making
rolls of prisoners captured after that date, smaller periods
are taken. The first period will include only the first five
days of July; the next period, the next five days of July, and
so on, adjusting periods in length in proportion to the num-
ber of captures, and within each period the rolls will be
made alphabetically. I trust that the justice and propriety
of this course will be apparent, though it involves much more
Jabor than would otherwise be the case.

“T am, very respectfully,
“Your obedient servant,
“Onar tes W. Hitt,
“Colonel Commanding.
“To Colonel Thos. S. Kenan,
Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Luce,

Lieutenant-Colonel W. S. Rankin,
Prisoners of War.”

So it will be seen that the names of the particular prisoners
on the rolls prepared by the prison authorities were known
only to them.

The result was, however, that in March, 1865, three hun-
dred of us were sent south and reached Richmond the latter
part of the month—a few days before the surrender of the
Army of Northern Virginia and reported to the proper au-
thorities and received, our pay. No cartel was agreed upon;