714 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861~’65.

Of these—
28 were Field Officers,
172 “ Captains,
393 “ Lieutenants.
6 “ Enlisted Men,
1 a Citizen.

600

On 20 August these formed up and were marched aboard
the steamer Crescent, those left behind shouting messages
for “Dixie,” and wishing the crowd a safe trip. In the hold
of the ship, rough bunks, four tiers deep, stretched from stem

to stern, and into these the men were crowded. Only one
hatch was left open, so that the place was very close and

dark. The August heat was intense even on deck. Imagine
then the situation in this foul hold, near the steaming boilers,
and glowing furnaces, with six hundred sea-sick men, already
enfeebled by close confinement, sweltering and gasping for
water, which was doled out hot from the condensers. Every
day, as we voyaged South the conditions grew more unbeara-
ble. Two gun-boats, with shotted guns bearing upon the
Crescent, acted as escort, and a battalion of infantry patroled
the decks and guarded the open hatch.’ A few of the Field
Officers were permitted to remain in the cabin on deck. It
was from them that the tenants of the hold learned what was
going on above; and it was clearly understood that, if any
chance for escape should offer, the line officers would risk a
rush for the deck, and a fight with the guard. Improbable
as it seemed, the opportunity came, but was not seized, owing
to the treachery of one or more of our own men, or the secret
work of spies. It was this way: Just before day one morning
when we were off the South Carolina coast, there came a sud-
den jolt and a stoppage of the machinery. Pretty soon, word
came down from the field officers that the transport had be-
come separated from the gun-boats, and was ashore near Cape
Romain; and that they had summoned the guard to surren-
der. The Captain had asked for half hour’s grace, prom-
ising to give up without a fight at the end of that time, in case

CONFEDERATE PrRisoneRS aT Morris IsLtanp. 715

the gun-boats did not come up. The counsel of Ahithophel
was to take the ship at once and escape to the beach. But,
some traitor prevailed against this advice. We had promised
to be ruled by orders from the cabin. Before the half hour
was out the gun-boats were alongside. We heard that the
pilot who ran us ashore, was a Southern man; that he was im-
mediately arrested, and, later, tried for his life; but we had
no means of verifying this “grape-vine telegram.”

The Southern soldiers were always cheerful. The greater
their trials, the brighter shone this quality. When pushed to
the utmost on some forced march, when rations failed,
through biting blasts or scorching heat, they maintained
their good humor and took “fortune’s buffets and rewards
with equal thanks,” breaking into songs, gibes and chaffings
like Mark Tapley under very adverse circumstances.

This happy disposition helped to keep us alive in the
Crescent’s hold. There were several of Morgan’s officers,
aboard, and, though invisible in the darkness, you might hear
them calling to one of their mess, a tall cavalry Captain, who
was a fine story teller, and a clever mimic, “Say, Hammock,
tell us about the hair-lipped man! What did he say to
Mrs. Gillespie, etc., ete.,” and pretty soon would follow
shouts of laughter as Hammock progressed with his yarns
and imitations. Long afterwards, when many had died and
all had starved, and when the scurvy had ploughed lines of
suffering on every face, when the war in the field was over
and we were about returning to face the more heartless war
of reconstruction, Captain Hammock stood before the poor,
emaciated crowd, spread out his legs, and, with arms akimbo,
personated the “Loyal” Irish woman and said: “Now yez
must all go home and be clever fellies, bekaze the govern-
ment’s thrated ye so leniently.”

On 25 August the Crescent anchored for a short time at
Hilton Head, and during the night two or more prisoners
managed to slip overboard, swim ashore, and escape.

On 7 September, we disembarked at Morris Island, and
when we finally came out into the light of day, and had a look
at each other, we were astonished to note the ravages made by
the terrible heat and the nauseous confinement. One could