766 NortH Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

failing, almost inaudible voice mutter, “‘ ‘Come unto me all
ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’
These are precious words.” And doubtless amid the gloom
and horror of that old prison, there was many an upward
glance of the heart—many a struggle and triumph of faith—
many a thrill of redeeming love and heavenly hope, which all
unknown to friend or foe, were recognized by Him whose na-
ture is love, and who is “mighty to save.”

There was a small brick building near the center of the
prison, which was used as a receptacle for the dead until they
were carried to the burial ground. They were hauled thence,
without coffins, to the old field west of the prison. A detail,
first of convicts and afterwards of prisoners of war, was kept
day by day, constantly digging the long pits in which they
were interred. These pits were four feet deep, a little over
six feet wide, and were extended, parallel, about sixty yards.
The bodies were laid in them without covering—there was
not material to cover the living, much less the dead. They
were laid side by side, as closely as they would lie, and when
the number was too large for the space that was ‘dug, one
would be placed on top between every two: They generally
had very little clothing on, as the living were permitted to
take their garments. Seldom does it fall to the lot of man
tc behold a more sickening and _heartrending spectacle than
they presented. It was a lesson on the vanity of this life
more impressive and eloquent than tongue or pen can describe.
It was a picture of the hellish curse of war, in one of its most
horrible and hideous aspects. I begged the workmen at least
to get some brushes to lay over their faces. Sadly have I
mused, as I stood and gazed upon their attenuated forms, as
they seemed the very romance of the horrible in shroudless,
coffinless grave. Those long, bony hands, were once the dim-
pled pride of a devoted mother, and on that cold, blanched
brow tender love had often pressed the kiss of a mother’s lips.
Perhaps while I gazed on their hapless fate, a fond wife and
prattling children were watching for the mail that they might
receive the longed-for tidings from him who was best be
loved. But I turn from the theme, as I always turned from
those harrowing, chilling burials, with a heart full of sadness,

SALISBURY PRISON. 767

and shuddering over the unwritten terrors and calamities of
war.

From the congregated evils of imprisonment the prisoners
were always anxiously seeking escape. Gladly did they
accept any opportunity to get out, however laborious the
duties for which they were detailed. Numbers of them were
on parole or detail for various duties. Some were clerks,
some in the workshops, some in the shoe factories, some dig-
ging graves, some hauling wood on the train, ete.

A Colonel: Tucker came there for the purpose of getting re-
cruits from their number for the Confederate army. Only
foreigners were allowed to enlist. Nearly eighteen hundred
took the oath administered by a Catholic priest. Some may
have taken this step in good faith, as it is known they were
often recruited by foul means in the United States, but the
greater number chose it as the only means of escape from
their terrible den. They were called “galvanized Yankees,”
and though most of them made scarcely a show of fighting
when the test came, a few stood their ground and fought with

true courage.

ESCAPES FROM THE PRISON.

Of the whole number in the prison, five or six hundred es-
caped during the five months from October to March. They
sometimes succeeded in deceiving the sentinels and passing
quietly out at the gate. One morning a ladder was found
against the stockade on the inside. How many had scaled
it is not known.

They were constantly engaged in tunneling. At one time
they were engaged on sixteen tunnels in different parts of
the enclosure. Sometimes they would complete them and a
number escape. But to prevent this a second line of senti-
nels was placed about thirty feet from the stockade. There
were also spies among them who were bribed by the prison
officials to detect and betray them.

Before the officers were removed and when there was only a
line of sentinels between the officers and privates, a sentinel
saw a paper thrown across by an officer, and on examining it,
found that it contained directions for an outbreak to be made