768 NortH Caroiina Troops, 1861-’65.

at a certain signal that night. I have heard that the purpose
was to overpower the guard and sack or burn the town. The
plot was conceived by General Hays and others. It caused
the officers to be removed to Danville immediately. It is
almost impossible to conceive what the fate of the unsuspect-
ing citizens would have been that night if the fearful plan
had been consummated.

On 20 October, about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, as the re-
lef for the inside guard entered the prison, they were rushed
upon and disarmed by the prisoners, and two or three of them
were killed. One was: bayonetted, another shot, and both
staggered out to the gate, fell and expired. About eight men
were wounded. ne sentinel on the parapet was also shot
and killed, the ball passing first through the plank. As the
frisoners made the rush they raised a tremendous yell. Then
came their rapid fire upon the guard. They also threw brick-
bats and baked earth-balls, whatever they could obtain, at the
sentinels. The latter stood at their posts, dodging and firing.
in a moment the cannon at one of the angles fired, but being
loaded with solid shot it did no execution.

There were soon two more discharges with grape and can-
‘ister which did terrible execution. The musketry. firing by
the sentinels also became rapid. A large body ot prisoners
had congregated in a threatening attitude before the main en-
trance. As soon as they saw they could not succeed they
threw up their hands and cried: “We give up! we are
done!” They ran scampering all over the grounds, seeking
for shelter, rmmning into their burrows and tents, falling in
the ditches and on the ground. The citizens, apprehending
the cause of the yells and firing, armed themselves as soon as
possible and young and old came in haste to the prison. Col-
onel Hinton’s regiment, which was on the train at the depot
and about to leave, formed at the sound of the cannon, double
quicked to the stockade and mounted the parapet. But these
and the citizens came too late. It is well they were no nearer,
no sooner there, for many more would certainly have been
killed. The officers of the prison stopped the firing as soon
as they possibly could. =

About sixteen of the prisoners were killed and sixty

SALISBURY PRISON. 769

wounded. It was difficult to restrain the excited people and
soldiers, particularly some of Freeman’s men whose comrades
had been slain. When the prisoners attacked the guard a
Federal deserter knocked one prisoner down with a brickbat,
and wrenching a musket from another pinioned him with the
bayonet. He then ran to his quarters.

Some of the guard, in running out, made a stand at the
gate with some picks and shovels lying there and kept the
prisoners back.

The whole affair lasted but*about 10 minutes. The reason
of their signal failure was their want of concert and organ-
ization.

AN EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.

About the middle of February Major Gee received intel-
ligence that the articles of exchange had been agreed on. The
perpetual dream and longing of those who survived was about

to be realized at last. Oh how they had watched and prayed

for it! Wading in the mire, pinched by hunger, chilled
with cold, covered with vermin, broken in spirit, the thought
of home ‘vas as sweet as the vision of happiness, and their
most eage. inquiry of all visitors as, “Is there any prospect
for exchange?’ At last their sad hearts were to be glad-
dened. Major Gee, knowing how it would excite and trans-
port them, charged the officer who was to inform them to
warn them to make no demonstration lest the guard might
fire upon them. His message was, “Tell them they have
something good to sleep over to-night.”

About the 20th, all who were well enough, were removed.
The sick were carried on the trains. The hospitals were
emptied of all who could travel. It was a pitiable spectacle
to see the haggard, staggering patients marching to the train.
Some faltered along alone; some walked in couples, support-
ing one another; now and then three would come together,
the one in the middle dragged along by the other two; and
occasionally several would bear a blanket on which was
stretched a friend unable to walk or stand. Deeply was
every heart stirred which was not dead to sympathy, as the
throng gazed on the heartrending pageant. God forbid I

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