Newbern weekly progress. [volume] (Newbern, N.C.) 1858-1863, 1861-10-15

Young townsman, Lieut.. Thos H. Allen is held
by our citizens generally aud deep solictudc
felt by them for his welbeng we have solic-
ted the following private letter to his moth
er in this place, for publication.
1t will be recollected that Mr.. Allen was ia
ken among the rest at the fall of Hatteras, as
prisoner of war, who we believe was the on
ly citizen of our town that was thus unlortu-
nate; he having been engaged vigorously al!
the time, assistant engineer, in the
struction of the IIatteras and Ocracoke fortfi-
cations, and having engaged in their defence
when the action came on. Whether any pan
c was felt by the garrison on that occasion or
not of coure we don't know, but one thing
we are sure Of that is that all who know him
will agree that he did not partake of that
feeling, but remained cool and collected to the
last The letter reads thus;
Fort COLUMBUS, GovERNoR's ISLAND, !
New YORK HARBoR, Sept. 9th 1861.
My DEAR MOTHER: l write this to let YOU
know of my whereabouts, also, the safe of my
health both Of which know are subjects of
great interest to my dear Mother Were I to
leave for your conjecture the nature of nv
present location, simply from the heading Of
this letter. | fear (under the circumstances
your imagination would not do justice to the
place, will therefore attempt description
Governors Island, with an area of about 80
acres, is situated in New York Harbor at the
iunction of North and East Rivers, is about
of a. mile from New York, of mile from
Brooklyn and | mile from Jersey City, all
three of which cities from their close proxim
ty (as you will perceive by distances given
from this point can be distinctly seen from one
stand point on this Island Then up the North
River about three miles distant, and situated
on the west bank of that stream, is the beau
tiful little town Of IIobokcn, below us in a S
W. direction about six miles off is Staten Is
land studded with residences whose magnfi-
cence of architecture, as we'll as location, is
not surpassed in America !; the intervening
space between that point and this constitutes
the beautiful bay of New York.
Fort Columbus, is Bastion fort, covering
an area Of about acres, it has barracks pro-
vded inside of fort sufficient for six or seven
hundred men.
The room occupy is 2O-40, is on the upper
floor and from the windows we have n fine
view of shipping both in East and North riv-
crs There are II ofus in this room Gall officers
and prisoncrs.) We have police of from our
number each day whose duty it is TO clean up,
sweep out, and bring water for the room each
day-my days are Fridays.
We are allowed each, straw matteras and
bed steads.
Our rations are Pork Beef Coffee.
Light Bread, Potatoes and cabbage, we are al
so furnished with candles, which we are al
lowed to burn until 10 P. NJ.
We are allowed priveledges of about ] Of
the Island for exercise &c
My health, am happy to say is very good
considering the change of climate at so unsea-
sonable time might say with exception Of
a cOld) that it is excellent
My spirits are changeable, being governed
partly by nature of the news from the seat of
and partly byfthoughts of Home.
We are allowed to purchase city papers
which add greatly towards excluding sadness.
was highly elated this morning by the recep-
ton of note from Mr.. Wall he offers to fur
nish me, through the request Of Mr.. Uollistcr
anything that may add to my comfort. hope
Mr.. Hollister will receive my sincere thanks
for ths;very acceptable offer.
have written to Sis Richardson but have as
yet received no answer.
wrote to YOU while on board the U. S.
Ship Minnesota. l hope you received the
letter.
The monotony Of this life can be better imag
incd than described.
hope Dear Mother you will not let this
misfortune of mine give you any un-
casiness Remember that, though young in
years, | am much accustomed to reverses,
and hope though am the sufferer, that my
beloved state will be benefited by it.
Hoping to hear from you soon through Bro.
w iiam
am Your affectonate son,
THUS. Ii. ALLEN,