Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-11-07
Letter from E a Prisoner.

The following letter from Mr.. Charles
H Comfy. Of Logansport, Sergeant Major
Of the Goth Indiana Regiment, will be read
with interest: sf sltfas ai'
''.-.is NORFOLK. Va. Oct. II. 1861.
My Dean MoTHER:-Doub thee will
be much surprised (if thee has not already
heard Of my fase) 10 hear from me. dating
at this point. The fact OF my being pris,
o,ex Of ioar will at once solve the query
Why am here? j was taken prisoner on
the 4th inst, on Chickimicomico Island.
The regiment retreated from it's position
(where my last letter was dated towards
! Fort Hatteras. / was in the rear some 6
or miles having returned to camp to look
after the sick, start the cooks in retreat,
break up LOT of cartridges and destroy
certain papers. / volunteered to 90 back,
and indeed wanted to. / should have es-
capped, but had two sick men with me that
lhated to leave. and on the road / had a
slight rush of blood to the head, laid down
to sleep and oversight myself about half
an hour. When / awakened / started
towards Fort Hatteras, but had not got
4
more than half mile on my way, when
saw party of men approaching me. who
presumed to be our own men, but they
proved to be Georgians. They called to
me to surrender. but that l could not do
without an effort to escape. had mus
ket on my shoulder which / discharged
twice without any effect, but shooting the
horse from under Col Wright. when see-
ing | was surrounded, and that could not
possibly escape, bitter as was the idea,
surrendered, as / would have been taken
dead or wounded
! am in excellent health and as good
lspirits as a prisoner can well have. We
are treated kindly and fare tolerably well
but for the present we are confined very
closely. / presume they will send us of
from here before a grea while, to some
point where we will have more room 70,
exercise. Ny limits at present are ter
by twelve cell in the Norfolk Jail. By
walking diagonally / can take five step.
without turning.
i Ihave no complaints 20 make-it is the
fortune of war, and is not much worse thar
dame Fortune has been treating me for the
past two years. We were taking by
Georgians, 80 of us, on the Island, and, I
few days before they captured the steamer
Fanny and Al. They brought all Of us W
from Roanoke Island together-a jolly
crowd considering the circumstances. Th,
thirty-two speak Of above were takel
one, two and three at time. This is m,
. second days experience in jail life.
have been fortunate enough to borrow
novel. aud manage to while away the tim
righ. pleasantly. Write to Cliff immedi
, ateiy. and to father, and let them know
my whereabouts and condition.
| Ii the Administration adheres to it
, present policy of no exchange of prison
ers. l presume l shall remain in the Soutl
until the war is ended-not a very pleasan
, future to look into, but my heart does no
3 quail one particle. have the satisfactio,
, of knowing that have done all in m,
power for my God and my country. an,
| submit to my fate with good spirit.
Q This letter, of course, will be read b,
the military authorities before it is sent
and then the first flag of truce that goes t
3 Fortress Monroe will carry it there. i
writing to me thee must remember that al
of thy letters will be read by other partie
before have the privilege of reading them
Do not gricve nor despond at my fate.
r It were not for the mere idea of being
prisoner. / should enjoy myself almost a
J well as if | was perfectly free. No more a
I present. Much love to all. This lette
must answer for all of my relatives. Kis
Ellie FOR me. Direct thy letter to G. H
Comfy. Serg't Maj,r. (prisoner of War.
Norfolk, Va, via. Fortress Monroe.
Thy affectionatc son.
C.H. COMFY.