Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-06-13
Letter from Capt. j. T. Drew.

Mr.. EARLE.-I send you extracts
from private letter of Capt. j. I.
Drew, dated at Salisbury, n. c., May
"A, thinking they will interest his numer-
GUS friends in Orleans County, and also
others, by giving Them some idea of
what our friends are suffering in South
ern prisons. Capt. Drew was taken
prisoner while SICK in hospital, at the
Boil Run fight. He has been confined
in Richmond. Castle Pinckney, Charles
ton, Columbia, again at Richmond, and
now at Salisbury, c. E. FERRIN.
"When | sit down to write you, men,
DRY at once carries me from prison to
your study, where l have often enjoyed
a pleasant chat. l seem to be with you
now, and am going to have good long
talk, freely and naturally, just as if no
guards were around me, no examining
officer or disappointing stranger.
1t has been over ten months since l
was brought to Richmond prisoner.
To say | have not been ready to make
almost any sacrifice but honor, to get out
of prison, would be false. The reasons
are many. In tie first place, it was
maddeuing to be smut up at time when
we all thought the capital of our coun-
try was in danger, and our comrades
we're in the field. Then came all the
petty annoyanccs Of insolent guards, and
the tyranny of the officers in charge.
For few days l received every kind
ness, but being perhaps too fiery and re-
publican il my expressed opinions, /
soon became an especial object of hate.
So | was put down among the black
sheep and sent to Charleston. will not
tell you of all / suffered there; but l
will say that bad l not learned to curb
my passionate and impulsive nature, and
take things cooly, l could not have lived
month. At last sickness began its
work of death among US, and | found
employment in aiding the sufferers, and
when / saw how comparatively we'll was
/, and how much | could do for others,
7 forgot my own misfortunes in aiding
my comrades. Then my spirits arose
equal to the emcrgenc-, and / was free
from gloom. You will wonder at it, but
NOV pass among my brother officers for
the quetest man in tie crowd, ana at
the same time think my spirit Of de-
termination has increased.
l find my practical knowledge of life
comes in good play as aprisoner can
make, mend or wash Globes, max wood
en- ware, convert knives into forks, ii we
lack one and have a knife TO spare. |
can make rings and all sorts of trinkets,
and although my dignity as an officer
would not let me sell any 10 get food, yet
l managed to give many away SO rs'y
judiciousiy that got many things in re-
turn, so that though l was long without
money, yet l Jared very we'll.
Our present quarters are decent, and
by giving our parole not to escape We
are permitted to walk in The yard. Col,
Corcoran, Maj, Cassidy, and DR.. Grey,
L. S. A., are quite sick. Our food is
bad pork, sour bread, and little rice.
Such Injuries as salt are not afforded
We feel it a deep wrong that Govern
ment should get opt all but US, who have
been confined in the Southern jaiIs as
hostages, and leave US here. I am will
ling to endure all that is necessary, bat
l protest against SO long an imPrison-
ment, when We might all be out this
month, or three months ago. However
l suppose it is all right somehow. 1t is
all very fine to talk about patience, but
let a man be a prisoner here ten months
and he will sing another song. One
thing is certain, we shall remain here, OIL
in some other prison unless our govern
ment gets US out, for zee will never give
our parole not to serve again in this war
and they have picked out this crowd tC
hold as hostages"