Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-03-07
tcorrespondence Of the Free Press.
LETTER FROM A PRISONER OF
WAR,
CoLuysrA, {. C, Feb. IL, 1862

COLUMBIA, SC, Feb. II, 1862
Dear Free P,e,s,
The thick fog which has for the last two week.
developed US was yesterday swept away by
westerly wind and the genial sun shines in a clesl
and serene sky. The little Jail yard which haslonG
been too muddy to walk in, again suarms with
officers esger TO strevtch their legs on land once
more. Last Sabbath We had another funeral
One more has been set free by death. Capt. SILVER
gave him q good coffin, a military escort and a
quiet resting place. The goodness Of heart that
prompted this you will better appreciate when
yoz learn how men have been disposed Of in other
places.
1t is a strange coincidence that every one of our
number who have died have been buried Sunday,
snd FIVE Of the six had lafus arm, 70, ,b,u m,
day thy urrs buried. And what seemed saddest,
all these letters were full of hope and Joy. One
was from a mother to her only son, and breathed
prayer in every line for that sons health and
safety. Another was from a sister whose I'M
changing love seemed to grow stronger by absence
and time. l never realised how much misfortune
makes US feel for anothers sorrows till 1 saw OIL
GERS and men, old and young, dropping a tear Of
sympathy over those letters, which, alas would
only be answered by strangers!
The health Of the men is generally good. DULY
ten sick. But if we remain here during the
warm season so many are crowded together in a
small Jail that sickness and death to an alarming
eIten: must surely follow. We are rather more
crowded here than at Castle Pinckney, and yet /
like this place better. 1t was pleasant there.
but
al only heard the reckless waters roar
Those waves that would not bear me from the
shore;
I only marked the glorious sun and sky.
Too bright, to Blue for ny e1pnUity.'
Letters to come of the prisoners Inform us that
Hen. Alfred Ely, NJ. c., from New York, has the
naming Of those who are to be exchanged first.
Al very fneg After those get away who will be
able in New York TO further his interests, be may
possibly remember that there are other States rep.
resented. am certain that a general exchange
could be had at once, if Gen. Wool could be allow
cd to arrange one with Cen. Huger at Norfolk.
There are msny reasons why we are all painfully
interested in exchanges which it will not do for
me to mention. And if at times l seem inpatient,
you must not attribute it to a want of endurance,
or an unwillingness to suffer privatioDs and hard
ships, for l tell you, these are trihes to other
things that must be borne. W, kaor that our
oo-rads, ere IN the field; but cannot tell bo,o thy
suoceed. We k-o-r that Otbg nahon, are matching 70
a chance 10 strike 70 the lea,t Of n, Young Giant
Rqu5hc; but canzot tell IoT 4, IS prGpared 70 uard
of the bot. And so we feel as though we we're
chained to a rvck on some volcanic mountain,
where we can feel the hesving OF the earth beneath
and know that she is shaken from summit to base;
and yet cannot know whether her consuming fire.
and crushing rocks fall on friends or foes. on, 6r
one day 10 90 on, INTO me uorld " light, and lsarz
low things sfgndf
Three officers have been exchanged from here since
Vsoame. "CAal, and f,Vs, seems to be the general
complaint here, but if we stop here many months
longer we shnll not have life enough to do the
"~Ihaang" with any sort of efficiency. "The bone
business" has become quite profitable. Many Of
the men sell rings and other trinkets enough to
buy all the tobacco, food and clothing they need.
Men are constantly coming to the officers in
charge of US for them to procure them a "YaHkes
Curiosty." I went into the business for a while
and after laying by a competency-(of bone mugs
1 meant l retired from the business. 1 "hH
fims" now by writing.
Yours truly,
J. 7. D..