The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-11-24
AN INCIDENT IN PRISON LIFE AT
THE NORTH.

land furnishes the Savannah Republican with the
following incident, which occurred during his con
! finenent there.
On Johnston's Island, small spot of land ioca
ted in Lake Erie, about four miles north OF the
city of Sandusky, is of the Yankee prisons
! in which your correspondent with twelve hundred
other officers was unfortunate enough to- be con6u
ed, and lucky enough to come out alive. This de-
pot was devoted exclusively to officers, captured at
Donaldson, Island 10, and throughout the western
! department, while from the east there were but
! forty from the States of Georgia and North
! Carolina Out of gathering of twelve hundred
there was no officer over the rank OF Colonel
| from that to Junior I'd Lieut. all grades and de-
partments of service were represented. 1t Is not
my purpose to record here the hard privations We
endured, the inhuman conduct of eur guards, the
sufferings we underwent, for they too revolving
to contemplate even now, when We are safe again
on "Dixie soil" Revenge and modification
! spring up with thoughts Of that prison-the sone
clamorous for retaliation, the other crlmsoned at
tie thought that such deeds were done by peo-
pie who claim to be moral, enlightened, refined
and worse than all, whom We once called our coun-
| trynen.
The evening of the 9Th August 1862, will ever
| be remembered by all who confined in that
| loathsome den. The full moon rose through a
cloudess sky-not ripple or wave disturbed
the waers-fhe lake spread out as far as the eye
could reach, like vast mirror smooth as its sur
face, and rejecting the forests that environed It's
shores The moons bright beams from cloudless
sky mingled with the waters and made the lake
present the appearance Of one vast sheet OF burn
ished silver. The picture was illimitable, raptu-
rous enchanting, and brought to mind visions OF
fairy land. We had seen. the news of the cartel
for exchange ofprisoners having been ratified, and
| buoyant with the hope of an early return to our
country and home, We could look from our prison
and forget the hardships Of our condition in the
beauty of the scene before US. Inspired by all
the surroundings, song proposed, and with
united voices, aud melody and fervor never be-
fore equaiied, we sent echoing over the lake the
words of Home again Hardly had the last note
died away in the distance when were startled
the report of musket and one Of our men fell
to the ground uttering faint groan No one was
allowed to approach the PROSTATE as he lay
right at the door of his quarters. Was he dead?
Was he wounded? Was be only fleming in order
to shelter himself from another shot? No one
could tell, the crowd being prevented from ap-
preaching by the inhuman guards. Thirty min
utes elapsed, during which two field pieces loaded
With grape, were traied upon the prisoners and
the battalion with loaded arms drawn up in line,
were ready for their work of murder. The officer
still keeping back the crowd and retired in haste
out Of the Prison, saying to the anxious enquiries
of the prisoners friends that he only slightly
hurt. Fearing for his own safety, he thus quoted
the men till he got beyond the prison bounds
The Surgeon next came in; he the only officer
in the whole Yankee guard that had kind heart
or generous impulse. He much respected by
all, and is remembered kindly by many for his acts
Of sympathy. He approached the PROSTATE man,
and calling half dozen to his assistance lifted the
ifeless body of Lit. Gibson from the ground. The
bail, entering his left breast, passed through his
body and penetrated the door of his quarters. For
thirty minutes from the time he received his
wound, he laid upon the ground; no comrade was
allowed to approach, and his dying words and al
fectionate farewell to father, mother, sister and
friends fell only upon the of the God Of his
hope and salvation, whose name he adored and
whose commands he had kept from his youth up
Silently and sorrowfully the prisoners gathered
around their dead comrade and with their scant
resources prepared the body for the grave. In
searching the baggage Of the murdered man for
clothes to substitute for his bloody garments, we
found carefully packed away, mementoes that
listed our greatest sympathy for the bereaved family
when they should learn of their loved ones fate
Here was fob chain ingeniously. wrought of gut
ia percha, in measured links, inlaid with shell
taken from the lake, resembling pearl, with seal
pending in which the Confederate flag was repre-.
scented by the colors of the shell-ths was for the
aged father. A breastpin of the same material,
with cross, and the Star of the East above it,
with spear below, symbolic OF the christians
hope, for his mother. A pair of bracelets
formed in links of the same material the links ad
joining the clasp either side, having the device
of heart, the clasp having an anchor, indicated
the afectiona,e sentiment "In hope let our hearts
be united"-this was for his sister
These mementoes of sons and brothers affec-
tion so interesting on account of their having been
carved out while In prison, and with the primitive
tools at the command Of the prisoners, were not
allowed to reach the hands of those for whom they
intended. The vandalism Of the people OF
Sandusky, and the battalion composing the guard
Of our prison, prevented. On leaving the prison
the men were marched to the cars, and while there
surrounded with guards and brstling bayonets,
unknown to them, their baggage was torn open
with violence and robbed of everything valuable,
and particularly of all trinkets and charms that the
men had expended their ingenuity and time while
in prison in making mementoes of their prison
lite and at the same time afectionate offerings
to their kindred and friends. Thus, they muir
dered, in cold bleod, 1t Gibson, and appropriated
to unhoy uses such little things that were valua-
BILE only to tie bereaved on account of their asso-
citation.
The sentiment of the prisoners that night is in
descrlbable-a deep, determined spirit of revenge
settled upon the mind of every one. and found ut
terance one to another, in solemn pied yes avenee
his death. Twelve hundred Yankees will bite the
Dust, for each comrade has pledged himself to re-
member the fate of Gibson and STRIKE for ro,