Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-02-20
By CAPT. J. T. DREW.
CHAPTER VIII.

Our sufferings in Charleston Jail will
never be half told. Hunger was a con-
slant companion; sickness and death
made US many solemn visit insults
came often, and outrages were no stran-
gers.
The memory Of those days will never
fail to make strong the arm and ready
the hand Of all who suffered there
Very fortunate will be those rebel jailers
if they escape
"For time at last sets all things even,
And if we do but watch the hour.
There never yet was human power
Which could cvade if unforgven,
The patient search, and vigil long,
OF him who treasures up 4 wrong"
While here, the great naval expedi-
ton under Dupont appeared off the
coast. Charleston at that time was de-
Tended by less than 5000 men. Fort
Sumter had not ten guns mounted. and
was manned by only one company Of 20
men. So certain was their information
as TO where this feet was to attack that
they sent away to Port Royal and Pocat-
oligo all the troops, artillery and ammu
milton, save a small force of a few hun
dred, two days before the arrival Of the
fleet off Port Royal.
| have no hesitation in saying that
Charleston might then have been taken
with less loss than Port Royal. Should
any one have doubts about this state
ment, if he will take the trouble of cal
ling upon the writer Of these lines, he
can be shown statistics and Items Of In
formation which will convince him, tho
they are Of a nature aud come from a
source that forbids publication, lest they
might 90 back TO rebel hands.
Had two thousand marched at once.
the railroad from Savannah to Charles
ton might have been destroyed, had
5000 men, aud the gunboats tried, they
could have taken Charleston any time
within ten days after the taking Of Port
Royal. At this time the enemy feared
Charleston would fall, and so they sent
us IN CoIpyb;a C
Before leaving this part of my subject
l will copy, verbatim, from my journal,
items set down at that time.
"Tbe privateers run ou: and in with
impuuity.
Capt. Nichols tells me the privateer
Sally, after burning his vessel, run into
Charleston via North Edisto, and came
within so yards of a bockader.
have seen over twenty ships run
the blockade.
There are no troops here save a few
home guards-not $500 in all.
Gen. Ripley sent word to DIR. Stone,
if he gives poison to any one condemned
TO be hung, if an execution is ordered,
he will hang him instead.
A communication by some means got
to us from masonic lodge, saying to all
masons in prison that they would be
glad TO feed and clothe them, but the bit
terness of both government and the peo-
pie rendered all their good wishes of no
avail.
Capt. j. T. Morrell, steamer Osceola,
wrecked on sand-bar near Georgetown,
was brought here to Jail. The question
is. how will he be held ? A shipwrecked
sailor thrown into prison for being a
Yankee. oh consistency, thou art a
Jewell But Gen. Ripley don't seem to
want a jewel.
Some letters came for US, and though
they had all been examined before, the
jailor must keep them and read them
again, thus keeping us out of them for a
day. Hang the dog.
A mother came all the way from De-
troit, Michigan, to see her son. She had
been allowed to pass the lines after
thorough search, and after delays and
hardships, reaching this city. She went
to see Gen. Ripley and could get no