The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-05-03
Correspondence of the Press.
POINT LOOKOUT, Maryland.


April 9th, 1864.
Mr.. Editor: Visiting this place on business
completed, and awaiting transportation, al
low me to I'LL up leisure hour in briefly do
ing Point Lookout. This was once fashion,
able watering place, where the hot bloods of
Maryland and Virginia went to cool Nature
has furnished point OF solid land, projecting
into the sea, washed on either side by the
waters of the Chesapeake, which divide Mary
land into the eastern and western shore. She
has also furnished an abundance of tall,
straight pines, so wide apart as to furnish
convenient walks and drives as well as cool
ing shade. Art, before the war, had erected
capacious hotel for boarding the guests. a
bowling saloon, and numerous little, cheap
cottages, built on the same model aud Joined
together, where the guests could find rest.
lodging and retirement.
Some 1900 visitors day formerly patron
lied the landlord OF Point Lookout: but war
came and chose his quarters as strategic
point 1t is now occupied as military post,
principally as camp for rebel prisoners,
some - thousands of whom, / am told,
are now here.
find at the wharf the steamer New York.
commanded by Capt. Chisholm, who used to
run this very boat from Portland 10 St. John.
Major John L. milford, assistant commander
Of exchanges, (Gen. Butler, chief has been
running some year and half on the boat, and
much of the time in exchanging prisoners
DIR. j. F. Pratt, of Maine, is now acting as
chief surgeon, caring for the health of the
soldiers, both rebel and loyal, which fall to
his care.
These officers, while aiiordng all kindness
and courtesy to your correspondent, are re-
strained by orders from furnishing statistics
which may be useful to the enemy. Isaw
many rebel prisoners, officers in health and
privates out of health, take the boat for CITY
Point; many OF them minus legs, many carry
ing crooked limbs, some wasted away with
consumption, some with chronic diarrhea.-
They were carried tenderly from hospital
to boat and provided with wholesome food
and comfortable lodgings, mattresses and
Misunderstanding marked contrast to the
manner the rebels treat Union prisoners.
SO much at Point Lookout. Taking pas
sage in the steamer New York, and a state
room on the starboard side, we retired at an
honest evening hour, and our conscience be-
ing at ease, at once dropped into a deep Sleep
At ten O'Clock we were suddenly :awakened
by crash and a shaking sensation that we
were being buried beneath the waves; find
ing ourselves safely in bed, we concluded our
fright delusion and resumed our wonted
composure. Listening, we heard the rafting
of broken lumber and the voice of Mai. Null
ford that the wheel chains were foul. Rising
in our berth and looking out, what was our
surprise TO find the whole larboard side Of the
after stateroom stove in. On inquiring, we
found that brig going in contrary direc-
ton had struck us with her bowsprit just aft
the wheel-house, aud raked clear passage to
the stern, carrying away lamp hanging in
the center of our cabin, and leaving her own
lamp and her fgure-head as mementoes Of
her visit. The captains wife had the good