Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-29
Extracts from n Confederate PrI.
soner's Diary.

hohtA-A Dirty
Feb. l7.-This day our regiment, the
j0th Tennessee, Colonel Sugg, and the
49th Tennessee, Colonel Bailey. were
placed aboard the steamer ID. A.
January, and embarked for st. Louis
OF some other place, we knew not where.
The boat was densely crowded from stem
to stern, from hurricane to lower deck, with
a solid mass of sad, dispirited and gloomy
men. Such a spectacle / hope never to be-
hold again. Rations of the seantiest GUAM
tity and quality were issued, but the crowd
was 50 dense that but little cooking could
be done. The commissioned officers were
permitted to occupy the ladies' cabin, and
by the invitation Of the officers of the
steamer, were admitted to the steamers
table.
Most of our officers had no money. except
Confederate and bat little Of that. but we
were invited to eat and drink withoutmoney
and without price. Such acts of kindness
will long be remembered by the Southern
people. The Federal officers in charge of
us should have provided us with such COM
forts as the usages Of civilized warfare de-
manded. On our trip dowE the Cumber-
land we met large reiniorcements going to
Gen. Grant. II we had had as much cOur
age while on that boat as we did few DAYS
before, leading the grey lines iron
charge we could have overpowered the
small guard, and either landed near Padu.
cab or have run the gauntlet at Cairo and
joined our forces at Columbia la due
time we reached Cairo. Large crowds as
sembled TO see the "Secesh." as we were
called in Yankee parlance. Most of
the vast sea Of human faces on the
wharf wore an air Of triumph. They
Knocked us with the curled lip of
sccon. They had forgotten or perhaps
never knew that ito be merciful to the
yanquished is ever the motto Of the brave"
We were soon under way for St. Louis.
Nothing Of interest occurred during orr
trip up the river, except A slight demon
stration made against the boat, while we
were passing Cape Gireaudean, Mo-, by
some iniuriated hirelings on the shore.
Several stones were thrown at the prisoners,
slightly wounding some OF them. One stone
passed through the sky-lights Of the boat
with a crashing sound, but fell harmless on
the floor. This cowardly attack was said TO
have been called forth by some of the
prisoners shouting for jeff Davis. Yet
this was in the land boasting Of its free
speech aud its free press.
After touching at st. Louis, we started
for Alton, ILL.,, expecting then to disem-
bark and take the cars for Chicago. Alton
reached, we were iammed into the cars, as
the drover would crowd in so much stock,
and we were soon off FOR our destined
prison. But the bell rings. The cars are
stopped Officials buster around. The
commissioned officers are ordered back to
the steamer. We babe adieu TO our brave
patriots who had so nobly followed us in
battle, with unieigned sorrow, but we were
prisoners and had to obey. This was q dark
hour 10 them. A long WAYS from home in
an enemy's country, not deeply yersed in
the evils Of the world and separated from
their officers, towhom they looked for advice
aud encouragement, :he future must have
been tothem shrouded in gloom. lfthey ever
felt the need Of officers it was at this time.
lnpursuance of an idea widespread through
out the North, that the privates have been
pressed into the ranks they deemed it po-
litic TO separate officers and privates in
order that the privates could have a chance
10 repent and return to their ancient allie
glance. This was skillful stroke of policy
on the part Of the Federals.
The rank and file were sent to Camp
Douglass, and the commissioned officers
were sent back 20 st. Louis, with the ex-
pectation Of being paroled in the city. In
due time we reached ST. Louis, and by
order Of the officer commanding, thesteamer
made across the river and anchored in
front Of Illinois City. Here we were
crowded into another boat, which was
already full 10 overlooking. We then be-
gan to think there was no end to the pris-
oners.
As soon rs we were anchored, large crowds
Of gentlemen and ladies came over to see
us; not prompted by an idle curiosity, but
Nv the loftiest emotions Of hearts which
pulsated in unison with our own. These
visitors though not permitted TO come
within less than thirty PAGES Of the boat,
bo-e about them an air OF gentility and
refinement. They came bearing gifts 10
our prisoners. With the intuiuye per-
ception Of woman, they comprehended our
wants, and like angels Of mercy they came
to relieve them. They brought US clothing
and many things which We were not able
10 purchgse They waved their snowy
kerchief-, aud recognized "a by Thousand
little tokens by which woman shows her
affections and sympathies.
Mary Of our gallant young officers cut
the buttons from their uniforms, and at
tached them to a card with their address
and threw them out 10 some fair lady or
the shore. They would be eagerly caught
at by the young ladies, each one, Of course
thinking il was designed especially for her
scC The lady who was 50 fortunate rs to
get a Confederate buttoa and the address
Of a Confederate officer would acknowledge
II by low Courtesyor a wave OF her hand
kerchief
Who knows bni those sympathetic
glanocs, those exhibitions Of kind regard,
may have been the opening scene Of an &C
| quainiance around which will cluster, in
after years tho romance uf love and po-
| eiry2 Perchance in the coming future.
/ when peace shall wave her SNOWY wings
over our struggling land, some Confederate
officer viii sit around his hearth-stone. and
/ tell how. ia years gone by, when a prisoner
In 81 Iouis, he met her who was his odea-
I Tiny" and who now sits hy his side. the
angel OF his household, and the mother Of
/ his children.