Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1868-11-07
4 Chapter from the Diary of
j. MADISON DRAKE.
[Coucludad. |

4 walk of mile and half brought
us in front of two large brown stone,
dark, gloomy buildings, which were to
be our future abode. and before which
we were halted A few minutes suf-
feed to unbar the huge iron doors,
which swung lazily open, its dub
cracking sound grating our cars. These
iron gates opened into The Jail yard of
the Charleston Penitentiary, which was
adioined by the work house. On en-
tering this horrible pen | unsurpassed
with a strnage and solemn feeling. The
sun was fast sinking in the west. cast
ing a sombre brilliancy around, as We
passed under the arehed way into apen,
already crowded with felons of every
grade, color and sex, and overrun with
yermin of every descripti known in
the Southern vocabulary. The Jail
building and work house WEE e also
crowded with all classes of prisoners,
who through grated, unglazed windows.
gazed quietly down upon us, as if en-
vying our situation, which had the
only blessing Of being in open air
Looking around | discovered few rot
ten shelter tents at the east end of the
yard, inhabited by some wretched be-
ings just arrived from Andersonville. -
One of these poor boys told me they
were to leave shortly for Florence, and
that 1 had better take possession while
opportunity offered, which I lost no
time in doing. But the only use l
could make of the tent was to store
my meal, together with some few arti-
Giles belonging to friends, in order to
preserve them from the rain Often
times foot and more of water was
found in the tent, which, besides the
annoyance from vermin, rendered it
utterly untenable.
1t was in this filthy place the most
.Jikty of any in the South-that we suf-
fered all the horrors of "middle pass
age" The "black hole" of Calcutta
was not more dangerous to human life.
so perfect had become the system of
cruelty, inaugurated under Sam Jones
management For weeks, we were ex-
posed to the piercing rays of the sun,
which caused poisonous exhalations to
arise, while at night the heavy dews
chilled our blood more than the hideous
shrieking of the shells which were
hurled over the lofty walls and fell in
fragments. at our feet On leaving Sa-
vannah we had been compelled to for
sake even such cooking utensils as our
munifcent rebel friends had issued us
while there, which caused the greatest
suffering and distress. After our arrival
at Charleston, Sam Jones argued that
as our supply of provisions would be
exceedingly limited, while under his
care, such articles would altogether be
unnecessary, and in replying to our
application, after the lapse of week or
so, said to the captain commanding
Jail yard, that g the Major General
commanding wished to hear no more
complaints from the cursed Yankees. I"
AS soon as the news of the defeat of
Early in the valley reached Charleston,
we were severely punished-the dis
comfted rebels refusing to issue us our
meagre allowance of corn cob meal for
three days.
About this lime we were visited by a
clergyman, who gave his name as DIR.
G. 0. Rice. This worthy ecclesiastical
in introducing himself said that actu-
ated by motives of philanthropy, he
would be pleased to contribute some
thing towards ameliorating our condi-
ton. He possessed some $21, 900 in
Confederate scrip, which he proposed
we should take at the rate of Sc for 81
in gold-furnishing him with duplicate
drafts on some person at the north. =
He felt assured, he reiterated, that as
we were all gentlemen Officers of the
United States army, none would seek
to impose on his good nature OF homes
ty. 1t required but little time for him
to pay out the $21, 900 and receive the
duplicate drafts, with which he went on
his way rejoicing. Whether the Rev.
Doctor is still in such good spirits ]
know not, but since my return homo 1
saw one of these drafts presented to a
1na1.snn who rnf1and Ia f,,lGll - nllil.,