Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-09-24

the party accompanying Gen. Foster t.
South Cardinal / had been extremely
anxious to visit the place but as the
authorities of Charleston strongly Oh
| iected to our entering the harbor, OF
the plea that we would find it exceed
ingly unhealthy, Gen. Hunter, who
commanded our expedition, deemed i
unadvisable to attempt to land under
such protest. He, therefore, ordered
the gun-boats to fire salute and retire
to more healthy locality, which was
done in very creditable manner-the
South Carolinians answering the "sa
lutte" by salvos of the heaviest artillery
As "Sam Jones" insisted upon oul
accepting his pressing invitation, OF
course we could not refuse to comply
with his request. Accordingly, some
six hundred Of us made preparations tc
leave the friendly shade of the Georgia
live oaks, which had sheltered us SC
long.
Sunrise on the following morning
found us vending our weary way from
the open" on the corner of Easton and
Drayton streets to the railroad depot
distant a mile and more.
The public-spirited people of Savan-
nah had kindly promised us an escort,
consisting of many of their first citi-
zens," as varied in sentiments as COM
pleXion.
We were preceded by band of color
ed musicians who played not upon
their sweet sounding instruments, ow-
ing to cause which we never ascertain
ed.
This omission to enhance our feel
ings OF despair by hooking our defect
ed spirits with the noise of jubilant
music was the more noticeable from the
fact that rebel captor never passed an
opportunity to insult and dishearten a
prisoner without taking full advantage
of it. Even at this late day, I'm I'M
willing to believe that the omission
was any thing but accidental.
The sidewalks were lined with specta-
tors, while from many windows, females
waved small flags so discolored by dirt
and snuff, that I could not discover
their nationality.
BY the way, the women here, as else
where in this delectable county, "chew"
up large quantities of the delicious
solace, and not only chew but expecto-
rate as well. Indeed, in the latter per-
Torrance, they equal some of our most
inveterate experts in the art.
Reaching the railroad, we found q
train of cars already in awaiting. In
less time than it requires to state the
fact, we had loaded ourselves at the
ratio Of sixty to each car. This may
well be imagined =" close packing p but
it must not be compared with the man
ner in which some of our poor fellows
Salisbury and Andersonville and
though we had no room for reposing in
anything like a comfortable position,
our situation was far superior to that of
our brave boys who had been conveyed,
during the summer, thousand miles
like cattle under the protecting care of
New York drover.
The shrill note of the locomotive soon
announced the completion of the pack
ing process, and off we started, with
fearful misgivings as to our future fate.
The nine hours ride through the in
terminable savannas afforded ample op-
portunity to speculate upon the muta-
bility of human life. To indulge in re-
trospection was disheartening, to look
forward-but no, we could not The
thought of what we had already endur-
ed sufficed to check all attempts to dis
cover bright lining to the lowering
clouds.
What disposition "Sam Jones" in
tended to make of us none could fore
tell, though the majority concluded
that we were to be placed in part of
the city subject to the fire of Fosters
batteries, as hostages for the protection
of the place.
The impression gained evidence from
the fact that Jones had threatened to
carry this fell purpose into effect.
The ride to Charleston was tedious
and fatiguing. Nothing occurred to vary
the monotony, not eventhe shooting of an
occasional prisCner-a fayorite with our
custodians.
About the middle Of the afternoon we
came within sight of the pestilential
city, now being scourged by "Yellow
jack" terrible, remorseless enemy.
This time, however no objections were
made to our entering.
While slowly crossing the beautiful
structure which spans Ashley river We
beheld, for the first time in months, the
flag we loved so well, and for which We
had fought faithfully and suffered much
Our hearts swelled with rapture at the
spectacle presented on Morris Island.
There Hoated the glorious stripes an6
stars, as proudly and defiantly as ever
while in close proximity to the fortified
tons rode the unconquerable ironsides
surrounded by dozen monitors.
Worn out, half starved, discouraged
as we were, one glimpse of that starry
flag infused new life and strength into
our sinking hearts and emaciated frames
1t was moment and scene calculated
to leave lasting impression upon oul
minds.
And yet, an instant's reflection served
only to cast us down again into the
depths of despair That banner, pro
missing freedom to all, was, nevertheless
at this moment, powerless to wrest III
from our brutal captors. Gracefully a,
it waved to and fro in the chilly autumn
air, it could not interpose a finger tc
save us from imprisonment and death
or blot out the horrors of the past.
We gazed upon the familiar emblem
as long as it was possible to see it, ant
Heaven bless the dear old flag p wa,
the unanimous prayer of the naples,
beings confined in those rough suffoca
ting cars.
E,op, C,,p,nta,'e until rooap41y ;ro,1os