Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-09-25
Written for The Daily Monitor.]
A LEAF FROM A SOLDIERS DIARY.
CONCLUDED FROM YESTERDAY
BY MARIE FLAAcKE.

prease our thirst, had somewhat shar-
pened our appetites, ever keen from
causes of protracted fasting.
Cramped and aching, we trudged
heavily along through narrow streets,
almost ankle deep with sand. The
sidewalks O were covered in some
places with colored people, whose sad
dened countenances plainly exhibited
the lively interest which the negroes of
the south ever feel for the distressed.
Their expressions of sorrow, mingled
with tears for our pitiable condition,
elected the most bitter anathemas from
our fairer-skinned but more ignorant
guards. These colored people and
some "white trash" too poor to leave
the city, were the only occupants of the
place, with the exception OF the soldiers
who remained to defend it.
The "darkies" were generally we'll
clad, though in the cast-off garments be-
longing to their dear old "massa" and
missus," who after receiving an un
ceremonious visit from Yankee projec-
tiles, which created intense alarm and
infinite dismay in the hearts of the
southern chivalry, cruelty left them to
the tender mercies of the ruthless in
vader.
We had proceeded but q short dis
lance, ere we observed unmistakeable
evidences of the severe bombardment to
which the city had been subjected.
Nearly every building in the street,
over six miles distant from cur batter
les, had been struck by shot and shell
and many of them set on fire and con-
sumed, even at that great distance.
At first, we could not account for the
holiday appearance which the streets
presented ; but upon inquiring of an
intelligent contraband, was informed
that "your folks hadn't been firin
desc two days" This explained the
matter. Gen. Foster, having learned
that more prisoners of war were being
quartered in the city, and not knowing
definitely of our whereabouts, had ceas-
ed firing. For which we had reason
to be quite as thankful as were our gray
backed friends who have q holy horror
of Yankee cannon balls.
We experienced slight amount of sat-
isfaction from gazing at the black, scar
red walls; but the gloomy scene served
but to increase the hatred and arouse
the malignant passions of our guards,
who muttered terrible maledictions upon
our devoted heads.
A walk of mile and half, brought
us in front of two large, dark, gloomy,
brown stone buildings, which were to
be our future abode, and before which
we halted. A few moments sufficed for
us to enter the huge iron doors, which
swung lazily open, the dull, creaking
sound grating harshly upon our ears.
These doors opened into the Jail yard
of the Charleston penitentiary, to which
was attached the work house. On en-
tering this horrible place, 1 was i'm
pressed with strange and solemn feel
ing. The sun was sinking in the west,
casting sombre brilliancy around, as
we passed under the arch way into the
yard, already filled with felons of every
grade, color, and sex, and overrun with
vermin OF every description known in
Southern vocabulary.
The buildings were also crowded with
prisoners, who, through grated, I'M
glazed windows, gazed quietly down up
on us as if enjoying our situation
which had only the advantage of fresh
air.
Looking around, l discovered few
rotten shelter-tents at the eastern end
of the yard, inhabited by some wretch
ed beings who had but just arrived
from Andersonville. One of them in
formed us, however, that, as they were
to leave shortly for Florence, had bet
ter take possession while opportunity
afforded.
lost no time in so doing; but the
only use 1 could make of the tent was to
store my meal in it ; together with some
few articles belonging to friends, in Or
der to preserve them from the rain
Owing to frequent foundations, and I'M
welcome invasions by insects, it was
rendered utterly untenable.
In this filthy place, the worst of any
in the South, we suffered all the horrors
of I" middle passage" The black hole
of Calcutta was not more dangerous to
human ife-so perfect had become the
system of cruelty inaugurated under
Sam Jones management.
For weeks, we were exposed to the
fierce rays of the sun, which caused
poisonous exhalations to arise from the
seeking ground while at night, the
heavy dews chilled our blood more
severely than did the hideous shrieking
of the shells which were hurled over TIL
lofty walls, and fell in fragments at our
| feet.
During our first night in the jail
yard, our slumbers were peaceful and
unbroken-owing to the discontinuance
of the firing. Next morning however,
while comrade and myself were doz-
ing quietly under the gallows, Ia plea.
SAINT place for one who has an imagina
tive turn of mind) we We're startled by
hearing terrible, kissing sound direct
ly over our heads.
Partly awakened as we were from a
deep sleep,-and in such o place, per-
son can not attain that pleasure until
the camp is somewhat quoted, often
long after midnight-it seemed, for a
moment, as if all the demons of Pande-
monium Tor Of the sunny South, as you
prefer had strayed from their proper
domain, and were roaming at will upon
the earth.
But soon, far above our heads, we
observed a quick, bright flash, followed
by sudden explosion and the S.
ting, ting, of the broken parts as they
fell through the air to the ground.
TWAS the first shell thrown into the
city for three days, and was speedily
followed by another. And at regular
intervals of fifteen minutes, the sullen