Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-09-24
Written for The Daily Monitor
A LEAF FROM A SOLDIERS DIARY.


LEAF FROM A SOLDIERS DIARY.
BY MARIE FLAACKE.
The following episode from the pris-
on experience of one of New Jersey s
bravest soldiers, was loaned to me in
the original manuscript, for perusal ;
but after spending few moments in
rejecting as to the why and wherefore
of its not having been presented to the
public long ago, concluded to take adj
vantage of tho ninth point in law by ar
ranging it for publication upon my own
responsibility feeling secure in the
thought that there's no possibility of
this version of the affair ever meeting
the eye of the original narrator.
1t will only be natural occurrence if
many portions bear the impress of my
pen and imagination, but it will be for
the purpose of extending a hasty
sketch, not with q malicious intention
to commit plagiarism. And though [
will relate the facts as faithfully as it is
possible to do from memory, [ shall not
promise to follow the text, materially.
So many years have elapsed since our
bonnie flag futtered in the treason
tainted atmosphere of insult and at
tempted degradation, that soldiers and
soldiers stories, have lost for many,
power to stir sluggish blood and dor
mant patriotism with tales of war hor-
rors and realities.
Yet, one would consider forgetfulness
an impossibility Our dear old banner,
it is true, now floats proudly above us,
unframed and unstained; but, though
our dead heroes lie in neglected, grass
grown graves, numbered among the
things that have been, one glimpse of
the many torn, bullet marked battle
flags, still preserved as cherished relics,
cannot fail to recall to mind the long,
weary years Of hardship and danger ex-
perienced by our loyal boys while de-
Tending our national emblem and ma.
tional honor.
If my readers have grown weary Of
military items and exploits, (ilrespec.
tive of the Third regiments actions)
the Twill no doubt, upon seeing thetitle Of
this sketch, elevate hands and eyebrows
simultaneously, and exclaim in accents
of despair : "Oh, dear has she mount.
ed that hobby again ?''
My friend, my grandfather was o mill
tary man, and for aught knew to the
contrary, so was my great grandfather
Several of my relatives served in oul
civil war, and altogether, think-in
deed, I'm quite positive without think
ing, that I've aperfect right to take {
deep interest in all things relating to oul
nations prosperity and glory.
Men must fight while women weep,
know but need anything deter patrio
tic female from testifying her love ant
devotion for the red, white, and blue
and its noble defenders WYE LA Re
PUBLIoUE
Now that have explained everything
to my own satisfaction, l shall proceed
to give the following account of tedi
Gus incarceration in one of the prison
pens of the South and my reader will
oblige one by imagining that I'm relat
ing my own experience.
X The early part of the fall o
1854 found me guest of the officials o
the city of Savannah, Georgia. l hat
passed some six weeks there, in q no
altogether Improbable manner, though
the period might well be considered ,
blank in my checkered history. How
many changes had occurred-how man,
strange scenes had witnessed durin,
the past two years Victories, defeats
and now imprisonment with man,
of my old comrades ! OF course our at
tempts to regain our liberty were boil
frequent and unsuccessful but though
the immense amount of labor perform
ed was all in vain, our lessons in min
ing, otherwise called tunneling, accom-
panied as they were by repeated inter
ruptions and heart breaking discourage
ments, could not be considered entirel,
valueless.
All Heaven only knows how we sui
fered during those fearful days, or hoy
cruelty tantalizing We're the glimpses o
sky and landscape seen between tn,
prison. bars,
l well remember our last strike TO
freedom, just before we were forwarded
to Charleston. We had made such pro
gress with the underground passage
that hope, so long deferred, agail
whispered words of cheer and encour
| uSShlShp " OuI AOuSiIS ACti 10. bll
one night we were surprised by GU
british jailors, and compelled to close
under their inspection, the tunnel W,
had so carefully excavated. Neve
shall I forget the expression of anguish
upon young lieutenant's face as th,
last handful of earth was restored to it.
place. Throwing himself upon the
hard ground, heavy sobs shook hin
from head to foot, as he exclaimed il
tremulous tones: "Ah my wife-m,
mother If l could only see you before
l die |"
He was in the last stages of consump
ton, poor boy, Che was scarcely more
and died that night. For three days
the body remained in our midst, an6
then-God only knows what became O.
it.
As for myself, 1 too, had tender
loving wife in my distant Northern
home, and strong man that was, hot
bitter tears of disappointment rolled
down my cheeks as the last chance fol
escape was so fiendishly frustrated.
1t was at this time that "Sam Jones',
commanding at Charleston, extended Us