Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-11-13
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.

BY II. 7. POWELL.

we motccd great holes in the pavement
and brick and stone houses partly knocked
down. Then we Beard one of Uncle Sans
shells passing along. Whenever it strnck
we could hear brick falling down at fear
ful rate. We soon discovered that they
were going to make us a target for our own
artillery. Our troops had been throwing
shells and solid shot into this part Of the
city for two years. Everybody had moved
farther down with the exception of a few
families of negroes scattered about. We
were put in an old Jail yard where we re
manned one week. We could occasionally,
both night and day, hear shells exploding
and brick falling, but fortunately for us
none ever came inside of the jail yard, al
though some came very near. heard it
said that they knew exactly where we
Sverc, and thus they managed not to threw
any in the Jail yard They had to throw
them two miles
They then tried TO exchange us there but
our navy would not receive us, as the vel
low fever was raging in Charleston, and
they were afraid some of us might have it.
l came very near being detected with
my assumed name while in the Jail yard.
~ very shabby looking old gentleman came
in and was looking around. lie asked me
any name. | was not on my guard and
gave my right name He turned out to be
one of the authorities and knew that name
was not on the rolls. He inquired into
the matter 1t took considerable work
with the assistance of others to get the
matter Strengthened up.
We were taken ont of the Jail on Sunday,
put on the cars and started for Richmond.
~ hen we got nine lilies out Of Charleston
the engine ran into the bank and gave us
quite a shock. Nobody was hurt. We
were delayed considerably on the road to
Richmond, and did not arrive there until
the next Sunday. We passed through
Wilmington, North Carolina. This town
looked more like Iankeclom than any other
town or city | had been in, There was a
large blockade runner unloading her cargo
We staid here all day, as we were t. , late
ITO make the connection. Our guards al
lowed us to run about the town, one of
them accompanying four of IFS, and he
without arms. The conscript lieutenant
that had charge of us said we "wcre going
home anyhow" Some of the boys got
drunk and misbehaved in the streets. As
soon as the provost marshal heard of this
he came in Il terrible rage and inquired for
the officer that had charge of these prison
ers As soon as he presented himself, he
gave him a cursing and wanted to know
why all these Yankees were running
around town loose Just then drunken
Yankee came up and began to curse the
provost marshal. He was knocked over
or Tic railroad track and received a severe
cash in his head from striking the rail
We were sent up the railroad above town
and there waited until evening when the
Train came and took us away.
When we arrived in Richmond We were
put in TIE third story of Libby Prison
ABOUT NAH Ol our cTONu Hau taken me
.chls and fever siAce we left Charleston.
we thought it was caused by change of
climate. We laid here nearly two weeks
and suffered extremely. Our rations were
very small. l suffered personally more
those few days than l had at any time
while prisoner. was very sick with the
chills. If l had been doomed to stay there
several months l certainly should have
died
There was squad of Yankees marched
out of the same story of Libby that we were
in. They had the Confederate uniform on,
armed and sent to the front They had
ehlisted to fight for the South rather than
die in prison.
One morning about two O'clock rebel
sergeant came up stairs cursng us and told
us 70 come downfall we were going
home We all went down and were formed
into line And then the famous Capt.
Turner, keeper of Libby prison, made
speech to us He said quite number of
silly things He asked if "any of us would
hurt him if we saw him up North? ?"
fro RE CONTISVED