The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-06-17

CONFIRMATION l-# For
.unatey, about this time, the alarm Of
Rebel raiders coming was renewed and
I'll available troops, including the negroes
e2r late escort, were ordered out to the
trenches. After witnessing their depar-
ture, Lieut. S. breathed more freely, for
he knew hat none Of the 0ew guards would
know him at sight 1t appears, however,
the negroes had given pretty accurate des-
criptior OF him and twice during the n ght
scrad of officers with s lantern passed
amo1r the sleeping prisoners scanning every
face, and examining uniforms. He was a
cap with gold braid around it, - said one
ofthe saavchers to the other after they had
passed cut of the Ring; and at once [ sur
missed tie object of their scrutiny. But 1T
did not disturb me, as | had lost my cap in
the cOBt2aion, and had exchanged my short
Jacket fer an old grey coat which Lieut..
Jas L. Donaldson, one Of my new compan-
ions, luck liz loaned me, and which altogeth-
er changed ny appearance. Lieut.. u. was
a capital fsllGw, a young Philaael phian of
good family. Happening to he engaged in
surveying railroad in Western Virginia
when the var began, he cast his fortunes
with the S0uth, and remained true until the
last; notwithstanding the fact that during
the eight months he lay in Fort Delaware
within an hours ride of his home, he was
daily besieged by friends and relatives to
take the oath, In this respect he was
much stronger r-souled than young cousin
cf mine by marriage Capt. George Jun
kin He was a brother in-law of Stone
wall Jackson and served on his staff; but
being captured and brought to Fort Della
ware, was so assailed by his male kin REV.
Doctors George and David Y. JuEkin,) and
entreated by his female kindred, his mother
.2klng to her bed on account of it, that az
ia2gth he succumbed. lie escaped much sui
t2lng that Robinson endured but | could
Ssh the names were reversed in this record.
DOWN IN THE DEATH PIT.
E2gly next morning the Confederate
packed away in the hold of an wheezy old
steamer to be shipped to safer quarters at
Point Lookout. Two officers stood at the
gang plank scanning the face OF each priso
ler as he descended; but Lieut.. S. man
&Sed to pass with the rest. | have said we
We're packed away but language fails to
4S 4ISeScnbe such packing. 1t was terrible.
ihe vessel lad brought cargo OF bacon,
Uolasses, and other gross stuff, whose drip
gG9s left the floor and sides stickey as wax,
'39 Gauseaus as pig stye; to which was
%lded the stencil of the rotten bilge water
>Pashing over our feet between the planks
"hL9h constituted the loose floor. A cargo |
u dacayed eggs would have seemed like
fl3se-Water in such place. Being below
-le Water-line, there were no windows, not
ray Of light, nor breath OF air, save
wat came down the small hatchway, which
fas hlled by the stream of men constantly
,escending the ladder. No pen can pic
slSe iSe our sufferings as the dark hold became
1ease!ly packed with men; grown men,
psnilng, ,perspiring, groaning, growing,
using begging for room, for air, for wa
er stumbling over one another; slipping
~ '1e sIlmey planks the stronger crush
.ls 'ne weaker in the frantic struggle to get
Ts. vsar the the gang hole to escape suffocation.
,bs e' SUI the stream of men poured down
5s rs ladder, the Yankees on deck forcing
bna1 5re1 at point Of bayonet to descend. Two
Soed SSonared Three hundred! Five hundred!
Tgotl Tgcen hundred Eight hundred ONE
lrs ,nOCsAND AND FoRTY-EIGHT adult prison
r@,i @ II the sultriest of sultry midJune
.oS' So'ner, We're thus crammed down into the
jessIP; js,PooI l have described, or felt unable to
r9S .@'liOe When all were IN, the interior
SOLID mass Of human beings, unable