The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-10-14
AT LAST,

stances being taken Verbatim from my journal notes,
,-sde at even date. r. Az
AT LAST, EXCHANGED!
OctoBer 6th.-The long agony over, and
I26 of our poor comrades en- route for Dixie!
Let us now note the events which have kept
/ every soul in a tremor of excitement for
.,yeral days past. Rumor announced two
n three times recently that all sick and
| wounded were to be exchanged. Instantly
r5ere was a great increase of cripples among
the prisoner. A good many smart fellows
s,o managed to "see" the Yankee officials !;
Hereby causing an obliquity of vision on
the part of the latter in selecting the sick
and crippled. Dozens of straight-limbed
trlows broke their legs, metaphorically
.-eaking by presenting Capt. ALL, or Lieut.
Wolfe, a watch, a costly ring, or a sum in
reenbacks. One officer gave a pair of new
b"ts lust received. This system of bribery
has been in vogue since ever | came upon
tie island. The harpies will accept any
thing; and while literally numbering the
majority by inches, will allow almost any
privilege to those who can pay three prices
for it. 1t might seem incredible that officers
Il ofhigh rank would thus barter their favor,
and break express ''orders" from Washing
IN. ,or pay, were it not a fact of daily oc
cnence. And does any one suppose
>choeptis not a partner in the proceedings?
.to>urdi He could not be ignorant of it.
Nell. to-day the welcome shout-''Iurn ont
~ and q ippies for E.rchdngt threw
The barracks into an uproar. Eventually
III were marched out, and are now on their
way to Richmond. Joy go with them. for
very little remains behind. Yes, [ do re
Lice, if that be joy, that so many suffering
c,mrades will escan" the horrible winter in
this place.
Later.-A count of noses shows a great
| supposed. DIR. Woolsey, the examining
officer, must nave full pockets to night.
Oae officer paid watches and %jewelry to the
value of $500 One large, fine looking
prisoner drew a check for $500 on friends in
New York City, and passed out hobbling on
a broom handle. Dozens of "Morgan's
Extraordinarily all of whom
itye money-marched out regardless of ap
learauces.
Well, [ cannot complain this time, for l
could not have gotten out even if they had
ut; and certainly it is the duty of every
ao.e-bodied soldier to get back to his com
land BY any means In his power.
Inc sutler has ~re-opened, but now init
nltes that the Washington authorities for
t.l the opening; consequently he must pay
" UIut u tue pTlNIcSc, duu HluSt TdlSe
ne price of his wares to make up the
be- Was ever anything more shameful?
It's prices | learn are: Butter 90 cents a
lrund Irish potatoes 81 per bush; molas
$500 per gallon tea S2.25 per lib :;
gfee, 81 - sugar, 60 cts. cheese, 90 cts.
t95a;to, 81 . per plug! The cost of these
a%.tc!es, freight included, Is about one strth
"a. what lie charges for themi Profit enough
To pay the bribe !
ANOTHER LETTER.
of. SIT At last d letter. How the
prisoners heart swe!fs in anxious question
llag As he hears his name called, the first In
Lug months of unbroken silence Hurry
my, stumbling at every step, he reaches the
fence, and from the ''Hole-in -the-Walr' is
handed the startling missive. A lightning
glance and he discovers the familiar pen
laanship, if from a friend or he is still fur
Tier puzzled if it be from a stranger. My
letter was was one of the latter class. 1t
vas from another of my Northern %uncles, to
whom some time ago, as before stated, |
wrote IN a foolishly friendly manner Hav-
ing never seen either, and having the i'm
PRESTON that our family bad shown undue
lrlde IN holding SO utterly aloof from these
Northern klnsmen, | thought it would be
hInd TO open up a correspondence with
therl. Perhaps had the selfish thought
oi relleylng the montony of our dreary pris-
gu life thereby. DIR. Alex Abbott, like his
brother, reads me a lengthy lecture on the
SIN OF Slavery and 8ebellion-tas if slavery
were a greater sin now thar in the days of
'hrl>t. As IT resistance to robbery and
aggression were rebellion D-and ends by
saying that If | will take the oath of Allie
glance to the Yankee Government and c)me
'ut OF prison, he will send me money to
come North, and help you in life. But
II You DON'T wouldn't help my own
>'a IT he were a Rebel, etc.
ms letter has taught me a lesson,-a bit
.ff aud notifying one. | knew nothing of
tie writer, except that he was a man of
good character and family, doing a large
BUSINESS, owning two or three factories,
el T'' and did not doubt his being a strong
%Loyallst so called. But the whole
universal Yankee Nation are much
axe hard headed, ~prejudlced, self engross
ell, self righteous
What an idea Of my honor and self.re-
ipect he must have to thus urge me to
Seak my sworn fidelity Il took the oath of
S@'y 10 the Confederate States on receiv-
h hs my special commission from President
n@'lSj-to our cause, and swear allegiance
l. a government that is daily numbering
hundreds of helpless prisoners tour men
%nu their own mem, and waging a war on
~$ native State and section to CRAFTY a
lplrlt OF sectional hatred! Suppose the
i P;ume | went through Libby prison. in
G cHehi99nd' (of which my old playmate. Mai.
said " Emack, was End in command) | had
one of the Yankees whom
yon new TO De a gentleman. Come !!
ing ~ Silllanous scoundrel, desery-
and tb;av ~ rope for your numbering
will come on, III our country. Still if you
!oresWear yourself, IN give Won som ns ana
10 ea'!' Instead of this, / took half of mg