Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-03-15
A PRISON SHYLOCK.
HOW HE WORKED THE UNION
OFFICERS IN CHARLESTON.

An officer who was prisoner of war in
Charleston in 1864, now sojourning at the
Hygeia hotel, tells the following story:
II never see steamer approach the dock at
Fortress Monroe that do not recall an incl
dent of the war. If you care to listen to an
other of those twice told tales will tell it to
you.
"Six hundred of us were sent from Macon
to Charleston to be placed under the fire of
the Union batteries on Morris island that
were then shelling Charleston. We were
never in great personal danger, for shelling
city at distance of four or five miles was
not then very effective, and probably never
will be SO far as killing people is concerned.
The shells made it uncomfortable to do busi-
ness within the danger line, and citizens
found it convenient and comfortable to move
out of the districts Of the city reached by
Gilmore's messengers. The Union officers
soon got used to the situation, and l do not
think one Of them lost any sleep after the
first day or two on account of the lombard
ment Not one of them was injured during
their stay.
"But all of them got very hard up for
money. When they were in Richmond, in
Libby, communication with the north was
comparatively easy to those who had friends
willing and able to send provisions or money.
In Charleston it was very different. The
prison fare was very poor, and the medical
attendance was as bad as could be. In the
cradle of secession the 'secesh' seemed to be
very poor. Before we had been there very
long the money even of the richest of the
prisoners was gone. There were many among
US who were the sons, brothers, or near rela-
tives of those in the north who had plenty of
money, hut they were cut off from communi-
cation with us. Many of them sent gold to
friends in prison, but it never reached as.
"There then appeared among us a new
prisoner. He was, he said, a Union officer
from New York regiment. He had very
little of the~soldier about him. He rather re-
minded you of a whisky drummer or q
Chatham street clothing dealer. But he had
a charm. He had money to lend--C -Confeder-
ate money. The money would not buy much,
but it would buy something. A dollar in
gold could be sold for about $40 in this cur
rency outside of the prison. We did not have
any gold, but he did nst demand gold. He
loaned his Confederate money for northern
drafts at double the rate of gold in the
Charleston market That is, he would give
you 81 900 in Confederate money for draft
of 500 on father, brother, wife, or son in
any of the great northern cities. He said he
would take the risk of collecting the drafts,
and plumed himself on his generosity. He
soon had customers, and did fine business
From officers he took notes indorsed by other
officers. These he charged for at the rate of
$500 in Confederate money for note of 500
{ta, 70 far ~, tI1C
ton market.
"He was a shrewd fellow, and picked his
customers with as much care as a curbstone
broker. It was soon discovered that he had an
unlimited supply of Confederate money, and
it was also soon discovered that he was a
favorite prisoner, for he seemed able to come
and go on parole at will. He visited the hos
pital frequently, and there he found his best
customers. He took from each of the suffer-
rs a letter to his friends at home describing
the privations of the sick. From all the off,
GERS not in the hospital he took letters Of
transmittal with the drafts, setting forth that
the bearer had done them a great service in
cashing the draft, and expressing the hope
that they would be paid.
These operations occupied about six weeks.
Altogether the man had secured drafts to the
amount of about $4,000 in gold-for every
draft stipulated that it was to be paid in gold.
Gold was then at a big premium in the north,
SO the draft for 800 would be worth $50 or
perhaps $500 in the north, if it was paid in
gold. The speculator intended to make money
both ways. If he could collect all he would
have from SIS, 900 to 100000 in greenbacks
for his drafts.
"One day it was known that there were to
be two Union officers exchanged by the flag
of truce in the harbor. One of the lucky fel-
lows was the money lender. The other was a
cavalry officer who had been prisoner for
many months The latter had long watched
the performances of the money lender, and
had resisted all inducements to borrow from
him. The two went out of the harbor to-
gether, and were received on board the Cos
mopolitan by Gen. Stewart L. Woodford, the
adjutant general of the department of the
south. They were transferred at Hilton Head
to the steamer Arago, a govel nment trans
port bound to New York. The Arago was
ordered to stop at Fortress Monroe to let the
two exchanged prisoners and dispatches from
Gen. Gilmore go thence to Washington. The
money lender and the cavalry officer had
occupied the same stateroom on their northern
voyage. During the voyage the money
lender became quite chatty, and the cavalry
officer became convinced that the former had
never been an officer in the Union army, but
that he was simply put into tho prison at
Charleston to work the prisoners for the
profit of the Shylocks Of that city.
"As the Arago steamed up the bay toward
the dock at Fortress Monroe the money lender
l.. l,11
This was his only baggage. The cavalry
officer had only the clothes on his back, and
those he had borrowed from Gen. Woodford.
The two went ON deck. The money lender
pushed his way eagerly to the forward deck
and stood by the capstan. Presently he placed
his precious bag upon the top OF the capstan,
holding on to it, however, with tight grip.
Near him stood the cavalry officer, amid the
crowd of passengers who were watching the
shores and participating in the excitement Of
landing after a three days sea voyage.
Some incident Of the occasion produced q
sudden rush to the vessels side In that
instant the money lender let go his grip on
the sachel Quick as thought it was seized by
another hand and quietly dropped into the
waters of the Chesapeake bay.
"No one saw it done, for it was dropped
over the side of the ship where none were
looking The cavalry officer was calmly
leaning over the starboard rail contemplating
the beautiful expanse of Hampton roads, ap-
parently caring nothing for the stir and
clamor OF the landing. The money lender
exclaimed at his loss, offered reward for the
return of the sachel and its contents, but no
one could offer him any comfort. He went
down to the dock a yerv sad man. and no one
seemed to SO deeply sympathize with him as