The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-12-10

had to take part of the train over at
time. Reached Cairo at l0:30 all
cramped up and fatigued to death,
having had no opportunity to sleep
for two nights. We were crammed
on the Universe, an old crazy boat.
We covered it from top to bottom
and then could scarcely get room to
lie down. | slept on top Of the boat.
Our baggage was sent ahead and we
do not know where it is. We have
heard that our trunks were burst
open at Sandusky after the officers
told us that we need not send our
keys, as they did not intend to ex-
anime the baggage. If that be so
we are satisfied that everything of
value Is stolen.
Sept. 4. Walked by the cold this
morning, though the day is oppres-
sively warm. Every part of the
boat is SO crowded that you can
scarcely turn around. The river
water that we drink is as warm as
dish water. We can scarcely get
anything to eat. The rations of a
great many gave out yesterday.
Some few eatables for sale are
brought over in skiffs. Passes are
difficult to get and the citizens are
so afraid that they will be arrested
that we can't begin to have our
wants supplied. A great many
have no money. Camp Douglas
prisoners have been arriving here
day and night since we have been
here. AS soon as we got aboard our
boat it was anchored out in the mid
die of the Ohio. The river is full of
Rebels with two gunboats watching.
An ironclad steamed up the river
to-day, probably for Cincinnati, as
the Yanks there are frightened out
of their hides. DR.. Southern. of CO.
lumbia, came over from Cairo to see
his acquaintance aboard. He met
with cold comfort.
Tutle, the commander of this post,
Che also commanded regiment at
FIT. Donelson) brought over some
rations late this evening, gun-wad.
ding bread, raw met, coffee and
soap. There is no chance in the
world for 50 many to cook, and
have been afraid the old boat would
be set on fire, so many crowding
and rushing around the fire to cook
something.
Here we came up with our
Colonels and Majors who had been
paroled some time before we started,
to report at Vicksburg. They could
get no farther than Cairo. The
guards have been trying to have the
fires on the boat put out, but the
Rebs won't let them. Old Follett, a
tyrannical old scamp, has lost his
power over us and has fallen back
to Cairo, leaving us and his COM
| pany to do the best we can. At San
duskv he spoke out very gruff1v to
his lieutenants to "drive 'em in,
drive 'em in, as though we were
lot of hogs.
Eight hundred negroes, stolen by
the Federals, arrived here yester-
day from "away down South
Learned here that DIR. Dickson had
been arrested and sent to Johnson
Island. Some of the Rebels were
taken off this boat about dark, but
we seem very much crowded yet.
Sept. 5. After being tramped over
a good part of the night we stirred
out early to try to get a chance to
make some coffee. This Place is
worrying us greatly. The weather
is oppressively warm and if we have
to remain at this place long we will
all be sick with cholera or some 9th
er pestilence. The boats the pri-
Yates are on are so crowded that a
great many have to stay out on top
and take the rain. At dark we were
put aboard the boat on which the
Johnson Island prisoners were
placed last night. This gave those
who came aboard first chance to
get the best parts of the boat. Some
eight thousand prisoners are lying
off Cairo in sight OF Mound City
sweltering and almost suttocating
|, with heat-gunboats below and
above US. With ropes and blankets
we stretch out covers to protect us
from the sun. When 1T rains we
cannot guard so we'll against it.
Sept. 6. Slept last night on tor
the boat on my shawl with nothing
to cover with-men so thick thai
one can't get about without step.
ping on them. On the boat to-day
, saw an intelligent contraband
J owned by Butler, of Cahoma county
Miss. He was very sick Of Yankee
dom and wanted to go back. Capt
Blakes daughter come over this
morning in skiff to see him
Phere are 200 men on this boat
the ChOutda. Capt. McWhirter
: Coils. Battle, Wood, Quarles and
/ others are paroled to Cairo and pick
out a hundred officers and selec
crowd going down on parole-Sl5 fol
J the passage. There is a good dea
! of hard feeling against them among
J the officers for the way they have
t triggered around and fondled arounC
old Follett aud other Federal off
t GERS.
Our trunks and baggage cam,
. aboard yesterday, all pillaged anC
mutilated. The civilized worlC
never before witnessed such thiev
l ing and low-down rascality by Off
9 GERS of any government. Nearl!
5 every officer in prison asked If h
= must send the key to his trunk anC
5 was repeatedly told that it was no
4 necessary; that the trunks had beer
5 examined twice and everything con
r traband kept out and that they die
5 not intend to examine them. II
3 Sandusky they broke open ever!
e trunk, breaking off the hinges ant
1 tops and smashing in the sides, un
? tying our bundles and pillaginl
/ everything. Many trunks wer
4 robbed of their entire contents ant
: everything of value taken from on