The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-11-03

| company along that line. Our expert
cncc was rough one in the hold Of
the vessel, and accommodations were
wholly Inadequate for the occasion.
@Our negro guards were not able, for
the voyage did not agree with them
any better than with us. The ashy
hue Of their countcnanccs indicated
trouble in the stomach.
Sunday night and Monday our voy-
age was not SO rough. Still the most
OF Us were sick Sometime during
| Monday night tie vessel anchored in
Tie bay Of New York. Tuesday
morh;i,g wc viewed New York, Brook
lyn and Jersey City from our prison
ship. From New York We were car
rcd to IIart's Island, in the direction
Of Boston. The prison was Il new
one, not completed. The island was q
small, sandy, barren place. Until
new buildings were put up, we were
very much crowded. The day we
landed we were put in a ward with a
lot Of fellows from Petersburg, Va,
whose business was to steal everything
in sight.
The first time VIC left the quarters
to answer roll cell we did not take our
knapsacks and haversacks with us,
and when we returned what little
clothing we mad was gone. i recovered
my clothing, but lost my blanket.
Our rations consisted Of army crack
crs mostly and one-third pound per
day was our allowance. Meat was is
sued in small quantity. White bean
soup was served for dinner, consisting
mostly Of water Coffee for breakfast
was dishcd out without sugar. We
did not fare sumptuously every day
by any means. 1t was tough, hard
life all around. Gen. Lee surren-
dcrcd his army before we reached
prison.
We expected to be released in q
short time, but weeks ran into months
before the oath Of allegiance was Of
fered us, and our parole taken.
Our time was principally taken up
in daylight examining our clothing in
order to keep the soldiers pest down
to the least number possible, and yet
they grew and multiplied.
On June 18th we were released
from prison and were required to take
the oath Of allegiance before we we're
paroled. The first boat left the is
land Sunday morning, going to Hill
ton Head, S. G. All that were sent
out on the first boat reached home
without delay The balance Of ns on
the second boat did not reach New
New York ia time to catch the steam
or that day. We were quartered in
the barracks at Castle Garden eight
days, waiting for the next steamer go
ing South. During our stay IL New
York our bill of fare was all we could
ask.
The barracks,were where the FEEDER
al troops were fed as they passed
through the city on their way home.
Confedcrates, white and colored Fed
erals ate at the same time. There
was no discrimination on account Of
color or previous state Of servitude.
The negro troops passing through the
city we're given the same accommoda-
tions that the white troops received.
We were not in condition to pick
our company and adapted ourselves to
the situation. Our eight days stay in
the city was pleasant and enjoyed by
all who were we'll enough to travel
around. We were allowed to go out
into the city without pass. We
promenaded Broadway daily and were
generally treated kindly. L. K. Rob-
inson and myself visited Central
Park one day. Our style Of dress at
tracted considerable attention from
the crowd in the park that day. We
were not fashionably attired by any
means and we could see that we'were
out of date.
At one place where large force Of
worknien were putting up a building,
we were halted by an 1rishman and
questions asked, what we were doing
there, where we were from, etc.
He then called to the men at work
to come quick and see genuine John
ny Reb. We were soon; surrounded
by crowd that seemed to never tire
of asking questions and looking at us.
We were tho first Confederates some
Of them had seen. Nov and then we
met men who still had on their war
paint and seemed tc be spelling for a
fight. One was asked if he was in the
Endnral armv To .o1mitftd that he