The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-11-26
ECHOES OF
THE PAST.
Excerpts From the Diary of
Capt. A. J. Campbell.
Life in Johnson Island Prison, Writ
ten at the Time, by One Who
Was There.
A Negro Refuses to Take the Oath NO
Sir" he Says, 81 ann Native
Born, Southern Gentle
man"
CONTINUED from last week-Article o.I

CONTINUED from last week-Article 81
JOHNSON ISLAND PRISON, Aug. l5,
l862.-The Register correspondent
gives letter from one of Buells
men who says that they draw
rations off the citizens of Tennessee
and that they have all sworn by all
things good and great to take no
more prisoners; that they will here
after send fewer prisoners North;
that ii they were permitted they
would place the torch in one band
and the gun in the other of the Mig
ger; that traitors would soon have
Justice and the rebellion crush ed.
One would suppose that he is not
aware of the fact that we are taking
double as many prisoners as they
are. But enough-the devil will get
his dues.
Aug. Is. Six months ago this
morning we were delivered over to
Gen. U. S. Grant, us. A., as pris-
oners of war Internationally sur
rendered. How much longer we
will be held in prison Que cannot
tell. Our prospect for release soon
is hardly so good as formerly. / see
an account of a boat having been
fred into by Confederates above
GAINESVILLE. Also dispatch from
Gallatin from Mccain to Jno. Hugh
Smith at Nashville, stating that he
McCann] had not heard from him
since he ran for first lieutenant in
the Confederate service and that he
had better leave Nashville or he
would soon be quartered at Tusca-
loosa, Ala. Smith denies having
anything to do with Confederates
and promises Mccain a warm re-
ception if he will visit Nashville.
The paper gives an account also Of
the capture of John Leftwich and
partner, cotton buyers. The former
is a deserter from the Southern
army.
Aug. II. Sunday morning has
come again with it's dearth of news.
Sunday with US has lost all its Joys
and attractions. 1t is the same long,
dreary, tiresOme day of yesterday.
The streaming of hostile flag over
us is the same. The sound of mar
tial music, the discharge of mus
kerry, the salute, the heavy tramp
of the ever vigilant sentinel, the
click of the sewing machine, the
harsh sound of the file aud the
mOnotony is the same as every other
day. And when night closes in we
can but say that one more joyless
day has passed on Johnson Island
in military prison. The date of
the last letter received by me was
the Sth of July. believe my friends
have written to me since, but the
letters have been suppressed
Aug. Is. AS usual there is rush
for the suffers stand when the
papers come in "Give me a Her
AID, Enquirer and Register" Give
me Register!" "HeraJdr' EN-
quirer" "Register" "Hcrdld!
"Regtster" "RegiSter!n are per-
sistently repeated by Il hundred OF
more anxious men until the be.
wildered sutler can scarcely tell
which way to turn. A few copies OF
the Louisville, Cleveland and Nash.
vile papers come here by mail
Any news from the Southern army
our homes or upon exchange is
quickly known in every room.
The adjutant of the 55th Tennes
see, j. ID. Bledsoe, of Huntingdon
left here a few days ago represent
ing that he was going to Vicksburg
to be exchanged, but it is the uni
oath. The news this morning il
good. Gov. B. Magoffin, the Speak
er of the Senate and the head of the
Military Bureau, (all of Ky.) have
resigned. Excitement is created il
the North and troops are hurried
from Indianapolis to prevent thu
"invasion" of Kentucky. Of they
would say to prevent the uprisinl
of the people they would come near
er the truth } John Morgan ha
captured a construction train sent tt
Gallatin to repair the road on til,
18th. Gen. Mccall who was takeI
in the series of battles before Rich
mond, now that he is exchanged
says that he is for instant submis
sion or determination.
Aug. 10. Learn by papers tina
railroad communication north from
Nashville is cut off. 1t is all tn,
' same to me in respect to communi
: cation with home.
> Aug. 20. The papers state tina
one thousand prisoners from Chioagl
and Indianapolis have taken tn
oath and gone home.
Aug. 81. To-day for the first tim
r in my life have tried the realitie
of the washtub. Perhaps ma,
have appeared pretty awkward Il
the initiated, but l think 1 wOult
: do pretty well If l could keep tn
/ skin on my hands. l have no
3 made any progress in ironing, this
J my first effort proving an entir
} failure in every particular excep
! the burning of my hand and tn
| shutting of my shirts. Darning
pate hing and sewing on buttons is
f. familiar task, one I've long sine