The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-02-11
ECHOES OF
THE PAST.
Excerpts From the Diary of
Capt. A. J. Campbell.
The Last Entry Made by the Sick
Soldier, Who is HOmeWard-
Bound to Die.
Health Gone, Hope Crushed, Hall
Starved, Ruthlessly Treated, He
Drags His Weary Way to
the Waiting Arms of
Loving Sister.

CONTINUED from last week-Article 2O.l
Port Hudson, Feb. u, 1853. Feel
some better this morning. Raining,
with prospects of continuing for
some time. Am trying very hard to
wait patiently for my leave of alb
sence, but am having little success.
] have secured the promise of Mr..
Evans TO wait for me, but the fear
of transportation being cut off be-
tween here and Jackson or between
Chattanooga and Shelbyville, and
the fear of getting down so / can't
be moved keeps me in constant anX-
iety. Sometimes despair of ever
reaching home again. Our room is
small affair, just weatherboarded,
very dirty; il is hardly ever cleaned
up for us; we frequently have to
send for some one to make up the
beds before we lie down. 1t is sit
uated between the dining room and
kitchen and a hog pen with a pond
of water in it. 1t is in sight of our
| Notifications. No one ever comes
to ask what we will have, except
occasionally an old negro woman.
And then If it is soap, candles, eggs,
chicken soup, or light bread, we can
get it. We generally get small ra-
tions of rice, which is probably best
for us. If we want fire and tell a
negro to make it, there is no know
ing when we will get it, unless we
follow him up and ding dong until
we compel him to move. For this
sumptuous fare we pay the reasona-
BILE sum of two dollars a day, wash
ing extra. If you want meals early,
call for them and you will get them
at the usual time, or probably q lit
tie later.
Upon the whole we live a very Sc
cluded aud abstemious life in the
salubrious odors from the hog pen,
slops from the offal of the hog kill
ing place and other decaying mat
ter. The numerous swampS around
here add other odors to the atmOs-
phere.
Our boys are elated with the ru-
NOR that they are to be sent to Ten
nessee. Rumored that four more
gunboats have passed VIcksburg.
Heavy firing heard in that direction
this evening. 1t seems that [ am
destined to be kept here until trans
portation will be cut off. Capt
Harris was over to see me this
evening. He and other officers
thrown out by the reorganization,
are retained here. I think this place
will be like Fort Donelson. May
the troops have skill enough to
evacuate, for 1 don't think the gen
eral has or cares.
Feb. 13. People have commenced
gardening here. No tidings from
my leave of absence. Col. and Mrs
Bailey left here this morning. ]
was sorry to see them go as they and
Capt. Coulter seemed to be my best
: friends and were company for me
= Capt. Coulter is going to another
house tomorrow. For these friends
and companions have formed quite
an attachment. They have com
forted me in many ways and hope
to be left but a little while so lone.
some. Misses Eliza Rusk and jim
mie Long each presented me with O
star to-day. Bought from Mr.. Nc
| OlOuus VI. VIZ Wellyh AIhdllSdW
a watch for $212,5O, Confederate
money. DR., Hanslaw being sick, DR.
Goodwin came over to see me this
evening. With ecstacies of delight
L received my furlough this even.
ing after supper. Heavy cannonad.
/ ing heard up the river this evening
Feb. IA. To-day, my birthday,
leave this abominable place called
Port Hudson. Rained last night
and is cloudy to-day, but 1 feel bet.
5 ter in spirits. Paid Mrs. Slaughter
500 board. Borrowed her carriage
to take me to the depot near the
river. Port Hudson is dilapidateC
village, caused from a sand bal
changing so as to spoil the landing
Stopped awhile at the regiment
= during which time I heard the firing
of cannon and the whizzing of balls
didn't know but what it was gun
: boat firing on our troops. On arriv
ing at the depot learned that it wa,
, our battery practicing at target il
: the river opposite the depot. Lief
I my baggage with Capt. Hewlett t,
g be brought up by Messrs. Evans anC
: Milligan. Sold my horse, saddl,
= and bride to Capt. Spindle for 1926
y Box and passenger cars appropria
ted for the sick. Managed TO get ;
seat to myself and made a bed on |
t with my shawl and overcoat. PaiC
81 fare to travel at the rate of fivt
miles an hour. Arrived at Clinton
g after dark. Took the ambulanc,
4 with the other sick and was taken t,
= the hospital, Here was detained
until the authorities satisfied them
selves that l was nota hospital sub
;ect. Orders are very strict tha
!. none leave the cars until the ambu
$ lance comes to take them to the hos
pital. Everything possible is don,
to hold the soldiers. The doctor wa
] kind enough to send me to Mrs
Patrick's boarding house in the-am