Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-03-22

the mouth of the Delaware river. A
ferry boat during the war piled be-
tween the island and the mainland
at Delaware City. During the time
was prisoner there, the Confed-
crate officers were confined in the in
terror of the Fort The rooms occu.
pied by the prisoners opened on Q
long hall, which led 10 a broad stair.
way leading TO the ground floor. AT
the head of this stairway sentinels
were placed 10 contine us to the
apartments above. There was also
a stairway leading above TO the para
pet. From this parapet to the water
below was probably forty feet. The
windows of our apartments opened
on the bay, and were secured with
iron bars. The rooms were comfor-
table, though scant of furniture. The
prisoners had free access 10 each
other, and visiting at all times was
allowed. The number confined in
the interior of the Fort during nv
stay did not exceed twenty or fall
below twelve. There was on duty
at the Fort German regiment, and
those with whom we were thrown in
contact seemed clever enough
Some of the Federal officers paid US
frequent visits, and we're, with a few
exceptions, kind and considerate.
Col. Perkins was commandant, and
his clerk, GemmiI, was in our quar-
ters daily and entered into many of
our sports. Through him our mail was
sent and received, it being Inspected
by him in going out and coming in.
to prevent contraband matters. No
ratlons were furnished us, but, in
lieu thereof, commultation of six
teen cents day, with liberty to buy.
We divided into messes, and our
mess had as cook, one of our men.
held On some trumped up charge,
and who was glad to get on the in
terror of the Fort, as those without
were treated very harshIy. Our
townsman, j. Ogden Murray, was
our Commissary General, and with a
little aid to our Communication from our
individual means and the charity of
lady friends, lived comfortably, COM
pared with those at other prisons.
We varied the monotony of prison
with cards, drafts, chess and back
CANNON, which aided materially in
relieving the tedium. The few books
in our store were eagerly devoured,
and the Bible was not forgotten. At
times, pranks of various sorts were
played on each other. One of our
prisoners, Lieut.. Tormey, of the
First Maryland, was quite a CON
ceited youth and spent much of his
time in regaling us with episodes in
regard to his many sweethearts in
Baltimore. Murray and myself. by
treasuring up Tormey's revelations.
soon knew Tormey's sweetheart
about as well as 1ormey did himself.
and conceived the idea of personating
her and inditing to Tormey a fervent
epistle. With the aid of Gemmil,
who readily entered into the scheme,
we wrote the letter, got Gemmil to
copy, stamp and deliver to Tormey.
How TormeY's spirits revived on the
reception of it He was so full of it,.
he could not keep the secret, so made
us his confidants. He was kept busy
several days composing an answer.
which he finally delivered to Gemmil
for inspection and mail. Gemmil
gave us copy aud mailed the origi.
nal, but whether the young lady re-
celVed 1T or not, we never KNEW
She certainly did not answer it, but
we did, keeping up brisk CORES
ponuence for some weeks and doing
Iormey as much good as if the let
ters had been genuine. He did not
discover the cheat until a few days
before our departure, and, like a
good natured soul that he was, took
it all very kindly. Not so with
Lieut.. Purvis, upon whom we played
d similar joke, and when he found
us out. refused to speak to Murray.
my father or myself. until the day of
our departure, when he relented and
forgave us.
In my last letter 1 left off nv
fathers diary at March 10. and will
now resume until the date of our
separation:
March 11th.-Grouud covered with snow. No
March 12th.-col. Perkins sent for mo to-
day relative to the removal of all privates
from our quarters into the outer barracks
tried the mason on him to-day and he respond
ed promptly.
March 1sth.-Two of our officers lefs us for
Fort McHenry to be exchanged, Capt. Cooper
and Lieut.. Milan, They took leave of us at
p. IN. The remaining officers much detected
at being left behind.
March 14th.-Arose about q. m. Made up
my fire and bed, took a good bath and
| dressed. Our house looks somewhat deserted
| this morning. Wrote to Misses Heiskell ard
Clements, two ladies of Philadelphia a, who had
sent me their photographs Got bottle of
| Codliver oil and whisley from surgeon
| March 15.-My 18Th Sunday in prison.
| Showing fast.
/ March 16.-Received box from my friend.
| Miss sCheeseborongh containing suit of clothes
| for George, pair of shoes, travelling shir: two
! pair socks, 2 towels. chest protector, necktie
and ball of soap, and for me 40 paper collars,
| 9 silk haudkerchieis, pair of suspenders two
| crash towels. pair shoestrings. teapot, tea
| sugar, crackers, butter aud jelly. Provost
/ Marshal Harris retained Georges travelling
| shirt, necl1tie and chest protector He also
| retained all the articles sent Murray Ryle,
4 Banton. .Marberry. Cooper, Milan and Purvis.
| Capt. Marberry received a very nice box of
eatables from Miss Warner, of Tennessee Re
ceiYed letter from wife to-day
March 17.-Col. Perkins permitted Georye
to have the travelling shirt made for him Ly
Miss Aiaria Cheescborough. Wrote home
I March 1Sth.-The boys sold Lieut. Pnryis
badly. He wrote to Mrs Beall some days agO
aud expressed much affection for her They
answered the letter ioI him and fei-ned that
it was proposal of marriage and that she