Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-03-15
)NE IDEA OF a CROWD.

uAA4lSChD SSat VI bhcJ WNtS h0fNA s1AtcA1
ward located
ONE IDEA OF CROWD.
For few days all went well, az we
were determined to give Colonel Halo
well and his men no reason to find fault
but it was soon discovered when certain
very black Africans we're on the guard
they were disposed to be aggressive.
For instance, we were warned not to as
semble in any number as the guards had
orders TO dispense all crowds. These
certain southern recruits construed the
meaning of this order too literally, for
they considered two crowd, and when
two of us happened to meet and stop to
exchange few words there was sure
to be heard the ominous click of gun
lock as the piece was brought TO u
''ready," accompanied with the COM
mand: "Dispuss dat crowd, or I'll dis
puss you y It is needless TO say that in
every instance "dat crowd" quickly dds
pissed"
By exercising extreme caution these
wretches were given no opportunity TO
commit murder during our stay. and 1t
was not until our last day on the island
that we suffered at their hands. when
two officers were wounded without the
slightest pTovocati0n.
We had little to complain Of in the
treatment received at the hands OF Col.
onel Hallowell aud his colored veterans.
In fact, many of those from the North
were kind and obliging. What we had
most to fear were the black recruits from
the South.
Had Colonel Hallowell been vindic-
lively disposed he could have vented bis
malice on one Of our number Lieutenant
Perkins, of Kentucky, who made an at
tempt to escape. Perkins had mania
for making these attempts, and they were
always ill.timed and preposterous. He
had made many before this one, and
many afterward, but never succeeded.
On this particular Occasian he got out Of
the pen and wandered around the island
until finally he was picked up more dead
than alive and taken before Colonel
Hallowell The Colonel laughed hearth
Is when Perkins related his adventures,
dllod him full Of wiskey and then re.
turned him 10 his quarters Perkins
voted the Colonel trump, and the Incl
dent made favorable impression upon
all,
Time passed YEARLY aud hope de.
ferrcd maketh the heart sick" FOR as
day after day went by we saw no pros
poets OF an exchange
The novelty Of the firing had worn of
and not even the excitement incident to
a steamers attempt 30 run the blockade
under fire Of the land batteries and the
monitors interested as longer
Our rations were lamcutably short,
just enough food being furnished 20
seop us IN an comparatively hungry
state. But for this Colonel Halloweii
vsE not 70 blame Oh. hos often then
aid think Of the many good dinners Of
which had pArtakcg before this infer
nal war began, and I kicked myself for
rot having eaten more when bad the
opportunity, AZ though II would have
done me any good % the time. but that
was the feeling Il provoked. And !
thought Of the sarory Chinese dish had
not enyied MS less fortunate comrades
ia Fort Delaware, and wished now that
! could Join them 10 plate 81 stew but.
alas there were not even rats on this
miserable stretch 81 sand.
Az INVITATIONS To pISSEM
One day my friend Major James u.
( McCreary 81 Morgan's Kentucky com.
mand, came dancing Htn my tent bis
face an agiow with excitement What
could have happened 60 him, for NcCroa.
rs was ono ~ thr most quiet. dignihud
men | had ever met Possibly DO had
heard news Of an impending exchange.
f1r what else could have 80 excited him,
When he had recovered his oompusure
somewhat be said Come aud dine with
me, have a treat ia store fOr you. Bot
De sure and bring your spoon. tin cup
and crackers
Rather n novel way tc invite friend
to dine, but not 20 surprising under the
circumstances
With my four crackers. ito cup aud
spoon accompanied him 30 his tent, rN
pccijng something remarkable 80 occur.
and Il did Reaching down he drew
from Under bis blauket a small bottle
containing abou; q halfpInt ~ common
molasses, aud ~ hc held It up 90 my adj
mifing gaze he smackcd his lips and ex
claimed "What do you think NJ that
Aud 80 We broke cur crackers iHte tEs tiu
Guns. poured watCr over them te make Ihcw 1
swr,l. aud thus take up more siarc 10 the va
ruum for which they we're ibiuudszi ard thrH
OBJ Sc E0ds we poured an the meiasfes /
what @ Toast Wus there ny c1unirYmru' An. /
how few who will ftHd thIs stury kuuw what /
u b 10 be really hungry
Our rcpAst over. / Inquired ~ NcCfUnrY hos [
ne had come ipfa pasaesFiuu ~ 20 pr cie ua % /
mufpei, ltcmoraH sceBrd, nov that b. had /
psrinken Of the foast. 60 have uyercnmo him. |
pair. The elegant, cguriY Mc'rnafN had npt-
81 appeared 80 % me b1orp. and kBcw That !
there must ho some wCiRhiY reason Tor it /
Guut heaven had hp puriaincd ttc mol tFees /
from one ~ hia comrades. Tor fhHt Nas The /
only crime he could have committed Ia sgi. |
tate him So
Drawing olpso 10 mc. be- whispered ia my !
ear. ms though fearful az being overheard |
Promise that you viii not expose me, and ] /
VIII relieve my conscience by telling Ypu. ! /
traded Que ~ Major lili Stewards bone rings
10 Niger for that mulasses. what would |
my friends m Kentucky say " they heard 81 |
IT."
whatoonld more fOrcibly express the wretch. |
uGnCHs q our condition than this incident
la explanation ! w9l state that many ut the |
prisoners passed the time ~ carving finRer
rings out OF Hitta pcrcha buttonB. which wcrr
sent home o. friends when the opportunity
presented. Among tho most Elsilful Of these |
CaryHrs was Major Bin stewart. nf Maryland |
although be represented the First Arkansas /
Regiment il was one Of the rings presented |
BY him 10 Major @eIneary that brought the |
utp0hses.
wonder a. when the gallant NcCrcary VIA |
Governor Of Kentucky, after tho war. he ever |
thought Of the dinner be gave his frieud ar |
Morris Island, toward which he contributed |
nothing but the moiassos
tCoNTIHuED OK FiRsJ PAoE)