The National tribune., 1902-02-27

GERS were accOruluEls CHOSEN from tne Oll-
ferent prisons, Fort Delaware furnishing
large delegation for that purpose. The
general officers Selected were Ma. j.-Gen.
Frank Gardner, of Port Hudson fame;
Maj.-Gen. Edward johnson, Brig Gen.
Stewart, Of Maryland, and Brig.-Gen.
Archer and Brig.-Gen. NJ jeff Thompson.
Among the field Officers selected were
seven of the penitentiary prisoners-COls.
Ward, Morgan, Tucker and Duke, and
Majs. Webber, Steele and Higley.
when on a steamer going down the
Delaware River, June 26 it was conf
IDENTIFY affirmed that I'VE were to be placed
on Morris Island, where the Charleston
batteries would have a fair play at us, so
that our friends, blissfully unconscious of
how disagreeable they were making them
selves, might speedily finish us. The pros
pect was not absolutely inviting but after
the matter was talked over, and Gen.
Gardner, especially, consulted, he having
had much experience with heavy artil-
lery, we were not so badly scared. Gen.
Thompson, who knew more about such
| things than we light cavalrymen, said
that man was more liable to be struck
by lightning than by any missile fired
from siege gun. This consoled me very
little. for / had all my life been nervously
afraid of lightning. However, we at last
settled it unanimously that while we
would perhaps be badly frightened by the
large bombs, there was little likelihood
of many being hurt, and, at any rate, the
risk was very slight compared with the
brilliant hope of its resulting in exchange.
NO POETRY ON THE OCEAN WAVE.
"When fairly, or unfairly, out on the
ocean wave, we wasted little thought on
matters not concerned with the 'stom-
ach's sake The Captain of the vessel
said there was no sea on talking as If
we were becalmed. at the very time that
his tipsy old boat was bobbing about like
a green rider on n trotting horse. There
has been a great deal of pretentious dec
lamatiOn about the poetry and beauty of
the ocean. The trip from Fort Delaware
to Hilton Head very nearly took all the
poetry out of Gen. Thompson's soul-and
stomach, too.
''At Hilton Head we were transferred
to the brig, 'Dragoon,' anchored under
the guns of the frigate Wabash. There
we remained five weeks, the weather be-
ing intensely hot. During the day we
were permitted to go on deck in reiefs of
% each, and stay alternate hours, but
at night we were forced to remain below
decks. A large stove, in full blast until
after nightfall, at one end of the hold, in
which we were confined, did not make
the temperature any more agreeable. The
ports were kept shut up, for fear that
some Of the party would jump out and
swim eight miles to the South Carolina
shore As there were 80 soldiers guard
ing us, and three ships boats, full of men,
moored to the vessel there was little rea-
son to apprehend anything of the kind
A constant negotiation was going on dur
ing these five weeks between the authori-
ties at Hilton Head and Charleston,
which seemed once or twice on the point
IL.
aged each time to survive.
Eve were never taken to Morris Island,
although our chances for that situation
seemed more than once extremely good.
Finally, Aug, !, it was authorita-
lively announced that we were to be taken
on the next day to Charleston to be eX-
changed. Only those who have them
selves been prisoners can understand what
our feelings then were-when the hope
that had become, as necessary to our lives
as the breath we drew was at length about
to be realized That night there was lit
tie sleep among the 50-but they passed
it in alternate raptures of congratulation
at their good luck or in shiyering appre-
hcnsion lest. after all, something might
occur to prevent the realization of their
hopes. But when The next day came and
we were transferred to steamer going
TO Charleston, doubts and fears vanished.
early on tne morning OF aug . we dh-
chored in Charleston Harbor, remaining
there two or three hours, and then steam
ed slowly in toward the. city, until we
passed the last monitor and halted again.
In n short time small boat came out
from Charleston, with the 80 Federal pris-
oners on board and officers of Gen. JOnes's
staff. authorized to conclude the exchange.
When she came alongside the final ar
rangements were effected, but not until
mOoted point had threatened to break
off the negotiations altogether. Happily
for us. we knew nothing of this difficulty
until it was all over, but we were made
very nervous hy the delay. When all the
details were settled we were transferred
to the Confederate boat, and the Federal
officers were brought on board of the
steamer which we left; then, touching
hats to the crew we parted from, we bade
our captivity farewell. We were royalty
treated in Charleston. II that party of
'ransomed sinners ever became praying
members the hospitable CharlestOnians
have certainty had a large share in their
petitions.
(To be continued)