The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-22

cradle than prison life in Charleston, al
though it was still prison life, and there
fore hard for a soldier in war time. Inc
Jail itself was more like large private
dwelling than like fortress. 1t was near
the center of the city, on one of the prin-
cipal streets, close by the Town Hall, un-
derneath which was the city market. Inc
Jail windows were iron-barred, but ignt
and air had free ingress, and 1t was
pleasant for us to watch the signs OF lie
outside, day by day.
A central passageway from front TO
rear divided the six rooms on the lower
floor. Back of the Jail was an open yard'
with rude barrack structures-on the one
hand for laundry work and storage, and
on the other hand for extra prisoners Id
an emergency. Beyond this was a large
printing and photographic establishment, I'D
which were prepared the Treasury notes
of the Confederate Government, and
through the windows of which were to be
seen bright-faced young women at work:
Sentries paced their beat on all sides OF
the Jail building, day and night. Two
connecting rooms on one side OF the lower
floor were occupied by our Union army
officers at the time entered. In the thru
room on that side, at the rear, were Con,
federate prisoners, cOnScript deserters, ana
others under special charges. Across the
hall from our rooms there was small
room near the front, in which was Union
officer from Tennessee, under suspended
death sentence as deserter from the Con-
federate army. He was watched day and
night by q soldier chained, or secured, to
him, so as to preclude all possibility OF
escape. The back room on the same side
was at that time used as quarters for the
prison guard. The middle room was just
then vacant, but it was subsequently oc-
cupied by naval officers captured in Ad-
miral Dahlgrens unsuccessful assault on
Fort Sumter.
On the second floor of the Jail were
confined for a time 100 and more of our
enlisted men, taken prisoners on Morris
Island, and in another room various Con-
federate prisoners. Enlisted men of the
navy, captured in the assault on Fort
Sumter, were, when brought in, assigned
to the barrack buildings in the back yard.
scANTY FURNISHINGS OF PRISON ROOMS.
The only furniture in our two rooms
was a rude two-story bedstead, or pair of
berths, looking like one plain table set
on top of another, capable of holding eight
officers; also long pine table, on which
three more officers could stretch them
selves at night. The other officers slept
on the floor, with such covering as they
could obtain from outside. If we had
money, as some of us had, we could pur-
chase little conveniences through officers
of the guard. Adj't Camp and l pur-
chased bed-tick of common brown sheet
ing, and had it filed with dry pine nee
dies; also a similar pillow-case filed with
corn-husks, An officer Of the guard loan
ed us a blanket. This fitted us out very
comfortably for the night, and the bed,
when rolled up, was good seat by day.
On the tower of the Town Hall near
us was an iron-railed balcony, Just below
the clock face, where vigilant lookout
paced his nightly rounds. At 8:45 the
curfew bell was rung vigorously as a sig
nal for the housing of negro slaves all
over the city, and the making ready for
the night. Fifteen minutes later, when
the clock had ceased its strokes of nine,
the watchman's voice rang out in a pecu-
liar tone that could be heard afar in the
Silly night:
aea-ast mime o'-clock!''
At 9:15 his encouraging cry in the same
tone was:
"All-s we-ell!"
At the half-hour his cry was as at the
full hour, and at the third quarter as at
the first. This continued through the
night 1t was pleasant survival of the
old English custom, which had its at
fractions because OF its suggestion of
watchfulness. If the Southern air had
been cooler in July and August, and mus
ketos and vermin had been fewer and less
active, we might have slept composedly
on our prison-foor bed.
PRISON RATIoNs.
Daily rations were furnished us of beef
CT ham, and corn-meal and rice These
we must cook or have cooked for our
selves, and, if we desired anything more,
We could purchase it at our own cost.
Slave women were coming and going, in
the early morning, in the vicinity of the
market, with supplies of fruit and vege-
tables, and coffee and its substitutes; and
from them We could purchase what we
would, with the permission of our guard
We employed slave woman to cook for
our officers mess. After several expert
ments in this line, We settled down on
"Old Maggie" a typical Southern NAM
my. She was perhaps 20 years old, a
gray-haired, yellow-skfnned, wrinkIed
granny, bare-footed, and wearing q red
an3-white checked turban, and a scant-
skirted homespun gown. Quite short
very thin, active, and animated, she was
efficient and determined, and served us
faithfully. She had had 16 children, and
grandchildren and great-grandchildren in
corresponding numbers. Her owner lived
mp in the country, and she hired her time
of him at 81 a week, while she had a
stall in the market, and did outside Jobs.
Two of her great-grandchildren were her
immediate attendants. While ordinarily
goo3-natured, she could. on occasion. scold
and swear immoderately.
Prices for fruit and vegetables in their
season were reasonable; but those for cof-
fee, milk, and sugar were beyond ali rea-
son, in Confederate money. Rio coffee
cost 81 a pound; therefore it could not
be afforded as daily beverage We used
In place of it ground parched rye, or bar
ley, or Indian corn. The daily question
was, Shall We have Rio coffee or rye
today" Milk was then so cents a quart,
and butter was So pound. Poor tallow
candles cost us IS cents each. A COM
mon crockery plate cost 81, and a bowl
the same. Two iron spoons were bought
by us for 81. We paid SO for a horn
comb, and 81 for toothbrush. Yet we
were glad to have these things at even
these prices.
Each day We were permitted to have an
hour in the yard for exercise, q few Off
GERS at time. This was a great relief.
We were like school-boys at recess.
Wrestling, quoit-pitching, leap-frog, hop
scotch, and boys games generally, were
the order of the hour. We also did our
own clothes washing at such times There
was a hydrant in the yard, but water
from the pipes was too warm for drink.
Ing. The special privilege was given us
OF going out, two at a time under guard
to draw water from cool well at a con.
siderable distance from the Jail. This
was a coveted service. II was looked
upon as promotion to be "a drawer OF
water" for our comrades. Little honors
were great ones In prison. After q while
chic foL