Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-10-30
Il EN- r AG E S
ssss &c y
: HOW A soLDIER CAME HOME. (.
-l.-
The Loss of a Confederate's Diary .
in New York. =
A - .
}y In Two Parts. .
Part One.
In Two Parts.
. = s&s . /. .

oucs
In contributing the following ac-
count Of a>diary kept by me during
the war, and the circumstances lead
ing up to Its subsequent loss, to-
gether with the rough experience of
prison life when quite a young Con-
federate soldier, feel that 1t will be
read with much interest by your
many readers, and that the descrip-
ton of the cruelties inflicted by our
then cruel enemies will, know, be
read with particular interest by those
Vearers OF the grey who unfortunate
ly became prisoners and experienced
alike the sufferings Of those terrible
Federal prison pens. This diary was
my constant and cherished compan-
ION, containing numerous notes OF
interest, and to which stuck through
thick and thin, but unfortunately,s as
Will be seen, when on the eve OF
reachiL. home from prison, it was
forever lost to me.
There were very few diaries kept
by the boys of the Confederate States
army that we have any knowledge
of, and which can very readily be ac-
counted for, particularly among pri-
yates-and that was for the want of
conveniences, and the continual
marching and moving Of commands
here to-day, tomorrow somewhere
else. With all obstacles in my way,
however, managed to keep re-
cord Of all that transpired from day
to day nmy company and regiment,
and which, IL I possessed to-day,
nothing could induce me to part with.
In the inside pocket Of my tattered
and worn old grey coat was the home
of my diary and cherished compan-
lon, together with an old stun of a
pencil with which, did the record
8 ing; so you Will Sc that wherever I
went my dairy did also, and that,
too, as q precaution Of not losing 1t,
by trusting 1t at any time in camp
With the few effects that as a Con-
federate soldier possessed. How
anany, many times my hand would 60
to that pocket to assure me that It
was there, / do not know, which
makes 1t all the more surprising that
at last should lose 1t.
AS a prisoner under the pillager
and fncendiary, Sherman, and the
drawing of lots in, retaliation with
other comrades, and the subsequent
officials execution (by Sherman's or
der) of brave James Miller; the long
and continuous marches through ice
and snow, half starved; the shooting
of Lieut.. Jack Stribling on the dead
line, and trials and sufferfngs endur-
ed, Gall of which was published in
your columns two years ago.
through 1t all clung to my diary.
although dared not expose 1t In re-
cording the brutalities to which we
had been subjected:
At Newbern.
Arriving at Newbern, N. c., with
precious diary intact, felt that l
had indeed accomplished much.
From Newbern was sent with other
prisoners, having been separated
from most all of my comrades, who
had shared with me. trials and tor
lures inflicted while q prisoner un-
der Sherman, to Fortress Monroe;
the Others we're sent to Point Look
out, Md, many of whom died thei, .
Arriving at Fortress Monroe we were
marched into the enclosure of the
great fort. To the right Of the en-
closure was the barracks and run
ming In circle around 1t was rope
stretched, called the dead line. 70
touch 1t meant death. The barracks
was poorly constructed and had
great cracks or openings, which ad-
mitted the cold piercing winds. Thus
In our weak, starved and sick condi-
tion we were subjected to still fur
ther cruel treatment. How many of
us survived was through the mercy
OF God only. Our rations consisted
of two hard-tacks three times "a day,
with a small bit OF salt beef or pork,
and the water we had to drink was
polluted by being In close proximity
to the sinhs. The guards were me-
groes and offered every indignity ito
the prisoners, and many poor Eel.
low was shot without cause. II was