The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-08-09
A D
MAJORS DIARY
The Experiences of a Staff
Officer in Cox's Brigade of
the Army of Northern Virginia
7 Y

ScDUcI11EVT III bCCI ptoN
ed, upon our arrival, the preceding
evening, with a single blanket, (second
hand. and not altogether free from
yermin, as subsequent observation and
experience too fully demonstrated), /
had passed a night of tolerable com
fort and walked up this morning to the
realities of prison life. Through the
kindness of accuaintances, (many Of
whom l recognized among the deni-
zenS of Fort DelaWare), [ was also
furnished with a change of under
clothing and enabled to take a bath,
which materially contributed to my
comfort as Well as sense Of self-re-
spect. After exchanging s~a1utations
and gossip with friends, and satisfy
ing, so far as I could, their eager
curiosity as to outside matters as they
were 'wagging' in the world, and
especially in the Dixie portion of it,
| proceeded to look about me in order
to see. for myself, into what sort Of
place my lines had fallen"
Fort Delaware is situated on what
is known as pea Patch" Island, sur
rounded on all sides by the river Della
ware. 1t embraces an ares of fifty
or sixty acres and is undoubtedly or a
comparatively recent formation, mas
much as its surface, at high tide is
yet considerably lower than the water
mark, and, but for high bikes, liable
~ NC SoblIiCl sou. OPpoolA1 w VIZ
Island on the east is the Jersey shore,
about two miles off, and opposite it,
on the southwest, at about the same
distance, is Delaware City-apparent-
Iy a flourishing little town, judging
from the amour of shipping visible
about its wharveS. The distance from
Philadelphia is some thirty miles.
The fort, mounting a number Of
guns of heavy calibre, overlooks the
barracks in which the prisoners are
confined, and the guns point with
menacing muZzle directly upon them.
The officers and privateS of course Oc-
cupy separate barracks, and no COM
munication Of any kind is allowed be-
tween them. Surrounding the entire
barracks, which are enclosed within
lofty walls, are parapets upon which
Sentinels constantly pace, and an in
creasing vigilance is kept up among
them night and day. The command
ant of the post Is Brigadier-General
Shoepf-a Hungarian-who has seen
but little active service; having figured
mainly at the battle of Fishing Creek,
or Somerset, KY, where the gallant
Zollicoffer was slain. The garrison
consists of the 9Th Massachusetts Re
giment of Infantry and two or three
companies Of heavy artillery. / am
agreeably disappointed to find that we
are not guarded by negro troops.
The novelty Of the situation and the
excitement of meeting acquaintance,
etc, has prevented, today, much re-
Election upon my condition of dur
ance VILE" but l can foresee many
weary days Of monotony and ennui. It
is however, the part CT true philoso-
ply, to say nothing Of more exalted
considerations, not to anticipate them.
September eel resume my de-
scription Of yesterday. l mentioned
my impression that this Island was Of
comparatively recent formation. It's
nucleus, | have ascertained, was the
wreck of q vessel, sunk in these waters
some time in the last century. The
vessel was alden with peas, and hence
the naIne of the island-"Pea Patch"
The barracks are divided off into di-
visions, each division room being
about 60 feet long by some % feet
wide, and mad to furnish habitation
for about one hundred men. Three
tiers of hunks, one above the other,
and cached by a species Of ladder,
run around the apartment, and, as no
bedding is allowed to mitigate the
hardness of the surface, some idea
may be formed Of the degree of com
fort they are calculated to afford.
"Corns' upon the hips of the oldest
settlers are very common from long
familiarity with the hard plank. The
internal police and government Of the
divisions are left mainly to the in
mates, who appoint a chief Of division
from among themselves and establish
q code of regulation. Details are
made for sweeping out, bringing wa
ter, and other mental performances
two officers being daily, and in rota-
ton, selected for the purpose. The
river being brackiSh and therefore IN
fit for drinking use, water is brought
IN a schooner from Brandy-Wine
Creek and forced into large tanks
inside the barracks ward. The ward
embraces an area of perhaps / IL
acres, and this space shut out from
all view of the surrounding world, is
all that is Above for upwards Of
1,300 men to live, breathe. move and
exercise in. It is, however, a great
comfort that this area is not covered
over as well as walled in, and that VIZ
are not thereby excluded from a sight
OF the bright blue ave tina spread
their glorious arch above us. That
much of communion with Nature is
left US. We can at least look GU.
IA