The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-23
"a COMFEDERATE.C CADETS
MEMORIES OF THE .STR1EF
Confederate Prisoners Confined in Fort Warren.
A Visit From the Massachusetts, Legislators
Out Of Prison at Last-NeWs From
the Desolate South
the Desolate South.

CIlG DGSOl
by THE RIIv. JOHN KERsIIAyy.
1t was late in the afternoon when
the ponder6ns doors OF the sallyport at
Fort warren opened TO receive US.
Once inside we could see nothing but
the Interior Of the fort and the blue
SKY above. We were on an island i've
or six miles from shore and with no
prospect OF escape The general ON
GERS were assigned to rooms In the
officers quarters on the left OF the
sGllyport as one entered. The ordinary
prisoners were confined in the case
ments on the sea side OF the fort. We
found there number Of men belonging
to Mosby's command a few political
prisoners and one alleged British sub
ject, who was captured on blockade
runner. believe. This man was Of
fered his freedom II he would take
tile oath Of allegiance to the United
States Government. but he declined
very elnphatically, declaring his inten-
ton to remain where he was until his
Queen should send and take him out,
have often wondered what final dis
position was made OF his case. a
description OF the casemate into which
was put will give fair idea OF
them all There were probably fifty
men W d INA 3 AhS =
fifty feet long by twenty broad. with
lofty arcted ceiling. AT the end to-
wards the sea were windows overlook
ing a deep ditch or fosse. outside OF
which rose another wall, and beyond
1T a narrow strip Of beach sloping 70
the sea. AT the end towards the IN
terror of the fort or parade ground,
was door, and on each side barreo
and grated window. Standing at the
door and looking in. one saw near the
door on the left the water barrel, Win
slaves on zach side for greater con-
yenience in handling 1t. TINS was
filled with fresh water eacn day any
brought in by men detailed TOT .ne
purpose. on the right; and eStehain 10
ahoiit half way UP the casemate. "ere
a. hnnts where we slept. They rose
tier on tier above one another IKE .ne
bertha on shipboard. Being among we
,ata corners. i "roosted' on top, nay
ing blanket for covering TIN basins
r.sre used for toilet purposes anu Q
short comb sufficed for the mar.
- 1-,r.har IN the casemate was a ions
.,tsa and cooking and eating utens,is
Sew chairs, one or two snlalL nc,
and bench or two .,i Nea 10Th tor
h saati and cooking. Ths prisoners sas
ne, ,nara allowed to purchase food m an.
ni,ion 10 that supplied by the goa s M
,nent remember that ] had mere ca NY
first introduction !. to y Ga, M eJ men as had
ss,ands AZ the North and could geI
,pnnev from them supplied themsels.es
n.,,S comforts and even iuSui ,, ren !:
Sewspapers and novels soH ,a,ny,d
found their way ,,t 70 us rs.d pr matter
n tne strcu,ation. We played cards san ne:
a.,,iarrad and told war stories To- :
sn,,senoen.. sleep formed laso,. ~
nast,U,e. Every morning ser an !.
came and called the ron. a. out
swered 10 our names we pass ni, ali
mae reneated, and we filed IN anu
,oataa up for the night. sen. sent, -
nassed up and down bsfore au s... sas4
;ers at a distance Oh aoou y, I'D ~, line
Ihsre a @ ,sbieh we we're not permitted
~ 20. but inside OF this we We" az, at
,owed our freedom. Every Gay ,na :
ann,It i o'clock We were musteIea n,,r
the mess hall. where we . tv,n' salt
norse... red beef. picked. which m nd -
n no dubbed this because the sra an
" oss tba meat resemblcd hcrsetiesn, anu :
q, was even said that IN opehith er- .
barrel OF IT the shod noot ro ofa al and
had once been been . iguaa- us. We could
sat all we drew at one time. OF We :
could take 1T to our quarters anu n
more than one meal OF II. hss.s -
fernoon the officers wives as. -,1ra c,rs
me n. bar parapet and walked the entire c nns
cu.. =, ,,,o,,id race with another. q.
snch times all the prisoners Moa,.
rather and watch the race WIN ", w, ny IN
failing Interest. They wona s p 'sn, II :.
"tfe girl in the gray 49, ~ ha cls tho
49, ats, 4, hrown or black, as the case
might be. we used to wonoer4 y, . NC
nhsnryed the Interest we to9k ~ y. =. We. !, ]
,, proceeding. Part OF no aanup, AZ
due to our having n not nmr interest tsa was
S Sue - the fact that they repres eh ~.
tse tsir aax from which. for the tlIl ~.
nc we're excluded 1t helpeu us ~ :, oa ..
tthons-s,ckness just 70 see these st 70 :, :
ers, who probably Locked .'.h ~ maverthe-
ma m uoLe "a us. by their presence, OF
io n,,a 1 day the Massachusetts Leglsia1
urea ma over to the fort ana oreM - - :
in line as near 70 oMr qu In % our case
regulations t Perm renowned Harry Gil
nav one Of Mosby's Neutena1nrts,, /. !,
vsry large and handsome man. NE ha 4 :,
a friend who was very err 3 s ma when ~ the
all retired to s.r Gve Van and they stood
gazing at blank walls. Presene.S hie
1S;ttIa1'man. arrayed in Gilmore. i p :
na,,a1rv hat. with waving tTlcn
nl,ma in it, and cavalry boots tnu !. 81
tirelv swallowed up his legs @anu !, !, .
c -. caught him nearly 70, ms
ankles. armed with an opera glhss,
stenned out of the casemat e,, ana. goiL. .!s
se Near to the line of the Leglsla Tors !,
| as ha dared, deliberately put pp ms
lass and swept the faces OF the solons
si low and carefully. We laughed g a = {,
cheered; It certainly was an amusing
spectacle. The Legislators NAG "a a.. Sc !
snort r stay faced about and left. They
visited the quarters OF the lnprlsohes
generals also. There they entered any :.
we're received by the Conf derates WIZ
great politeness. not that they rellsheo
playing the part OF menagerle.3s pu'
Ethare was nothing to do but make The
best OF q trying situation.
XVII.
One day sometof the political prlso
ers- persuaded the sutler, as we heare
at the time, to smuggle them IN sons
gwhiskey in molasses JUGS They pro
ceeded TO celebrate. After we had an
swered roll call and-been shut In fol
Istha night, some g&of us were playing
whist near the stove when we heare
tha sound Of scuttling and splashiSg
near the door. investigation showed
That one Of the largest men IN the
casemate, who had been present at the
celebration named. and who was very
much intoxicated, had suddenly selzee
| oy4S IN {SsSyt o.