Year: 1862

JonNsoNs' ISLAND, April 10, go.


DEAR EwrNd The wind is whist
ling and The storm is bowling without,
making one think that winter is just
commencing instead of closing and as
1 sit by my cheerful fire and sec the
ruddy embers sparkling, glowing and
ditiusing comfort around, my mind rever-
ted to the scenes and friends of home,
and on the spur of the moment l have
gathered my writing materials to give
you slight description of the situation
hereabouts. ! had intended to have
written ere this, but the multifarious
demands of business prevented, and as |
intended to give you full description of
the place, persons aud things pertaining
thereto, it was necessary that | should
crcumnavigate our island and ask some
few questions, ere | attempted it.


l have explored and asked many
questions, but have always had the
satisfaction Of knowing about as much
after the ques ions were answered as
before. For instance, whilst in Clcve-
land, standing on the banks of small
stream that passes through the City, |
entered into conversation viii an appar-
emily intelligent old gentleman that
stood there. He told me that he had
lived there or within few miles for the
past forty years. | asked him the name
of the stream that flowed at our feet -
His reply was " really do not know"
Strange y" thought l., and passed on.


have asked many questions of the
people here in reference to the bag, its
leng b, width, &C., but no one thus far
has Dcen able to give the desired infor-
nation. So in giving my description of
Johnson's Island and lis surroundings |
simply give my opinion in reference to
distance, &C., and if l AN wrong | am
open to correction at some future time.
The Depot of Prisoners of War is situa-
ted on an Island now known as Johnson's
Island, formerly called Bulls island,
about three miles from the city of San
dusky, in whet is termed Sandusky Bay,
which bay is formed by narrow strip
of land or peninsula running into Lake
Erie, forming huge basin or bay about
twelve miles long and five miles wide,
and forms one of the best harbors on the
lake. When | arrived here it was one
solid sheet, of lee smooth as polished
marble over whose CLASSY surface the
youth of both sexes were always to be
seen skimming gracefully along and
enjoying themselves hugely in the plea
surable and exhilerating exercise of
skating. There We're ice boats also
constructed with sails, that in their
speed aud the roar which they occasioncd
as with lightning velocity they carcened
over S CLASSY surface reminded me of
the iron horse and as they sped past
me, if it had not been so cold |
could almost have fancied that felt his
hot sui phurous breath on my check
But old Boreas has been obliged to
yield TO the pleasant brcezes of Spring,
and though as said before the tempcs.
howls wi hout and the bright and spark
ling fire sheds pleasant feeling Ger
me, yet the ice is gone and now we,
ins cad of graceful skaters and iron
horses with sails, see the dark blue
water with here and there steamer
putting and snorting along, and anon
vessel with her snow white sails spread
to the favoring breeze giving spring
like life to things without, and one feels
that winter is o'er and spring time is
coming.


Occasionally within the past week or
two the sun has shone out warm and
genuine, diffusing, his rays benifcently
on all creation, making everything look
happy and joyous. And in these inter-
inns of sunshine we would hear the car=
rolling of the a;hered songstcrs of the
wood, who deceived, perhaps, by the
invigorating rays of the sun had opened
their concerts for the season.


When they again resume l shall come
to the conclusion that Spring time
has come and join in the chorus accord
inglys


had expected to have found the
weather here much colder than at home,
and confess myself very agreeably dis
appointed.


TO be sure there is some slight differ
ence, Lut the increase in cold is hardly
perceptible: think that the greatest
difference consists in the fact that cold
weather commences earlier and continues
later than in our climate. But the great
difference consist in the storms. l have
often heard of the Lake Storms and now
| can realize them. Although we arc
protected in great measure by the
Peninsula. Yet think never wines.
sed such storms lasting for three or
four days, blowing with an intensity
that is almost irresistible, tearing
mighty trees up by the roots, leveling
fences, &c, whilst out on the lake the
waves roll almost mountain high, against
the breakers which form across the
entrance to the bay.


The Island contains about three hun
dred acres Of land, which prior to the
establishment of the depot here was
partially TILED, and were you to see
the quality of grain that was raised from
it l think you would be inclined to say
that they either did not understand
farming or if they did their education
was of no avail. The soil is black loan,
over limestone formation, and from
| the annearance 7 should iudge that