the platform, we were jolted for hours over the pavement. Occasionally there was a friendly face mid all that vast throng which was following us, and once, when the line halted, a man came near and asked if I was a prisoner. I told him I was, and he threw me a half dollar in silver, and another for the comrade who was with me. Soon after this, as we halted again, a young lady came near and in a kindly manner asked about our condition, and where we were from. She brought something for us to eat, and several times, as the line halted, brought us a refreshing drink of water, and kept near us through all the long march.

was so.

We did not know our destination, but at last the line halted in front of Parish Prison, with its frowning, gray walls and grated windows. The sight sent a shudder through our weak frames. Surely, we thought, we are not to be incarcerated here, like thieves and murderers. But it The men were thrust into the dirty cells and locked in; prisoners of war in felons' cells. I was taken to the hospital, on the second floor, where I remained for several weeks, suffering from a severe attack of typhoid fever. In the hospital we had cots and moss mattresses to lie upon, but we received very little attention from the nurses, who were civil prisoners. After coming into the prison, I was left for two weeks before my hands or face were washed, or my clothes taken off, or once lifted from the bed. About this time one of my comrades, George Dunn, of Co. “C," was allowed to come in and see me. He was kind enough to take my clothes to the yard and have them washed, and afterwards gave me a sponge bath. From this time, I began to improve, and after seven weeks was able to leave the hospital. The doctor came in every morning, but having but little medicine, he could do us no good. Morning after morning, as he would pass my cot, I would hear him remark to the nurse, “Isn't he dead, yet?”.

Gen. Palfrey was in command at New Orleans, and often came in to see the prisoners, and many of the citizens were allowed to visit the hospital and prison. A few Christian men often came in and brought us instructive books to

read, and showed their kindness in many ways. Among those most attentive were A. D. Donovan, Rev. G. L. Moore, and Bartlett; and our doctors, C. Beard, W. L. Lipscomb, and Smith, were as kind as they were allowed to be.

October 31st.-I left the hospital and joined my comrades in the prison proper. The prison is built in the form of a hollow square-a brick wall thirty feet high, on one side, and on the other the cells in three tiers, one above the other, and a balcony in front of each. Most of the cells are 10X12 feet, and sixteen men are confined in each cell. Our cell is 12x20, and twenty-four men in it. There is no light, and only a small hole less than a foot squaïe, in the middle of the door, for ventilation, and this space is covered with iron bars, as is also a small crescent-shaped opening near the top of the cell, communicating with a cell in the other division of the prison.

The men are kept locked in these cells from 4 o'clock in the afternoon till eight next morning. It is very warm, and the air is almost stifling. During the day, the doors are opened, and a part of the men at a time are allowed to take exercise in the yard, which is 90x40 feet. We have few blankets, and only the bare floor to sleep upon. Each man when lying down occupies a floor space of less than sixteen inches wide. So we have to lie spoon-fashion, and if one wants to turn over, the word is given, "Spoon!" and all must turn over together. In one corner of the yard is a large square tank, in which the men are allowed to bathe. In the opposite corner is the cook-house, containing two large iron kettles, in which all the cooking is done. Water from the Mississippi river is used for cooking and drinking, and is always very roilly. Our food consists of bread, fresh meat, and a kind of tea made from the wild youpong, a plant that grows along the coast of the Gulf States. In the morning we receive a small loaf of wheat bread, weighing about eight ounces, and a pint of the youpong tea, without sugar. Fresh meat, the refuse from the city markets, is brought in about 8 o'clock, and taken to the cook

THE STANDARD REMEDY FOR SCURVY.

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house by a man detailed from each cell. Here it is boiled in the river water without any salt. After the meat is cooked, a little rice is put into the pot liquor, and this is issued to us as soup. A pint of this soup with a small bit of the meat, makes our dinner. We had no supper during the four months we were in New Orleans, and no change in this diet, except at one time thirteen barrels of molasses were sent in by a man who was said to be the largest slaveholder in the state. At another time, a few Irish potatoes and some cabbage were issued to the men, to be eaten raw, and also a lot of wild sour oranges, as a cure for the scurvy, from which many of the men were suffering.

There were various forms in which scurvy manifested itself. The most common was a soreness of the mouth and gums. The teeth would all become loose, and often drop out; no solid food could be eaten. In another form, the limbs of the patient would swell to an immoderate size and turn black. Still others would break out in sores and eruptions over the body. The standard remedy, when it could be had, was raw potatoes or cabbage, with a little vinegar, or a supply of wild oranges, which are about three degrees sourer than a lemon.

A large number of the men busy themselves making rings, little books, watch charms and trinkets from the pieces of bones found in the beef; and when we cannot get bones enough, the guards sometimes bring them to the door and sell them to the men. Many of these trinkets are nicely carved and inlaid with colored sealing-wax, and are readily sold to the officers and visitors who come in to see the prisoners. In this way many of the boys are able to buy extra rations for themselves and do not suffer so much from hunger.

November 9th.—We hear a rumor to-day that our forces have captured Port Royal, near Savannah. Our confinement is getting almost intolerable. Many of the men think they cannot stand it much longer. We pray that God will keep disease from our midst, and that He will give us strength until the appointed time. One of the boys, George

P

T. Childs, from Boston, has received several letters from home to-day, and a trunk containing clothing.

warm.

Sunday, November 10th.-The weather continues very We had preaching this morning by an Episcopal minister. His text was from Luke xviii: 13. It was not a very interesting sermon. He angered the boys very much by praying for Jefferson Davis, President of the C. S. A. Most of the boys would not listen to him, and made a great deal of noise, so that he did not stay long. Afterwards he apologized and said he was obliged by the rules of "The Church," to always remember their President in his prayer. But the boys "could not see it." Mr. Donovan came in with more reading matter. There is a rumor, that there is to be an exchange of prisoners soon, but we dare not believe it. They probably say it to keep up our spirits. It causes a great deal of talk, and each asks the other if it can be so. Oh! such a longing to be free; no one not a prisoner can imagine it. We held a Bible-class in our cell at 3 o'clock. It was attended by twenty or more, and was very interesting. The lesson was from John iii. One of the men, a minister by the name of Alexander Parker, 7th Ohio, takes charge of the class.

November 11th. From some of the papers that are smuggled in once in a while, we learn that provisions are very high in the city. Pork is not to be had. Salt beef is $32 per barrel; flour, $10 to $15; corn meal, $1.50 per bushel; candles, 90 cts. per pound. Molasses and rice are the only things that are cheap.

November 12th.-It is reported in the papers to-day, that our government, having sentenced the crew of the privateer Savannah to be hung, the rebels have selected fourteen of our officers, by lot, and confined them in a dungeon at Charleston, and threaten to retaliate by executing them, in case the above sentence is carried into effect.

The following is from the diary of Corp. Merrill, who was in Richmond at the time:

"On the 10th of November, General Winder entered the prison, called the commissioned officers together, and read the following order, as addressed to himself: