FROM DIARY OF CORPORAL EDWARD H. LEWIS, CO. B.
As the Corporal's record goes over the same time and place of other diarists, care is taken to avoid repetitions.
Salisbury, the last of October—The death rate is heavy, owing to bad weather and small rations; the latter also being poor in quality, consisting of what is supposed to be coarsely ground corn meal, including a great deal of the cob. It is mixed with hot water, no salt or seasoning of any kind, and baked in large loaves, about three inches thick and these loaves are cut into squares of about three and one-half inches, the same being a ration for twenty-four hours. In addition to this we have been having about three-quarters of a pint of something called "soup." It is made of North Carolina peas (usually called "cow-peas"), decayed bacon very active with maggots, and water, the process of brewing being as follows: A large kettle receives its bushels of peas, along with its due proportion of the said animated bacon and the necessary liquid, and the combination is boiled until the outer cuticle of the pea is loosened, scarcely longer, and then is dipped out for the sustenance of Yankee unfortunates. Were this all, it would not be so bad, but the foam which appears upon the surface of the soup is very far from being unsubstantial, since therein float hundreds of the vermicular denizens of peas and bacon. Not exactly as appetizing as the bouillon of home preparation nor as clear, yet with closed eyes and bated breath, we manage to enclose it, probably to our bodily good, if not to the satisfaction of our several senses.
Nov. 10—Charles Wadsworth, Company B, dies to-day.
Nov. 24—Many of the boys suffering from hunger, thirst and general exposure, took the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy to-day, thinking by so doing to find an opportunity to escape and reach our lines; fully three hundred have done this during the month of November.
Nov. 25—The attempt to break out of prison to-day was unsuccessful. The prisoners were divided into three divisions, the first being called the Wood Division, since it was expected to make the attack on the big gates where wagons bring in our wood; the second division was to break through the bakeries, while the third was to spike the pieces of artillery that were trained upon the enclosure; mine was the Bread Division and in the effort we lost six killed and ten wounded.
Nov. 27—James Kilduff, Co. B, dies to-day.
Dec. 5—Was asked to enlist in the Confederate army and thus escape this terrible suffering. I replied most positively that I would stand by the old Flag if I died here.
Dec. 27—My shoes, such as they were, were stolen last night and I am barefooted. Could only wrap my feet in rags which I picked up in small pieces. Three rebel Catholic priests came into the prison to-day and tried to influence our Catholic boys to serve in the Confederate army and succeeded in getting many of them.
Feb. 19—Leave Salisbury early in the evening, we know not where.
Feb. 21—Arrive in Raleigh, N. C., this morning, where we are detained during active military operations on and near the Cape Fear River, near Wilmington, N. C.
Mar. 5—Leave Wilmington on transports for Annapolis, Md., which we reach on the 8th at 10 p. m. Here we are detained and enrolled, also relieved of all clothing and reminders of prison life, Uncle Sam issuing to us new suits of clothing.
Mar. 15—Receive two months' pay and commutation for six months and eleven days as prisoner, $84.50 in all. (The commutation covered half rations for the prison period at 25 cents a day.)
Mar. 16—Leave Annapolis, Parole Camp, for home, having a furlough till April 13.
April 14—Reach Baltimore on my return and at 11 p. m. hear the news of President Lincoln's assassination; the returning prisoners, several hundred in number, offer their services to the Provost Marshal in case of need.
April 21—Detailed to take charge of Barracks, No. 43 (Annapolis), and am put to work on the pay roll for this barrack.
May 3—Proceed from Annapolis to Camp Distribution, north of Alexandria, Va.
May 23—Leave camp for Washington via Chain Bridge and, having rejoined my regiment, take part in the Grand Review.
June 14—Paid off at Readville and discharged from the state service.
June 20—With Co. K of the Thirty-fifth, my Company (B) of the Thirty-ninth is given a reception and review by the City Government of Roxbury who were in office 1862, and those on duty now.