“Headquarters, Shields’ Division, May 30, 1862.
“Captain W. is allowed to remain at the house of Mr. John B. Petty (until further arrangements are made,) the said Captain W. being a prisoner of war. By order of Major General Shields.
MILES W. KEOGH,
Ass’t Adj.”
After the lapse of two days I was allowed the limits of the town, but being sick I did not go out of the house for five days after I was captured, when I walked down to the barbers’ shop. While passing the hotel I was called by a Federal officer, whose name I learned afterwards was General Duryea, of New York. I went into his room, around which were sitting several other Federal officers, and the General addressed me, “What are you doing walking about the streets? Are you not a Southern officer?” I replied “I am,” and told him that Major Shedd, the Provost Marshal, had paroled me the town. General Duryea then said, “I understand, sir, that when the Rhode Island cavalry had you in their power, and could have killed you, that as one of the cavalry dismounted to take your sword, and was proceeding to mount again, you fired your pistol twice at the back of his neck.” I replied such could not be true, for I had no pistol about me when captured. General Duryea then said, “I may be mistaken, but I wish to find out what Captain it was, and visit the proper vengeance upon him.” The day before the Yankees entered Front Royal, a colored man died of small pox in a small frame house near the railroad depot, and by general consent of both citizens and the Yankee paroled prisoners in the town, it was agreed as advisable to burn the house and body, in order to prevent the spread of the dangerous and contagious disease. The Yankees were told by some traitor, or else themselves originated the lie, that we had burned up two of the Yankee prisoners in our hands, and they swore vengeance against us—declared that they intended to “put the town in ashes,” and nothing but a special order of General Shields to the contrary, and forbidding interference with any property whatever, prevented the soldiers from giving vent to spleen engendered by a false and malicious report. General Shields was informed by Major Collins, (Vermont cavalry,) in my presence, that while a prisoner in our hands he was treated most kindly, and that all reports to the contrary had no foundation in truth; and all the other Federal prisoners endorsed the statement of Major Collins.
June 6th. We have been told from day to day that all “General Jackson’s men” would be paroled until exchanged, and yet at the same time preparations are being made to take us to Washington, i. e., about nineteen officers, and one hundred and fifty non-commissioned officers and privates. The kindness of the people of Front Royal, and especially the ladies to the Confederate prisoners, deserves the highest praise. Devoted to our cause, they omit no opportunity to show their regard for those who are endeavoring to rescue them from the obnoxious presence and depredations of the Yankees. They keep aloof from the Yankees as much as possible, and are always on the alert to do something for the relief of our sick and wounded.
June 7th. Among the Yankees I made the acquaintance of Adjutant Griffin, 5th New York cavalry, who treated me kindly, as also Captain Abraham Moore, Captain Isaac S. Tichenor, and Major Shedd, 105th New York regiment, and Lieutenant H. Hobert Mason, of General McDowell’s staff. Met with the celebrated Miss “Bell Boyd” to-day. Miss B. is a sprightly, intelligent lady, au fait in all the movements of our army, and moderately good looking. Her general information, and nonchalant mode of fluent conversation, renders her tout ensemble quite interesting. It is said she has obtained valuable information from Yankee officers in regard to their movements, and conveyed the same to our army. A great many soldiers talk to me every day, and they all so far have expressed themselves tired of the war, but say that it will soon be ended, inasmuch as they have General Jackson “in a trap,” out of which he cannot escape. They say “Stonewall” is our greatest General—incomparably so—that he is cunning and strategic, but that it is not within the range of human possibility for him “to elude us this time;” that they would like to capture him, but under no consideration would they kill either him or Ashby if they knew it.
June 8th. They say we are to be sent to Washington city on to-morrow, but we have been told so many things that have failed to come to pass, that we are too reluctant to believe any more reports. Nous verron, to-morrow. Mr. and Mrs. Petty have been untiring in their attentions to the sick and wounded prisoners here. They will never be forgotten by those who have been the recipients of their kindness, especially those who had the fortune to be under their roof. Mr. P. has been made to pay the Yankees a heavy penalty on account of being “Secesh;” they have stolen three of his most valuable negroes, any number of horses, cattle, &c., besides laying waste his two farms. One of his negro men left him one day, and the next time he saw him the negro was dressed in the cavalry uniform, with a sabre hanging to his side, and passed his master with silent contempt on the street. The negro was now a member of the “Michigan cavalry,” a company notorious for its success in robbery and plunder of every description. This same negro visited Mr. Petty’s house afterwards in company with three Yankee officers, and demanded of Mrs. Petty (Mr. P. was absent) the key to the wine room; Mrs. P. told them that she had only a few bottles of wine, which she kept for medicinal purposes, and requested them not to disturb it, but the negro persisted with threats in having it, and told Mrs. P. “she lied” in saying she only had a few bottles. Having obtained all the wine in the house, by frightening this excellent lady they drank it in her presence, when they smashed the bottles on the floor, exclaiming, “the damned Secesh don’t deserve to have anything.”
Monday, June 9th. To-day the prisoners were put on the cars to be taken to Washington city. A lady gave one of the prisoners a boquet with a small Confederate flag attached, which, as he was about to get into the cars, was noticed by General Duryea, of New York, and as soon as the latter saw it he quickly severed the flag from the boquet, and with an air of contempt and triumph tore it into fragments, at the same time trampling each fragment under his feet. The people of Front Royal manifest the greatest interest in the Confederate prisoners. They carry provisions to them daily at the hospital, while those prisoners who are paroled are invited to their houses. It would seem that interest would sometimes prompt them to court Yankee favor, but they spurn it, and remain loyal and true in their deportment at the sacrifice of thousands of dollars worth of property, for Yankee regiments camp on the wheat fields, and steal the horses and negroes, and kill the hogs, and commit every sort of depredation upon the property of those who are known to be Secessionists. The ladies avoid the Yankees whenever they can, and when thrown into their presence, treat them with that reserve with which they might be expected to treat those whom they regard as the deadly enemies of their dearest friends and interest, but whose presence they cannot avoid. The people seemed sad when the prisoners left Front Royal; the ladies filled their haversacks with refreshments, and loaded the cars with flowers.
June 10th. We arrived at Alexandria at 2 o’clock this morning—saw the depot which was burned by the bold General Geary, when he imagined that he saw 50,000 rebels advancing on him, when, in fact, the rebels were no where near him. The 104th New York regiment in their fright burned up everything they had. A fellow prisoner informs me that he was lately a prisoner in the hands of Geary, who had him hand-cuffed, and kept him without food for four days, and that he led his command to believe, by repeated assurances, that Richmond was in possession of the Federal army. At daybreak this morning a crowd assembled around the cars, and many were eager to talk with us, but were not permitted to do so. Nor were our friends allowed to give us anything to eat, although they had provided various refreshments, and although the Yankees had furnished us nothing to eat since yesterday morning, or it may be said with nothing at all, for what we eat then was given by the people at Front Royal. At 7 o’clock in the morning the crowd became very great, and the guards were increased in proportion. The ladies could not be prevented from kissing their hands to the prisoners. A young man attempted to throw an orange in the cars for a lady, who requested him to do so, but he was contemptuously thrust aside, and had to leave in “double quick” time. Our friends had provided for us coffee, bread and butter, ham, eggs, cakes, pies, candies in variety, and tobacco and cigars in profusion, but like the thirsty Tantalus, and the water we were almost in reach, without being able to enjoy them. Boquets were thrown in showers into the cars, while there was the greatest demand for our buttons. Some cut all the buttons off their coats, and then could not gratify all who requested to be given “one.” This scene, and the sympathy manifested for our cause by so many Alexandrians, made us feel happy, while at the same time we were sad in knowing that they were then writhing under the heel of Lincoln despotism. The Yankee soldiers seemed to envy the attentions sought to be lavished upon the prisoners by the people of Alexandria; some cursed us, some shook the United States flag in our faces, &c. One fellow remarked, “If the 11th Massachusetts was in those cars, you would not get to Washington city.” Others vented their spleen by insulting remarks to the ladies. We arrived at Washington at 12, M., having started from Alexandria in a steamboat about 11. We were then marched in two ranks (with a strong guard of infantry on either side and rear, and a display of cavalry in front) to the “old capitol military prison.” We were very wet when we arrived at the latter place, on account of the rain which commenced before we left the steamboat, but were compelled to stand out in the yard from 12, M., to 5, P.M., when we were assigned our quarters. The room in which seven officers and myself were confined was about twelve feet square. My prison companions are Captain Samuel M. Sommers, quartermaster, Lieutenants Chas. E. Bott and John F. Everly, 33d Virginia regiment, and Lieutenant James K. Decrow, Newton T. Johnston, James M. Brown, and Edward Waterman, of the 12th Georgia regiment. Roll was called to-night, and our names, rank, regiment, company letter, and State, taken in full. Our door is locked all the time, except when officers come in, or when we are allowed to go into the yard an half hour for exercise.
June 11th. The superintendent of this prison is William P. Wood, and the officers in command Captain Benjamin Higgins, and Lieutenants J. Miller and —— Holmes. Mr. Wood is an infidel, who so far from blushing to proclaim it, takes frequent occasion to do so. When endeavoring to enforce his doctrines, he addresses his opponent as “You mullet-headed Christian,” and speaks in the greatest derision of our Saviour, while he denies the existence of a God, or hell. He is a sharp-featured, serpentine-looking specimen of humanity, medium height, and by trade a cabinet maker, before his black republican proclivities secured him his present position. Mr. Wood, a prisoner, soon finds out to be the most important among “the powers that be” connected with the prison, and all “privileges” must be reached through him. He professes to be a great Southern man, and sometimes demonstrates this by knocking down a contraband, who does not wait upon him in accordance with his fastidious notions.
It is cloudy, and my close confinement, together with the continual sight of dark blue uniforms makes me feel as gloomy as the sky is in appearance. I would that I could be with our army in the “Old Dominion.” From my prison window I see an old United States soldier cultivating flowers in a row of flower pots. One knows him to be a soldier by his regular walk, and the style of his grey moustache, not to speak of his uniform. Indeed one might have guessed as much from the care he takes of his little garden, for there are two things I have noticed especially, loved by old soldiers, viz: flowers and children. They have so long been obliged to look upon the earth as a field of battle, and so long cut off from the peaceful pleasures of a quiet lot, that they seem to begin life at an age when others end it.
June 12th. Have been here a day and a half and two nights, and can form some idea of the way things are managed at this prison. Roll is called night and morning, and as to fare, we are allowed a tin cup of what is called coffee, but which is really mock-coffee, a slice of bread six inches long, five inches wide, and a quarter of an inch thick, and a piece of beef or fat bacon twice a day—forming a repast, the sight of which is almost enough to cause any respectable stomach to revolt, so unclean seems both it and its surroundings. A lady came into our room to-day leaning on the arm of Dr. Stewart, the prison surgeon. As the Doctor ushered her in, he remarked, “This is the room in which Mrs. Rose O. N. Greenhow was confined.” Lieutenant D., of the 12th Georgia regiment, was lying on a blanket in one corner of the room, and the lady seemed to recognise him, and asked “What’s your name?” “Are you from Georgia?” Being answered promptly by the Lieutenant, and in the affirmative as to the latter question, the surgeon observed, “You have a remarkable recollection of faces,” and they left the room, which was then quickly locked. It is supposed that she is the correspondent of some Northern journal. No doubt she will say that we live in a palace, and have hotel fare, thus emulating the editor of the “Evening Star,” who a short time ago informed its readers that we “fared equal to any hotel in the city.” If a sentinel is caught in conversation with a prisoner, the punishment is two weeks in chains. The prisoners are allowed an half hour in the yard after each meal. After dinner to-day, the surgeon, Dr. Stewart, a coarse, vulgar mean Yankee came among us in the yard, and had the audacity to say, “All who desire to take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government, and thereby obtain their liberty step this way.” A deserter and two men of Northern birth obeyed the call. I am informed by prisoners, who have been here sometime, that the greatest effort is constantly made to induce prisoners to take the infamous “oath of allegiance.” At roll call to-night I was informed that “several friends” called to see me. I was not told who the friends are, and I infer that they do not intend to tell me, or allow me to see them at all.