Maj. McKnight (“Asa Hartz”), A. A. G., General Loring’s staff, while a prisoner of war, at Johnston’s Island, wrote the following:

My love reposes on a rosewood frame—
A bunk have I;
A couch of feathery down fills up the same—
Mine’s straw, but dry;
She sinks to sleep at night with scarce a sigh—
With waking eyes I watch the hours creep by.
My love her daily dinner takes in state—
And so do I(?);
The richest viands flank her silver plate—
Coarse grub have I?
Pure wines she sips at ease, her thirst to slake—
I pump my drink from Erie’s limpid lake!

“Three Acres I.”

My love has all the world at will to roam—
Three acres I;
She goes abroad or quiet sits at home—
So cannot I;
Bright angels watch around her couch at night—
A Yank, with loaded gun, keeps me in sight.

A thousand weary miles do stretch between
My love and I;
To her, this wintry night, cold, calm, serene,
I waft a sigh;
And hope, with all my earnestness of soul,
To-morrow’s mail may bring me my parole!

“We’ll one day meet again.”

There’s hope ahead! We’ll one day meet again,
My love and I;
We’ll wipe away all tears of sorrow then—
Her love-lit eye,
Will all my many troubles then beguile,
And keep this wayward reb. from Johnston’s Isle.