Page:FourteenMonthsInAmericanBastiles-2.djvu/36

36 they have been apparently neglected, we can both testify as to the present ample preparations which are being made, not only to render them comfortable, but even to put it beyond the complaint of some who would be unreasonable.

"In regard to myself, I can simply say, that I have, to the utmost of my ability, tried to do my duty, alike to the Government and the prisoners.

"Lieutenant Wood is unceasing in his care and watchfulness, and as you well know, ready at any time to do all he can for the comfort of those under his charge.

"With regard to improper and false communications from released prisoners, if such there are, it is a question for the Honorable Secretary of State to decide how far such communications invalidate the parole of the person or persons making them.

It will be observed that Lieutenant 's requisition was only made the day after the date of the " remonstrance" which we had sent to Mr. . Whether it would have been made at all but for that remonstrance, may well be doubted. We had been over two weeks in Fort La Fayette before Lieutenant Wood thought proper to give any such evidence of that "care and watchfulness" which Colonel attributed to him. "How hard the Government had striven" to make the prisoners comfortable may be judged by the foregoing narrative, and from the fact that the articles for which Lieutenant called on Marshal, only reached the Fort sometime about the- date of Colonel 's letter, and we had then been imprisoned there nearly a month. That Colonel made any special efforts to do his duty to the prisoners, is utterly untrue. He paid a visit to the Fort about the 5th of August, and did not appear there again until about the 26th of October, and but for facts which I shall subsequently mention, it is not likely that he would have paid the latter visit at all. Had he chosen to inspect our quarters more frequently,