Page:FourteenMonthsInAmericanBastiles-2.djvu/56

 but the others had to shift for themselves as they best could, until the arrival of the furniture from our former prison. The day we landed, the only dinner provided for us consisted of a barrel of crackers and a couple of raw hams, which were placed on the head of a flour barrel, in front of our quarters. We were informed that the Government would allow us the ordinary soldiers' rations, but that we would have to cook them ourselves, and a place would be given us for the purpose. Mr., the purveyor for the laborers and officers at the Post, agreed to furnish us that evening with supper. It consisted of cold, boiled salt beef, bread and bad coffee, which however, we were hungry enough to eat with considerable relish. This was the only meal we had that day, or until noon the day following. Not knowing exactly how we could manage our rations after they should be distributed to us, a number of us by Colonel 's permission, requested Mr. to furnish us two meals a day, at least until we could make some other arrangement. This he agreed to do at the rate of one dollar a day each, and a good business he must have made of it, for scantier and worse entertainment we had never seen provided at anything like half the price. We were forced, however, to continue this arrangement for a week, at the end of which time we took matters into our own hands. We obtained the use of two casemates and cooking stoves, and established two clubs or messes, and engaged some of the North Carolina prisoners to cook and wait in the mess-room, and also to attend to our quarters. As there was a Government boat running regularly between the Fort and Boston, we ordered daily supplies of meats, milk, and vegetables, and with the addition of our rations, were enabled to live with reasonable comfort. After the North Carolina prisoners were exchanged, we from time to time, got servants from Boston, almost invariably foreigners, and continued, though at an increased expense, to live as we had previously done.

In speaking of our treatment, I speak solely of the "political" or "State prisoners." As I know nothing of the way in which prisoners of war are entitled to be,