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 which received polite attention from the prisoners, and afterwards walked into the open ground, 100 feet square, where we were allowed to exercise half an hour each day at dinner time, and began to distribute tracts to the prisoners. He handed me one, at the head of which was a picture in colors of the "old flag," that emblem of hate and oppression, called by Horace Greeley "a flaunting lie." I rapidly glanced over its contents, and told the Dr. it was a political or war pamphlet, and preached the "Union" and the "old flag," and either ignored or mentioned incidentally only the crucified Christ, and that such prominent political pictures on a so-called religious tract evinced more fanaticism and bigotry than true piety. What connection could there be between the stars and stripes and the pure religion of Jesus Christ? It was insulting, not only to us, but to the Almighty, to circulate such sacrilegious literature. A number of Mosby's men collected around us, and listened to our conversation, all encouraging me by looks and words, and laughing sarcastically and incredulously at the remarks of the old renegade. As I asked the question above, I threw my tract upon the ground and stamped it with my crutch and heel, which the young men heartily applauded, throwing down their tracts also, and some of them crushing the emblems of sectional hate and Yankee fanaticism beneath their feet. The Yankee's love for the flag is all sentiment, false and hollow, as they do not care at all for or regard the principles it was originally intended to symbolize. The old fossil hastily left us, and we were ordered to our rooms.

January 9th, 10th and 11th—Our daily bill of fare consists of bread and tea for breakfast, and a small piece of pork, some beans and bean soup in a tin cup, with one-third of a loaf of bread, for dinner. Sometimes beef and beef soup is furnished in lieu of pork and bean soup. Some of my room-mates have received a little money from friends, and buy cheese, crackers and apples from the sutler. His prices are exorbitant. Captain Rankin's mother, brothers and sisters live in Massachusetts, but he has steadily declined to write and inform them of his situation until to-day. Lieutenant Bryde's parents live in Saint Louis, Missouri, and write to him often. They urge him to take the oath of allegiance and be released, but he positively refuses to do so.

January 12th—I received a package of paper and stamped envelopes by express from Baltimore to-day. This is a timely and welcome present.