Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 22.djvu/143

 Prison Experience of a ('<>ni'< il< rah Soldier. 131

instance of Captain Ahl, who was a cold-blooded, heartless, cruel, and cowardly South -hater. But, still, I believe that Fort Delaware was one of the best of Northern prisons.

Of course, where such large numbers of men, deprived of their liberty, were huddled together, as these men necessarily were, there would be much suffering and complaint, even if the prison officers were disposed to treat them humanely.

After the capture of the Confederate Forts, Wagner and Gregg, by the Federal forces, under the command of General Q. A. Gilmore, other batteries were constructed on the end of Morris Island, con- sisting of a mortar battery of two heavy guns, called the Iron Bat- tery, and another called the Swamp Angel. The mortar battery was used to throw shells upon Fort Sumter, which was distant about a quarter of a mile from the end of the island.

The heavy guns of the Iron Battery were used in shelling the city of Charleston, which was four miles distant. Fifteen-inch shells were thrown into the city from the guns of the Iron Battery, which created consternation among the people, and rendered its habitation unsafe. The citizens who were able to leave, fled to the country and other places for safety.

General Sam Jones was at that time in command of the Depart- ment of Charleston, including the city, with headquarters in the city. The poorer classes of the people, who were unable to leave, were assembled by the General in a remote part of the town, and General Gilmore was notified of this fact, and requested not to fire upon the helpless people in that quarter of the city. It seems that this request was disregarded by General Gilmore, and that an occasional shell was thrown into that quarter, creating a panic among the people and doing much damage. Thereupon, General Jones selected forty Fed- eral officers from the prison at Andersonville, of rank from general to lieutenant, and placed them in that quarter occupied by the poor of the city. General Gilmore was duly notified of the presence of these Federal officers in the city, and again requested to spare that quarter, and warned that if he did fire upon it, he would endanger the lives of his own people.

General Gilmore at once notified his Government of the action of General Jones, and requested that he be furnished with forty Confed- erate officers of like rank of the Federal officers confined in Char- leston, and that he be authorized to confine them on Morris Island, within range of the Confederate batteries on the Charleston side.

In compliance with General Gilmore's request, a requisition was