Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 25.djvu/372

 :;r,s Southern }]i*t<>i-i<-til Society Papers.

the authorities by a traitor of our number and we abandaned the idea.

We left Morris Island on the 2ist of October, and on the 22d landed at Fort Pulaski, Georgia. This was a nice prison, com- manded by Colonel Brown, of New York, a kindhearted officer who allowed us the grounds in the fort for exercise, and good rations were furnished.

In the bringing in to prisoners of a barrel of hard tack, a barrel of brown sugar was brought by mistake, and before the error could be remedied, the sugar was devoured by the officers who had not tasted anything sweet for a long time.

On November igth, about one-half of the 600 were taken to Hil- ton Head, S. C., arriving there the next day. Here retaliation was practiced in its most cruel form. Our rations for forty-five days con- sisted of five ounces corn meal and a half pint of brackish water per man, and occasionally some sour pickle.

The sufferings were intense and many died. Wharf rats were caught and eaten. The barracks were framed buildings about 30x90 feet, no windows, and bunks of pine poles, one blanket to four men.

Lamps were burning all the time and the rats were cooked over them. After the rats were all consumed, dogs and cats which came in the way were caught and speedily devoured. One old bob-tail gray cat long escaped, but was finally caught and a feast made over it.

Lieutenant S. H. Hawes, of Richmond, narrowly missed a feast on a fat dog, which came about thus:

Some of his comrades boasted of having had rat stews; and he did have an invitation to a cat supper. A Missourian (Captain Per- kins) caught a cat, killed and cooked it for his mess of four. One of the mess, as a special favor, sent Lieutenant Hawes an invitation to the feast, and he accepted to the extent of looking at them as they ate. It was very kind to invite him, but he couldn't "go" cat. It was suggested that as he was so squearmi^h about cat, maybe he would take some ' ' Porito ' ' stew if offered.

belonging to the Federal officer in charge of our guard. This young dog came to our quarters every day to have a frolic with the pris- oners. Hawes agreed to accept invitation and to eat some of the dog supper when prepared, for the puppy was young, cleanly- washed, fat and healthy.
 * " Ponto" was a beautiful half-grown, well-fed, fat setter puppy,