Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/249

 Ill a jFWov// I'r'ixnii. 233

Charleston sent blankets to the sick and a quantity of tobacco for distribution among the prisoners. This came in very well, since there were hardly one hundred chews in all our number of six hun- dred.

One of our number was very fond of the weed. He had come into possession, on one occasion, of some fine navy tobacco, which he felt obliged to use economically. After chewing a mouthful all day he would put it away carefully at night and chew it again the next day. On the third day the wad was dried and smoked by an- other one of our number.

In the hold of the boat I discovered a quantity of beans. The sight of them made me hungry. I at once determined to carry some back to the stockade. Fortunately, I had with me a carpet-bag, which I secretly filled with the beans and managed to convey to our tents unobserved.

HOW THE BEANS WERE COOKED.

When we were removed to the stockade, after the flag of truce dis- appeared, I was asked how I expected to cook these beans. That soon became evident. I dug a hole or flue in the sand under one of our tents. To secure fuel was the next stept. That was not difficult. As I walked near the pine poles forming the stockade, I picked up the bark which lay around. By carrying in frequently a small quan- tity at a time and concealing it under my coat or in my pockets, a supply soon accumulated. The beans were put to soak overnight in an old coffee-pot that we had managed to get in some way. In the morning, when it was foggy and when I thought a little smoke coming from our tent would not be noticed, I built a fire in the hole prepared for it and put on the beans in the coffee-pot. Having soaked them the night before, little time was required to cook them.

In the meantime, I lay close to the dirt floor of the tent so that as little smoke as possible might get into my eyes. This plan was fol- lowed every day as long as the beans lasted. Every man in our mess greatly enjoyed the new dish.

AT FORT PULASKI.

The rest of our stay at the stockade was short. The latter part of November we were divided, and apart of us sent to Hilton Head, S. C, and the rest to Fort Pulaski, Ga. I was sent to the latter place.