Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/36

 28 Southern Historical Society Papers.

PRISON REMINISCENCES.

By HON. JAMES F. CROCKER.

An Address, Read Before Stonewall Camp, Confederate Veterans, Portsmouth, Virginia, February 2d, 1904.

[The estimation in which Judge Crocker is held is evinced in the brief item which appeared a day or so since : "Judge James F. Crocker will convene the Court of Hustings for Norfolk, Va., in January, (1907) and with it will end his career on the bench a career that has been attended with much credit to himself, and of great benefit to the public. He has served six years, and was not a candidate for re-election."' Two admirable addresses by Judge Crocker, "My Personal Experiences in Taking up Arms and in the Battle of Malvern Hill," and "Gettysburg Pickett's Charge," are included in Vol. XXXII, Southern Historical Society Papers. -ED.]

In the charge of Pickett's Division at the battle of Gettys- burg I was wounded and taken prisoner. With some others I was taken to the Twelfth Corps Hospital, situated in the rear of the left battle line of the Federals. I was here treated with much kindness and consideration. Among other officers who showed me kindness was Col. Dwight, of New York. Profes- sor Stoever, of Pennsylvania College, at which I graduated in 1850, on a visit to the Hospital met me, accidently, and we had a talk of the old college days.

I wore in the battle a suit of gray pants and jacket. They were a little shabby. After I had been at the hospital a few days it occurred to me that I ought to make an effort to get a new out- fit so as to make a more decent appearance. The ways and means were at command. I wrote to an old friend and former client, then living in Baltimore, for a loan. A few days afterwards two Sisters of Charity came into the hospital and inquired for me. They met me with gracious sympathy and kindness. One of them took me aside, and, unobserved, placed in my hand a package of money, saving it was from a friend, and requested no name