Page:The Immortal Six Hundred.djvu/103

   Blamed if I don't go out and catch old Grant and half of his army and hold them until you all get out of this place." Poor dear old Pete, his great heart was always in touch with those in trouble. The Morgan men, the Forrest men, and Wheeler men all made their comrades most extravagant promises. But our dreams of exchange were never to be realized. It was the hope hidden by anticipation that was to make our disappointment acute. Finally the Yankee officer in charge gave the order to march. We passed out through the prison gate to begin a siege of torture. We marched down to the fort wharf and were packed on board of the small gulf steamship "Crescent City" like cattle are packed in railroad cars. The hold of the ship was fitted up with rough pine bunks to hold eight men—four below, four above,—there was very little ventilation, and in this cramped apartment six hundred human beings—prisoners of war—were shipped to Gen. J. G. Foster, U. S. A., Hilton Head, S. C, to be