our land is to adopt the advice given by Archbishop Hughes-Let the whole loyal portion of the country rise en masse, and move forward in one solid phalanx. Then there would be no necessity for secrecy. Treachery would be disarmed of its power, and the vile monsters who have originated the Rebellion buried beneath the Union flood, like the hosts of Pharoah were swallowed up in the Red Sea.

On sped our rattling train, now dashing, with a hoarse shriek, through a tunnel, or screaming across a covered bridge, and now bounding out into the open country beyond. Anon we went puffing and climbing our way up some steep hill-side, and then flying along some level plain.

All along the route, the inhabitants of the towns and villages used to flock to the roadside to see the "Yankee prisoners." Their behavior was varied. Sometimes they would stand and look in at the carwindows quietly, and with pity and sorrow marked upon their countenances. And sometimes our treatment was of the most violent and scandalous character. Groans and hisses were plentifully showered upon us; while, in one or two instances, stones were thrown. None of these latter missiles, however, did any harm; and, as to the former manifestations of cowardice and ill-breeding, we paid but little attention to them.

Once, indeed, while we were awaiting a change of engines at Wilmington, on the Cape Fear River, it was as much as flesh and blood could do to receive quietly the abuse and insults which were heaped upon us by the rabble. Young girls and boys, prompted by older persons, would thrust little secession flags and badges in our faces, and exclaim:

"What do you think of them colors, Mr. Yankee? Them's the colors that the Yankees can't make run."

And individuals, who, from, the pains they took to conceal themselves in the crowd from our gaze, were the most contemptible poltroons, would shout out, in sneering, taunting tones:

"I'd like to broil a Yankee! How about 'On to Richmond?' What do you think of Bull's Run now?" and other vile exclamations.

Since then, and when I learned of the draft ordered by Jeff Davis, I almost prayed that all such cowardly scoundrels would be taken to fight in the cause they had been so ready to serve with their lips. Had the bad cause of the Rebellion never had any braver supporters than the miserable cowards who insulted and abused Union prisoners while in the South, it would have fallen to earth long ago. A man who would abuse a captive would certainly never take one.

From Wilmington to the end of our destination, we pursued our journey almost entirely uninterrupted by the troops and munitions. of war that had hitherto hindered us. My heart constantly yearned for home; and the greater that the distance from the latter became, the stronger grew the tie that still held me to it. This train of thought gave birth to a fantastic idea in my mind, which took so firm a hold upon me that I shall never forget it.

I imagined my heart to be filled with an inexhaustible coil or roll of telegraph wire, and that one end of this wire was fastened at home in the North. And, as my captors carried me mile after mile, and league after league, toward my future prison, the coil or roll seemed to unwind. This strange impression was very vivid; in fact, so exceedingly vivid, that, when at last I was released, and making my way home, it appeared as though the long stretched wire was gradually being wound up, back again into my heart.

We soon reached Charleston, that fountain city of secession. We got in during the afternoon, and I must acknowledge that I was much surprised, and equally pleased with the reception we received. From the time I had been captured up to the moment I set foot in Charleston, there was no place where I had been so well, or, rather, considerately treated as in that city.

Upon our arrival we were marched to a large building on one of the principal streets, which had lately been used as a barracks for Volunteer soldiers. Here we remained until daylight the next morning, when we were aroused, and commanded to prepare ourselves to set out at once for Castle Pinckney in the harbor. The time allowed us was extremely short; and, when ordered into line, several of my companions had to run with their eyes only half opened, and portions of their scanty wardrobe tucked under their

arms.

In due time, we reached the wharf, or pier, where a steamboat was waiting to convey us out over the harbor to our final prison-house. It did not take long to arrange ourselves in a satisfactory manner to our captors aboard the puffing boat; and, when everything was announced "All right!" the steamer moved from her moorings.

The ride across the water would have been pleasant, had it not happened that a fine, disagreeable rain, which had been falling since midnight, rendered all uncomfortable. However, we took it all in good heart, cracking many a joke on our "excursion," "pleasure trip," "visit of inspection," &c., as we piquantly termed our present passage.

At last, the heavy walls of the fortification came fully in view,

and I began to make the best of the remaining moments in gazing round about me, as I did not expect to get a glimpse of the outside world for some time after I was once immured in the Castle.

The steamer shortly ran into the dock, the cables were cast over the pier posts, steam was shut off, and our journey was at an end.

The gang-plank was immediately put down, and then, two abreast, we were filed into the fort. Here we were, as speedily as possible, organized into squads, or messes. Each mess was assigned its par ticular quarters, and thus commenced our prison life in Castle Pinckney.

It seems strange to me, as I write, how rapidly I can now fly with my pen, and on paper, over events which then appeared to consume an age in transpiring.

Our Castle residence, of course, was far duller, or, perhaps, with greater justice, more secluded than our Richmond prison. But, of the two, it was a hundred times more preferable. Here no idle visitors and curious persons were allowed to enter; while the Tobacco Warehouse in Richmond had been almost constantly thronged by gaping intruders, whose curiosity to look at the Yankee prisoners had overruled their manners. This was most offensive to the captives, and contrasted strongly with the unobtrusive courteousness of the Charlestonians, which we more particularly appreciated as it had been entirely unexpected.

It will be remembered that, at the time of our capture, the weather being excessively hot, we were dressed in the lightest clothes possible, and consequently, when the cool nights began to come, we felt heavily our want of proper dress. This, of course, would not have been the case had there been no hindrance to our purchasing or receiving supplies. But the difficulties in the way of the accomplishment of this object, sometimes created by our captors, and sometimes unavoidable, were so numerous and so great that we found it almost impossible to furnish ourselves with even the poorest outfit.

I well remember the congratulations we gave to Mr. Ely when he became so well off as to raise a rough cot bedstead and a few yards of common muslin. And when he was lucky enough to obtain a pair of nice white blankets, with a bright red border, we thought his extravagance was passing all bounds, and threatened to expel him, as an aristocrat, from the "Prison Association." Upon mature con sideration, however, it was decided that, as a mild punishment fo: being so wealthy, Mr. Ely should be obliged to "keep the said co; bedstead, and the said few yards of muslin, and the said two white blankets in apple-pie order." This was the resolution as it stood on

the minutes of the "Association;" and Mr. Ely submitted to the decision in a neat speech.

I missed these mirth-inspiring proceedings of the "Richmond Prison Association," which were generally set on foot by Mr. Ely, who, as I have before mentioned, was the life and soul of the captives. And I would be doing my distinguished friend and fellowprisoner a very great injustice were I to omit, in this connection, to make mention of his magnanimous offer when we were all suffering from a lack of clothing. He proposed to advance five thousand dollars, or, if necessary, more, to help us out of our difficulty. He is a noble man, and has a heart as large as himself. We could not consent, however, situated so peculiarly as we then were in relation to the Government, to accept Mr. Ely's proffered aid, though we just as fully appreciated his kindness of soul as if we had done so.

In the quiet of my ocean-bound prison, my thoughts often wandered back to Richmond, and from thence home; and many a wakeful hour have I passed meditating upon the events of the few previous months of my life. Without any extraordinary interruption, the time slipped away until October was nearly gone. About that time, some little news began to stir, even in our isolated abiding place. As early as that date, it began to be whispered that the great naval expedition, then fitting out at the North, was about to set forth on its mission. There were not a few who fully believed that the first point chosen for an attack would be the fortifications in Charleston Harbor. Accordingly, the forces stationed in the latter were greatly augmented, the discipline became more strict, and the rules more severely stringent. So carefully and determinedly were all the preparations made for defence, that I really began to think that Fort Sumpter and its neighboring supports would be shelled at an early day. In consequence, my ear was continually strained to catch the first sullen roar of the guns, but, as the reader must be aware, with

out success.

To show how fully credited was the rumor that the monster fleet was intended to reduce Charleston, I insert a paragraph that I subsequently saw in the New York Herald, of November 29, 1861. I give it in full, word for word.

REBEL PLANS FOR THE DEFENCE OF CHARLESTON.

"Among the documents found in Fort Walker was a long order, dated October 12, from General De Saussure, providing for the defence of Charleston in case of an attack. We copy from the main plan of defence as follows:

"'1. In case of an alarm, requiring the prompt assembling of all the troops in the city of Charleston, the signal for each assembling will be fifteen strokes upon all the fire-bells; an interval of one minute, and the fifteen strokes will be repeated. The strokes will be repeated five times.

"2. Upon the sounding of such a signal, the troops in the city will immediately assemble, under arms, and in marching order, at the respective regimental muster-grounds, and, being formed in line, will await further orders.

"3. The regiment of the Reserves will assemble on the street immediately, in front of the Citadel, the color company resting on the gate of the Citadel, and will be retained in the city for its immediate defence, unless otherwise specially ordered.

"4. The officers commanding the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Regiments of infantry, First Regiment of rifles, and First Regiment of artillery, will have their transportation wagons turned out, and loaded with the regimental tents and stores, and will proceed to press horses and mules, as may be required for the transportation.

"5. Upon an alarm being communicated to the country, the officers commanding companies will immediately extend the same in the mode pointed out in section CXLI. A. A. 1841.

"6. The alarm being communicated, the several companies composing the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Regiments of infantry will promptly assemble at their respective muster-grounds.'

[The order here gives minute directions as to the movements and positions of troops, orders certain bridges, in an emergency, to be destroyed, and adds]:—

"The commanding officers of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Regiments will promptly issue orders for the draft, pointed out in section CXLVI. A. A. 1841, and will order the persons so drafted to be warned for duty; and the persons so warned will promptly assemble at the respective muster-grounds, armed and equipped for duty. All persons so drafted and warned, who shall neglect or refuse to assemble and march with their respective commands, will be reported to these headquarters, to be dealt with according to law.'" The manner in which I became possessed of this Herald was this: A lady, whose husband held a commission in the rebel army, and who had, in a recent skirmish, taken it from the body of a Union soldier, whom he killed in single combat, while the latter was endeavoring to make him a prisoner, had sent it to her as a curiosity. She, after reading it, presented it to the Bishop of Charleston, who