Saturday, August 13. — Four or five of us clubbed together and bought a pack of cards for sixteen dollars Confederate scrip. Weather warm. Nothing new. Our jail is the county one. On the first floor the navy officers are kept, and deserters and conscripts; on the next floor the army officers, and on the third floor the criminals and runaway negroes. Also on the same floor General Grant’s brother-in-law, named Dent, captured, I believe, on some cotton speculation in Louisiana or Mississippi. On the left of our jail is the lock-up and the town market, and the court house beyond. Every Sunday morning we are regaled by the cries from negroes being whipped in the lock-up, for various offences. The drunkards in the lock-up entertain us nightly by hideous yells and cries, and in the day-time by repentant and seedy countenances. In the lock-up yard are various pigeon-houses inhabited by every variety of doves. We spend much of our time watching them. Just beyond the yard of the lock-up is the court house and town hall, and under them the market. We get nearly all our food from there by purchases made through the sergeants. On this court house is a square tower with clock, etc., and around it a railing and walk where the watchman every quarter of an hour throughout the night calls the time and says, “All ‘s well.” He is there more particularly to give notice of any fires, etc. Back of our yard the rebel Treasury is located, and from windows we daily see the blue-back notes hung out to dry. On the right of the jail is a small house and shop kept by a Union man. The navy officers came near escaping through there last Christmas by digging a tunnel. They were unfortunately found out the night before they planned to escape.
War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld
Friday, August 12. — Had our usual mess of watermelons, which we are allowed to buy of outsiders every morning. A change was made in the mess arrangements so that each one buys his own extras. Porter of the navy[1] came up in the afternoon.
[1] Lieutenant B. H. Porter, commanding flagship Malvern, killed at Fort Fisher, together with Flag Lieutenant W. S. Preston. Both were fine brave fellows.
Richland Jail, Columbia, S. C., Aug. 11, 1864.
Dear Father, — Charlie Amory is here with us. He is well and unwounded. He was captured with General Bartlett. Ile is in our mess, which consists of Colonel Marshall, 14th N. Y. A., Colonel White, 31st Maine, and Lieutenant Colonel Buffum, 4th R. I., all of whom were captured the same time I was. When the enemy charged us on the 30th ult. I was in the second line with my regiment. We were so closely packed in the rifle-pit that I could not move an inch, nor could my men fire a shot. The enemy carried the first line and for some time amused themselves by shooting at the crowd I was in. I was luckily not wounded.
We are very kindly treated indeed, and I am not at all troubled except by certain little animals, which inhabit beds, and give out an unpleasant perfume when killed. They are especially fond of me.
Please send me a 20-pound sterling bill of exchange, payable to my order. I think you can send it through Major Anderson or Major General Foster, commanding at Hilton Head. If not, you can send it via Fortress Monroe. Try and get a small box through to me containing 2 shirts, 2 pairs drawers, 2 pairs stockings, and a small box of mercurial ointment. Also 6 packs cards, some needles and thread and buttons, etc., and anything else you can think of. Address me Prisoner of War, Columbia, S. C. . . . Am in good health.
Captain Fay is here, well. Sergeant Ford was also taken prisoner, unhurt.
Thursday, August 11. —We had quite a shower to-day. Usual routine gone through with. We wake up at 6 A.M., and go out into the yard for half an hour, where we wash ourselves, etc. Have a good supply of water luckily, from a hydrant. We then go back to our rooms and have an inspection of our clothing, which takes a good hour. About nine o’clock we have breakfast. At ten we are let out into the yard for an hour. Then we have until three o’clock to read, loaf, and enjoy prison life. At three we dine, and at four are let out again for an hour. In the evening we play whist, etc., and retire when we feel like it.
Wednesday, August 10. — Colonel Marshall was appointed commandant of the prison by order of Captain Senn. Had a game of whist with the navy. Nothing new from Mobile.
Tuesday, August 9. — Heard of the surrender of Fort Gaines to Powell at Mobile. Some of the officers refused to recognize Colonel Marshall as commandant. Troubled all night by bed-bugs. Had some trouble with Corporal Patterson, who was drunk and wanted to run me through.
Monday, August 8. — Nothing new. We heard of the fleet passing Fort Morgan. Spent the morning in the navy room and had a very pleasant game of whist. Weather very warm. We are let out three times a day into a yard at the back of the jail, at 6 A.M., 10 A.M. and 4 P.M. Two privates escaped last night by going down into the sink and digging out.
Sunday, August 7. — The navy officers and the old army residents moved downstairs. Ensign Porter gave me his bedstead, and we moved upstairs to their old rooms. We formed messes and tried to regulate things so as to live decently. Everything so far has been in confusion. No decent man could get anything to eat, and the place has been a perfect pig-stye. Colonel Marshall has now taken command with Charlie Amory as his assistant adjutant-general and Captain Fay as commissary. We had nine officers in our mess, — Colonel Marshall, Lieutenant Colonel Buffum, Major Filler, Captain Fay, Captain Amory, Lieutenant Sterling, Captain Stuart, Colonel White, 31st Maine. We all have a room together. Bedbugs tormented me as usual.
Columbia, S. C., Aug. 6, 1864.
Dear Father, —We arrived here yesterday. Am perfectly well. We are treated quite well here. I think we shall remain here for some time. Please write Lieutenant Lipp, my adjutant, and ask him to have my valise, bedding and baggage, and any papers belonging to me that he may find, sent on home. I wish my horses to remain with the regiment under the charge of my servant, Loud.
Love to all the family.
(over)
P.S. Please send me a 20-pound sterling bill of exchange. It is the safest and best way of sending money. Make it payable to my order. Try and send it through Major Anderson of General Foster’s staff. I know him and think he would be able to get the money to me quicker than any one else. General Foster is in command at Hilton Head.
We are in the jail at Columbia, S. C., and have very fair quarters and are well treated.
Saturday, August 6. — Did not sleep any last night. The bed-bugs and other vermin crawled over me in thousands. I looked like a man with small-pox, from the number of my bites. Tried a table in the room, but found it as bad as the floor. We found several naval officers here, who were captured at Fort Sumter. They have been here almost a year. Everything was in confusion and turmoil. Had bacon and corn-bread served out to us twice.
