War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Richland Jail, Columbia, S. C., Oct. 17, 1864.

Dear Father, — If a friend of Colonel White’s of the 31st Maine deposits any money with you, please place it to my credit. I have let Colonel W. have some money which I draw from a Mr. Caldwell here by giving a draft on you. I have already drawn on you for fifty dollars in gold. Will see that Captain Amory is provided with as much money as he may need. We are both perfectly well. We have been amused for a couple of days looking at a double-headed girl on exhibition at the City Hall next door to us. She is a negress, and looks like two women strapped back to back. You see we have our amusements down here as well as up North. The navy have all left here for Richmond, to be exchanged. I suppose you have received the letters that I sent by them by this time. Have not received the box that you said was sent me. Captain A. had a box sent by Major Anderson, which has not yet reached him. Have only received two letters since I have been here. Please write as often as possible, and send by way of Charleston and Richmond. Mr. Caldwell exchanged my draft on you at the rate of 24 for 1. If you get a good opportunity, send me some Boston papers. Love to all. . . .

P.S. Have just received two letters from home, one from you and one from Hannah. Yours of Sept. 30 and Hannah’s of Sept. 28. A Mr. Garesché called to see me to-day. He had a letter from a Mr. McLane of New York, who requested him to see that I received the full value of the enclosed draft. There was no draft enclosed. He was very sorry about it, and wished me to write and stop the payment of the draft. Please stop payment of all the drafts you have sent me, so I can draw all I wish here from Mr. Caldwell. All the drafts sent to me have undoubtedly been taken out of the letters. Mr. Garesché was very kind, and offered to supply me with money or anything else I needed. He evidently knows nothing of the draft and never received it. Shall write Colonel —— about it. . . .

Monday, October 17.— Played the usual number of games of cribbage. In the afternoon a Mr. Garesché called and showed me a letter from a Mr. McLane of New York, requesting him to see that I received the full value of the enclosed draft. No draft was enclosed and the amount of it was not stated. Mr. G. was very kind and offered to supply me with money or anything else I needed. Received three letters: one from Hannah, the 28th ult., Father, the 30th ult., and Miss — —

They made me jolly for the rest of the day. Wrote to Dr. Marks and Mr. Garesché about Wharton Greene.

Sunday, October 16. — A dull, homesick sort of a day in jail. Every one seems to feel blue. Lieutenant Gill on as officer of the day. He has just returned from leave. Weather pleasant. Southern papers begin to feel rather blue about Hood. As usual, they made great boasts about what he was going to do, and are now much disappointed.

Saturday, October 15. — Had the room scrubbed out. Put up my hammock. Doctor told Captain Amory he was to be exchanged. Day pleasant.

Friday, October 14. — The two-headed girl continued on exhibition. Two lieutenant colonels, one from Richmond, and Colonel Pickett of Hardee’s staff were here today. They thought the prospect good for an early exchange. Nothing new. Hood’s famous march to Sherman’s rear does not seem to have amounted to much so far.

Thursday, October 13. — Lieutenant Kramer tried to get away last night, but failed. Saw the two-headed negro girl[1] at the City Hall window, where the man brought her at our request. She has two bodies joined back to back, and she played on musical instruments, etc., with both sets of hands at once. Wrote Major Forbes. A major of the 17th Maine was in here this afternoon. He came from the stockade, and goes on to Charleston for exchange to-morrow. 20 officers sent on from Charleston stopped here last night, on their way to the stockade. Day pleasant. Drew $500; $100 to Colonel Buffum, $150 to Colonel Marshall, $50 to Colonel White, $50 to Major Filler, and $150 to Captain A.

[1] The girl was afterwards on exhibition at the North, in Boston among other places.

Wednesday, October 12. — Navy went about 5 A.M. We were not allowed to see them off. Meade kindly sent me his hammock. It seemed dreadfully dull all day, and we missed them very much. They were almost all of them very pleasant companions. Mr. John Caldwell was here to-day, and I gave him a draft in triplicate on Father for $50 in gold. He exchanged it at the rate of 24 for 1, making $1200 in Confederate money. I paid him back the $55 which I borrowed, and he returned me my receipt for the same. I lent Charlie Amory $50 and paid Colonel Marshall $50 and took $45 myself, leaving $1000 in the hands of Lieutenant Belcher. Colonel Marshall had a chill in the afternoon.

Tuesday, October 11. — The navy officers received orders to go to Richmond this A.M. They were the happiest set of men I have ever seen. In the afternoon we sang “Auld Lang Syne,” etc. All day they were busy giving away blankets, etc. I sent a letter to Raish and one to Hiram. Had our windows fixed to-day by boarding the upper part, and putting a sliding board for the lower sash. Day pleasant. Last night cold. Filler went with the navy.

Richland Jail, Columbia, S. C., Sept. 25, 1864.

(Oct. 11. Am very well and in good spirits. [over])

Dear Father, — Have heard nothing from home except the letter written on 29th ult., enclosing one from Alice. I am going to send this letter by a different channel, and think you might answer through the same way. Your letters would then come with more certainty.

Dr. Marks called again to see me this week. He seems in very feeble health and I am afraid will not live long.

The navy officers will probably leave here next week. I shall send letters by them.

Am well and comfortable. Captain Amory the same.

Time passes rather slowly here. We have nothing to do except reading and card-playing. In the day-time we walk about the yard, and amuse ourselves with an occasional game of quoits. I usually write you twice a week, and hope that you receive most of the letters. We are allowed to subscribe for the papers, and have the news from Richmond and Charleston. The prisoners confined here are almost all of them in good health. Indeed, there have been no very serious cases of sickness since we have been here. Both Captain A. and myself are well provided with everything, so that you need not feel anxious on account of our health. . . .

(Written on back of letter)

Dear Father, — As the navy officers start to-morrow I thought I would send this note by them. As you see from the original date, it is some time since the ink part was written. We are all well here. A Mr. John Caldwell called here last Friday and offered to cash my draft on you for any amount. So you see I am all right. I shall give him a draft for 50 dollars in gold, which will last me some time, although I have to pay some borrowed money out of it. Almost all the officers in the Southern Confederacy are now confined in a stockade about two miles from this town. They were sent here from Charleston. I hear that the privates in C. are dying at the rate of 100 a day from yellow fever. They are so worn out by their imprisonment that they are fit subjects for any epidemic. Tell Hannah that her letter of Sept. 16th reached me about two days ago. Was very glad indeed to get it. In future when writing me you had better put care of Captain Senn, who commands our guard. Ensign Tillson of the navy will probably deliver this.

An outbreak occurred among the prisoners brought from Charleston the other day. Several managed to get away. . . .