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aver, that Lieutenant Wood has not only not devoted all, or even much of his time, to the promoting of our comfort, but that on the contrary, he has neither in his general bearing, nor in his conduct towards those consigned to his custody, paid that attention to their comfort, which even under the circumstances which the Government deemed sufficient to warrant their imprisonment, they have a right to demand. The immediate cause of the rebuke attempted to be administered to us by Colonel Burke, was a letter written to a friend by Mr. F. K. Howard, my son. However strong may have been the language used in that letter, it was the natural expression of feelings which are shared by every prisoner here, whose opinion I have heard. Among these are many gentlemen of as high character and standing as any in the country. No intimation has been given by Colonel Burke, that any specific fact stated in the letter was not true. Should he controvert a single one, my relations to the writer of the letter, and the mention made by Colonel Burke in his official communication, of my family, to say nothing of the assurances voluntarily tendered to me by you in Fort McHenry, as to the mode in which the Government considered me as entitled to be treated, justify me in demanding an opportunity to substantiate it. Having already addressed to you three communications, from this place, of which no notice appears to have been taken, I should not again have troubled you, but that the issue I have now to make with Colonel Burke, involves matters of a personal character to myself, and that I make direct charges against him and Lieutenant Wood, derogatory to their official positions, as officers of the army.
"I hope, therefore, I may not be mistaken, in trusting that this communication may receive your early and serious attention.
"I am sir, your obedient servant,
"CHARLES HOWARD."
As usual, this letter was unnoticed by the authorities in Washington.
In the miserable place which I have attempted to describe, we passed the period between September 26th and October 30th. The batteries were very dark when the doors were closed, and very cold when the doors were open. We were locked up every night from dusk until sunrise; and lights had to be put out at 9½ o'clock. In such a crowded
