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was so small that, when our party collected there, it was considerably over-crowded. Just beneath the deck on which we were was the dining saloon, along the sides of which ran a double tier of berths. There may have been about twenty or twenty-five of these altogether. The whole after part of the vessel could not decently accommodate the one hundred and ten prisoners then on board. To our astonishment we learned that not only were we to take on board some seventeen "political prisoners" from Fort Columbus, but that the officers and soldiers who had been taken prisoners at Fort Hatteras were to join us also. These numbered six hundred and forty-five. Remonstrance or complaint was useless. These additional prisoners were marched on board, the officers and " political prisoners" being sent to the after part of the boat with us, and the privates being packed in forward of the cabin, wherever it was possible for them to find standing room.
We did not get away from Fort Columbus until about 4½, P.M. While we were still lying at the wharf, it seems to have occurred to some of those in charge of us, that it was part of their duty to offer us something to eat. A large wicker basket, lined with tin, was then brought up full of water. It had been made to hold dirty plates and dishes, and had been used for that purpose, apparently, time out of mind, on the steamer. A soldier then brought up a box of crackers, and another appeared with a tin plate, which was several times replenished, containing large square pieces of boiled pork. Nine out of ten of these pieces were solid lumps of pure fat. A couple of old dirty-looking horse buckets of coffee were also provided. Such was the dinner furnished us. After this I saw no more of the pork, nor do I think there was any more on board, at least for the prisoners. Hunger compelled some of the prisoners to try and swallow the masses of blubber which were offered them, but many were unequal to the effort. A large proportion of the party dined, therefore, on crackers and water. When we started we had on board one hundred and twenty-seven "political
