THE IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED
made our condition much worse than those English soldiers in the Black Hole of Calcutta. The guards were quartered upon the upper deck of the ship; one sentinel was stationed on deck at the hatchway and one below at foot of the ladder leading on deck, and under no circumstances would these sentinels allow more than two or three prisoners on deck at one time to catch a breath of fresh air. After a run of one day our ship came to anchor under the guns of Fortress Monroe and the ships of the fleet guarding that point. Here we laid at anchor some fifteen or more hours, suffering all the tortures of heat and seasickness; no rations, and the worst drinking water possible given us. and the stench from the hole we were confined in became almost stifling. Our men had been made seasick by motion of the boat, which made our quarters filthy. Beg as we might, we were not allowed to go on deck. After the long wait Captain Webster, who had charge of the guard and prisoners, came
74
