Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: February 16, 1865

Cloudy; rained yesterday and last night.

We have no important news from South Carolina, except the falling back toward Columbia of our troops; I suppose before superior numbers. Branchville is evacuated.

The roads will not admit of much movement in the field for some days. But pretty heavy cannonading is heard down the river.

Congress did nothing yesterday; it is supposed, however, that the bill recruiting negro troops will pass—I fear when it is too late.

Meantime the President is as busy as a bee making appointments and promotions, and many meritorious men are offended, supposing themselves to be overslaughed or neglected.

The published letter taking leave of Mr. Secretary Seddon rasps Congress severely, and is full of professions of esteem, etc. for the retiring Secretary. The members of Congress reply with acrimony.

The quartermaster at Charlotte, N. C., dispatches the Secretary of War that he has there some millions in specie, government funds, besides specie of the banks for safe keeping. He also desires the removal of the "Foreign Legion" there, paroled prisoners taken from the enemy and enlisting in our service. They are committing robberies, etc.

I saw Gen. Lee at the department again this morning. He seems vigorous, his face quite red, and very cheerful. He was in gray uniform, with a blue cloth cape over his shoulders.

Exchange of prisoners has been resumed, and many of our men are returning from captivity. Gen. Grant has the matter under his control.

Gen. Pillow has been appointed commander of prisons in place of Gen. Winder, deceased.

Only 4 pounds bacon were issued as meat ration to detailed men this month.

I learn that some 2000 of our men, confined at Point Lookout, Md., as prisoners of war, during the last two months, offered to take the oath of allegiance, which was refused, because it would reduce the number to exchange.

By the last flag of truce boat a negro slave returned.

His master took the oath, the slave refused. He says "Massa had no principles."

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 423-4

Diary of Private Louis Leon: June 8, 1864

There is nothing new up to to-day, when I received a box of eatables, one or two shirts, and one pair of pants from home. The only way we can pass our time off is playing cards and chess. Six hundred prisoners came in to-day, with them a lady, who is an artillery sergeant. Being questioned by the provost marshal, she said she could straddle a horse, jump a fence and kill a Yankee as well as any rebel. As time in prison is very dull and always the same thing as the day preceding, I shall not mention each day, but only those days upon which something happened.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 65-6

Diary of Private Louis Leon: June 11, 1864

Five hundred more prisoners came in today.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 65-6

Diary of Private Louis Leon: June 12, 1864

To-day, as the negro guard was relieved, two of them commenced playing with their guns and bayonets, sticking at one another. Fortunately one of their guns, by accident, went off and made a hole in the other one's body, which killed him instantly. The other one kicked at him several times, telling him to get up as the rebels were laughing at him, but in a very short time he found out that he had killed his comrade and that we were laughing sure enough.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 66

Diary of Private Louis Leon: June 27, 1864

Received money to-day from home, but they gave me sutler's checks for it, as we were not allowed any money, for fear we would bribe the sentinels and make our escape.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 66

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 4, 1864

Four hundred prisoners left here for some other prison, as there were too many here.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 66

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 8, 1864

Engle, Riter and myself received boxes from New York to-day, but as Riter has gone to the other prison with the 400 we have made away with his box.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 66

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 23, 1864

Three hundred more were sent from here to the new prison, which is in Elmira, N. Y., myself with them.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 66-7

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 25, 1864

Left Point Lookout at 8 o'clock this evening in the frigate Victor for New York. There are 700 prisoners on board.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 67

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 29, 1864

There are at present some 3,000 prisoners here. I like this place better than Point Lookout. We are fenced in by a high fence, in, I judge, a 200 acre lot. There is an observatory outside, and some Yankee is making money, as he charges ten cents for every one that wishes to see the rebels.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 67

Diary of Private Louis Leon: August 1864

Nothing worth recording this month, except that the fare is the same as at Point Lookout.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 67

Diary of Private Louis Leon: May 16, 1864

Left this morning at 11 in a tugboat, and from here packed into the Steamer S. R. Spaulding. We are now on our way to a regular prison. We got there at 8 o'clock to-night, and found it to be Point Lookout, Md., fifty miles from Belle Plain. It is in St. Mary's County. We were drawn up in line, searched for valuables, and they taken from us, and marched to prison, one mile from the landing. There are sixteen men in each tent.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 63

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: July 9, 1864

Dry and pleasant.

We have a rumor to-day of the success of a desperate expedition from Wilmington, N. C., to Point Lookout, Md., to liberate the prisoners of war (20,000) confined there and to arm them. If this be confirmed, the prisoners will probably march upon Washington City, and co-operate with Gen. Early, who has taken Martinsburg (with a large supply of stores), and at last accounts had driven Sigel back to Washington, and on the 6th inst. was (by Northern accounts) at Hagerstown, Md. Much excitement prevails there. Lincoln has called for the militia of the surrounding States, etc.

We have British accounts of the sinking of the ALABAMA, near Cherbourg, by the United States steamer Kearsarge, but Semmes was not taken, and his treasure, etc. had been deposited in France.

 SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 246