Last night exhausted
nature gave way, and I slept profoundly from an early hour
in the night until long after the sun had risen. I arose
considerably refreshed, and enjoyed my breakfast very much.
During the morning, the whole of our party held a consultation
respecting the adoption of some means of deliverance from
this dungeon. My views meeting approbation of all, I was
appointed to draft a paper embodying them to be laid before
the Secretary of War. In consequence of having neither chair,
table, or writing materials. I was compelled to postpone
the duty. During the morning Dr James C Hall, a benevolent
gentleman resident in the city, a friend of the families
of many of us, called and proffered his services to each
of us individually and to all in doing all that could be
done consistant with the prison rules to mitigate the hardships
of our confinement. Through him our mess purchased half
a dozen chairs and a table. Later in the day I was summoned
to the office, and found Mr Leutze who had called to see
me. He proffered his services and advised me to send before
the US Secretary of War, a separate individual application
for release which he voluntarily promised to urge before
high offices of the government. I thanked him for his kindness
and so parted. Under the influence of the hope I grew cheerful
and spent the remainder of the day in some comfort, pretty
much in company with a fellow prisoner, Mr John C Hunter
of the city. He is one of the handsomest and most polished
of young men I ever met. He occupied one of the rooms continguous
to ours and was arrested with a Mr Preuss while attempting
to cross the Potomac in making their way to Richmond to
join the Confederate army. He gave me a very interesting
and humorous account of his adventures and capture.
