The furniture
we ordered through Dr Hall, having been furnished, I proceeded
early this morning to the task of preparing a proper presentation
of our case to the U S Secretary of War. I finished drawing
the paper quite expeditiously. It met with the unanimous
approbation of my fellow prisoners and was instantly dispatched
to its destination. As this paper forms a part of this experience,
it is herewith attached, marked "A". I now directed
myself to the preparation of my own application, which having
accomplished, I sent one copy to the Secretary of War, and
another to Mr Leutze. Hunter came in and proposed a walk
in the passage which is exactly fifteen paces long. By the
way, I should mention that one of the considerations shown
to us in the removal of the sentinal from this passage and
the permission to walk in it and to visit each other's rooms,
and also the removal of the restriction which applies to
all other parts of the building forbidding more than two
inmates of each room to absent themselves down stairs at
the same time. As we walked, I was struck with a number
of what appeared to me to be auger holes throught the floor.
I remarked to Hunter that I was supposed they were made
for the purpose of draining the water off, when the passage
was washed. He told me to my great surprise that they were
bullet holes from guns discharged in the buildings and drew
my attention to the fact that in the ceiling opposite every
perpendicular hole in the floor, could be seen a corresponding
opening where the charge had passed out. He then carried
me to several points where prisoners had been shot for such
trifling reasons as placing their hands outside the window
bars or making manly answers to the brutal order of the
sentinals. He told me an incident of the murder of a Mr
Steuart of Baltimore, who bad been incarcerated because
of his Southern sentiments. The sentinal, who grarded his
door, agreed to facilitate his escape for the sum of fifty
dollars which was paid him on the night of the proposed
flight. About midnight the sentinal came to his cell, pointed
out the way, and told him all was ready. Obeying his instructions,
Mr Steuart proceeded to mount the fence at the designated
point, the top of which he had scarcely reached when the
prodigious brute, who had accepted the bribe, shot him through
the heart. After dinner Hunter came into our room again,
and the evening was passed pretty much in playing cards.
He learned me a new game, introduced by one of the prisoners,
and appropriately styled "Old Capitol."
