Page:The Immortal Six Hundred.djvu/106

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THE IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED


on board and informed us that the point of exchange, owing to the movements of Grant's and Lee's armies, had been changed from City Point, Va., to Charleston Harbor, S. C. Disappointment was visible on all faces. Here we were, in sight of the promised land, but not allowed to enter. Indigo was a bright color contrasted with our feelings and looks, yet we consoled ourselves with the hope and the fact that the delay would be but for a day or two longer, when we would be at home. Then, in our joy, we would forget the vile treatment given us on the Yankee prison-ship. All the men of our party save two or three had been made seasick on the run down from Fort Delaware, which, as I said before, made our close quarters below decks a veritable cesspool. We appealed to Captain Webster, in charge of the guard, but he gave no heed to our protest, and we were compelled to stand it as best we could. On the evening of August 22d the ship pulled up anchor and steamed out of Fortress


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