o do so, and the
excitement passed away.

CHAPTER XVI.

Letter sent Home--Alarming Pestilence--Our Quarters
Changed--Rowdyism--Fairy Stories--Judge Baxter--Satanic
Strategy--Miller's History--An Exchange with a Dead Man--Effect of
Democratic Victories--Attempt to Make us Work--Digging out of a
Cell--Worse than the Inquisition--Unexpected Interference--List from
"Yankee Land"--Clothing Stolen--Paroled--A Night of Joy--Torch-light
March--On the Cars--The Boat--Reach Washington--Receive Medals, Money,
and Promotion--Home.

All of our party had repeatedly tried to send letters home to let our
friends know that we were still alive, but hitherto had failed. Now we
had a providential opportunity. Some of the prisoners who were
captured at the battle of Murfreesboro' were brought to Richmond, and
confined in the basement of our building. While they remained, I wrote
a note with a pencil, on the fly-leaf of a book, and when taken down
to wash in the morning, slipped around to the door of the Western
prisoners, and gave it to an Irishman. He concealed it until he was
exchanged, and then mailed it to my father. It produced a great
sensation among my friends, most of whom had long since given me up
for dead. It was the first that had been heard of our party since the
Atlanta escape, and was at once published in my county paper, and
copied in many others. The following is the note:

RICHMOND, VA., January 6th, 1863.

DEAR FATHER--I take the opportunity of writing by a paroled
prisoner, to let you know that I am well, and doing as well
as could be expected under the circumstances. I have seen
some rather hard times, but the worst is past. Our lives are
now safe, but we will be kept during the war, unless
something lucky turns up for us. There are six of our
original railroad party here yet. Seven were executed in
June, and eight escaped in October.

I stand the imprisonment pretty well. The worst of it is to
hear of our men getting whipped so often. I hear all the
news here; read three or four papers a day. I even know that
Bingham was beat in the last election, for which I am very
sorry.

The price of everything here is awful. It costs thirty cents
to send a letter. This will account for my not writing to
all my friends. Give my sincere love to them, and tell them
to write to me.

You may wri