he younger readers a
description of this oven may be interesting. A flat stone was secured
about two feet square, for the bottom, and around and over this stone was
erected an oven of stone, brick and mortar, capable of holding about four
good sized pomes. Wood was then split up fine, and a good rousing fire
built, and kept up until the oven was thoroughly heated, when it would be
filled to its capacity with pomes, the different messes taking turns to do
their baking, and in half an hour after closing the oven up tight, they
would be taken out nicely baked, and when properly made, afforded a very
palatable meal. In order to have them light, we would mix up a quart or so
of corn meal in cold water, and set in the sun to sour. The pome was then
mixed in the same way, stirring in a little of this sour rising and adding
a little soda. This sour meal was kept on hand, so as to have enough for
three or four days ahead.

A corn dodger was made in the same way, but was made the size of a large
biscuit, and was baked in a skillet with an iron cover, a fire being built
both over and under the skillet, and when not made light by the use of
this sour rising and soda, would make a dangerous missile to throw at a
man or dog.

Having now served an apprenticeship of about four months as cook for the
mess, I flattered myself that I was qualified to take charge of any first
class restaurant as chief cook and bottle washer, and I would bring my
corn pome on the table, with all the pride with which a young wife, would
present her best efforts at cooking to a tea party. And when I had wheat
flour, I would be just a little put out, if my biscuit did not receive the
fulsome praise I thought they were entitled to. Our rations in Savannah,
were more liberal than they had been during our captivity, and by buying
such things as were not issued to us, we always had a little ahead.

Colonel Wayne issued an order after the discovery of this first tunnel,
that in order to give a better chance for inspection, tents must be raised
three and a half feet from the ground. This order was usually complied
with, but some claiming that they had no lumber, neglected to do as
directed, and the result was that a detail was sent in, and removed
sixteen tents that had not yet been raised, causing much inconvienence and
suffering to those former occupants, as that night a severe storm came up,
and being without shelter, many were drenched to the skin. These tents