We  have  received  lady  visitors  only  on  two  occasions,
— the  first  occurring  immediately  subsequent  to  the
capture  of  Messrs.  Slidell  and  Mason,  when  two  lady


OUR   VISITORS.  151

connections  of  Mr.  Mason  came  to  view  the  Federal
prisoners,  being  solicitous  regarding  the  treatment  of
the  Rebel  emissaries  at  Fort  Warren,  and  desirous  of
forming  an  estimate  of  their  hardships  and  sufferings
by  ours.  Their  visit  was  brief  and  barren  of  incident.
The  other  lady  visitors  were  two  daughters  of  an  old
gentleman  confined  "  under  suspicion"  of  Union  senti-
ments in  our  warehouse.  He  was  quite  sick,  and  per-
mission was  granted  them  to  enter  the  building,  where
they  found  him  upon  his  cot,  propped  up  with  pillows.
By  their  exertions,  the  old  gentleman  was  released,
and  returned  honorably  to  his  home.
Amidst  the  mass  of  curiosity-mongers  daily  thronging
around  and  in  our  warehouse,  beholding  distress  and
destitution  in  the  quarters  of  the  privates,  and  want  of
the  necessary  comforts  and  conveniences  of  life  among
the  Federal  officers,  we  have  never  yet  welcomed  what
was  most  needed, — a  Good  Samaritan  visitor.
152  PRISON-LIFE  AT  EICHMOND.
CHAPTER  X.
PEISON-COMPANIONS.
The  Old  Tobacco  Warehouse,
Tuesday  night,  Feb.  18,  1862.
Let  me  greet  you  to-night,  companions  in  captivity,
as  I  gather  these  scenes  around  me  to  enrich  our
memories  in  after-years.  *'  Olden  times"  will  be  our
own,  and  the  impress  of  our  future  life  will  bear
the  flow  and  flash  of  thouo^ht  to  these  bare  walls  and
rusty  bars.  The  mind  is  warring  somewhat  with  the
heart;  for,  though  all  are  eager  for  the  strife  of  the
outer  world,  we  cannot  part  from  this  old  warehouse
without  regret, — ay,  almost  sadness.
