s medicine.
What more did a sick soldier need? The disease, however, was almost
entirely a bowel affection, and, perhaps, the same medicine served for
all cases. Many died on the way. A large number of the dead were put off
at Fortress Monroe as the vessel passed.

Just before reaching the point where the vessels were to meet in the
river, our vessel was drawn up alongside of a fine large steamer, and
we were transferred to it.

All the very sick were placed upon new mattresses. This was the
condition in which we were received by our Confederate friends.

The vessel that landed us on the bank of the James took back the Federal
prisoners that had been brought down from Richmond, but I hardly think
they were transferred to the smaller vessel that brought us from Point
Lookout. The Federal authorities were ashamed to let the officers of the
Confederate Government see the miserable condition in which we were
transported; hence the transfer to the larger vessel just before
delivering us to the Confederates. As soon as we landed we were all
given a tincup of hot, nutritious soup, the like of which we had not
tasted since leaving our homes for the field, unless it was the soup the
Yanks had given us four months before when we embarked on the James
river for Fortress Monroe prison.

We were conveyed from this point to Richmond by rail, and distributed
among the various army hospitals in the city. I was sent to the
Chimborazo Hospital, on the outskirts of the city, located on a bluff
looking down the river, within hearing distance of the siege guns on
Dury's Bluff, on the James. These were constantly throwing missiles of
some sort at the Yankee gunboats below. I remained in the hospital about
ten days, and then was considered well enough to go into camp with other
convalescents. There were several hundred of us. The camp was near the
city.

Some were paroled prisoners and some were from the hospitals of the
city, but not strong enough to return to their commands.

All who could reach their homes were allowed leave of absence, but much
of the Confederate territory was then in the hands of the Northern
armies, and all whose homes could not in safety be reached were placed
in camps until they were in condition for active service. Of course,
those on parole could not re-enter the army until regularly exchanged.

After remaining in this camp a short time and receiving in Confederate
paper money a portion of our pay, we were m