Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[392] salt on Petite Anse Island--(miles long by miles in width of solid rock salt, capable of supplying the world)--worth more than an army to the rebels, in their present condition, there would have been something to record really worth crowing over. But of one thing we are all confident here, General Weitzel is capable of any thing he may be set to do; and so let us indulge in the hope of soon recording something of more lasting and important results in the district under his command.

Before closing my narrative, I ought to say that the information which our good friend the contraband from the Cotton gave, respecting a concealed torpedo, proved to be perfectly correct, and exactly where he stated. I saw this infernal machine on board the Estrella, and afterward conversed with the poor fellow who rendered us such essential service, and who is now safely in our lines. Judge of my astonishment when, on scraping away the waxen stuff on the brand of this machine, I discovered the following inscription in raised letters:

Taylor & Hodget's cans, With Burnett's Attachment, New-York. Patented August 21, 1855.

It was shut up in a neat wooden box and labelled, in large letters: “Hospital stores, this side up, with care.” The manufacturers are fully welcome to all the benefits of this advertisement. “Hospital stores,” forsooth! Rather a grim joke, is it not? One strange thought struck me as I gazed upon this monstrous invention, and that was, that while people in the North are enriching themselves by manufacturing these hellish things to blow our own brave men to atoms, a poor black “animal” down here has friendship and humanity enough to come and warn them off from their terrible doom. I forgot, in my hurry, to write down this negro's name; perhaps it is as well I did not. General Weitzel can easily find him, and surely, if the lives of some dozen or two of our defenders are worth any thing, that faithful fellow should not go unrewarded.