November 16th
The aged father and sister of
Major Kyle are permitted to visit him for ten minutes, and interview him in the presence of an armed sentinel and
Dr. Butler, one of the hospital
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surgeons.
If the
Doctor has any delicacy, he must feel humiliated at being required to play the spy, and eavesdrop a private family conversation.
I hear
Mr. Kyle paid
Secretary Stanton five hundred dollars for the privilege of seeing his son. Another report is that
Miss Kyle slipped one hundred dollars in gold in her brother's mouth, besides greenbacks in his hands, despite the vigilance of the guard and surgeon.
I know
Major Kyle has plenty of money, and bribes the guards to bring him articles, carry out letters, etc. He was one of the rioters, 19th of April, 1861, who attempted to drive back the
Federal troops passing through
Baltimore to
Washington and the front.
Mrs. Robert Carr,
Mrs. P. H. Sullivan,
Mrs. J. M. Coulter,
Mrs. Egerton, the
Misses Jamison, and other noble
Baltimore ladies, send choice fresh vegetables, milk, clothing, etc., to our hospital, and while all are received, none of them are appropriated as intended by the generous, warm-hearted donors.
I suppose the greedy
Yankees eat the fruit and vegetables, and wear or sell the clothing sent to the hungry and ragged “Rebels.”
At any rate, they are confiscated.
The guards have orders to shoot any prisoner who puts his head out of a window.
Two convalescent prisoners escaped a night or two ago by dashing through the gate into the street and city.
They were fired at by the sentinels, but although the long roll was beat, the garrison aroused, and, with the city police, put in active pursuit, the daring youths were not recaptured.
Their good fortune is to be envied.
I learn they had relations who aided them in their hazardous attempt.
Dr. Knowles took the names of a large number, who are to be sent to
Point Lookout, we hopefully suppose for exchange.
I am one of the rejoicing number.
