brought back to us about these times, most of whom were caught by hounds. Lieutenant Parker was so lacerated that he died the next day after his capture. On the 7th inst. Lieutenant J. Clement, of the Fifteenth Kentucky Cavalry, was captured by a Rebel living but a short distance from Chapel's Ferry, South Carolina. After he had surrendered the dogs were let loose on him; and thus he was so seriously injured as to be disabled for a long time.

I should have made my escape on the fourth, had not my health been so delicate that I could not have walked out of camp, even had the road been clear. I had been suffering very much from camp diseases, and was so weak as to be unable to walk without the aid of a friend.

Near the 12th of November rumors reached us that General Sherman had left Atlanta, and was moving through Georgia in three columns. It was currently reported that he would occupy Augusta. The "great general's " movements were little understood by the Rebels; they were greatly alarmed, and began concentrating their forces at Augusta.

DRAWING MEAT RATIONS AT CAMP SORGHUM.

About this time quite an amusing scene enlivened our camp. An old wild hog chanced to pass the guard line; and as soon as he came within range of the prisoners, a general advance was made and he was ours. But a few moments elapsed after his entrance among us before no traces of his carcase could be found.

From four to five hundred half-starved men

gave him a most hearty welcome. "He was a stranger and they took him in," in more senses than one. One seized a leg, another an ear, and another his tail; and as many as his dusky exterior would accommodate twisted their skinny fingers into his long, arrowy bristles, and closed their hands and eyes and teeth as if for a death-struggle. There was tumbling and tripping and pushing and yelling and swearing, while the Rebel guards, at a "parade rest,” were laughing heartily at the ridiculous

scene.

Every man clung to the part he first seized, and that part was to be his portion. Richardson was the first to seize a hind leg, and this leg he clung to through all the melée like grim death to his victim, and did not relinquish his hold until it was cut off and securely lodged in the mess kettle for supper.

Our guest was not "the fattest hog in Epicurus' sty," but we were in no condition to make a point of quality, and thankfully struggled for steaks that "would not fry themselves."

This was the first and only ration of meat issued to us while at Columbia, and this-no thanks to the Rebels-very foolishly issued itself.

It would have been useless for the prison authorities to try to deprive us of this well-earned booty, for in less than five minutes after the first salute it would have been impossible to find enough of the grunting porker to grease a skillet, if we except the intestines.

"

"When the black hog was seen on a run tl rough the camp
Each soldier forgot his starvation and cramp;·
The grunts of the hog and his running were vain
His form will ne'er darken that camp-ground again."

The Wandering Poet of New Hampshire.

SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA.

A few days confirmed the rumors that had been floating with regard to Sherman's movements. It came to be generally understood that he was marching on Augusta, Macon, and Savannah. These reports had the usual effects of depressing the Rebels, and inspiring the prisoners with hope. Many attempts to escape were made at this timewith varying success. Several shots were fired into the pen by the sentinels, and one prisoner had his arm blown off in an attempt to run the guard.

On the 23d, Lieutenant George R. Barse, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, of whom previous mention has been made, escaped by strategy while the prisoners were passing out on parole after wood. The officer of the guard had taken position without the guardline, where he had a battalion of men in readiness to send to the woods with the paroled prisoners, allowing several to go at a time, and proportioning the number of guards to the size of the squad. As each party arrives near the "dead line," one of the number manifests a desire to pass out, at the same time exhibiting a paper with signatures attached to a written parole. The officer of the guard then beckons to the sentinel to permit them to cross the lines, when he takes their paroles and hands them to one