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In front of our casemates a large guard was stationed day and night, two or three tents being pitched about ten feet off for their use; and a sentinel was constantly pacing up and down within four feet of our doors. For a week we never left our two casemates for a single instant, for any purpose whatever. We continually remonstrated against the manner in which we were treated, and represented the fact that we were likely, under such circumstances, to suffer seriously in health. Our complaints were generally followed by some new restriction. After we had been there two or three days, the Sergeant of the Guard closed the window–shutters and the Venetian doors of our rooms, and stated that he had express orders to do so. At our request, Mr. Wallis addressed the following note to Capt. Davis, the Provost Marshal:
"Capt. DAVIS, U. S. A.,
Provost Marshal:
"Sir: The Sergeant who has charge of my fellow prisoners and myself, has just closed the blinds of our front windows and doors, excluding us from the sight of passing objects, shutting out, to a great extent, the light by which we read, and hindering the circulation of the air through our apartments. These last are, at best, damp and unwholesome, and to-day particularly, in the existing state of the atmosphere, are extremely unpleasant and uncomfortable—so much so, that we have been compelled to build a fire for our mere protection from illness. Some of our number are old men; others in delicate health; and the restraint which excludes us from air and exercise is painful enough without this new annoyance, which the Sergeant informs us he has no right to forego. You are aware of the disgusting necessities to which we are subjected, in a particular of which we spoke to you personally, aud you will, of course, know how much this new obstruction must add to our discomfort. I am requested by my companions simply to call your attention to the matter, and am, Very respectfully,
" S. T. WALLIS."Fortress Monroe, 17th Sept., 1861."
No reply was made to this by Capt. Davis. On the following day iron bars were placed across the shutters and
