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use, was ten by ten-and-a-half feet. Into this room and closet, nine of us were crowded. So close together were our beds, that it would have been impossible to have put another one in the room without blocking up the doors. There was scarcely space enough for another, even in the middle of the floor. Those who got into the long casemate were far worse off than their other fellow prisoners. This casemate was, I should suppose, less than fifty feet long and less than twenty wide, and so crowded was it, that the inmates were compelled to sleep in bunks which were arranged one above the other, in three tiers. They had also to cook their meals in the same room.
When we were installed in our quarters we began to look around to see what sort of provision had been made for us. As we had been told that at least a hundred of us had been expected, we naturally took it for granted that something had been done to make us tolerably comfortable. Our former experience ought to have prevented us from entertaining any such hopes, but we were not long under any delusion. No preparation had apparently been made for one single prisoner, except that fires were kindled in the various rooms. Colonel Dimick, whose demeanor towards us was on all occasions that of a gentleman, seemed to be annoyed at the position in which he found himself. He informed us of his inability to provide for us decently, and expressed his regret at the fact. But his good feeling could not much alleviate our situation. Not a bedstead, bed, blanket or chair was then furnished any of us. Those of us who had carried on the bedding we had purchased at Fort La Fayette, were able to lend a few articles to our friends, but the great majority of the prisoners were forced to sleep upon the floor, upon their great coats and the few cloaks and shawls they happened to have or could borrow. This state of things continued two or three weeks, at the end of which time, Colonel Dimick managed to have the furniture, which had been so tardily provided for us at Fort La Fayette, sent on to Fort Warren. In the mean time, many had, at their own expense, supplied themselves from Boston with necessary articles, 8
