THE IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED
against our comrades taking the oath, but it did no good in stemming the desire of our men to get home. They were worn out by prison cruelty, and General Lee had no army. The men pined for home and liberty. In a few days the roll was again called. At this call but two hundred of us were left who refused to take the oath, and at the third call there were but three of us left, out of the whole number, who declined to take the oath upon any condition. Shortly after these roll calls Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered his army. The Confederacy had now but Gen. Dick Taylor's army in the field, and he at last surrendered. About July 25, 1865, most of the prisoners except the three who declined to take the oath, and the field officer prisoners, were released and sent to their homes in the different States of the South. Finally all were released and sent home. We left sleeping in death at Fort Delaware some grand men,—murdered by the cruelty of prison life. Those who
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