North Carolina. I was treated as a guest in the family of the captain. After the return of the captain to his naval duties, I spent a fortnight in camp with the first North Carolina infantry with an old friend whom I had known at the naval academy, and then went to the Shocko Sulphur Springs, North Carolina, where I had a cottage to myself and was kindly treated." Up to this point his imprisonment had not been a severe restraint on his personal liberty, but in the latter part of August he was taken as a prisoner of war to Richmond, Virginia, where he was incarcerated at first in a cell six by eight feet, and the orders were that he was to have only bread and water. As the cell already contained one occupant who was quite sick, and as the food offered was of a nauseating character, by dint of persevering effort, he at last prevailed on the jailor to give him a large and comfortable room, where excellent meals were served him. In this room he had two companions and, though the suspense of such a stay was great accompanied as it was with threats that should a rebel prisoner at that time in the Tombs in New York be hung, he would himself immediately pay the forfeit with his own life — his courage never deserted him, and by diplomacy and the absolute pledge of a friend to give up life in the stead of Lieutenant Kautz should Kautz fail to keep his word, the Confederate authorities after great deliberation and hesitation permitted him to find his way to Washington, and to try to effect an exchange for himself and many others. His experience at "Castle Thunder," the Richmond jail, as well as his journey to Washington, part of the way accompanied by a Confederate escort, and part of the way entirely alone running innumerable risks, and his final success with the authorities at Washington, make a dramatic story which well illustrates not only indomitable courage but an extreme sense of honor. The proposition which the Confederate government made through him, that he, John L. Worder and George L. Selden, and three hundred and fifty prisoners then in North Carolina, be released, was accepted by the United States government, and it was the occasion of the first general exchange of prisoners. President Lincoln fully subscribed to this action and all the cabinet voted with him with the exception of Secretary Seward. Admiral Kautz has himself written a graphic account of his imprisonment which appeared in two issues of "Harper's Weekly," in February, 1898. He speaks appreciatively of the kindness he received while a prisoner of war.
