This was transcribed from the Confederate Veteran magazine, Volume XXI, May 1913. It was the conclusion of a multi-part article, written by Samuel Hankins, and was serialized in the magazine. July 20 came and still no land was in sight, nor could we determine our destination. During the day there were three deaths from wounds. They received a sea burial. Early on the 22nd we spied land, much to our relief. Soon we entered the bay at New York, thence up East River to the north end of Long Island, where there was a long, narrow island eighty acres in area called David's Island. Here the Federals had erected twenty-rwo pavillions in a line, with a mess room between each two. The building extended nearly the entire length of the island. Each pavillion was divided into four wards which contained 20 cots each. A doctor's office stood in front and a bathroom in the rear. This pavillion had been used by their soldiers as a hospital, and had just been vacated. As there were 2,500 Confederates on the island, tents had to be erected in order to accomodate all. Upon our arrival, we were divested of all wearing apparel, which was burned, and each one given a bath. Then a hospital suit was provided, which consisted of a long gray gown fastened at the waist with a green cord, also hose and blue cloth slippers. I was consigned to Pavillion 4, Ward 1. Irish women employed to scrub the floors daily, and everything was kept neat. There was a large steam laundry kept going constantly for the use of all. In one large general kitchen food was prepared and sent to mess rooms, and there several "lady" kitchens where fancy dishes were prepared for the sickest patients. The diet was changed each day and it was good. Those not able to to go to the mess room were served at their cots. There was only one church, Episcopal, which we attended when able. We had access to a good library; in fact, the whole island was at our disposal. When the tide went out, we gathered clams for bait and fished. We had moved from Hades to heaven, and everything possible was done for our comfort. Everybody was pleasant to us; my own nurse was like a brother. I hated being a prisoner, though, and detested the spelling in flowers of "Constitution", "Union" and "Abraham Lincoln". Many sympathizers from New York visited us every day and brought things. A number of deaths occured, caused by gangrene. When as many as two hundred fifty or three hundred were able to travel, they were given a suit of clothing and sent away to be paroled........... *************************************************** I hope this helps someone. Regards, Jim Taylor -- jtaylor@datasync.com Pascagoula, Mississippi 25th Alabama Infantry site: http://www.datasync.com/~jtaylor/25ali.htm 27th Alabama Infantry site: http://www.datasync.com/~jtaylor/27th.htm Company F, 4th Mississippi Infantry site: http://www.datasync.com/~jtaylor/4msif.htm Company K, 17th Mississippi Infantry site: http://www.datasync.com/~jtaylor/17msik.htm Company F, 2nd Mississippi Cavalry, Ballentine's Partisan Rangers http://www.datasync.com/~jtaylor/2mscf.htm Company F, 42nd Mississippi Infantry site: http://www.datasync.com/~jtaylor/42msif.htm Company G, 42nd Mississippi Infantry site: http://www.datasync.com/~jtaylor/42msig.htm Company D, 31st Mississippi Infantry site: http://www.datasync.com/~jtaylor/31msid.htm Company A, 13th Mississippi Infantry site: http://www.datasync.com/~jtaylor/13msia.htm Company E, 5th Mississippi Infantry site: http://www.datasync.com/~jtaylor/5msie.htm