They took me to the room
on the ground-floor, where I had waited on the first day of my
imprisonment while the cell above was preparing. I found there the
lieutenant commanding the guard, and two or three more officers, one of
whom, I understood, was a deputy of the Judge-Advocate. They read out a
paper, of which the following is an exact copy, and asked if I had any
objection to sign it:
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, COUNTY OF WASHINGTON.
_Old Capital Prison, Washington, D. C._
I, ----, of ----, in England, do solemnly swear on my Parole of
Honor, that I will leave the United States of America, with as
little delay us possible, and that I will not return there during
the existing rebellion.
So help me God.
Signed, ----.
Sworn to and subscribed before me,
this fifth day of June, A. D. 1863.
JOHN A. LOVELL,
Lieut. Comdg. Guard.
Now, had I been offered a free passage South, I doubt if I should have
accepted it, then; the aspect of things within the last two mouths had
changed for me entirely. I could not hope to carry out one of my
original plans; for all available resources were nearly exhausted, and
procuring fresh supplies from home would have involved infinite
difficulty and delay.
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