A counter move. The Confederates were told at the time, this was
a counter move on the military chess-board, by the Federal
Government, for alleged ill-treatment of Andersonville
prisoners, said to be confined in the lower portion of
Charleston, to prevent that part of it from being destroyed by
the heavy seige guns in Gregg and Wagner, that were firing on
Charleston night and day, having a powerful auxiliary in the
Swamp Angel, the nearest gun to Charleston. At the expiration of
forty-five days, the prisoners placed under fire, were removed
and put on board a steamer and sent to Fort Pulaski. Here the
retaliation was continued, causing many deaths. The fort being
somewhat crowded, a portion of the prisoners were sent to Hilton
Head. Here as elsewhere, there was great suffering. Being
immediately on the coast, the atmosphere was very damp and cold;
rats and cats were killed in great numbers, and consumed by the
starving Confederates. In war, a real soldier gives hard blows
and expects the same in return; but