The manuscript collection in the library at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville has a couple of interesting accounts of prison life at Fort Delaware, one being the memoir of B.T. Holliday from Chew's Battery. The other is the diary of Joseph E. Purvis, which covers the period from 3 July until 31 August 1863. Purvis, from Co. G, 19th Virginia regiment, was captured in Pickett's charge at Gettysburg along with others of his company (see Virginia site for details). Here are some excerpts:
Saturday 5 July - came to Baltimore, arrived here about dark ... there is about three thousand of our boys here.
Sun 6 - Left Baltimore on a steamer for Fort Delaware.
Thur 10 - ... about 500 more prisoners arrived here today from Gen. Lee's army ... I think there is about four thousand of us here at this time.
Fri 11 - ... boys are catching a great many fish today ... more of our boys came in today. They were captured with some wagons belonging to Gen. Ewell's Corps. The largest portion were wounded men though.
14 - Four hundred more of our boys were brought here today. They were all wounded.
15 - About 150 more of our boys came in ...
18 - ... All of the officers sent from here this morning to Johnson's Is., Lake Erie
28 - ... (a) man was killed last night attempting to escape by swimming the river. He belonged to the prisoners who were taken at Vicksburg. There is more than a thousand of them here. They had been here a month before we came here.
10 August - ... sickness is increasing daily. I heard that the small pox has broke out among us.
21 August - ... about two thousand [have taken the oath thus far]
24 Aug - ... we have a new set of men (on) guard now. They are from Maryland. They are more kind to us than the others.