American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-10-05
THE FEDERAL PRISONERS.


Of hn.pauity begn n coursing its way toward
the Jackscn Railroad Depot Accessions,
like the Joining of riyulets to the main river,
merged into and swelled the current at every
corner, until, by half-past 10 O'Clock there
was a sea Of people around about the depot,
in carriages, cabs, on horseback and foot
back, aaan5ering, probably fifty thousand !
all told, anxiously awaiting TO get peep at
liver i've prisoner. or this number IT IS fair to
SAY one-fourth were of the softer sex
though we don't know but the whole crowd
wa. "soft' in evincing so much concern
about the Hessians.
THE MILITARY.
The soldiers present consisted of three
companies of Orleans Guards, the Orleans
Light Guards "a cavalry eorps), the Cont
nentaIs, the Jackson Railroad Rifles, and the
Louisiana State Guards. OF these the Jack
SON Railroad Rifles, Continentals, and Loa-
isiana State Guards were detached as an es-
cort for the guard which came with the pris-
oners. Wig: The Rockingham Guards, (Which
IS Company r. of the goth Virginia Volan-
teers, and the Qnitman Rifles, Capt. Barheld,
from Jackson, Miss.,s and twenty regulars
from Virginia under W. B. ochiltree. The
guard for the prisoners. consisted of the three
companies Of Orleans Light Guards
aast r.r, IscIpEssFs At THE DEPOT
Whilst waiting for the arrival of the cars,
the balconies, verandas, galleries and house
tops of tue surrounding buildings were
crowded with people. This was particularly
the case with regard to the gallery and stairs
in front of the depot. A large number of
ladies and some few gentlemen were upon
this, eagerly Watching the horsemen as they
enthusiastically ride over and half kill
three or four people at a time, when well
meaning but indiscreet gentleman on the 9TH
er side of the. street drew. their attention and
cried out " that gallery is fallingf' A gem
eiraf and blind rush was made for the doors
leading into the building Consequence
seventeen bonuets, any amount of crinoline
and a local reporter got badly mashed.
An individual standing on the roof of a
piazza, near which the telegraph wire was
stretched, having more curiosity than brains,
reached over to catch hold of the wire and
see if he could be shocked. In doing so he
lost his balance and aoas shocked-to find
himself hanging by both hands to the wire,
with twenty-five feet of nothing between the
tips of his toes and mother earth. The great
crowd who -witnessed,7this tight wire per-
formance-knowing it was not in the bills,
looked with horror upon the Scene. The un-.
willing performer, with admirable presence
l.
hands for some distance, till he reached a
post upon which the wire was hung. Down
this he slid to the ground, and the audience
seemed so horror stricken with contemplating
his past peril, that they grew unappreciative
and wouldn't applaud when it was over.
Lucky for him that he didn't weigh more than
100 pounds, or. that the wire was well put up.
In order to have aFclear way to the soldiers
and prisoners, the entire street in front of
tie depot, and fora block on each side of it,
was kept free from intrusion. To effect this,
sentinels were stationed every twenty steps.
Just as the smoke of the coming locomotive
rose above the trees in the distance, and the
cry was heard, " Here they come p a fugitive
and aged sow broke through the ranks and
struck a lively trot in the direction of the
train. aaIt looked odd, land the shouts and
yells which we're directed to the SUP eranuated
matronly porker as she passed through the
lines of bayonets were terrific.
4 prairie mud colored wench, dressed
almost to death, with muslins and hounces
all the way to her shoulders, was standing
little too much over the line, on the cleared
space marked for the soldiers to pass over,
when galloping trooper dashed up toward
her. The fancy niger stepped back sudden
ly, and struck her heels against a pile of lum-
Der which had been placed there. Unfortu-
nately there was ditch just back of that, in
which was mud and water to the depth of
just about three feet. Her heels took the
place where her head had been with exquis-
tie celebrity. The head struck the center of
the ditch with remarkable precision, and
there stuck fast. A crowd rushed up and
pulled her out. The .suddenness of the acct
dent preoluded preparation, and the darkey
came up with both eyes and q mouth full of
mud. The crowd smiled. a
90 isa tfca lG& 49, 40 - 49, F..a
At length the train arrived, and with it the
long looked for prisoners of war. The SOL
diers were drawn up on each side of the train.
Provost Marshal Palfrey and his aids moved
about from place to place, fixing something
here and unfxing something there. The
guard of the prisoners got out and ranged
themselves along the cars; and, at the
proper time, the prisoners were ordered out.
ffER ~w 49, THE PRISONERS.
There were s243l of them,' eare-worn and
weary looking riortals, having travelled eight
days with little or no sleep. They wore, of
course, their dirty, soiled, and, in many in
stances, their ragged uniforms. Some of
the men were hard looking set, indeed,
whilst Others, particularly the Sixty -Ninthers,
seemed to be first rate material for stopping
bullets. Although their reception was the
grandest, in point of mum bers, ever given to
man, In New Orleans, they appeared TO view
all around them with little or no interest.
They were counted by the Provost Marshal
and faced into line by Lieut.. Ochiltree. The