New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-20
THE ADVENTURES OF A COLORED MAN
In SECESSIA.

ONE or TIE CAPTURED CREW OF THE STAR
OF THE wEsT-HIs RETURN HOME.
The followr. statement contains true and faith
fa account Of the arrest of the of the steamship
Star of the West the experience Of the narrator his
peris aud his suerings during pilgrimage Of nearly
seven months in rebeldom. Mr.. Levi Mann was one
Of the walters in the Star of the West. He is a
colored man, very intelligent and communicative,
ana withal very careful to be impartial in what he
saws regarding the rebels. He speaks in very
commendatory nianfer OF many Union. men and
women whom he met in the South, but forbears
naming them, the part they took in aiding him to
regain his liberty.
STATEMENT OF LEVI MANN.
On the Eth Of April We were captured at In
danola, Texas. From thence we proceeded to Gal
weston for provisions, where we tovk in Sumo fresh
beef and vegetables also q captain and pilot; then
we proce eded 20 NewOEleans. Major Van DOren
then turned Us over TO the Qusrtermaster OF the
rebel army AZ that point. aud ne turned us ever 10
the Quartermas,er at Mobile, Ala. from thence We
were transferred TO the Secretary Of War at Mont
gomery, where we proceeded via the steamboat
Southern Republic, Capt. Tim. Near. We arrived
in Montgomery, April %. Two of rs were taken of
the boat, by n rowdy mob, and taken into the city
and LET go for that evening. We next proceeded by
the zane boat to Whp'omkie discharged freight and
returned TO Montgomery on tie following day.
There the second officer, Mr. Dean Of Massachusetts,
who had taken US IN charge, proceeded TO see the
President Davis; the President desired him 70
return TO the boat procure list Of the crew, and
the amount OF wages due, which he would see duly
raid aud they sent home. While lac was making
out the list Of names the rowdy crowd again came
Oh board and asked who had these men III change.
They were politely shown To MIR. Dean as that
individual when one OF them stepped up to
him and slapped him in the face. Then some OF them
urged him TO desist, that he YVES doing wrong to
assault. prisoner whereupon he stepped ~, and
begged Mr.. Deans pardon inasmuch as he had been
excited He was rot much excited, however. ms
he pretended 10 be. His name was Is. T. Clark-he
headed the gang. He then stepped up to me, and
asked ME to 90 with him; l refused, when he told
me if l didn Z 80 he would blow my brains OUT
Being unarned We were obliged to go--another
colored man and myself. We were then taken TO
isil. In halt an hour after being locked up man
cume TO me and demanded my money, then searched
me- and ordered me 10 strip myself, Whieh o,der
being o'eyed, lie then proceeded to Hog me with a
stran. about two inches wide and four feet long, At
half.past ~ O'Clock that night Clark came TO tie
prson and ordered NE to come cut, which did:
Tie then took me in buggy, and rode me all around
the city and s vicinity, evidently With the intention
of esrrangiDg me as TO my whereabouts. lie then
euua. ed a man named Green Mullen to ride ne
- miles into the country, to place called big
Hungry" in Macon County, near Iusieego, and
there placed me under the care OF Mr.. George -
Collins. / remained with him abont Fix months.
Here and at the expiration Oh the time named,
WAS informed by friend that it was intended that
| shorll be sent or sold, beth, further South.
then made my escape, aud gave myself up to the
authorities at 1lnkeego.
Tho authorities there treated me kindly. i was
placed under the care OF Marshal Thomas Jones, and
was subsequently sent To Gen. Bragg, with in.truc-
tjors to be passed from Pensacola on the hfst
onuoriunity remained at Pensacola for live weeks,
iIclndi1p The time of the bombardment. When /
arrived at Pensacola expected TO have been trans
T. red Immediately, but Gen. Bragg held me as a
hnstsye for "A eOlored man who had escaped from
Fort McCrea and whom they were exceedingly de-
sirous of burning. But Col. Brown refused to make
any exchange / was prevented having any c2In-
pmuicetiop, except with the officers on guard. The
treatment given me No Pensacola by the officers was
kindly and somewhat satisfactory, ugder the eiIcun
stances 4 few days before the bombardment, Gen:
Bragg sent to Pres dent Davis to know whether
should be sent across, Or held FOR ~. exchange NO
answer came until after the bombardment.
The second sho. from Fort Picksns broke the ranks
OF the Mississippi regiment called Wildcats, and
the third scattered them in almost every direction
tbroue Tie woods They were thoroughly panic
stricken. At thar time / was suffering from rseu.
maism and could not move about very swi;tly, Int
succeeded IN gaining position on the margio OF
wood from which 1 took observations Throughout
the dsy / remained there until dark l s.rayet
from there TO a solitary house m.inhabted, from
which found my way 10 the Navy-Ynrd at about
~ clock al night, (friJay.l
found no one i'll the Navy-Yard, no one ia the
guard house, all was deserted l then returned 20
The house pa'ore mentioned aud remained till morn
lug then went to the Louisiana camp and gave
my self up TO The sergeant of the guard. There re-
maintd till about noon, when order came ior all
Tie GGia9leH ~ ~ " the aVeItera 9l inc 9lser u