Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-04-09
Sufferiugs OF ParsOn Brown
low and the loyal Tenncsseans.

A correspondent of the New York
World had an interview with Parson
Brownlow at Nashville, and writes of it
as follow5:-
Heaven and earth, what a tale he tells !
He has passed the tortures of Spanish
inqusition. His book will contain it all.
1t is already in progress. There will be
no dodging in it. 1t will be favored
with names, dates and localities. 1t will
descend into details. 1t will bite like an
adler and sting Ike seven scorpions. 1t
will uncover the hell of the rebellion.-
1t will wipe the last disguise from the de-
signs of the damnable conspiracy. 1t
will be the plain truth that starties and
amazes more by far than any fiction or
romance. 1t will hoighten the hate of
this Kideous patricide,~ fatHicide,- and aths-
ism.
His paper was stopped in October
with the rebel government by which he
was to be allowed to leave for safer
cline. NotwiI hstanding which, he was
thrown into the common Jail on the 9th
of December by the military authorities
of Knoxville.
He was incarcerated in q room with
twenty five others-mostly bridge burn
ers. The only scrap of furniture that it
contained was bucket and ladie.-
There was not sufficient space for all the
twenty five to lie down at the same time.
They slept and stood by turns. AS An
illustration of the treatment, the guard
would wash his face aud hands in the
prisoners drinking tank that stood in the
ward by the window. When the prison
ers demonstrated, the reply was Wa
ter that Jeff. Davis man washes his
hands in is good enough for id Lin
colnite to drink
The dampness, bad air, and refuse ra-
tons with which they were fed, brought
poor Brownlow down with the typhoid
fever and after four weeks confinement
in Ial, he was transferred to his own
house, where he remained seriously in
disposed for eight weeks. Upon his re-
ccyary lie sprfed o~ain 10 the rebel gov
eminent for passport and escort. They
were granted, the latter to be selected by
himself. He started about two weeks ago.
Reaching Shelbyville, he was detained
ten DAYS by Gen. Hardee, who wished to
get off 10000 bacon and 1000 beeyes,
and feared the loss of it if the "Lncoln-
ties" should hear it. Hardee saws that
ShelbyviIe is the biggest Union hole he
ever got into. DR.. Browplow says " it
is as loyal as Boston"
| learn from him that five bridge
burners were hung at KuoxiIle. and that
five more await their execution. The
saving of one Of the latter was touch
ing and affecting. He was a widowcr
and had one child, and she daughter.
The day of the execution came, and the
daughter was informed for the first time
that her father was to be hung in five or
six hours. Tho poor girl was distracted
with grief, She prevailed on friend to
write dispatch to JEFF. Davis invoking
his clemency. 1t ran about thus
Hon. Jefferson Darts:
NV father is to be hung at four o'clock on
charge of bridge-burning. Ny mother is
dead. and he is my only hope and support
viii YOU ntercede for him
ELIZABETH -
A reply, ordering the Communication
Of the poor mans punishment, was re-
ceived, and one martyrdom saved.
The incidents that attended one of the
executions were also of affecting interest.
The condemned man asked the attend
ance of a clergy man whom he ramed.
1t was denied, with the remark, that :" no
damned bridge-buruers should be allow
ed prayers, ard God Almighty wouldn't
hear them if they were" But present.
~ half drunken rebel chaplain was
brought. and on the scatfold proceeded to
inform the crowd that he had conferred
with this unfortunate man, and that he
had expressed his sorrow for his crimes,
etc. The unfortunate man." raising
his voice to stentorian tone. exclaimed
" There is not word of truth in what
this man says. l burned the bridges de-
liberately. Under the same circumstan-
ces | should do precisely the same thingw
mother n,o,uapt aud ha pnrisha1