The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-05-15
OIUME EBENSBURG PA, THURSDAY MAY u, 1862

number OF our men were shot. In one
instance two were shot; one was killed,
and the other wounded by a man who
rested his gun on the WindoW-sill while
he capped it
Gen. Ricketts,, in reference to his hav-
ing been held as one Of the hostages for
the privateers, states II considered it
bad treatment to be selected as a hostage
for privateer, when | was so lame that
| could not walk, and while my wounds
were still open and unhealed. At this
time Gen. Winder came to see me- He
had been an officer in my regiment |
had known him for twenty-odd years 1t
was on the 9th OF November that he came
to see me. lie saw that my wounds were
still unhealed; he saw my condition; but
that very day he received an order to Sc
lect hostages for the privateers, and, not
withstanding he knew nay condition, the
next day, Sunday, the 10Th of November,
| was selected as one Of the hostages"
'I heard" he continues, s'of a great
many Of our prisoners who had been bay
onetted and shot. saw three OF them
two that had been bayonetted, and one of
them shot. One was named Louis Fran
4
had received fourteen bayonet Wounds
one through his privates-and he had one
wound very much ike mine, on the knee,
in consequence of which his leg was am
putated after twelve weeks had passed /;
and | would state here that in regard to
his case, when it was determined to am
putate his leg, / heard DIR. Peachy, the
rebel surgeon, remark to one of his Young
assistants, Il won,t be greedy; you may
do it" and the young man did it. | saw
a number in my room, many of whom had
been badly amputated. The flaps over
the stumps were drawn too tight, and in
some the bones protruded.
''A man by the name Of Prescott. (the
same referred to in the testimony of Sur
geon Homiston) was amputated twice,
and was then, think, moved to Rich
mond, before the taps were healed
Prescott died under this treat ment. [
heard Il rebel doctor, on the steps below
my room, say, "ttat he wished he could
take out the hearts Of the ID Yankees
rs easily as he could take off their legs"
Some Of the Southern gentlemen treated
ne very handsomely. Wade Hampton,
who was opposed to my battery, came to
see me and behaved ike generous en-
envy"
1t appears, as part of the history of
his rebellion, that Gen. Ricketts, was vls-
ted by his wife, who, having first heard
hat he was killed in battle, afterwards
hat he was alive, but wounded, travelled
lnder great difficulties to Manassas to see
ler husband. He says '.She had almost
% fight her way through, but succeeded
inaliy in reaching me On the fourth day
lfter the battle. There were eight per-
sons in the Lewis House, at Manassas, in
he room where | lay, and my wife, for
.wo weeks, slept In that room, on the |
1oor by my side, without a bed. When |
9e got to Richmond there were six OF Us
n room, among them Col. Wilcox, who |
.emained with us until he was takeE to
Charleston. There we were allin a room. |
There was no door to it. 1t was much as
t would be if you should take off the |
loors Of this committee room, and then |
I'll the passage with wounded soldiers =
IN the hot summer months the stencil /
rom their wounds, and from the utensils |
hey used, was fearful. There Was no |
privacy at all, because, there being no /
loor, the room could not be closed. We /
we're there as a common show. Colonel f,
Wilcox and myself were objects of interest .
md were gaZei upon as If we were
couple of savages. The people would I
come in there and say all sorts OF things |
{ us and about us, until was obliged to
ell them that | was prisoner, and had |
lothing to say. On our way to Richmond
yhen we reached Gordonsville, many
women crowded around the ears, and ask
d my wife if she cooked, i. she washed,
low she got there. FinallyeAirs. Ricketts,
ppcaled to the officer IN charge, and told
i'm that it was not the intention that we
hould be subjected 10 this treatment, and
t it was continued she would make 1t
nown to the authorities, General John
on took my wife's carriage and horses at
Ianassas, kept them, and has them yet
or aught [ know. When got to Rich
1ond, / spoke to several gentlemen about
his and so did Mrs Ricketts,. They said
f course, the carriage and hurses should
e returned; but they never were. "There
one debt says this gallant soldier,
that | desire very much to pay, and
othing troubles me so much now as the
lct that my wounds prevent me from en-
.ring upon active service at once
The case Of Louis Francis, who was
,rribly wounded and maltreated, and lost
leg, is referred to by General Ricketts,
ut the testimony of Francis himself is
artling. He was private in the New :