Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-02-27
The Tyranny in Baltimore.


 months have been, of daily occurrence among the noble-hearted but down trodden people of Baltimore:
 A brief account of the persections suffer ed by Mrs. H., of Baltimore. will probably be interesting to her friends in the Confed- eracy. We may truly say of her, in the words of Byron, that she has proved her 1 self
 "Geod without effort, great without foe" At the commencement of this struggle, 1 Mrs. Ii. sent five sons to bear arms in the cause of the South. This was sufficient to influence our enemies to inhict upon her every indignity. First came the arrest of husband. Mr. H., one of our city commis sioners, was quietly sleeping in his bed when tacelpe Hundred nsen came at midnight to arrest him, Ms opinions being suspected. One thousand stationed themselves in front of the house, and the remaining two hun dred were placed at the back door to pre- vent Mir. Ills escape. They offered Mrs. H. every incivility-one extremely inso- lent, because her husband detained them longer than he thought necessary, march ed through the house as though it belonged to him, calling to those at the back door to keep strict watch lest the traitor should escape.
 ''No need of any such caution," said the injured wife. ''Alr II. Is gentleman; he al- ways enters and leaves his house by the front door. He has known for days that you intended to arrest him. He glolles | 4l> L. * i,o
 "We wish no insolence from rebel wo- men," said one of the wretches. "You must be ignorant" replied Mrs H., 'that I am the daughter of Mir. Frank Key, author of ''The Star Spsngled Ban ner," that martial song which you pretend to hold in such reverence. His daughter should betreated with civility, at least; but to securethe triumph ofyour rulers, you act the part of brutes toward innocent women and children"
 Meanwhile, Mir II. was taking leave of his daughters. The youngest one said, "Why, why, papa, did you not fly? We have expected this; it will break mammals heart"
 "Whther flee my child? Is there a vault, garrett, or any hiding place, into which the eye of the tvrant does not pene- trate? He sees with the eyes of forty thous- and dabolic wretches, animated by the same brutal passions, and strong in his will"
 The young girls tears and entreaties were in vain. Mr. H. was carried to Fort Me- Henry, and there imprisoned for some days. The authorities, however, complain that he, with the other commissioners, were con- stantly visited by their families, so 1t was noised abroad that they were to be trans ferred to some more remote place of confne- ment. Mrs H., who had known Gen. Scott many years. wrote to inquire where the prisoners should be sent. He replied, ''it is the policy of the government to keep the matter secret your husband shall be decen tly cared for and subssted." Alter Mir. Il. had been removed to Fort Lafayette, his wife wrote again to Gen. Scott soliciting the privilege of visiting her husband Gen. Scott referred her to the secretary of war, that fnnctionary to the secretary of State, and that one to the president. She then made two visits to Washington, to obtain a passport to admit her to Fort Lafayette, but both times she was obliged to return home disappointed. She had one son still in Baltimore, the Editor of that noblo cham pion of southern rights, the Exchange.- She sent him to New York 10 solicit an ln teryiew with the commander of Fort Lafay cite, that he might learn whether his fat ther was comfortable. Arriving in New York, he sent lis card to the general who returned 1t. refusing to recognize the son of a supposed rebel Thus matters stood, Mr. H., and other prisoners were kept in Fort Lafayette three weeks, without the privilege of writing to their families. At this time Dr. J., Of Baltimore, who was inn prisoned with St. Thomas (the French lady'' because fopnd on the little vessel with that patriot, got from the prisoners seven little scraps of paper torn from their hats. On these he succeeded in writing a letter to his wife, which some friend snug gled from the fort and delivered in person to Alrs. J. Since her husband s arrest she had lost her youngest son, but the farther had not heard of her bereavement, and wrote with parental pride of their darling boy.
 "You mnst not" he said, ''let him for get his farther; he will contribute much to your happiness, though am suffering. Our taller has just been in, and l resume now these incoherent lines l chafe at your hard fate, l know that we are poor, and that 1 am obliged to provide means of sup port for my family l could endure all but your afiiiction. At this thought my heart is breaking, and tears bedew this paper Love our children; speak of me to them, and never forget that glory of being the victim of tyrants, and the martyr of freedom ennobles my position.kI must tellyou how we are tortured here; our fare is exeorabe coffee made of parched beans, with coarse bread, is served every morning for break fast, gross pork and bread for dinner, and the same as ct breakfast for tea. Ii the prisoner can afford to pay one dollar day, he is allowed vegetables for dinner, other wise the rations mentioned are ali they get. The wines and provisions the Baltimore commissioners brought with them. as well as their money, were taken from them. We are anxiously expecting to hear ot an ad- vance of the Confederates into Baltimore. If that could be accomplished, # Maryland could be redeemed we would willingly stay here forever.
 This letter was published in the Exchange of Baltimore, After it's appearance the abolition administration, fearing the popu- lace, allowed the prisoners to write to thelr