The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-14

| quite severe. Three days on bread and
water, and then to be sent to New Orleans.
This threat was fulfilled to the letter. After
the bread and water diet, 25O of our mum.
Der were sent to the Crescent City.
THE DEPARTURE.
The two hundred and fifty who were to
be sent to New Orleans were composed of
| those who had not been wounded, together
with such as had recovered from their ipiu-
ries.
Large crowds had assembled about the
prison in anticipation of their departure,
and as the prisoners were drawn up 10 line
to be marched to the depot, every specta.
tor must have been impressed with the fact
that, Notwithstanding their destitute condi-
tion-most of them being, coatless, and
many of them hatless and shoeless-they
we're far superior class of men, both in
point of physical vigor and intelligence, to
the poor wretches who formed their escort.
This fact was conceded even by confederate
officers, who seemed to regard their soldiers,
generally, with feeling Of loathing and
contempt.
The parting salute of our unfortunate
comrades, before evacuating the prison was
three cheers for the stars and stripes" and
the very walls and rafters of the old ware.
house seemed to throb and quaver with the
reverberations. A moment afterwards,
they were marching below, and as they
passed the prison windows, with the firm
and elastic tread OF veteran soldiers, every
form was proudly erect, and many beam>
ing glance was directed to the prison WIN
dows, as happy voices shouted at last
"Good bye, Yankees We're bound for
Dixie" They seemed every one determine
ed that the enemy should have no occasion
for exultation, and the citizens of Richmond
must have looked with unaffected astonish.
ment upon these manifestations of loyal
spirit which no act OF Confederate" tyaran-
ny could either check or conquer.
WOMAN's DEVOTION.
l may mention that among the prisoners
sent TO New Orleans was Sergeant st,
of the l4th Brooklyn. He was North,
erner by birth. but had lived in Richmond,
where he was employed as agent for the
Sloat Sewing Machine Company, and durs
ing bis residence there he had formed q
matrimonial engagement with young lady
of genteel and respectable parentage. Upon
the commencement of hostilities, however, he
returned to the north and enlisted under the
old flag. He was captured at Bnl Run,
and imprisoned as above noticed. By some
means his betrOthed learned OF his misfor-
| tune, and being unable to obtain admit
lance to the prison, she daily appeared On
| the opposite side of the street, walking to
and fro, and communicating with her lover
by signs, as he stood near the window.
One day when the prisoners were sent
away, she was early at her post, and carried
in her hands small parcel which she evil
IDENTIFY designed to present to him; but she
was not permitted to approach or speak
with him, and she joined the thropg which
followed the prisoners, weeping bitterly.
Subsequently we frequently saw her, prom
enading in her accustomed place opposite
the prison, gazing wistfully at the window
at which she mad formerly seen him, as
though some consolation were to be derived
from picture ever present to the imagina-
ton. The prisoners were all affected by
these mournful evidences Of her womanly
devotion, and the subject was seldom re-
ferred to except with expressions of the
deepest sympathy.
A PATRIOT CHAPLAIN.
Chaplain Mines of the I'd Maine regi-
ment, was among the prisoners taken at
Bull Run, and was an inmate of the officers
quarters. He was permitted to visit the
second floor for a short time every Sabbath,
for the purpose of conducting religious
worship, and upon one occasion in conclud-
ing the services, he gave out the national
hymn, "America"--
My country, tits of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee sing
1t was sung by all the prisoners and with
great feeling. Hardly had the services
concluded, when the patriotic chaplain was
informed by the Confederate officers that
they were not to be lnsulted by such de.
monstrations, and as penalty for his be-
havior, be would not thereafter be allowed
to pass from the officers quarter to the Sc.
cond floor.
We we're thus deprived for long time
of the chaplain's kindly ministrations; but
this proceeding, SO far from suppressing the
obnoxious demonstrations, rather tended to
aggravate the same, for on the succeeding
Sunday afternoon the boys sang not only
america" but the "Star Spangled Ban
ner," and then concluded the service" with
three ringing cheers for the stars and
stripes.
WHO WAS THE COWARD.
On one occasion, Lieut.. Emac, West
Point graduate, Zone of the officers in charge
of the post,) entered the room with his
drawn sword, and demanded the name of
the prisoner who "started the singing"
whereupon young man instantly stepped
out and modestly remarked that he believed
he was the man. Emac was rot little dis.
concerted by this proceeding, and retorted
by several insulting expressions, calling him
Yankee coward, &c.
To this the prisoner coolly responded that
if Emac would lay down his weapons and
''step out" he 1.-THE speaker) would show him
which was the best man of the two!
The lieutenant answered by saying that
"if it was not for the name of the thing
of striking an unarmed man, and prisoner,
he would cut him down."
This chivalric fellow was more fami liarly
known as "Bowie Knife" an appellation
derived from the fact that ON former Occa.