Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-02-07
Special Correspondents Chicago Tribune
A SiaVc with an Iron Collar Beauties of

/ slavery.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. i6.--A few DAYS since
while Company q of tho Iowa Sd, uudor
command of Lieutenant LeffiDgwell, was in
the occupancy of Florence, guarding the
North Missouri Railroad at that point, a
negro came dashing towards the camp
about eleven o'clock at night, mounted up
on high spirited horse. He was about
10 pass the guard, who sprang forward and
caught the bridle-r rein Of his horse and
stopped him. The negro Immediately
threw himself from the animal, and in a
crlnging, obsequious manner observed -
"Massa soger, please let me 90 in camp
and see the lllinoy soger" The guard in
formed him that they we're Iowa soldiers,
and desired to know what he wanted. He
hung down his head for moment, SEEM
ingly musing over some disappointment
and then continued--"Massa soger look at
dis collar; Use good nigger. Please let
me 60 In" Tho guard now discovered that
be was iroued, and Immediately called the
officer Of the guard who took him to the
guard house. In the morning be was ta-
ken before Lieut. LeffiHgwell around whose
quarters the entire command had already
assembled; and never did men look upon q
scene more degrading and humiliating than
that which was presented to him in the
person of this slave. Around his neck was
band of iron half an inch thick and near
y one and half inches wide, not locked
but securely riUited. Three iron prongs of
lightuing-rod size wero welded to this band,
at equal distances apart, and arose above
his head about nine inches, with an out.
ward inclination.
The iron had lacerated his neck, and the
wounds had partially healed under the
protection he had given to them by hold
ing up tho band with bis hands during the
preceding days that be was concealed in
corn-field, but while riding the horse he
could not hold it up, and it had opened
the wound, from which there was bloody,
mattery ooze trickling down upon his broad
shoulders. Tho men stood around, gazing
upon the scene before them in mute aston
ishment, and it was not until the negro had
repeated his petition two or three times
that they could realize tho fact that the
cruelty of the scene before them was the
act of slave master, living bat a short dis
tancc from st. Louis, the enlightened en-
porium of Missouri. The negro Observed
"Please massa soger take dis collar off my
neck. Ise good nigger; I'll do any ting
you want me. De Illinoy sogers cut de
collar off 'er Ben." Tho Lieutenant i'm
mediately ordered it to be stricken of, when
an old file was procured, which could not
me made to work upon the band only in
n slanting manner. After labor of over
three hours it was removed, the men taking
turn about--two holding the band while
one used the file. Tho band is now in po-
session of Lieutenent Leffipgwell, who holds
it as one of the trophies of the Sd Iowa,
and the negro is now officiating in his
quarters as servant.
The master of this contraband resides
about ten miles from Florence. 1t appears
that the negro had carried this iron band
upon his neck nearly three months, as a.
punishment for assisting his wifo to make
her escape into Illinois. Gen. Halleck, or
some other prudent commander, may order
his band to be re-riveted upon his neck,
and the property" surrendered to bis mas
ter; but from what l have seen Of the Iowa
soldiers, 1 believe that blood would drip
from the end of their bayonets before they
would do it. The contraband always
gives the Missouri troops a wide berth, and
generally makes for the Illinois regiments,
under whose broad shield of bayonets he
feels secure. ENFIELD.