Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-12-26
Fremont journal.


= 80
Exprricnco ln pfxie, ..,--
A Chicago printer, IN ihe 6elh infantry,
who was cAptarsas at Shiloh, furnishes the
Tnbnss with a. interesting statement Of
hss= e<9oziencs And adventures. After be-
ing transported 70 Memphis 10 cattle cars,
thoswriterand companion obiaiBed the
privilege Of sltolling about tho city, under
gusrd oftNo German Home Guards. He
says:
H0ur lirsi stopping place was tho Appeal
Office, where we found eight or ten 'comps'
and score or so Of 'secesh Gags. An
hands we're intensely bitter against the
North, 'secesh' III over, and every man Of
them born outside of Dixie One Of them,
forgot bis name, bot shall mover forget the
mau, asked, do you find as much Union
sentiment as You expsctedf | answered
that felt quite sure that such sentiment
everywhere existed. you are mistaken,
said be, there Is not, to day, Union man
in Mempbis-not one
'GlaneiBg At the guards, / saw evident
signs Of nervousness and anger, and think
ing that perhaps in the beat Of debate we
had said too much, and should have diff
Guilty with them, my friend and / made
Preparations 20 leave. Scarcely had the
door closed behind Us, when one Of the
guards brought bis piece down with a
thump on the iron step, exclaimiug:
Dare ish no Union sentiment here Oh
Oh, mol We are all tam'd 'secesh.' You
comes mit me, shows ysu. We al lay
down our lives for dis Suturn confederaev.
Oh, yes We be glad TO (i)! -
ave followed the guard to the outskirts
Of the town aud entered blacksmith shop,
whore, working at tbe forge, We recognized
couple Of Chicago boys-they, too, be-
louged to the Home Guard. A sharp
look out was kept at the front and back
doors; presently tho coast was announced
clear, aud tbon you should have seen us
making good time over back fences and
through alleys, until We reached the abid =
ing place Of our guide-eutering, buxom
German girl placed chairs for Us to be
seated.
Frau said the guard, as soon as be
had recovered sufficient breath 70 speak
Frau, here Is couple Of tam'd Yankees,
you shows dem VIC IS good 'seeesh' eh'.-
yes, shows dem, and the Frau placed
q table in the center Of the room and then
disappeared. Presently the Kissing Of the
tea kettle Is heard, aad in & few minutes
coffee, which cost $1,25 per pound, bread
made from -four costing e2o per barrel, and
sausage from meat proportionately high was
served up tous. Our hsversAeks were filed,
and the Frau grumbled becsuse we would
not accept more. They were poor and we
could not rob them. While We we're eat
ing, the guards amused themselves BY tax
ing the handspring out Of their gun locks
and burning them in the stove. As we
shook hands at our prison house door, they
whispered. we arc all tam seecsh.' We
made arrangements with these men for q
disguise TO escape, but before they were
again on duty the show was started 10 an
other place"
Of the punishment which was inflicted
for any offences by the prisoners he says:
"a number of men made their escape
from Macon A few get to our lines, but
BY far the largest number wero caught and
brought back. Major Rylander deemed
these attempted escapes worthy Of punish.
ment. This is how il was inflicted: The
victim was forced to lie on his stomach or
bzck, as baztsuited the officer of tbe guard.
His arms were then stretched out straight.
and bis legs forced apart; erotchsd stakes
were then driven over the neck, wrists and
ankles, and Tho poor fellow left lie for from
two 70 eight hours. know one man who
Tecsiyed this punishment each alternate
two hours for seven consecutive days
James Durham, eoxsuain belonging to
the United States guRboat Sumter, for re-
fusing to lie down until informed why he
was to be punished, was knocked down in
the head from an axe. There's civilization
for yOuF
Concerning the slave combinations and
sscret plans. be says:
Il took no part, merely listened. But l
know from Ehat there learned, that for
years there has existed in the South a ne
gro secret society, who have been long watch
ing for the year Of jobilee.' The first of
January, 1893, IS regarded by them as the
commencement They viii be free, If
blood must 6ow to secure tbs boon. That
isthe expressed discrimination. Their mas
ters know II and tremble.S