The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-07
Shall our Soldiers Return Him?

A few days since, while Company c., OF
the Iowa 30, under command Of Lieut..
LethngweIl, was III the occupancy of or
ence, guarding the North Missouri railroad
at that point, negro cac4c dashlng towards
the camp, about eleven O'Clock at night,
mounted upon a high-sPrited horse He was
about to pass the guard, who sprang forward
and caught the brIdie.roin Of his horse, and
stopped him. The negro Immediately threw
himself from the animal, and in crlngIng
obsequous manner, observed Massa soger.
please let me 90 in de camp, and see the H.
inoy soger.' The guard informed him that
they were Iowa soldiers, and desired to know
what he wanted He hung down his head
for m0meat, seemingly missing over some
disappointment and then continued Massa
soger ook at is collar; lie good niger
Please let me % IL
The guard now discovered that he was
ironed, and Immediately called the officer OF
| he guard, who took him to the guard. house
10 the morning be was taken before Lieut..
Leffiugwell, around whose quarters the entire
command had already assembled and never
did men look upon scene more degrading and
Illuminating than vas presented to their view
10 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 rtveted. Three iron prongs OF
lightning roo size were We ded to this band.
at equal distance apart, and arose above his
head about Dine inches, with an outward in
cinaton The iron had Iacerated his neck,
and the wound had partially healed uudcr the
protection he had given to it by holding up
the band with his hands curing the ,nree pro-
ceeding days that he was concealed IN corn
fold; but while riding the horse, he could
not hold it up, ard it had opened the wound
from which there was bloody, mattery ooze
trickliug down upon his naked shoulders.
The men stood around gazing upon the
scene before them in mute asst enlistment. And
it was not until the negro had presented his
petition two or three times that they could
realize the fact that the cruelty of the scene
before them was the act Of slavc-master
living but short distance f.om ST Louis,
the enlightened emporium OF Missouri The
negro observed Please, Nassa soger, take
dis collar off my neck. Use good niger,
III do any ing you want me. DE lIhnoy
sogers cut de collar off er Ben The Lieut.
enant Immediately ordered it to be stricken
off, hen an Old file was procured, which
could be made to work upon The band only IN
a slautpg manner. Alter a labor of three
hours, 1t was removed the men taking turns
two holding the band, while one used the file
The band is now In possession OF Lieut.. Lei.
hng~ ell, who holds it as one OF tho trophies
of the Third Iowa, and the ne 40 is now off.
clatiDg III his qua tiers as II servant.
The master OF this contraband resides
about ten miles f'om florence. 1t appears
that the negro had carried this iron band up.
on his neck nearly three months, as a pun
lshment for assisting his wife to max her
escape into Illinois. Gen. Ha leck, or somo
other prudent commander, may order this
band TO be re.riveted upon his neck, and the