The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-05-03
NASHVILLE. TENNESSEE SUNDAY. MAY 8. 1863
perfectly free about that; you can do as
you please"


perfectly free about that; you can do as
| you please"
gWell, / should like to know what my
position WILDE il do not Sign this VIII
| you exchange me as Federal officer 9''
"No, no; f; you are no officer, and we
cannot treat as sueh.Y
"Well treat me as private, and ex-
change me as SUCH"
Mono; you are no private"
"Then, i'll am citizen, exchange me
as such"
mo, no; you are no citizen"
ego aGod--d ID, must be somebody"
"Pll tell you, said the Judge, "whO you
arc; you are a man who has lost the
protection Of his Government because
you came TO one Of The States Of the
Southern Confederacy as anemissAry to
incite insurrectiOn among slaves, and we
will bring you under the law enacted by
proclamation Of Jefferson Davis on The
18th Of January, and before the civil
authorities FOE trial"
"Now" said the Baron, 'I see how
free a man / am. really believe you
could hang me if you wanted. But my
Government, hope, will do something
for me; and if Austria is not strong
naval power she possesses at least an
other power in this world--that is public
opinion. How much you strain your
selves to gain that opinion is seen by the
manner in which Slidell and Mason
humble themselves before European Gov
ernments."
The judge sprang up, looking as fierce
as wild boar, and shaking his fist at
Baron Wardener, exclaimed; "Sir, you
are more Yankee than all the rest put
together; and about your claiming the
projection of your Government I tell
you the Confederate States of America
have never recognized your Government"
81 know IT, sir; but this is also the sad
condition in which other governments
are placed. But let me have few hours
| of consideration and will make up nv
mind whether 20 sign the parole or not"
The judge, after some hesitation,
granted this request, and gave Baron
Wardener the parting advice TO go back
TO his country, and to have nothing to
do with the Yankees, who are a. lot OF
murderers and robbers, devastating the
beautiful South, and committing all sorts
of outrages. "Avoid them" said he, "for
| your own good,
( Alter having advised with the oldest
and most experienced officers among The
Federal prisoners Baron Wardener finally
4 concluded TO takO the parole, as there
was no other way of getting away from
the loathsome aud disgusting prison. -
~ Az 4 o'clock in the morning he took
leave of the officers who had been con-
fined with him, sick and disgusted with
the treatment received, and vet sorry 10
/ leave the poor officers, companions of his
misiortunes.
There were about two hundred and
City Federal officers confined in o garret
under the roof of the Libby Prison
All the windows were broken, and con-
aequently the cold, particularly at night,
was intense, for there were no coverings,
except few ragged blankets flled with
yermin. The prisoners were obliged 10
sleep on the iloor somewhat in the same
manner as negroes on board Of SLAYER
and with the soanty covering, and the
= cold, piercing air, IL was almost impos-
sible TO sleep during the night The
rations were miserable bread and meat
often, disgusting to say, Of dead mules
!, Everything had 10 be cooked on two
small stoves in the room, and by the ofii-
, GERS themselves, who were never allowed
to leave the room for any purpose what
soever, and the whole treatment was such
as would cast dishonor on any Govern
ment pretending to represent civilized
country.
When looking out Of window once
a stone was thrown ct Baron Wardener
. by sentinel, with the admonition thai
next time be would get ball through
Z his head. Captain Turner, Confederate
officer in charge of prisoners, treats
T those under his charge in the most con.
temptible way, taking pleasure in Civ,
ing them all the refined torments that
SouthrOn only could devise. Sometimes
he would take visitors through the room
aud take pleasure in exhibiting the mis-
cries Of his prisoners. A pOmpous ant
bOmbastic man, intensely proud of tn,
Acknowledgment given TO him by tn
Richmond papers for the manner il
which he discharges his duties and treat
: those whom the chances Of war hav,
1 thrown in his hands.
Finally Baron Wardener says that hi
: treatment while prisoner 81 Richmon
{ has convinced him of the utter absurdi
!; ~ of the ideas existing, concerning th
r. chiValfio characters Of the Southerneri
= Never did he dream that human being
a could be treated Ia such despicable an
o contemplate way, as exhibited by th
y treatment Of Federal officers, prisoner
II of war at Richmond. And never did h
n see so brutal traits as those exhibited b
j the men representing the South and It's in
stitutions at Richmond. A sojourn .theF
J. Of six weeks, has convinced him, 70 al
u his own words, that the Southern fabri
Is lie, based upon lies aud after hAV
70 ing heard them speak Of themselves an
their boasied institutions, he has re
l. turned TO the North with even more sym
.r pathy and just appreciation Of the mob
'. cause ia which we are engaged, than
,e could have done before visiting Rich
mond as a prisoner of war.
Dt From iho Goafdsiowu n.inolssn.