The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-04-29
4 FOREIGN OFFIGER'S EXPERIENCE
IN RICHMOND.
Treatment Received from the Rebels.
Condition Of National Prisoners In
the Rebel Capital.
From the Washington CIR.

rom tDe washington CETohHstc.
The following interesting statement Of
the sufferings Of an Austrian officer who
was captured By the rebels at Fairfax
Courthouse has been handed to us for
publication. The rebels, it will be per-
ceived, deal out alike the same cruel
treatment to those in the Union army
and TO any on-cOmbatantS who may fall
into their hands. The horrible treat
ment our prisoners confined in the
rebel capital receive ct the hands of The
rebels is sickening to think of:
Among those taken prisoners at the
recent Tatu or rfIg Tehvio- Z airftr=r
Courthouse was Baron Rudolph War
dener. formerly an Austrian officer, who
had come to the United States for the
purpose Of observing the war now taking
place Baron Wardener was at the time
visiting some friends, officers in the Fed
eral army, and stationed at Fairfax
Courthouse. He had retired for the
night. and the first intimation he had of
any enemy being near was by some per-
son knocking him on the head with the
butt of revolver and peremp ptorily order
ing him to get up and follow him as a
prisoner of war. This was at first taken
by the Baron as bad Joke by some of
his friends, but the cooked revolver
pointed at his head soon convinced him
of the contrary. Nothing was to be done
but obey, as he was threatened with in
slant death il the least resistance was
offered 4 horse was furnished to Baron
Wardener, and by the means of unfre-
auented roads the cavalcade was soon
on its way to Culpepper Court House.
At this place Baron Wardener had an
interview with General Lee, who treated
him with polteness, and promised that
he should be exchanged as soon as he
had reached Richmond.
At Richmond, Baron Wardener was
confined, with the Federal officers taken
at Fairfax, in the Libby prison, and i'm
mediatelv wrote to General Winder, in
order to procure an interview with him.
The first application received no answer;
the second received the following: This
man was taken in Yankee uniform, and
will be treated as prisoner Of war.
The Yankee uniform spoken of consisted
of an officers overcoat, which Baron
Wardener had mistaken for his while
croping in the darkness for his clothes
at Fairfax Courthouse The same an
swer was received by the Austrian Cor
| sui. of whom Baron Wardener had claim
ed protection. Addressing himself to
the Secretary of War, Baron Wardener
in a letter explained the circumstances
under which he had been taken, etc. BY
order of the War Department, and undt l
= StranG anard, -R,arasa- INaraAIaN4'--'--..
marched through the 'city to the court
house. where he was ushered into the
presence of the Judge. At first the
Judge, a worthy representative of South
ern ehivalry, was very rough and un
civil; but having heard who the accused
was. materially changed his behavior
and incurred if the Baron had not served
as an officer under Col. Wyndham.
Il would consider it a great honor t.
serve in the Federal army, answered
the plucky Baron; unfortunately, how
ever, do not
IF YOU do not serve in the Fedora
army, then you are not our enemy, sai'
the Judge
4 do not bear arms against th'
South
"Then l see that you are gentleman
and as such will treat you. Sir, con
tinucd the Judge, "the Government Of th
South invites you to ion our cause. w
propose to give you such inducements a
will satisfy you.
Il cannot entertain such a proposition
If you consider me as a gentleman, re
collect that was taken prisoner Will
in company with my friends, who aTc o
fcers in the Federal army.
The Judge remained silent, and du
; missed Baron Wardner ior the presen
with the promise that he would be p;
rolled Immediately and sent under til
next flag OF truce