The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-01-16

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inside the fort. We were permitted tc
walk backwards and forwards across the
area Of the fort, which was perhaps little
larger than your City Hall. We were
permitted, through the commandinc off
Ger, TO supply ana cook oui own food
We were compelled to use rainwate! fol
all purposes - cooking, washing and drink
ing. Each and every tine that We drew
any from the cislern We were required tc
first obtain permission from the sergeant
of the guard. This, ike all cistern water
was sometimes quite usab!e and sometimes
quite offensive. Mr.. Chlds, one of my
mess, informed me tina. at one time dur,
ing the latter part of last winter, in conse'
quencs Of the accumulation of ice in tie
cutters, all the washings and scourings
from the soldiers quarters run into the els
tern out Of which they used-iLat the wa
ter became SO filthy that they had to Dol
it and skim off the filth before using i.
and that notwithstanding they had three
other cisteTns inside the fort, full Of COM
paratlve y clean water, yet the command
ing officer compelled them to use this
filthy washings from the soldiers quar-
ters.
will. with your permission, my friends
relate another incident connected with
Fort Lafayette, so monstrous, So hea:hen
ISL as almost to challenge belief-gvine
the incident as related to me by an eye
witness, himself one Of the prisoners 10
fovrc1 ~ Nha-a g.,
ed in ole Of the rooms of what is called
the battery, so accurately described in
Governor Moreheads narrative some
thirty prisoners. One Of these poor fell
lows was p:ostratsd with sickness and near
unto death. Night came on and it was
thought that the poor fellow could not
live until morning. The prisoners conhn-
ed in the room with the dying man, beg
red that for that one night, at least: they
might be permitted to have light in their
prison; and, inOnstrous as it may seem,
this request was refused and in this
boasted land Of liberty, civilization, Chris
tiaoily, these prisoners were ocked up in
thoir dark plison-house WIKI the dying
man. During that long, dark night they
could hear lis dying moans; deeper and
still deeper grew the death ratt!es until
near morning, when all became still and
hushed; and when morning broke in upon
that loathsome dungeon, death had done
his work. This poor victim Of Lincoln 5
despotism had ceascl to live; lis released
spirit had gone TO that world where the
" weary are at rest, and the wicked cease
from troubling" There is to day confined
in one Of the cells Of Fort Lafayette poor
prisoner, said to be partially deranged ;
since last February he has been in solitary
confinement. His cell is darkened sen
try marches night and day before his pris
on door-he is permitted 10 Intercourse,
not even TO see the other prisoners. You
can well imagine how s!!ict bis confne
ment is when ! tell yoI that his aged and
widowed mother, WHO fer months ha,!
been seeking t. obtain an interview with
her son, at last having obtained the long
sou2ht-for permit, came one Sabbath day
70 visit him. Before Tie prisoner was ia
ken from his dungeon to tie comman1aat' :
roaa, n which lis mother vas permitted
70 see Lin, tie o.her prisoners. myselI
among them, were al locked into ihr;G
rooms-a tie of soldiers was detailed IL
guard him from his cell = a double guard
placed in the saly>port. And what sup
pose you was this mans offensn, that for
So many months he had been thus inhu-
maoIy treated? Why simply this: On
one dark, stormy night, with q life prescr-
yer made out Of oyster cans, lie jumped
into Tie sea and attempted to escape.
And in conclusion, ny friends, permit
me to say, that although | would not
" take the oath,' attempted again ana
again to be forced upon me by Mr.. Lincoln
as a condition to MY release, yet, when in
two weeks from His time, take NY seat
a yonr representative in the Legislature,
shall most cheerfulIy take the oath Of ale
glance to both lie Constitution Of lie Uni
ted States and the Constitution Of the
State of Ohio. Tia. oath, nntwithstanl-
ing the examples Of both Lincoln and Tot
to the contrary, | shal! maintain inviola,e
All those sacred guarantees which both
these constitutions throw around you, tc
protect you in your ;naienable rights,
will endeavor TO enforce to the utmost 0
my poor ability, in defiance Of the despot.
ism of both tie President and she Cover
nor, although by so doing may be agar
returned 10 my lonely cell in Fort Lafa
yetlo. Again. nv tliends, for thio extra
ordinary reception-for Ills most collia
greeting, | tender You my heartfelt thanks