The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-02
A Foreign Officers Experience in
Richmond.

The following interesting statement of
the sutferings Of an Austrian officer who
was captured by the rebels at Fairfax Court
House has been handed us for publication,
The rebels, it will be perceived, deal out
alike the same cruel treatment to those in
the Union Army and to any non-combat-
tants who may fall into their hands. The
horrible treatment of our prisoners con-
fined in the rebel capital receive at the
hands ofthe rebels is sickening to think of.
Among those taken prisoners at the re-
cent raid OF the rebels on Fairfax Court
House was Baron Rudolph Wardener,
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 Federal army.
and stationed at Fairfax Court House. He
had retired for the night, and the first in
timation he had of any enemy being near
was by some person knocking him on the
head with the butt Of revolver and per-
emptorily ordering him to get up and fol-
low him as a prisoner of war. This was at
first taken by the Baron as a bad joke by
some of his friends, but the cooked revolt
yer pointed at his head soon convinced him
OF the contrary. Nothing was to be done
but to obey, as he was threatened with in
slant death If the least resistance was of
tered. A horse was furnished to Baron
Wardener, and by the means of unfre-
quented roads the cavalcade was soon on
it's way to Culpepper Court House. At
this place Baron Wardener had an inter-
view with Gen. Lee, who treated him with
politeness, and promised that he should be
exchanged as soon as he had reached Rich
mond. III y
At Richmond, Baron Wardener was con-
fined, with the Federal officers taken at
Fairfax, in the Libby prison, and immedi-
ately wrote to General Winder, in order to
procure an interview with him. The first
application received no answer; the second
received the following: 'sThis man was ia
ken in Yankee uniform, and will be treat
ed as a prisoner of war; The Yankee uni
form spoken of consisted of an officers
overcoat, which Baron Wardener had mis-
taken for his while cropping in the dark
ness for his clothes at Fairfax Court House,
The same answer was received by the Aus
TRAN Consul, of whom Baron Wardener
had claimed protection. Addressing HIM
self to the Secretary of War, Baron War
dener in letter explained the circumstan-
ces under which he had been taken. &c.
By order of the War Department, and un-
der strong guard, Baron Wardener was
marched through the city to the court
house, where he was ushered into the pres
ence of the Judge. At first the Judge. a
worthy representative of Southern chival-
~, was very rough and uncivil; but hay
ing heard who the accused was, materially
changed his behavior, and inquired if the
Baron had not served as an officer under
Col. Wyndham.
II would consider it great honor to
serve in the Federal army" answered the
do not" = n...st
IF you do not serve in the Federal ar
my, then you are not our enemy" said the
II do not bear arms against the South,
Ihen see that you are a gentleman,
and as such will treat you. Sir" contin-
yea tne Judge, 1.-The Government of the
South invites you to join our cause. We
propose to give you such inducements as
will satisfy you"
cannot entertain such proposition,
1t you consider me as gentleman recol
lect that / was taken prisoner while in
company with my friends, who are officers
in the Federal army
The judge remained silent, and dismis-
sed Baron Wardner for the present with
the promise that he would be paroled i'm
mediately and sent under the next flag of
truce.
Baron Wardener returned to the prison
filed with joy at the expectation of being
soon released from the lOathsome prison: hui
five days passed without his expectations
being realized. He then addressed him
self once more to the Austrian Consul, who
laid the case again before the Secretary of
War, but without eliciting any positive an
swer, ON account of the suspicion which
rested on Baron Wardener of being an off,
Ger in the Federal army.
The Baron was then again brought before
the Judge, this time at the Provost Mar
shal's office.
Baron, said the Judge, you leave to-
morrow only sign this parole.''
The parole was to the effect that Baron
Wardener was to swear not to hear arms