The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-08-21
A Slave-Pen Broken ND.

We copy from The Ereaiag Post the fol-
lowing portion Of deeply interesting letter
from b ltimore:
" The release OF the slaves Of the rebel
Gen. Stuart from slave-pen in Pratt Street.
N thls city, was attended by some interesting
incidents Col. Birney having applied for
authority to visit the place and confscate
Stuari's property an order 10 that effect
arrived yesterday, and IL the afternoon the
Colonel proceeded to the prison, showed his
order, entered, and locking the doors behind
HIM, entered tht courtyard IL 81, and then
visited the cells. l. tins place sixty persons
We're confined, SOM Of them having been
there over three years. To be imprisoned
there. without ever being allowed 70 visit
the outer word, TO forget almost what trees
ana flowers and green fields we're, TO be de-
prirea even Of the cool breezes Of heaven
was bad enough; bat there was worse than
This. The ball, the chain, the shackles were
not wanting TO make the lives Of these poor
Creatures more miserable. Sixteen men were
bound together with shackles at the ankle.
others were chained two by two, and one old
man had his legs fastened together by shack
les connected by chains bound TO his waist.
The poor wretches were all terribly frightened
when called up by the colonel. They thought
he had come TO buy them and take them off
South, as il seems they have been kept there
by their masters 10 await either peace and
the Union as il was or good chance for
shipment TO The South. They were soon re-
assured, however, and blacksmith having
been sent for, the chains and shackles were
speedily removed
When the chains fell from the ankles Of
the old man, he lifted up his eyes and hands
and exclaimed, Thank Godr The ex-
preston was simple, but in its tone revealed
the suffering, the despair Of months. When
told they were to 60 out and be free, they
could not believe it at first, but when assured
again and again that If was SO, a simultane-
Gus shout Of gladness went up, which must
have made the angels rejoice, and God
bless You, massa. God Almighty bless you,;
The Lord Jesus love YOU massar = were the
blessings freely shOwered upon the colonel,
who scarcely less happy than they, tried TO
make them understand that they owed their
release to the Government They listened
and assenied, but still evidently looked upon
the colonel as their deliverer after all The
scene, he says, be shall never forget. Their
JOY found vent, with the men, IN prayers and
calculations Of praise, with the women IL
tears and embraces Of each other.
Finally, ihe colonel told them they must
get ready TO go out. Then they fairly few
TO their cells for their bags and bundles. And
the Colonel told il with smile-even in
this supreme moment womanly vanity (shall
We SO Call laudable selfrespect p showed
itself. He could see them smoothing Their
ha-, putting on little articles Of fnsry, and
otherwise 'prettying up before their bits OF
looking II was not many minutes,
however, before they all came down, and
were marched out, men, women, and children,
into The free-to them doubly free--air.
They were taken TO the recruiting office in
Camden street, and here another most affect
-ns scene took place. The ns-.s Of the open
ing of thesprison had spread Ike wiidire,
AM the Office and pavement 10 front were
croHde with cOiored people, many Of whom
now met trien0s ard relatives for the first
time for three years. Well, must not make
my letter to long. Suffice ii to say that JOY
reign-d supreme, and when the eolunsi