Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-04-17

Il
join his regiment, seeming TO love bis country
only the more for all that be has endured in its
| defense. His subdued and modest manner,
while narratng the part he had borne in this
expedition, showed him TO be wholly unconscious
ofhaving done anything more than perform his
SIMPLE duty as soldier. Such Spartan forth
tude, and such fidelity to the trust Of friendship
and to the inspirations OF patriotism, deserve an
enduring. record in the archives Of the Govern
iuent, and will find one, am sure, in the hearts
OF the loyal people.
The twenty-five captives, when secured, were
thrust into the negro Jail OF Chattanooga. They
occupied single room, half under ground, and
but thirteen feet square, so that there was not
space enough for them all to lie down together,
and part OF them were, in consequence, oblig-
ed to sleep sitting and leaning against the walls
The only entrance was through trap door in
the ceiling, that was raised twice day to let
down their scanty meals which were lowered in
bucket. They had no other light or ventila-
tion than that which came through two small,
tripple-grated windows. They were covered
with swarming vermin, and the hent was 30 op-
pressive that they were often obliged to strip
themselves entirely Of their clothes to bear it,
Add to this, they were all handcuffed, and, with
trace chains secured by padlocks around their
necks, were fastened to each other in companies
of twos and threes f Their food, which was
doled out to them twice day, consisted of lit
of bread, and spoiled picked beef They had
no opportunity of procuring supplies from the
outside, nor had they any means of doing so,
their pockets having been ried Of their last cent
by the Confederate neutrality-suspicious. a.
mong whom was an officer wearing the rebel un-
form Of major. No part Of the money thus
basely taken was ever returned.
During the imprisonment at Chattanooga
their leader, Mr.. Andrews, was tried and con-
demned as spy, and was subsequently, execu-
| ted at Atlanta, the 7th of June. They were
strong and in perfect health when they entered
this negro Jail, but at the end of something more
than three weeks, when they were required to
leave 1t, they were so exhausted from the treat
nent to which they had been subjected, as scarce
ly to be able to walk and several staggered from
weakness as they passed through the streets to
the cars. 4.....
Finally, twelve OF the number, including the
hve who have deposcd, and Mr.. Mason, of Com
pany *, 2lst Regiment Ohio Voluntcers-who
was prevented by illness from giving h,s evl-
dence-wcre transferred to the prison OF Knox
\ vile, tennessee. On arriving there, seven OF
them were arralgned before a Court Martial
charged win being spies. they were permitted
10 oe present, oui not TO hear either the argu-
ineht OF their own counsel or that oil the judge
Advocate' Ihelr counsel however, afterward
Vlslteu me prison ana read to them the written
defense which ne made before the court in their
oehalf; Inc substance OF that paper ls thus
stated oy one OF the witnesses, Corporal Pitten-
ger; ne ltne counsel contended that our being
dressed IN eitIzehs CLONES was nothing more
'han What tne SohIeoerate government itseli mad
authorized. and was only what all the guerrlllas
IN the service OF the Coniederaey did on all oc-
cas,ohs when u wouia oe an advantage TO Them
10 90 SO: ana ne clted the instance oil Gen. Nor
gan havlng dressed has men IN the uniform OF
our soiulers' ana passed then on as oelng from
1 tne ON IeDneyIVana cavalry regiment, and DV
mat means succeeded IN reaching railroad and
destroying IT, mus instance was mentioned 10
] sho" thas our oeing IN eitikehs ciothes did not
l 'ake rom US sne Protection awarded 10 prison.
i ers OF war. me pea went on iurther TO state
n Una. we hau eoiu the ouJec. OF our exPeditioni
@ .nat II was Pufely miIi'ary eior the destruc'
uon OF communications, and as such, lawful ac-
corm,ng 70 'he ruIes Q. war
; in'e yus. anu ,easo',ap'e presentation OF tne
!. case appears 20 nave Prod"ced us appropriate
impression. several members oi the courtmar,
.al a',c' wa.u caiied OH tne prisoners and assured
thc,h .ha' rom the evidence against tnem, tney
couid not oe conoemneu as spies; that they mac
Tohe 10, q certain Known ooJee'' emo hot haVlne
fingered ABOUT or visited any oi thelr camps
obtaining or seeking any Information, they cooie
not be convicted. Soon thereafter al the pris
oners were removed 10 Atanta, ga, ana tne5
leit khoxviie unoer q oellei that their comrades
VINO mad oeen iried, either mad oeen or would d
acquitted. In the meantime, however, the view
entertalned and expressed TO them by the mem
oers OF the court were overcome, u may be SAFE
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