The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-21
Greuina telegraph
REBEL BARBARITIEs.
Deeds OF the echivaIry-seventeen Months
In the sunny south-A Tale OF Horror.

deeds OF the ChivaIry-seventeen Months
in the sunny sOuth-A Tale Of Horror.
We yesterday commenced the narrative Of
Lieutenant Potter, Of this city (son of the late
Thomas Potter, brokcr), who is among the eX
changed prisoners just returned TO their hor ses.
The statement Of Lieutenant Potter froI the
point where 1t abruptly terminated vest .srday is
as follows
Bya system Of manWavTiug, tho '.tgie,est rHles
Of the prison at Columbia, south Carolina. we're
circumvented, ard three hundred succeeded I'm
thecting their escape in one day. The escapes
becoming frequent, four blogdhouuds we're pro-
cured TO track tho fugitives, Two Of tbese beasts
were induced to come into our lines, when they
were killed and their bodies buried. Upon dis.
covering their loss they gave vent to the various
means SO popular with the chlyal4y Of showing
indignation. Among which we may mention
oaths, nSledictions, and exhibitions Of facial con.
tortons and of bowie.knives. Finally they dis
covered where the animals were buried, and ex-
humed their bodies, although in a putreiying
condition.
They then placed them In the stream from which
the prisoners are compelled to procure thci
drinking water, about one hundred yards above
che dead line, that all the water which reached
them was compelled 70 flow over and be impreg-
piece Of refined berbarity which Cesar B0rgia
might envy.
One day when sent to procure wood, he, with
his companion, Captain Hume, succeeded iu es-
Gaping. lmmediu ely they COmmDnced 10 cross tue
Southern States Of South Carolina and part Of
Georgia fOr three weeks they JJurneyed,
travelling by night and COncealing themselves At
the approach Of day. During all this time they
were supported, guarded, and guided by the
negroes
Upon the approach Of morning they would
arpuuh IA IA glHvp nun9arGl
when tACy would az once announce their cJndi-
tion. ave are escaped Eaukees,' was tue "Open
sesame" to the bla k heart. He would at once
give them food, even although as was generally
the care he was compelled to deprive himself in
order to do 30. The slaves appeared to have u
system of telegraphing, which was most gemarkas
BILE. regular organization, secret in its nature,
evidently existed, and in discussing all the ques
tiCns Of the day, they exhibited au appreciation
Rnd intelligence TAR above tuat ofthe poor "whitc
trash" Every week from thirty 10 forty negroes
would collect IN some caDn, and the most
intelligent would read TO them the news from
the South CarotiHtaH, and they were
waiting most AnXiUusly for "Mas;a sherman TO
come and set them free. Upon the route when
negro had sheltered them tor the day, he would
say thar at certain point they would find
smother who would hide them for the next day,
and Ht that point the "other" invariably ap-
peared Three negro women disguised them
selves in boys clothes, and expressed their in
tentOn 20 follow the ''Naukees," aud a most posi-
tive refusal alone prevented them carrying their
scheme into practi e. At there resides a
wealthy pauter who has paid over $4,000 during
the last seventeen months to avoid beiug drafted.
Let those who murmur at $500 for three
years. think OF this 1act and learn to
value their blessings Every man must give
one-tenth OF all his income, whether in
money grain, TO aid the Rebellion and it is the
sentme Mt of the Southern people thai could they
but get an opportunity, they would hur from
power their OppressOrs, and return once more
under the old hag. One day, about three weeks
after they had escaped, they were captured this
tirna hon hv Ifrfl mis- in slig TnnU
being hailed they replied they were members
of the Georgia militia upon which they were
chased with blOOdhOunds, and captured. Their
captors apoogizcd for such treatment, stating
they thought that they were negroes. Daring
their third captivity they were well treated and
although every soutnrOn, when in the pre,enCe
of aneheT, declared they were for war TO eNter-
minalion, our heroes were led aside privately,
and CUeTy man declared that he was true
to the old Union at heart, but was afraid 90 trust
his neighhor After continuing there for one
week, enjoying Southern hospitality, they were
sent back to Columbia jail Tnere sights
mot narrowing met their gaze, whole regiments
OF our prisoners were marched through tue street
without any clothing except smsi rtg, "a trdiy
yard square and some we're deprived OF even
that. Tie brutality Of those in command was
terrible. General Winder-let the name be
remembered, for when capture him Nomesi,
must be satisded-when our men we're dying
here at the rate OF one hundred and fifty pei
day, forbid the officers allowing them any i'm
pro, emt mt, remerking that they 'are not dying
hat fast enOugh." In this prison the brother in.
law of Gen, Grant Is confined, and is subjected q
every kind of opprobnum and insults, being
placed in the cell with runaway negroes anl
tTtate d more like brute than man. But Ou
prisoners suffer more from their fellows tn III
from their foes. An organized band OF abOu
200 desperadoes Of our forces, murder thei
fellows and It move their clothing aud blankets
and bury them under their tents. This horrible
system is principally practised upon fresh fish,
or new arrivals. This continued until M
mans life was safe while he slept, whei
the honest part OF the prisoners determined
to have vengeance on these most cOwardll
murdtrers, and detect them in tue very act.
jury was empanelled, Judge and Judge Advocate
appointed, the criminals granted far trial, anC
sentenced TO death. They we're then taken Ou
and hung. The brother of one Of the victims re
quested 10 pull the rope OF his brothers murderer
when he did so the rope broke. The poor wret5l
pleaded for life his knees butt istice dem Inde
his death, and q second time he swuAg. Tat
time was the last. Some Of these wretcnes hlC
ANA sed money, one having over 5000 Ia hu
possession when executed.
Finally after numerous adventures Lleuteuan
POtter was exchanged 1t ChlrlestOwn an
recently arrived az Annapolis. Here he va
attended TO by the Sanitary Commission
whose good offices were extended o. him, lih
they have been 90 20 many others,
Al or his many adventures, he has arrived one
more in his native ely, in company With h.
friend, Lieutenant George Sterling, who has al .
sufintd ID the prlvutiOns OF CAPTIVITY. LButeu0u
Potter relates his tale Of horror % a pOpulti0
which will remember ana revenge the wrongs 10
hicted on their brave sons.