Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-03-05

one Of my officers succeeded in making his
escape in this way, and although was
not without apprehension that it was 8
trap, nevertheless, resolved to try the
experiment. Accordingly Captain B. C. G..
Rich, Of the Sd Ohio, and myself, went to
the designated place at the appointed hour,
where we were assured that IL WAS ali
right. We complied with the terms
and passed out, but no sooner were We
Ontside guard lines, than Lieutenant Ls-
tOuohe, Adjutsnt Of the prison, and seven
men sprangOut from concealed place and
commenced firing on US before hslting US.
We were unarmed and could do nothing
but surrender.
We were taken back to prison, put in
irons, and thrown into one Of these filthy
holes called cells, where we were kept for
three weeks on bread and water.
The weather was very cold during the
time and we nearly perished.
There was a large amount Of filth In the
cell which could not induce them to re-
move, nor could get them to permit me to
remove it. 1 asked for paper, pen and
ink to write to the rebel authorities
also box to set on Of which there was
large number in the cells, but everything
was denied me at the time was taken to
cell. There were six Of our men confined
in one of these cells for attempting to es-
cape. They had been there for six days
without blankets, and two of them were
very sick. They were released ct the end
of days confinement.
IcsnnOt describe to yeu the lOathsome
flthiness Of theseoells. They are infested
with innumsrable number Of rats and
mice and have no mark of having been
cleaned since they were first built. 1t is
needless for me to say that no man can
survive long confinement in place of
this kind, and although am acquainted
with several persons who have been con-
fined there, do not know one who can
now be called q we'll man. He also con-
firms the statement that every pledge
made by them to return them their
money, was violated, and that after notice
was sent North that money forwarded them
would be delivered. Every penny SO sent
was stolen.
A leading public man here, supposed
to have, through his personal relations,
better means than any one else Of know
ing the probabilities concerning shermsn's
expedition, gives it as his opinion that by
this time his whole force is back again to
some point on the Mississippi River. He
regards it as having been, in the main, au
extended reconnaissance. II it had any
other object, the failure Of cooperative
would have compelled lis
Practically, General Kilpstricks move
ment on Richmond is considered failure.
He burnt some bridges and grist-mills
and tore up some railroad, but the results
Of such achievements on former occasions
have not been such as to cause them to be
considered an equivalent for the proposed
release Of Union prisoners.
As yet, 1t is unknown whether the un-
expectedly vigorous resistance encOun-
tered in the fOrtiheatiOns Of Richmond
came from LOUgstreet's returned corps, or
only from the regular garrison.
Messrs. J. B. Randanez and Cap.
tain Arnold BsrtOnnesu, New Or,
leans CreOles, were to day presented to the
President, by Judge Kelly Of Philadel-
phia. They are bearers Of petitions signed
By over one thousand of the ancient freed
men Of the city. They are nearly all Of
French descent. They represent that the
petitioners are loyal citizens and natives
Of Louisiana, and that 3 large portion Of
them are owners Of real, and sll Of them
Of personal property many Of them being
engaged in pursuits Of trade and mechsn-
ical industry; reciting the language Of
the Declaration Of Independence and the
avOwed opinion Of Attorney General Bates
in support Of their claim, to be considered
citizens Of the United States. They point
to services rendered General Jackson ct
New Orleans by their fathers, to the slac-
rity with WHICH they themselves respond
ed to the call first Of General Butler and
then Of General Banks for troops to defend
the city against the rebels; to their order
ly habits to the fact that they pay taxes
on 100000 IS reason why they
should be admitted to be inscribed on the
registers end to the rights and privileges
Of electors.
Among the signatures to this petition,
are twsnty-eight veterans Of the war Of
1872, who served under General Jackson
and four who were soldiers, one Of them q
Lieutenant in the French army under
NapoleOn's frsfcOnsulate before Louisiana
was sold to the United States. They pray
simply to have the same rights under this
free government that they then had under
the French Government for which they
fought.
The President, in replying to the petit
tion, said 1t was his business to finish
the job he had on hand, and that if he wai
convinced that it was necessary, in order
to secure the restoration Of Louisiana thai
they should be allowed TO vote, h
would do it. But this petition rests iti
claim on moral grounds, and with those hi