Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-04-26
Rebel BarbaritY.

among the many oLner brutal snur-
ders Of Federal prisoners by the rebel
authorities and soldiers, we have already
mentioned that of First Lieutenant Ed
WARD NJ. KNOWLES, Of our county. We
learn that the report has been circulated
in some neighborhoods (no doubt the
work of rebel sympathizers) that the
Lieutenant lost he's life on account Of an
Incorporate use of language at what he
regarded as outrages perpetrated by his
rebel guard We have been permitted
to read the afEidavits of several officers
who we're prisoners with Lieut.. Knowles
at the time of his supposed death, and
net single affidavit justiies the report
of which we speak. On the contrary,
they testify that the Lieutenant was eau
tious in his language both TO the officers
and guards, and did nor said anything
in an insulting manner. We take the
liberty Of copying two Of these afidavits
Certified statement OF officers of the
Army of the United States, now held
by the authorities of the so-called Con-
fsderate States, as Prisoners Of War,
at the city of Columbia, and State of
South Carolina, relative TO the case of
Edward M. Knowles, First Lieutenant
of Company X, AID Regiment Indi-
ana Volunteer Infantry, late Prison
er of War, taken before Warren
Shields, Colonel of the 30th Regiment
of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, now
Prisoner of War, and Senior Officers
Of the United States Army, now at
Asylum Camp" in the city Of Colum-
bia, and State of South Carolina, on
the 10th day of January, 1865, to.wit:
j, John Burch, Captain of Company
"a" AID Regiment Indiana Volunteer
Infantry, now a prisoner of war, at the
city of Columbia, South Carolina, do
hereby certify, upon the honor of an
officer and gentleman, that | am per-
sonally acquainted with Edward N.
Knowles, late First Lieutenant of Com
pany X, of the AID Regiment Indiana
Volunteers, who was captured at the
battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, on the
Goth day of September, 1868, and was
since that time q prisoner of war, at
Richmond, Virginia, Macon, Georgia,
Charleston and Columbia, South Caro-
lima, until the Goth day of November,
1864, (when the officers of the United
States Army, prisoners of war, were
held in confinement at the city of Colum-
bia, aforesaid), he, the said Edward M.
Knowles, First Lieutenant, AID Regi-
ment of Indiana Infantry, together with
numerous, other officers confined there
with him, escaped through the line of
to reach the line of the United States
forces then in the State Of Georgis,
That short time before said lst Lieut.
Edward M. Knowles made his said es-
cape he received by flag of truce from
| the North box containing certain arti-
cles of clothing, &c, and that he, the
said 1st Lieut.. Edward NJ. Knowles,
wore at the time of his escape from said
prison camp the following articles of
clothing to.wit: Dark blue fatigue coat
(new,l new infantry pants, Officers 8,
| dark blue,) new shoes and new under
clothing throughout, and he also carried
with him one U. S. blanket
That when / next heard from said st
Lieut. Edward NJ. Knowles was after his
recapture and Incarceration in mili-
tary prison at Augusta, Ga, on or about
the first day Of December, 1864.
That he has not since that time been
returned to this camp, nor has he, so far
| as can learn, been returned to any
other place of confinement for United
States officers, prisoners of war, although
/ have made diligent enquiry for that
purpose.
Signed at the Asylum Camp, Colunl-
bia, ). c., this 18th day of January
1865.
Signed in my presence.