Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-03-29

| do not know and tin cup OF coffee.
ms was all the bread and meet we re-
ceived for one days rations. The bread
was good, but the meat was not. Once or
twice week we had fresh beef, and the
balance OF the time bacon two or three
years old, and of q very poor quality at
that. The coffee was not the article fur
nished by the Government, but very in
ferior quality Of patent coffee purchased
at probably one fourth the cost of the
genuine article, which We were obliged to
use, while the proceeds of that which was
intended for our use passed into the pock-
cts of those connected with the Commits
sary Department. For dinner, we had a
TIN cup OF bean soup, made by putting the
beans into the water IN which the meat
had boiled the previous day, and cook
ing them few hours; when served, it
resembled very closely in appearance, the
water found in frog pond in August 1t
could scarcely be made more unpal-
liable or unwholesome. For supper,
each had a lin cup OF coffee, made of the
same material as that served in the morn.
ing We bad the privilege of buying q
few articles from the sutiler, at three
times their value; but these we're of
no use 10 us as We had no conveniences
for cooking. Our daily ration OF water
for 52 of US, was what We could bring
twice in barrel from the Delaware. This
was all we had for drinking and washing
purposes and the only vessel we had in
which 10 boil and wash our clothing was
a 2 gallen tin bake pan, until short
time before Ye were sent TO Harrisburg
when We were provided with two old rus
ty camp-ketlles. The air was very damp,
and during greater part of the night it
was so cold We could not sleep. This
| room was evidently never intended TO
contine persons in, as the dampuess must,
in short time, impair, if mol destroy,
the health of those having the strongest I
constitutions as the appearance of ma
ny of the prisoners fully testified. Dur
ing my imprisonment in the Fort , was
kept IN close confinement, except when |
would volunteer to get out and work
which did several times in order 10 have
the fresh air. The only kind of work we
had to do was cutting and wheeling ice
10 fill the Ice House, or shoveling gravel
on Z new road, which is being built from
the For. TO Bells Salion on the p. w. &
b. K. Il. The work, although no, of vc-
ry pleasant kind, was not half so bad as
the seEce of having guard at your back
with o musket and bsyonet, watching you
as if you were condemned criminal
This, to me, WAS most huniliating, as
had never been accustomed to being driy-
en- in this manner. | was confined here
81 days.
On the morning of the l7th February,
|, with six others, left the Fort for Harris
burg. We walked to Philadelphia, dis.
iance OF some eight miles; the road was
slushy and slippery, making it very hard
for some of the party, as Mr.. Huber was
very old, and DR.. Krise had just been ia
ken out of the hospital. We arrived at
Harrisburg at 4, p. m, and were lodged
in the Exchange, "land found it, if posi-
BILE, even more filthy than when, one
mouth previous, | left it for the Fort.
now, for the first time was able 10 find out
the charges upon which had been arres-
ted. had made inquiry at the Provost
Marshal's office in Baltimore, when frst
arrested, and was told that they did not
know what the charges were against me-
This, however, AN satisfied, was false, as
very "hattering" notice appeared in the
| Clipper day or two afterwards, stating
that was most desperate" character
and the "leader Of the Clearfeld county
rioters !" and have no doubt this 'relia.
| be" information was received from the
office Of Col. Wooley. On being turned
over to Capt. Thume at Harrisburg, when
first brought there, | asked for a copy OF
the charges against me, which he promis.
ed to furnish on the following Monday. -
But presume he forgot it, as never re-
ceived them. frequently askoa 10 know
the nature Of my offence, but failed in
every attempt; and now, after being con.
fined 43 days, learned the charges thro'
one of my friends, which was of being
an officer of secret organ ization in Clear
field county TO resist the draft. The atii
davit, upon which my arrest was ordered
vas made by John l.. Loder, OF Bradford
township, who swore that acted as an Off
Ger of meetinga at Kuepp'S barn, in Brad
ford township in September or October
and swore the members present to resist
the enforcement of the draft, TO stick to-
gether, and to rescue each other from the
marshals, should any one be arrested by
them. This was a falsehood, as | left the
county on the 18th Of September, return
ed on the Goth, remained during the court
and again left for Williamsport on the Sd
of October, and did not return TO The
county until since my release. The meet
ing, Of which Loder pretends to give at
exposition, was held in the latter part o
July, and its only object was theorgan
isation of the Democratic party pre-
paratory to tho Special election on the Al
of August This same Loder came to m
at the Guard House, in Harrisburg, on th
day my trial was to commence, and in tn
presence of Daniel Curley, informed m
that he had told the Judge Advocate Il
destroy the affidavit he had made agains
me, and he would not appear against m
at all, as he had been entirely mstak en-,
both as to the time and object of the IN eel
ing. and that he would swear that resi-,
tanoe to the draft, or Government, wa
not mentioned at the meeting at Knepp'
barn.
This was the first time had spoken {
him since my arrest, and he came volun
il.r;1r and p,sda shie statapnapt ui ho.