Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-01-07

~ nigntS Tor tue whole room, ana we wore
obliged to procure lights at our own ex.
pense.
a fithtub was furnished us, made by
saving barrel across the middle. Stand.
ing upright on tho closed end, stick was
run across it through holes bored a
little way below the top. Thus pro
vision was made for its being carried by
two vien. 1t had no cover. For about
three weeks it stood in the gang way or
entrance passage, outside the door of our
prison room, during the daytime. After
wards, upon my application, we were per-
mitted to keep 1t during the day, in an
empty room adjoining the gapg-way. Two
Of the prisoners went out with it occasion.
ally under guard, Always at night it was
necessarily kept in our room, the door be-
ing locked. Tais whole matter was
great grievance.
The prisoners were mostly over 40 years
of age, all accustomed 10 active employ
ments, upon whom imprisonment bore Sc.
verely. About the end of September Will
liam E. Roberts and John Yorks were Ia.
ken sick with bowel complaints and were
removed to the hospital near the Fort -
Roberts died about ten days afterwards.
There were other cases of nickuess but OF
less severity, up to this time. Subse.
quently three or four prisoners were dis
charged on account of sickness--two casos
of rheumatism aud one of coH'sunpton-
by order of Gen Couch. Mr.. Yorks was
also discharged.
Three or four weeks after we were i'm
} prisoned, Gen. Couch came to the Fort
and was in the bomb-proof. He sale
: the men should have a second blanket each
= ] hey were furnished some weeks after
wards, toward the end Of October. II,
directed that We be allowed to go out in
, the yard together twice q week. Thi:
privilege wa, actually allowed US bu
, twice while was there. AT other time
few Of US were allowed to 60 out under
guard, to work little for exercise
| | was taken to Harrisburg day or tw
: after the October election, in compsn,
r with three others Of the prisoners, F"u
, others had been taken there previously.- -
] This was six weeks from the date of nj,
Q arrest, and had had no notice of the char
4 gcs against me nor any distinct kpowledg
$ of what they would be.
E Two weeks after my arrival in Harris
K burg, my case was called on for trial bt
il fore Military Commission composed c
t Coils Provost and Frink, and Capt. Lee
q Capt Francis Vessels Judge Advocate
:. A copy of the charges was served upc
n me Que day and the next day l was cal
n ed before the Commission for trial.
y think this was Friday, Get 25. ha
no counsel present, and there was an a
d ournment to The neAs day. At the nel
}, meeting, after plea entered, witness
r we're examined for the prosecution, al
rs then there was another adjournment
in Monday or Tuesday following. At t
ls final meeting one additional witness W
tn examined for the prosecution and one f
t. the defence, and brief defence writ
Sc by my counsel, and signed by me, "
re put in The case then closed. No Ii
l. of witnesses for the prosecution had ev
or been furnished me, nor any intormali
Sc as to the particular points to be met.
d, to the charges of which l had one da,
Is notice before | was called up for tri
a they we're SO general and indefinite
er statement, that they conveyed to me
se useful information of the evidence | v
as to answer.
or fouad myself accused, in the char
of confcderating with others to resist
vet Conscription Act, and of advising res
.ch lance to it; that had united with 9TH
ng TO form Society commonly call
- "Knights of the Golden Circle" the
ns. iect of which was to resist the draft, a
.ry that | had also assisted to form orgaui'
at tlons of armed Companies or squads
uf- resist the military authorities of the U
ay. Although each and all these allegatic
in were absolutely and wholly false, it '
Iii. impossible, in the nature of the case, t
I'M | should meet them, general and sweep
as they were, by negative proofs
To RUE of reason or of law can contempt
ay. the proof of general negatives by def
tin dant, or the preparation for such proof
can him, in a case of this description.
flee that can be required of him is, that
we shall contradict or explain away the |
cad tcular testimony produced Tor the pr
,cat cutiou, to do which it is necessary
ere he shall know beforehand what it will
and ahal be in a position to prepare