Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-05-27

who came there to see him. he was
not quite dead; he would gasp once perhaps
in five minutes his pulse would almost die
out, and then there would be slight motion
again; left him, with the prisoner Harold,
in charge of Lieut.. Baker, saying that If
Booth recovered agnin, to wait an hour, and
If likely TO recover to send over to Bell Plain
for surgeon from one of the gun-ships; if
not, to get the best conveyance he could and
bring Atta over dead or alive.
.. You ;eft before he diedi A. No. Istaid
there some ten inmates after the doctor who
was there said he was dead.
Q. You have seen the dead body since3
WASHINGTON, May %, 1868.
Testimony Of Lieut.. Il. Burtley.
BY Judge Holt. Q. State whether you
have been in the military SERVICE and il SO in
what position A. have been in the Signal
Corps of the army since August, 1868.
q, State whether you have been prisoner
Of war, and if SO at what timc2 A. was
prisoner at Richmond during portion of the
year 1854.
@. At what prison2 A. A part of the time
at Libby, while was in Richmond, and at
other prisons at other times.
" CtStc Whctuct VI UOtD euIfHB tHuN tithc
you had occasion to observe that the Libby
Prison had been mined by the Confederate
authorities with the view of exploding it il
the city was captured by the Federal troops7
A. When we were first taken to Libby we
were informed when taken into the hall, tha.
the place had been mined; on the next morn
ing we were taken into a dungeon, in the
cellsr part of the building; in going to the
dungeon we had to go round place of fresh
dirt in the centre of the cellar; the guards
would not allow any person to pass over or
near it; on inquiry why, we were told there
was a torpedo buried there. that remained
there while we were in the dungeon, and
some time after we had been taken up stairs
q. Did you have an opportunity to exam
inc the torpcdo2 A. No; it was not opened
while we were ia the dungeon, we learned
from officers who had charge that torpedo
was there.
Q. Did they speak Of one or moref A.
One; it was spoken Of as the torpedo.
Q. From the appearance of the ground and
| the place dug out, would you have supposed
it to be n large or n small torpedol A, The
excavation, apparently from the fresh dir,
dug out and put back again, was, perhaps
six feet in diameter
@. Was that directly under the prsoni A.
Yes, sir; directly under the centre of the pri
| son.
Q. Did they explain to you the object for
| which it had been placed therc2 A. Yes
different persons in conversation told us tho
prison had been mined on account of the raid
near the city, under the command of Dahl
! gren; they said if the raid succeeded, and
| the prisoners were in danger of being libcra
ted they would blow US up.
| TeStimo1u of T. IT. Hall
BY Judge Holt. q. State whether or not
| you have opened certain boxes delivered tC
! you by Major Eckert as containing the ar
chivcs of the so-calledC S. A. A. have.
. Q. Look at that paper, and state whether
| it was found in one of those boxes. A. Yes
recognize it us one of the papers so found
| The paper referred to was read to the Court
| by Colonel Burnett, and is as follows:
| MONTGOMERY,
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, VA.
To his Ercellency, President c. s. Amcried.
DEAR SIR: have been thinking for some
| time | would make this communication tc
you, but have been deferred from doing SC
on account of i'll health. nov offer you my
services, and, if you will favor me in my dc
| signs, l will proceed rs soon as my health
will permit, to rid my country Of some of hcl
| dcadliest enemies 10y striking at the very
|
her in slavery. consider nothing dishonor
able having such tendency. All want OF
| you is to favor me by granting the necessary
papers, &c, to travel on while within the
! jurisdiction of this government. | am per
fectly familiar with the North, and feel con
tident that can execute anything under
take. ] have just returned. now from within
their lines. / am q lieutenant in Genera
| Dukes command. | was on raid last Junt
in Kentucky, under General John III. Morgan
| and all my command, except two or three
commissioned officers, were taken prisoner.
but finding good opportunity while on my
way to prison, made my escape from them
in the garb of Il citizen. | attempted to pas.
out through the mountains, but finding that
impossible, narrowly escaping two or three
times being retakcn, directed my course
north and south, through the CanaGas, by
the assistance OF Col. j. u. lIolcomhc. | sue
ceeded in making my way round through
the blockade, but having taken the yellow
fever at Bermuda, have been rendered unfit
| for service since my arrival. was reared up
in the State of Alabama, and educated at it,
university. Both the Secretary of War and
his assistant, Judge Campbell, are personally
| acquainted with my father. Wm. j. Allston
of the Fifth Congressional district of Alaba
ma, having served in the time of the old
Congress in the years 40, so, and 81. If !
do anything for you, shall expect your full
| confidence in return. If you give this, can
render you and my country very important
service. Let me hear from you soon. am
anxious to be doing something, and having
no command at present, all, or nearly all
being in garrison, desire that you favor me
in this short time. would like to have a
personal interview with you in order to per
feet arrangements before starting.
am, very respectfully, your obedient ser
want, Lieut.. w. ALLsroN.
address me at these Springs, in hospital J
On the above letter were the following en-
dorscments:
/. Brief of letter without signature.
2. Respectfully referred, by direction of
the President, to the honorable Secretary of
War. BURTON w. HARRISON,
Private Secretary.
Received Nov. 20, 1864. Record Book A..
G. O., Dec. s, 1864, 3D. A. G. for attention.
BY order j. A. Campbell, A. S. w.
BY Mr.. Aiken. Q. From which box did
you obtain that letter. A. From the box
marked "Adjutant Generals ofiice-Letters