The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-01
PROM THE DRY ToRTuaAs. .
Revolving Treatment of PrisOnera and
Private Soldiers by the Military A~tho-
rafaaa- f.t ~


Private Soldiers by the Military A~tho-
rities, Etc. t@
A correspondent writes us from Fort Jeher-
son, Dry Tortugaa Florida, under date Of Sep,
teInber H. complaining bitterly Of the fearful
treatment by the military authorities OF that
"God.iorsaken Island" towards civil prisoners
and private soldiers. Their acts, he states, are
shown without any lear or feeling, and there s
no redress for the sufferers.
pline, which, for brutality and atroclty, are uu-
parallel. The first case OF cruelty ne $Ies
occurred on Friday, the 10th OF ,.st last,
when the prisoners we're engage in uploaClinp
the steamer S. .MQryan the Jrigantine Reoecca
Sheppdrd, and became trunk, with the armed
guard placed over .pem, from the liquor given
them by the c|-.ews of the vessels. Two Of the
gSa d PTT'S1efb 6 Re nsss aIeF Seg aS GH
up pv the thumbs, rs "a punishment to them.
This Is oresdiul to endure and often leaves those
put to The pain exhausted and unconscious.
James Dunn, the prisoner, was lifted on his feet
ior two hours, and then fell heavily. TO the
Ground by the breaking Of the rope, and struck
on the back of his head, which rendered him
insensible. The lnanimate, bleeding man was
Immediately tied up again by his wounded
hands, by an Implying sergeant, and would
have been kept in that position but for the in
reference of Brigadier-General Hill, who con-
mands the post. This was at 4 O'Clock. At 8
z. NJ, after Damn had partially come TO his
senses, he was again seized, and ordered to
carry a 40-pound shot by the officer of the day.
1t was too much OF task for his weak condi-
tion, and tho snot fell from his fingers, notwith-
standing all bis efforts to retain il. He was
then tied up by the thumbs for the third
time, and lett suspended for four hours iu
mortal agony. When released he was con
veyed to the hospital. where he still remains.
The result of his punishment is the loss of his
right thumb and his left hand Captain G.
Mcconnell, the officer of the day, and Sergeant
Donelly both of the Fifth United States Artil-
lery, are the agents of his misfortune and snf-
fering. John Hedenbach, of Company ID, Fifth
United States Artillery, was one OF the soldiers
who had been drinking. He was tied up by the
wrists while his appeals aud prayers to be cut
down received the sad comfort of knowing that
he bad to "bold his id tongue, or be gagged
with q bayonet."
AS Sergeant Donelly expresses himself, Dunn
was gagged because he begged mercy from his
prosecutors, and had his mouth severely cut
John Brown, confined as prisoner tor deser-
tion, is spoken of a. another victim of military
cruelty. On the llth of September he was or
deTed to carry shot for some pretended breach
OF discipline, and did so for a few hours while
suffering from an attack of diarrhoea, and then
finally refused to carry IL longer.
This was reported TO General Hill, who
ordered his hands to be tied behind his back,
and that he should be thrown off the wharf into
the water, and kept there until he offered to
comply TO the officers terms. He was taken in
charge by Brevet Major Ritterhaue, of the 5th
United States Artillery, and two privates, ac-
companied by heartlsss fellow, once Colonel
of the ll0th New York Volun' GERS, and now
suuer OF Fort Jefferson. who went along as he
said, to see the tun. Atuer tying 2uu5s,
Major Ritterhaus pushed him OFT the wharf into
the sea. He was kept under water tor what
seemed very nearly two minutes, and he was
then pulled up by the head, nearly suffocated,
chOked, and speechless. The question was put,
"Will you carry the shot ~ when there was no
answer, and down he forced under the
wafer agaiu. Once more he was pulled up,
quite exhausted, and the same question asked,
tc which he could only make sign to show
that he submitted. These are not the only
modes of punishment; but every little device is
invented to caused pain. One man named Kelly
had his finger cut OFT by Sergeant Murphy with
his sword, because the hand was not held in the
proper place, and the same person knocked an
other manaown by blow on the head with
musbet.
Private Gosnie, of Company |, boy OF seven.
teen years old, was made to march in the hot
sun with his musket and sixteen bricks in his
knapsack, and when he gave out he was beaten
with club until he was black and blue. Be-
Sides this severe punishment, the officers are
charged by our correspondent with cheating
and starving the soldiers ana prisoners The
Post Commissary, Major Ritterhaus, is accused
OF selling TO Lieutenant People, acting Quarter
master, fifteen barrels of flour, ec0noneized in the
bakery, for sixteen dollars per barrel, and
pooketing the proceeds. Our correspondent
makes some bitter reflections upon this state OF
affairs at Dry Tortugas, and asRs if there is no
protection to be had tor the prisoners and
sOldiers.-Nel1 York World.