Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-02-13
"REMINISCENCES FERH GRAFIOT
sEREEE MILITARY PRISON.
Not Found la Gre~Iey-s History OF tEse
Rebellion.

Now that the war is over and those
who took part in it IN either side, are
beginning TO tell over their trials aud
tr;bulatiOns, we gather the following
letter from one OF the inmates of the
Cratic street prison, written during the
war which il too good tC he lost.
For the sake of convenience we shall
call the two brothers by the name Of
Smith Jack was a young man, who
o after tine rebellion broke out Joined
the rebel army. Henry, being an uE-
conditional union nan, rushed to st.
Louis for safety, and t. further the cause
of the government vas willing to sacri
fee all his wife's cousins, and If nesd be,
10 put n or two of her brothers into
the army also, and even as a last
resort to let the "old man GO"
Jack Joined General Prices com
mand and wa with him at several
fights in Southwest Missouri, in one
o. which be got wounded in the cap OF
the knee. He then left the army and
came to st. Louis, where he remained
about nine months, or until the federal
authorities arrested him-prOhably at
the instance Of his bTOther-aud placed
Linn in Gratiot street prison, from which
he wrote to his brother several times,
knowing that ibis brother, who
lived in the county, nea Wells
vile. was one Of the union men, and
could get him out of prison if he wanted
to But, not having heard from him,
Jack, after several months, concluded
thar his brother did not want him ont,
and that perhaps he had been iustru-
mental in having him arrested and in
carcerated in the first itWance, and
therefore would not ASSIST hinA IN getting
.,sN. as.l hnfun enrn4mhof dTgqnn.fnfaa
at his conduct as a brother, wrote him
the following conclusive letter:
"GRArsr SrsEEr PRISON.
"ST. Louis. No, March g 1868.
Dear Brother: 1t being quite com
mon for those in this department to pc
tition some good union friend or relative
to do something in their behalf, / conclu-
ded il would not be amiss TO enclose YOU
q few lines respecting my present and
future prosperity. Here lately l have
been very uneasy lest something might
turn up which might result in my dis
chsrge from this department. Such an
unexpected change in my eventful career,
would, I fear, be d~isastr0uStO those facul-
ties which distinguish man from the brute
creation. You will therefore, as soon as
practicable, and without unnecessary de-
lay, proceed to take the dispositions
of all the uDquestiOuable union men in
your neighborhOod, and those adiseent
thereto, setting forth in glowing terms
my manifold acts OF disioyalty. The
same to be magnified and then anlayzed.
This can al be easily done by the use of
a telescope with 8 magnifying glass
stuck on the end. When you have
done this you will arrange the whole in
circumstautia order, snt then you will
embellish the same, which only requires
the use of your inventive genius. You
" III then have completed an interesting
work OF historical events, myself being
the hero, which, when presented at
headquarters OF this department for pc
rusal, will, I think, succeed in en-
listing the sympathy and clemency of
the government authorities, and my de-
tention will be acquieSced in. The very
thoughts OF being cast into a cold and
uucaring world, among all sorts of des-
peradoes-dgagged from my quiet retire
ment-is a little more than my nervous
system and physical constitution can
submit to successfully. l think il would
he a constitutional ~usurpation, a fragrant
violation of that sacred instrument
don't you? Such an act is unbecOming
a c-hristi4niZed and civilized people.
What have 1 done to be thus thrown
into a gloomy world, where ri0tous and
b-acchanaljan revelry disturb the noe
turnal pleasure of peaceably disposed
inhabitants
There is another circumstance that
might be taken into consideration, which
should nave a little bearing in the prem
ises, that is, 1 have only been about
months enjoying these exclusive
privileges, while there are others less
deserving than myself, who have re-
NAMED longer here, and experience little
DO fears or no a-pprehensions Of being
dismissed. For me to be 50 s0on thrust
intO the world again is contrary 10 my
conceptions OF Justice. You must use
influence and ability 10 avert such a
ralamitOu5 result. To be again COM
PEELED to behold the landscapes,
brooks and wild How
srs, and listen to the winged s
a-orshippers Of the forest, sending
up their ceaseless praises to heaven
in glaGDess. My misfortunes may not I
even end here. My ears may be greeted
5y the clarion sounds Of some romantic 5
il quest Of some rare flowers for
\ picnic, whose silvery voice echoes from 4
to hilltop, and reverberating q
pack on my ears, while I am compelled Z
o sit aud extricate the trout from my !
apparatus. 1t might be she \
would come doW n Onthe bank and assist {
Ii ssy tedious task. And, oh /, she :
night ask me to accompany her home. {
Such a~nticipatiOns OF my future exist I
nee is distressing in the superlative
II is within your power
o have it otherwise, and ave me from Il
hese melancholy Genes you viii confer n
favor, the recollection of which viii n
lot soon be eradicated. It may be the
won't reach you in time for your Il
ntareessiOn to have its reference, and I o
e doomed to drag out a miserable exist r,
nee. You will not give yourself any d
ain; these fears may all be ~gFogndless. ?,
wonld be guilty of ingratitude to excite @
leh fears in your mind without a cause. q
ut should Providence in his mysterious Il
ispensation order it, l know [ will have
our prayers. ?
lam well, and have been, except the b
nail pox. l hope this will fad you the n
me. Nothing more. JACK SMITH. p
Il
Tie Moon ocmnittee OF the British o
--~.to4f., 49, fsesr.a a ofv.uInr palifpx n