Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-08-14
From the Columbus Enquirer.
4 Card from the Columbus E!'is-

D. F. BAILEY.

A Card from the Columbus P!'is-
OIeTS,
JULY Is, 1S6S.-Upou resuming our per-
sonal liberty we, the undersigned, known
aB the Columbus prisoners, deem it proper
to publish the following brief account of
our arrest and confinement by the military
authorities:
During the night Of the goth of March,
George w. Ashburn was assassinsted in n
low negro brothel in Columbus, Georgia
On the 9Th day of April thirteen citizens
we're arrested by Captain Mills of the Uni
ted States army. On tho 10th they were
released under bond. -Four Of this number
have never been re-arrested. The man
Mills stated that he did not know the char
ges against tho party arrested, but no one
believed him, and tho fact is only mention
ed to show the character of the proceed
ing. On the l4th of May four arrests were
made, on the Oath four, on the I'd of June
four more, on the 10th seven, followed the
next day by two others. On the oath an
other and the last arrest occurred These
arrests were made by order OF Gen. Meade.
Several Of the undersigned have in their
possession written orders which show this
fact. The ARE SIS were made without war
rant, affidavit or charge. No preliminary
examination was held. We were kept ia
total Ignorance of the &c pGrte evidence
against us, and the names of our accusers
were kept concealed from us. No one who
has followed the trial will be surprised at
this apparent neglect.
While we were clamoring for the charges
against us, Joe Brown, Whitley, Major
Smythe, and others were suborning BetZ,
Marshall Bennett and Amanda Patterson.
N h.,
edges that disclosures we're made under
threats of imprisonment. This is bad
enough, but worse feature, that the date
Of these disclosures is placed by the Wit
nesses themselves subsequent to the ar
rest Of o majority of the prisoners. The
question naturally arises, upon what foun-
dation were the arrests basedi or the
twenty-five persons arrested on and since
the l4th of Nay, four we're S1ibOrned by bril-
berry, torture and threats. Nine, after con-
| fnement in felOn's cells and much suffering,
we're released without any explanation
| whatever. The remaining are signers of
| this card. The prisoners arrested in MAY
were at Fort Pulaski before their removal
| to Atlanta. Their cells were as dark as
| dungeons, without ventilation, and but four
by seven feet. No beds or blankets were
| furnished. The rations consisted of slice
! Of fat pork three times each week, and
| beef too unSOuld TO eat the remaining
days. A piece of bread for each meal, soup
for dinner, coffee for breakfast finished the
bill of fare. An old oyster can was given
| each prisoner, and in this vessel both coffee
| and soup were served.
1t may be said that Che soldiers received
nothing better, but these citizens were not
| soldiers, and their friends we're able, will.
ing and anxious to give them every com.
| fort. Why were they denied the privilege
| Refused all communication with theil
| friends, relatives, or counsel, they were
| forced to live in those horrid cells nigh
and day, Frustrated by heat and maddeneC
by myrads Of mosquitoes. The call o
nature we're attended to in bucket which
was removed but once every twenty
hours.
At Mcpherson barracks we were placed
| In cells five feet eleven inches wido by tel
fcet long. These cells were afterwards di
| vided, reducing their width to ttr0 feet Ten
inches. This is terrible, but true. Upol
the arrival OF the officer sent from Wash
ington to investigate tho arrests, the parti
tons were removed. Neither bed nor bed
ding was furnished for them from two I,
five days. We were not permitted to SCI
our friends, families or counse! until afto
memorials TO Congress had aroused Tn
whole country to the enormity Of the out
rage. Even after this, our letters breath
ing tho affection and sympathy Of q wife o
a mother were subjected TO inspection
The prison sink was Immediately at on
cell doors, and emitted a stencil that wa
horrible.
At times, when some humane soldier Wa
willing to transcend his orders and give u
a breath Of fresh air 10 goethe our dstent
ed, bursting veins, wo would ask him {
close the door, pIefsrring TO risk suffoca
tion rather than endure tho intolerabl
smell.
During all this time va were ignorant q
the charges against us. OF conrse, we &C
cepted the common rumor that our arres
grow out OF the murder OF Ashburn; bu
after our counsel was permitted To visi
us, no definite line of defence could b.
planned In tho absence OF all Bpeciiica
tions.
We wore furnished with copy Of thu
charges against US on the 9th OF June, on
trial having been set for the 18th. The IN
tervening day was Sunday, and VIC weI'
40 miles FROM tho scene Of the murder anC
the residence Of our witnesses.
| Several Of the undersigned never saw
detective whitley until weeks after thei
arrest. When they did meet bin, he new
or presumed TO treat them with disr6 pect.
Recent developments, new TO MS, have
shown him 90 be Infamous and his treatnlea
Of suborned witnesses will be proven by
those who know the facts. Oar friends HnC
the press have nave not exaggerated the bar
harity with which We have boon treated
but they should not throw tho responsibility
upon contemplate detective who would
glory in tho uotoriety his infamy would give
him, We fix for higher game. Genera
Meade told General X. II. Chiffon, during
the war General Lee's adjutsnt) upon tn,
eve OF ais departure from Atlantis, that n,
had left full instIu lions with General Sib
Icy concerning the disposition Of the Col
umbus prisoners. These mtty1lCtiORs con
troled orr treatment, and leave no issue "a
10 the question of RESPONSIBILITY. Al Ia,
proper time, aud IN a manner that will no
iutrude upon your valuable space, We vii
make good our position, and will show Con
clusively that this unparalleled prosecution
WIS attempted solely for political purposes
The officers and soldiers of the garrison
were as kind as their orders would permit
and respectful, with but few exceptions
General Dunn'' courtesy, during the trial
especially AFTER Dukes Glhi, was IN stronl
contrast with tho uiadiciiUo, ,mgmer0us
UNMANLY and ungenAoaQa'y conduct OF Jo
Brown.