Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-30

said to the guard, Don't let him go to
sleep. as we will carry him out TO hang
him directly" | heard them go up on
the deck, whom there was great rafting
of chains, and other noises; and while
| was trying to imagine what was going
Oh, an what they intended to do, was
dragged out by two men, who both pulled
me at times in opposite directions. We,
however, reached a boat, 10 which | was
placed, and were rowed short distance,
could not say then where we stopped,
, for my face was still covered After
leaving the boat | was forced TO walk
some distance, with the heavy irons still
on my legs l was then suddenly stopped,
and made to ascend three or four flights
of stairs; and as stood at the top wait
ing, some one struck me severe blew
on the head, which stunned and half
threw me over, when was pushed into a
small room, where l remained in an un-
conscious condition for several hours
The next morning some one came with
bread and coffee. / remained here for
several days, suffering torture from the
bag or padded hood over my face. 1t
was on Sunday when it was removed and
/ was shaven. 1t was then replaced.
Some hours after, General Hartrauft
came and read to me several charges (;
that was engaged ia 6 p!ct TO assassi-
nate the President, and the day following
/ was carried into military court, and
still hooded before all of its members l
remained but short time, when was
returned to my cell for another night and
day, and then again presented in this
court. Mr.. Bingham, Assistant Judge
Advocate, read the charges against me,
and asked if had any objection to the
court, and l replied "No," and made
my plea of "not guilty" They then
wished to know if / desired counsel, and
when / answered affirmatively, General
Hunter, the president of the court, in.
sisted that / should not be allowed coun-
sci. He was, however, overruled, but it
was several days before / was permitted
legal aid, the court in the meanwhile
taking evidence with closed doors. On
every adjournment of the court, if only
for an hour, was returned to nay cell,
and the closely-ftting hood placed over
my head. This continued until June 10,
1865, when | was relieved from the tor
ture of the bag, but my hands and limbs
remained heavily manacled.
On one Sunday, while | was confined
at this place (the Washington Arsenal),
/ was visited by gentleman of middle
stature, rather stout, with full beard and
gold framed spectacles. He noticed my
manacles and padded head | after
wards learned that he was Mr.. Stanton,
the Secretary of War. 1t is proper to
state that when the hood was placed on
me, Captain Munroe said it was by order
of the Secretary of War. My first
thought was that / was to be hung with
out trial, and the hood was preparatory
to that act.
The first time ever saw Mrs. Surratt
was in the Carroll Prison yard, on Capi-
tol Hill. did not see her again until
we were taken in court the first day at
the arsenal. My cell was on the same
corridor with hers, and had to pass it
every time / was taken into court |
frequently looked into her cell, small
room about four feet wide by seven feet
long. The only things in her cell we're
an old mattrass laid on the bricks and an
army blanket. / could see the irons on
her feet, as she was generally lying on
the mattrsss, and was the last one brought
into court. She occupied seat in court
near the prison door. The seat was
twelve inches high, and the chains be-
tween the irons on her feet were 80 short
that she always had to be assisted to her
seat. She was so sick at one time that
the court was compelled to adjourn.
On the l7th day of July, about mid
night, was conveyed to steamboat, and
arrived the next day at Fortress Monroe,
and was thence taken to the gunboat
Florida. The irons on my arms were
temporarily removed, but Captain Dut-
ton, in charge of the guard, ordered
heavy Lille irons to be placed on me,
when Gen. Dodd, chief officer in charge,
more humanely countermanded the or
der. and had the irons again removed
from my arms. was placed for security
in the lower hold Of the vessel, and COM
PEELED to descend to it by a ladder. The
rounds were far apart, and, as the irons
on nv feet we're chained but few inches
apart, my legs we're bruised and lacerated
fearfully. The hold where / was con-
fined was close and dirty, but after two
or three days L was hlO"eu On ueSA ~
the daytime, but was closely guarded. l
was allowed to speak 10 no one OF the
crew. We arrived at Fort Jefferson, on
the Dry Tortugss, and were handed over
TO Col. Hamilton, commanding, who
placed me until the next day in a case
mate. The next day was brought be-
fore Col. Hamilton, who informed me
that he had no more stringent orders con-
cerning me than other prisoners confined
there.
managed to get along comfortably for
a while, though to some of the prisoners
the officers were very cruel. One man
by the name of Dunn, while helping in
unloading n government transport, got
hold Of some liquor aud imbibed too
freely; for which he was taken to the
ruard-house and tied up to the window
frame by his thumbs for two hours.
General Hill then ordered him to be taken
down and be made to carry thirty-two
pound ball, but ss the hanging had de-
prived him Of the use Of his thumbs, he
was unable to obey. The officers, how