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

them until the sack gave way from the
weight OF the iron. He was then tied up
by the wrists and gagged in the mouth by
the bayonet from 8 pm. till the next
morning. He was then taken down and
thrown into the guard-house, but was so
exhausted that he had to be removed to
the hospital. 1t was decided to ampu-
tate three of his fingers, but this was re-
considered. He lost, however, the use of
his thumb and two fingers. This punish
ment was inflicted by Major Mcconnell,
officer of the day, and was carried out by
Sergeant Edward Donnelly.
Another poor prisoner, named Brown,
was once excused by the doctor from
work on the plea of illness, but the Pro-
vost Marshal insisted, and finding him
too i'll and lacking strength, made him
carry a thirty-two pound ball. He stag
gered under the weight, and was COM
PEELED from weakness to put it down.
He was then taken to the wharf, and with
his legs tied together and his hands tied
behind him, a rope was placed around
him and he was thrown into the water
and then dragged out. This was done
three or four times, he begging for
mercy most piteously. He was finally
jerked out of the water and ordered to
return to his ordinary work. The poor
wretch crept off apparently thankful for
any escape from such torments Cap
tain Jos. Rittsnhouse was officer Of the
day, and his orders were carried out by
Corporal Spear.
During the latter part of last October /
was placed in irons and compelled to
work with an armed sentinel over me. /
did not know the reason for this, for /
was unconscious of having given offense,
and had coEformed to every regulation.
/ was then closely confined and allowed
TO communicate with no one for four
months. The pretense for this, / after
wards learned, sprsng from an attempt
of DR.. Mudd to escape.
Colonel st. George Leger Grenfel, aged
sixty-fve years, was taken sick and went
to the Doctor to get excused from work
The Doctor declined to excuse him. He
then applied to the Provost Marshal,
who said that he could not excuse him if
the Doctor couldn't. Grenfel then tried
to work and failed. They then took him
to the guard-house, tied him up for half
a day, and then took him to the wharf,
tied his hands behind him, tied his legs
together, and put rope around his
waist. There were three officers heavily
armed, who drove spectators from the
wharf; could see and hear from my
window. The Colonel asked them if they
we're going to throw him into the water,
and they answered, Yes" He then
jumped in, and because he could not
sink, they drew him out and tied about
forty pounds of iron to his legs, and threw
him into the water again, and after he
had sunk twice they pulled him out
again, and then compelled him to 60 to
work. The officers who had him in hand
we're Lieutenant Robinson, Lieutenant
Pike and Captain George w. Crabb, as
sisted by Sergeant Michael Gleason, and
assistant military storekeeper G. I. Jack
son, who tied the iron on his legs.
Captain Samuel PEBBLES tied up
Grenfel for saying that he was not
capable of doing anything" Colonel
Grenfel was forced to scrub and do
other menisl work when he proved he
was so i'll as to have refused to eat his rs-
tlODb lOT u Wtchs hll vi tuc OLlCtTo
Grenfel on account of letter which
appeared ia a New York paper, which
they said Grenfel wrote, about tying up
the prisoner Dunn-which letter was
truthful, as others and myself were wit
nesses to the details it related. One very
stormy night Grenfel, with four others,
escaped in a small boat and was evidently
drowned near the fort. His escape was
discovered, but the storm was so severe
that it was deemed too dangerous to pur-
sue them, although steamer was at the
wharf. Grenfel frequently declared his
intention of running any risk to escape,
rather than, to use his own words, " to be
tortured to death at the fort" These are
only two or three instances of the many
acts of cruelty practised at the fort
During my Imprisonment at Fort Jeffer.
son worked very hard at carpentering
and wood ornamental work, making a
great many fancy boxes, etc, out of the
peculiar wood found on the adjacent
islands; the greater portion of this work
was made for officers. By my industry
in that direction, / won some favor in
their eyes. / was released In March OF
the present wear by Executive clemency.
[Signedl EDMkS SPASGLER.