The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-04-07
The Jefferson Prisoners,


The Tyler Index, Radical paper, publishes com
muncation from Jefferson giving some account of the
condition of the military prisoners. 1t is malignant
and vndictive in tone, but we make few extracts
that our readers may know what the RAIDS up thai
way think and have to say about the matter. The
writer says:
Through the Kindness of General Buell., the present
military commandant Of the post Of Jefferson have
obtained permission to visit the place of confinement
now occupied by the Smith murderers. found them
twenty -four or five in number inside the military en-.
camp,nent comfortably and securely qnartered in a
frame building put up expressly for their accommoda
ton, surrounded with stockade built in the form OF
rccangle and of heavy logs standing about fifteen
feet high and pierced with oopholes convenient in
tervas for the use of musketry. The prisoners are
permitted to receive from friends articles of food and
ralment, which are in every case carefully examined
by the officer in charge of the guard before being de-
livered to the party for whom they intended. AT
sunrise "revele' roll call of the camp the pris-
required to " fall in" after being duly veri-
fed they permitted to sit outside in the open air
until retreat roll call at sunset, when they are
again verified and turned in " and securely locked
up until " Old Sol again rises An officer with strong
guards to keep constant watch the prisoners and
the greatest vigilance for their security is observed by
those having charge of them. When relatives can
show good and sufficient evidence for soliciting per-
soia Interview, Such privilege Is granted Dy the COM
handing officer, with time limited to ten or fifteen
minutes. Phil Crump, alias Colonel Crump, having
since his earliest confinement, become perfectly docile
and submissive as child, is allowed separate quar-
tiers i'll tent and has associated with him one of Bck
erstaf s gang and Dr. Richardson. The two latter
gentlemen are in very bad company. Much anxiety
prevails among the friends of the prisoners in view of
the approaching trial by military commission mean
time " skedadde is the order of the day. 1t is ru-
morcd that two three of those now in confinement
have turned States evidence This little on dit ex-
pedited the departure Of many Jeersonians who have
been sometime postponng little visits they intended
making around the = Horn" Among the most prom
nent Of those who said to be non est iapcntus is
one Of the counsel for the prisoners-Judge Mabry
Now, Mr.. Editor truly regretted the absence of this
gentlemens smiling countenance, for he is g fellow
Of infinite jest" But variety is the spice of life"
SO presume the Judge has gone for life, there
being too much spice in Jefferson. Sic transit gloria
lHdbri." Major Pratt re doubleddyed Major He
too has gone ON visit Whittier and for how long is
known only to the few knights Of the Rising Sun u
that remain in cog about Jefferson His numerous
young lady friends will certainly miss him. and espec
ally his dreadful tales of carnage and blood shed
wrought during the by battery, sir!" climber
up and return to Jefferson, Major, Loushery will see
you through - the stockade 1t is not to be pre-
sumed from what have said in reference to the two
last named gentlemen that they or the fifty or sixty
other absconders of smaller calbre that have so sud
denly and mysterousy disappeared from Jefferson had
anything whatever to do with the killing of Smith and
the two freedmen, but these sudden changes of base
is strong presumptive evidence that Jefferson is not
suitable place for law-abiding and peaceable PEG.
pie to reside after law has found authority and jus
tice is melted out to all offenders alike. Right amt
Lougbery?