The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-08-11

and was the last one brought into
Court. She occupied Il seat in Court
near the prison door. The seat was
twelve inches high, and the chains be-
tween The irons on her feet were so
short that she always had to be as
sisted to her seat. She was SO sick at
one time that the Court was compelled
to adjourn.
On the 18th Of July, about midnight.
| was conveyed to steamboat, and ar
rived the next day at Fortress Monroe,
and was thence taken to tho gunboat
Florida. The irous on my arms we're
temporarily removed, but Captain Dut-
ton, in charge of the guard, ordered
heavy ellie irons to be placed on me,
when General Dodd, chief officer in
charge, more humaneiy countermand-
cd his order, and had the irons again
removed from my arms. was placed
tor security in the lower hold of the
vessel, and compelled to descend to it
by ladder. The rounds were far
apart, and, as the irons OH my feet
were chained but u few inches apart,
my legs were bruised and lacelated
fearfully. The hold where l was con-
fined was close and dirty, but, after
two Or three days, l was allowed on
deck in the day time, but was closely
guarded. 1 was allowed to speak to
no one of tho crew. We arrived at
Fort jefferson, on the Dry Tortugas,
and were handed over to Colonel Ham
ilton, commanding, who placed me I'M
til the next day in cascmate. The
next day was brought before Colonel
H.. who informed me that he had no
more stringent orders concerning me
than other prisoners confined there.
managed to get along comfortably
for a while, though to some of the pris
oncrs the officers were very cruel. One
man by the name of Dunn, while help
ing in unloading n Government trans
poit, got hold of some liquor and i'm
bibed too freely; for which he was ia
ken to the guard house and tied up to
the window ftame by his thumbs for
two hours. General Hill then ordered
him to be taken down and be made to
carry a 81 -pound bali, but rs the hang
ing had deprived him of the use of his
thumb he was unable to obey. The
The officers, however, put two "a pound
balls in knapsack, and compelled him
to carry them until the sack gave way
from the weight of the iron. He was
then tied up by the wrists and gagged
in the month by bayonet from 8 p. NJ.
till the next morning. He was then
taken down and thrown into tile guard
house, but was SO exhausted that lie
had to be removed to the hospital, IL
was decided to amputate three of his
fingers, but this was feconsidered. He
lost, however, the use Of his thumb
and two fingers. This punishment
was Inflicted by Major Mcconnell, Off
Ger Of the day, and carried out by Ser
geant Edward Donnclly.
Another poor prisoner, named Brown,
was once excused by the Doctor from
work on the plea of illness, but the
Provost Marshal insisted, and finding
him too i'll and lacking strength, made
him carry 32pduhd ball. He stag
gered under tho weight and was COM
pclled from weakness to put it down.
lie was then taken to tho wharf, and
with his legs tied together aud his
hands tied behind Fin, 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, apparent
ly thankful for any escape from such
torments. Captain Joseph Rittenhousc
was officer Of the day, and his orders
were carried out by Corporal Spear.
During Tie latter part of last Octo-
Der was placed in irons and compell-
ed to work with an armed sentinel ov.
or me. did not know the reason for
this, for was unconscious of having
given offence. and had conformed tn
every regulation. l was then closely
confined and allowed to communicate
| with no one for four months. The
prctencc for this, afterward learned,
sprang from an attempt of Mr.. Mudd
to escape.
Col. st. George Leger Grenfel, aged
G5 years, was taken sick, and went to
! the doctor to get excused from work
The doctor declined to excuschim. 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 lin,
up for half u day, and then took him t.
the wharf, tied his hands behind him,
tied his legs together, and put It rope
around his waiste. There we're three
officers, heavily armed, who drove
SPECTATORS from the wharf; ! could see