The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-08-12
THE LAST WAR PRISONER.


goth tells this:
The old saying that truth is stranger than
fiction" was fully verified last Tuesday on the
arrival of the steamboat NatOma, for among
her passengers was Mr.. II. H. Lee, formerly a
citizen of Madison, ST. Francis county, in this
State, but who has been q prisoner, in close
strict confinement, for the past six years and a
half So close was his confinement that he
never was allowed the privilege of commune
eating with the outside world, not even his
own family, who were in the greatest distress
at his sudden and mysterious disappearance,
and that, too, at a time when their worst fears
were being daily realized. From a short con-
versation had with Mr.. Lee, We learned the
following leading points connected with his
abduction and detention in loathsome prison
in the State of Wisconsin, and III free America:
In November, 1862, Mr.. Lee went to Memphis,
then occupied by Federal troops, for the pur-
pose of procuring some supplies; he was ar
rested and thrown into the Irving block, then
occupied as a prison; he remained there one
night, and that evening, with other prisoners,
was shipped on board the st. Cloud en- route
for Camp Douglass, in Illinois. Arriving there
the officer in charge OF the camp inquired what
were the charges against Lee, and was told
that he was arrested for Specializing in Con-
federate money. The camp officer declined to
receive him, as there was no law torbidding
speculation i'll money of any kind, The Lieu
tenant having Lee in custody said they would
take him to Rock Island then as they would
take any one there. He was accompanied by
seven men as guards, and they concluded to
have grand spree before returning to Mem
phis for active duty. So they Went to Mil
waukee, Wis, and we're gong TO put Lee III
jail fer safe keeping, until they had visited
their friends and finished the spree laid out for
themselves. In the meantime Lee had resolved
on escaping, IN which determination he was
joined and assisted by one of the guards having
him i'll charge. They made their escape but
were pursued and captured after few shots
had been exchanged Mr. Lee was then i'm
prsoned IN the Milwaukee jail and there kept
in close confinement for two years and half
without being brought to trial. AT the end ot
that time he was taken out and sentenced
without q trial. to -four years imprisonment
in branch of the State prison located ut Mad
son in the State of Wisconsin,.
During the four long years of his contne-
ment at Madison he was not allowed 10 write
to his friends, never saw a newspaper or book
Of any kind, but was Us etlectually excluded
il'IH ttic WI! III as iNluS H'lI f''i was
before, His health was good all the time. but
ne came near freezing with the cold the first
three winters. The fourth he Jared better
The time came at last for his release, aud
with heart full of thanks 10 God for the pre-
,ervaton of his HE, his first thought and pur-
pose was 10 see his wife and child He went !
% Cincinnati aud there met with an old school |
nate who told hlm of the death of his Wife +,
lis child he knew nothing OF. Could 1t b. pos /
'blel He left there immediately for Mem
)hls: arriving there he was received rs one
'isen from the dead by his many friends and
rom one of them he received the joyful t!dlngs ,
hat his wife aud daughter, nuw grown Young |
ady, We're not only living, but we'll and doing
veil. Tears of joy were shed. and renewed |
hanks 10 Almighty God for His protecting |
are filled the heart of the released captive. /
The swittness of the telegraph was commanded |
o flash the glad tIdings To the dear wife al his
eart, informing her that him for whom she
ad mOurned as dead still lived, and would .
meet her in Jackson on the 18th instant. They
net, aud such a meeting as il was never nc-
urred within our knowledge The Joy OF the
wife AT the sight Of her restored husband was
90 great and swoOn after swoou followed ID /
apld succession.
The news spread rapidly. and very many Of
ur citizens called upon the happy. reunited
lmlly, to express their JOY at seeing lis mem
crs once more joined together in the bonds
t love. We have seldom ever witnessed n
lOre affecting scene. Mr., and Mrs Lee left,
tuesday,, for BateSriIIe, their future home.