The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-24

1865, when was relieved from the torture OF the
bag, but my hands and limbs remained heavily
On one sunday, while was confined at this place
(the Washington ArsenaD, was visited by gentle
man OF middle stature, rather stout, with full beard
and gold-frsmed spectacles He noticed my mana
cles aud padded head. afterwards learned that he
was Mr. Stanton, the Secretary OF War IL ls proper
to state that when the hood was placed on me, Cap
tain MuDroe said IL by order OF the Secretary OF
War. My first thought was that was TO be hung
without trial, and the hood was preparatory to
that act
The frst time ever saw Mrs. Surratt was in the
arro Prson yard on OaptOI iI; Gd hn noe ar see
day at the arsenal My cell was on the same CORR.
dor 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 were an old mattress laid
on the bricks and an army blanket could see the
irons on her feet, she was generally lying on the
mattress, and was the last 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 so short that she
always had TO be assisted TO her seat She was so
sick az one time that the court was compelled to ad
jOurn.
on the nth OF July, about midnight, was con-
veyed to a steamboat, and arrived the next day at
Fortress Monroe, and was thence taken TO the gun
boat Florida. The irons on my arms were tempo
rarly removed but Captain DuttOn, in charge OF the
guard ordered heavy Lille irons TO be placed on me,
when General Dodd, chief officer I'm charge, more
again removed from my arms | was placed for
security in the lower hold Of the vessel and COM
pelled to descend TO it by ladder The rounds
we're far apart, and as the irons on my feet were
chained but few inches apart, my legs were
bruised and lacerated fearfully. The hold where
was confined was close and dirty, but after two or
three days was allowed on deck in the daytime,
but was closely guarded. ! was allowed to speak
to no one of the crew. We arrived at Fort Jeiler-
son, on the Dry Tortugas and were handed over TO
Colonel Hamilton, commanding, who placed me
until the next day in casemate. The next day
was brought before Colonel Hamilton, who in
formed me that he had no more stringent orders
concerning me than other prisoners confined there.
managed to get along comfortably for While,
though TO some OF the prisoners the officers were
very cruel. One man by the name OF Dunn, while
helping IN unloading Government transport got
hold of some liquor and imbibed too freely; for
which he was taken TO the guard-house and tied up
General Hill then ordered him to be taken down
and be made to carry thrty-two pound ball. but as
the hanging had deprived him OF the use OF rIls his
pound balls IN EEnapsasE, and compelled
from the weight OF the iron He was then tied up
by the wrists and gagged in the mouth by the bayo-
net from p. NJ till the next morning. He was then
taken down and thrown into the guard-house, but
was SO eXhaused that he had to be removed TO the
fingers, but this was reconsidered. He lost how
ever, the use of his thumb and two fingers. This
punishment was inflicted by Major Mcconnell, oni-
Ger or the day, and was carried out by Sergeant
Edward Donnelly
Another poor prisoner named Brown was once
excused by the doctor from work the plea Of ill
ness, but the Provost Marshal insisted, and finding
him too i'll and lacking strength, made him carry
thirty-two pound ball He staggered under the
weight and was compelled 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
done three or four times, he begging for mercy
most piteousy. He was finally jerked out Of the
water and ordered to return TO his ordinary work.
The poor wretch crept of, apparently thankful for
any escape from such torments. Captain Joseph
Rittenhouse 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 SEN
tnel over me. did not know the reason for this,
for / was unconscious of having given oirense, and
had conformed to every regulation. L was then
closely confined and allowed to communicate with
no one for four months. The pretense for ttS,
afterwards learned, sprang from an attempt OF DR..
Mudd to escape.
Colonel st. George Leger Grenfe, aged IS years,
was taken sick and went TO the Doctor to get ex-
cused from work. The Doctor declined to excuse
him. He then applied to the Provost Marshal, who
said that he could not excuse him II the Doctor could
not. Grenfel then uied 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,
togetheri and put rope. around his waist,
There were three oficers heavily armed,
who drove, ,spectatorsh from, the , wharf; i |
could and hear from ny window, The colonel
asked them If they were going 70 throw him into the
water, and they answered eyes" He then jumped
in, and because he could not sink tney drew him
out and tied about forty pounds OF iron to his legs
and threw hm into the water again. and after he had
sunk twice they pulled him out again, and then com
In hand were Lieutenant Robinson, Lieutenant Pike,
and Captain George w. Crabb, assisted by Sergeant
hlCndtl CledsOu, anu ASSlSJdub SIOTckttpeI
G. T. jackson, who tied the iron on his legs Ca ain
Samuel PEBBLES tied up Grenfel for saying that
'he was capable of doing anything" Colonel Gren-
fel was forced to scrub and do other menal work
when he proved he so i'll as to have refused to
eat his rations for Eweek. All of the officers hated
-Grenfel on account of letter which appeared in
New York paper, which they said Grenfel wrote,
about tying up the prisoner Dunn, which letter
was truthful, as others and myself were
witnesses to the details it related One very
stormy night Grenfel, with four Others escaped in
small boat and evidently drowned near the fort.
His escape discovered, but the storm was so Sc
we're that it was deemed too dangerous to pursue
them, although steamer was at the wharf. Grcnfel
frequently declared his intention OF running
any risk to escape, rather than, to use his own
words, Ito 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 Jefferson worked very
hard at carpentering and wood ornamental work,
making great many fancy boxes, ETC., out OF the
peculiar wood found on the adjacent islands; the
greater portion of this work made for officers.
BY my industry in that direction, won some favor
in their eyes. l was released in March OF the pre-
sent year by executive clemency.
EDMAN SPAEGLER.
RUTGERS COLLEGE.
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