The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-28

to the gunb0at Fl0r1oe. Inc uuu6 On my WILLIS
we're temporarily removed, but Captain Dut-
ton. IN charge of the guard, ordered heavy
Lilhe irons to be placed on me, when General
Odd, chief officer in charge, more humenely
countermapded bis order and had the irons
again removed from my arms. was piscea
for security in the lower hold Of the vessel
aud compelled to descend to it by lauoer.
The rounds were far apart, and, as the IRONS ON
my feet were chained but few incnes apsrt'
my legs were bruised and lacerated aa .es.auy; NY
The hold where I was confined was Close an9 =
dirty. out after two or three days was allowed
on deck in the daytime, but was closely guard
ed vas allowed to speak to no one OF the
.ew. We arrived at Fort Jefferson. on the
Dry Tortugas, and were handed over to Colo
mel Hamilton. commanding, who placed me un,
till the next day in casenate; Inc ne4L Gay !,
me that he had no more stringent orders con,
cerning ms than other prisoners conhned
there.
I managed to get along comfortably for o
while. though to some Of the prisoners the Off
csrs were very cruel One man by the name
of Dunn. while helping in unloading govern.
ment transport, got hold OF some liquor ana q
the guardhouse and tied up to the window
ftame by his thumbs for two hours. General
Hill then ordered him to be taken down ard be
made to carry thirty-two pound ball, but as
the banging had deprived him OF the use OF
his thumbs, he was unable to OBEY. The om-
GERS, however. put two twenty-tour pound palls
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 mouth BY the bayonet from
P. u. till the next morning. he Was then
taken down and thrown into the guardhouse,
but was 30 exhausted that he bad to be remov-
ed to the hospital. 1t was decided to ampu-
| tate three Of bis fingers, but this was recon-
| and two fingers. This punishment was inflicted
by Major Mcconnell. officer Of the day, and
was carried ont by Sergeant Edward Donneuy.
Another poor prisoner, named Brown, was
once excused by the doctor rom work on the
plea of illness. but the Provost Marshal IN.
strer 9Th, made him carry thirty-two pound
ball. He staggered under the weight and was
compelled from weakness to put it do IN. He
va then taken to the wharf, and with his legs
tied together and his hands tied behind him, q
rope was placed around him and he was thrown
into the water and then dragged out. Ihls
was done three or four times, ne begging Tor
out Of the water and ordered to return to his
ordinary work The poor wretch crept on ap
parently thankful for any escape from such
torments. Captain Joseph Rittenhou.e was
officer Of the day, and his orders were carried
out by Corporal Spear.
During the latter part Of lsst October l 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
aiyen offence, aud had conformed to every
regulation. was then closely con fined and
allowed to communicate With no one for four
months. The rretence for this, afterwards
learned, sprang from an attempt OF DR.. Mudd
to escape.
FATE OF COLONEL aRENfEL.
Colonel St. George Leger GreDfel, aged CD
years, was taken sex and went TO the doctor
to excuse him. he then applied to the provost
marshal, who sand that he could not excuse
him il the doctor couldn't. Grenfel then tried
to work and failed. They then took him 10 the
guardhouse, ted him up tor halt day, and
then took him 10 the wharf, tied his hands be.
hind him, tied his legstogether, and put rope
around his waist. There were three Officers.
heavily armed, who dr. We spectators from the
wharf; could see and hear from my window.
The colonel asked them il they were gong TO
throw HIM into the wafer, and they answered
'sYes." He then jumped In, and because
he could not slnk, they drew him out aud
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 70 to work.
The officers who had him IN hand were Lieu
tenant Robinson Lleutessnt Pike and Captain
George W. Crabb assisted by Sergeant Mi
chael Gleason and Assistant Military Store
keeper G.. T. Jack on, who tied the iron on his
legs. Captain Samuel PEBBLES tied up Grenfel
for saying that "he was capable Of doing any
thing" Colonel Grentel was forced to scrub
and do other menial work. when he proved he
was go i'll as to have refused to eat his ratlons
for week. All OF the officers hated Grenfel,
on account OF letter which appeared IN New
York paper, which they said Grenfel wrote,
about lying up the prisoner Dunn-whlch letter
was truthful, as others and myself were Wit
nesses to the details 1t related. One very stormy
night, GrenfeL With four others escaped ID
small boat. ard was evidently drowned near
the fort. His escape was discovered but the
storm was 60 severe that it was deemed too
dangerous topursue them, although steamer
was at the wharf. Grentel frequently declared
his intention OF running any rick to escape,
rather than, to use hls owH words. 10 be tor
tuied to death at the FORT these are only
two or three instances Of the many acts OF
cruelty practieed at the fort. During my i'm
prise nment at Fort Jefferson. / worked very
hard at carpentering and wood ornamental
work, making great many fancy boxes, &C.:
out Of the pc culiar wood found oo the adjacent
islands; the greater portion Of this work was
made for officers. By my industry IN that di-
rection, I won rome favor in their eyes. was
released in March Of the present year by E1-
ecutive clemeHcy.
(Sipned,J EDMAN SpAra1ER.
E nn,mrrrtGI