Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-01-22

; A Camp Doasias Rcrniniscence.
> How A CoNFEDERATE EARNED ms
FREEpoM.--The Knoxville Press and
Herald of recent date has the follow
iEg:
In conversation the other day with
merchant in this city, who. during the
war, was q member of the immortal
Stonevall Brigade, he told the following
Of which he was an eyewitness .l
In April, 1864 he was among the
large number OF Confederate prisoners
confined at Camp Douglas prison, the
commandant OF which was Col b. j.
Sweet, kiud-bearted officer and trus
gentleman. When the news ofthe as
sassination of President Lincoln was re-
ceived, the flag was lowered to half
mast as a mark of respect; but owing
to the great height of the staff, the BAN
ner, which was of the largest size, was
blown SO far out that there was immi-
nent danger Of the lanyard giving away
when il would come down with run.
To obyiate this i was determined to
send man TO the top Of the staff aud
remove the pulley, intending to replace
it at point half way down, and vol
unteer was called for from among the
guards TO perform the patriot service.
The danger was great, and the COM
mandant offered discharge from the
service to the man who would climb
the giddy height. With this induce
nent, ayoung man stepped forward
and announced his readiness 10 make
the attempt. -t
He was then furnished with a pair Of
leg guards, containing small, sharp pro-
jections, something similar to those
worn by telegraph cops,ructionists, and
with a stout belt buckled around his
waist and enoircling the flagstaff he
commenced the toilsome ascent Slowly
he proceeded, stopping at intervals to
tighten the belt, which was rendered
necessary by the gradually diminishing
size of the mast Onward and upward
he went, with the eyes Of every man
inside the walls fixed upon him with an
eagerness almost painful in its intensity.
Still the daring mar continued growing
smaller and smaller, until from his lofty
attitude he seemed no larger than a
child. He had almost reached The top
and reached out his hand to seize the
LANYARD, which futtered just above his
head. In an Instant the cheers of thou
sands of anxious spectators would break
forth in admiration aud encouragement,
when the cord eluded his clasp, he lost
his balance and fell!-down, with light
ming rapidity, the belt Tightening every
inch Of the way, until the tension be-
came so great the taithless band, worn
10y rapid friction and the momentum Of
descent, gave way. The unfortunate
soldier fell beadlong, striking the plat
form at the bottom OF the flagstaff. and
crushing through the heavy planking
of which it was composed.
His Mortified comrades at once ran
to his assistance and picked up the
mangled form, but the injuries the un-
fortunate man had sustained were fatal,
and he died ia short time. -.
" The commaudant, though deeply re-
GREETING the accident, still wished the
position Of the flag changed, but the
tempting offer of $500 in greenbacks
and discharge from the service could
not induce any Of the garrison to make
the attempt, with the fate Of their com
radc still fresh in their minds. 1917 .
Colonel Sweet then made the same
offer to the Confederate prisoners, ard
one daring fellow, ayoung artilleryman,
announced his willingness to try the
dangerous feat The proper equipments
were furnished aud, with q s:eadiast
nerve, he slowly made his way upward
till he reached the top. The lanyard
was removed from ths" end OF of the
staff and secured properly lower down,
when the unsbaken Johnnie safely de-
scended to terra frma once more, when,
with the concentrations Of the soldiers
on duty as well as of his comrades, he
received bis discharge from prison and
FIVE crisp 500 greenbanks-nore than
sufficient to pay his travelling expenses
home, while the flag foated at half-mast
in honor of the dead President, famed
by the breezes from the great Northern
lakes. ..s7 Gs..laof a.a