National Republican., 1880-12-25

my story dhe new one), was called good fellow,
and took the oath of allegiance. They sent me
under guard to Williamsport, Nd from there to
lIagcrstown then to Chamberburg, Pa where l
was put In Jail. Soon ailcrward | was taken to
Fort Delaware as n rebel prisoner There were
about eighteen hundrcn prisoners AT the fort when
arrived. Nineteen besides myself were Northern.
| ers We all knew each other after while Two
of our number got sick OF the living nnd gave
themselves mp. They told where they belonged,
and split on the rest of US.
found out what had happened and that the
guard was coming after lis, and hid my parole
paper between the roof boards and railcrs of the
barracks.
We were all taken down to the fort. was
strung mp with my arms behind me, and made to
own that | belonged 10 the Sixth United States
regulars before they would let me down. When
they released me | told them 1t was d---d lie,
and also stated where was from but did not tell
! TO what regiment belonged.
| Then we were taken to Washington, was court
marined the last of April or first of May, 1861 but
! would not give my regiment. There were twenty
besides myself tried. Nine were sent to their COM
mUndS They couldn't find out where belonged,
and understood that I, with some others, was sen
| fenced to be shot.
| Whatever the sentence was Father Abraham
modified # and sent myselfnnd ten Others to Clin.
ton state prison for three years at hard labor all
| pay and allowances being forfeited. There was
where got my death blow for life, ! was put TO
work tending blast furnace for heating iron for
rolling, | had to take the hot iron from the fur.
mace to the rollers The heat went through my
| System so that tOdny am Ike foundCrcd horse
! start Off stiff and lame. hut aner get warmed up
can do good days work II choosc. but when
II comes night suffer with pain To pay for II; so
don't choosc 10 start on, The older get the worse
! the agony comes on me.
The work did in clinton prison men outside
were being paid four and FIVE dollars day for
doing; never got cent
| was kept in prison one year. lacking seven
| days and was then discharged, with dishonor-
able discharge from the army, no descriptive list
| no regiment named-only set down as II drafted
| man,
| got no pay, no allowances, no nothing but that
| paper and the clothes ! wore, and they were
| nothing to brugof
! Two years ago gave my discharge TO Il lawyer,
| who said he could get me something ON Il; and
| now that's gone. The lawyer luft and took IL with
| him. 80 what else canl do but tramp around over
the country? don't like to work, and can't stay
! long In one place without II.
ought to have II pension for life The Govern.
ment owes IL tome for all have suffered through
thn rough treatment I received while In service
III don't get one before long shall have to go
| TO the poor house l can't stand this sort of life
| much longer; II istOO wearing upon me. Ihaveto
! SloopOul some nights, when can't get into barn
or 'hcd, and then catch m awful cold The cmmp
| takes me in the jaws Nncrw0rd so that my teeth
| won, come togctherncarer than an inch.
! II there Is no chance for me before the Pension
| Once must take the matter to Congress and
claim damages of the Government for It's ill.treat.
mcnt Of me. Nothing may come of it-not be,
! cause my ease has no merit hut ON account of my
universal bad luck; but yet think shall have the
| trial made so that people may know something of
| how | as were doubtless many othersl was used,
! simply because those who made MS soldiers had
the power to do with MS rs they pleased