Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-04
MYSTERY AND ROMANCE.
PROF. X. S. MCCULLOCH, NOW OF THE
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
AND A. & NJ. COLLEGE.
PRISONER OF STATE IN CASTLE THUNDER
AFTER THE SURRENDER OF THE
CONFEDERATE ARMIES.

The accompanying narrative, which
we have culled from the Philadelphia
Times, relating to the imprisonment of
Prof. X. s. McCulloch, of the Louisiana
University, will doubtless prove of great
interest to the many friends of that
talented gentleman, who, outside of the
rare attachments that have won him an
enviable reputation in Europe and
America, is to have been numbered
among the most ardent and devoted
supporters of the "Lost Cause"
Prof. McCulloch was member of the
faculty of the University of Virginia
under the Presidency Of our immortal
General Robert E. Lee, who held him
in such high esteem that lie caused the
Board of Control of that institution to
send the learned professor to Europe
that he might there make such re-
searches as would rebound to the bene
fit of the students and the advancement
of science in this country.
The many friends of Prof. McCUlloch h
will easily recognize in the picture
which is drawn Of him at the time Of
his confinement the same earnest, reso-
lutte, though polished gentleman, they
know him to be at this time.
Those of our readers in whose hearts
are enshrined the memories of the strug-
gle for Southern independence, and
whose love for the heroic men who
fought Tor the bonnie blue hag," First,
Last and All the Time, will be proud to
know that the Board Of Supervisors Of
the Louisiana University and A. 4 NJ.
College ratified, at their last meeting,
the endorsement Of General Lee by
electing Prof. McCulloch to fill one of
the most prominent chairs III that in
stitutiOn:
PRISONER OF STATE.
On the evening of July II, 1865, l went
down to the old Richmond Theatre aud
was interested in little love comedy,
when, suddenly, in the midst of the first
act, my attention, with that of the
greater part of the audience, was at
tracted by the clanking of "a sabre down
the aisle. 1t was not customary for any
of the troops in the city to wear side
arms, and thus the equipments of this
man evidenced that lie was from an
other point. He marched attended by
an orderly-direct to General Terry's
box, on the left of the hall, and mo.
ment later staff officer approached me
with instructions to come to the same
place. oboyed, was intro duCed to the
strange officer, and by direction Of Gen.
eral Terry followed my newly-made
acquaintance from the hall. A carriage
was awaiting us at the door, and it was
not long before we were put down at
the headquarters Of General Terry-that
residence which a few years previously
the State of Virginia had presented to
jeff Davis as a token of esteem. En-
tering private room my companion
said to me:
Captain Schoonmaker, come direct
ly from the Secretary Of War; here are
my credentials
He handed me sealed letter bearing
no address, but to it was appended the
signature of Edwin NJ. Staunton. Its
contents We're, in substance "Act as
directed by bearer, aud that which he
delivers to you keep subject to my per-
sonal orders
The officer continued: ~ bring you
a prisoner of State from Washington.
Your own life depends on his safe keep
ing. We came up the James this after
noon on a revenue cutter and anchored
Oft the Rockets, waiting till after dark
to land our man, We had to smuggle
him out of Washington the same way
last night. Remember, this is no ordin-
airy prisoner, and Secretary has directed
me to instruct you to alldw no man
other than yourself and your personal
guard to see or speak to him save by an
order from the Secretary Of War in per-
son. You fully understand ~
"Yes,'
Then follow me-"
We went into a dimly-lighted room
and there, guarded by three soldiers,
was tall, rather slimly proportioned
man. He was neatly attired, had an
Intellectual cast of couutenance and,
withal, deported himself with the air
OF Il thorough gentleman. He was in
formed as to my position aud the guard
instructed to obey my orders. That
night the prisoner was confined in the
strongest cell of Castle Thunder; his
NarOl was taken to snaol- !, -, ,,o