The National tribune., 1882-08-12

of tobacco. That pipe is now used daily by
half dozen Of my comrades. We take
turns at it, and it affords us about the only
consolation we have here A poor fellow was
murdered last night not far from my wig
wan. a bloodthirsty guard shot at a mar
who was standing near the dead-line smoking
his pipe, but missed him and killed man
who was lying on the ground asleep some dis
fance away. The entire top Of the victims
skull was shattered to pieces. As a general
thing. the guards who murder prisoners
without the semblance of provocation are
mere boys just from home or foolish old
men. who imagine that killing an unarmed
Yankee is very heroic achievement In
one day last month, boy fourteen years OF
age murdered three prisoners from his sem
trv-box. Some of the "White-coated mill
tia who did so much shooting when our
regiment first arrived here were sent to the
front short time ago. and rumor has it
that they have all been captured. If we
are ever exchanged, what a comfort it would
he for US to be sent to guard the sc0undrels.
General Pat. Cleburne, of the rebel army, a
portion of whose division captured our
regiment, is native of Ireland, and was
formerly a sergeant in the British army.
Previous to this war he was practicing law
in Arkansas. On the opening of hostilities
he raised a company and took the field as
captain in the First Arkansas infantry.
Among Union troops he has the reputation
of being a fighting general, but the rebels
say that his career thus far has been sue
cessful by reason Of the strict discipline he
enforces in his command.
Sept. 6tk.-ThiS continual swinging be-
tween hope and despair is trying indeed.
To-Gay / secured a rebel newspaper, and
with my own eyes read that an exchange of
prisoners is in progress at Charleston. No
reliance can be placed on the statement,
however. We continue to learn of the sue
cess of Sherman's army. While our enemies
sneer at our sufferings and misery, we laugh
at their dolcful and elongated visages
every time fresh war news arrives.
wish to preserve the following fact
When this camp was first established an
aYchy prevailed. The rebels made no attempt
TO preserve order among the prisoners A
faction Of ruffians banded together under the
name Of Ladders" whose avowed object
was to persistentIy plunder thecamp. Under
their domination murders and rObberies
were commen occurrences. Even in day
light men were struck down in the streets,
beaten to the point of death, and robbed of
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assist the victims, for Raider had only to
raise a cry of distress, and horde of his
fellow-rObberS would hasten to his assist
ance. Their clubs would soon terminate
resistance. At night the cry Of murder was
heard at all hours. No one dared to inter
fere or attempt to aid friend. Death was
the punishment Of such temerity. At day
light the bodies of men who had been beaten
to death in the streets were found; also the
bodies of men who had had their throats cut
sometimes found buried under a slight cov-
ering of earth. A couple of Indians belong
ing to a Wisconsin regiment were attacked
in their hovel one night, but offered des-
perate resistance, killing one of the Raiders
and repelling the others. The next night
the Indians remained awake and watched
for another visit from the assassins. To-
ward morning the Raiders came, but one of
them was stabbed and killed, and the rest
abandoned such improbable customers.
Whenever new prisoners came into the
stockade the Raiders set upon them, beat
them cruelty, and stole every article of the
least value they bad'with them. These out
laws even went so far, on one occasion, as to
capture the provision wagons and take for
their own use the rations that were designed
for the entire camp. A perfect reign of ter
Tor ensued. Men lay down at night expect
ing at any moment to be assailed or muir
dered. "Is there to be no end of this?" was
the anxious question of all. AT length there
was an answer.
4 party of bold and resolute men held
secret conference. The terrible problem was
discussed in all its bearings, and under the
title Of Regulators" they determined to
wage war on the Raiders and establish order
or perish in the attempt. They armed
themselves with clubs, summoned volun-
teers TO join them, elected chief, organized
companies, and one day opened the contest.
Crossing the swamp they marched boldly
upon the quarters Of the Raiders, in the
southeast corner of the prison. A fierce
battle ensued, for the Raiders put five hun
dred strong men into action. After bloody
struggle the Regulators won complete vic
tory. a court was at once created and
juries were impaneled. 1t was found i'm
possible to collect satisfactory evidence
against all the criminals, but cases were
made out against nearly hundred of them.
They were allowed attorneys, their trials
were conducted with dignity and fairness,
and six of them were sentenced to death,
and lighter punishments were meted out to
the remainder. By permission of the rebel
authorities rude scaffold was erected with
in the stockade. When all preparations had
been concluded, in the presence of 10000
prisoners, the six convicted murderers were
marched to execution. The rope broke with
one of them, and he fell to the ground Ris-
ing to his knees he implored for mercy, but
he was dragged back to his place, and in
another moment was again dangling In air.
Another of them, appalled, by the fate of his
comrades broke from the party guarding
him and fed across the swamp, but the pris-
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