The National tribune., 1882-09-28
SOUTHERN PRISON LIFE.
" Free Lance" Describes the Removal
to Florence and His Experiences.
Continued IRON, last tceck. |

Alll
RLACKsHrRE. Nor 25fb-We left Savannah
with sad hearts late yesterday afternoon, on
open platform cars, bound for this point, ninety
five miles to the southwest The ocean breezes
chilled Us. Two prisoners on the train froze to
death, and one rebel soldier was killed by fall
ing from the cars. There are several thousand
of us here. We are not shut up in a stocllade
hut are simply under guard in a gloomy,
swampy wood. l don't really know where we
are. The small collection Of dilapidated shan
ties at the railroad stopping place is deuomi-
mated Blackshirc by some and Station Nine by
others. Some of the rebels say that we are in
Northern Florida and others that we are still
in Georgia We hate Georgia, and will be
glad TO get out of it. 1t is not probable that
we viii be kept here long. Blaczshirc is in
Pierce county, Georgia. We have heard good
news Of the " galvanized Yankees the Union
prisoners who enlisted in the rebel army. It
is said that a party of them spiked some siege
guns at Savannah, the other night, and de-
serted in boats to the Union fleet. 1t is also
reported that ten or twenty galvanized SER
geauts were executed at Augusta, or somewhere
else up in that section few weeks ago, for
organizing q conspiracy to capture their COM
missioned officers and march their regiment to
Sherman's army. Tho rebels say they are of
no account to the confedemcy, and do nothing
but steal and murder. A train load of pris-
oners sent from Savannah to Charleston last
August mutinicd on the way, and attempted
to oycrpower tho guards, but failed in the
attempt, and many were killed.
Nor 26tR.-To-day noon, with many demon
strations ofpleasure, the rebel officers announced
to US that we are all to be exchanged at Savan-
nah tomorrow. They are now busly engaged
in getting our signatures to the parole docu-
ments. Intense JOY and excitement prevail.
Rations for two days have been issued to us.
The general conundrum is: of we are going
to be exchanged tomorrow what do we want
with their corn-meal?" SO we are all hard at
Tork cooking and eating it. The parole we
are signing reads about as follows: 1--WE, the
undersigned, solcmnly pledge our sacred word
of honor that we will not take up arms again
in any garrison, fortification, or field-work of
the United States, or do any police or constab-
ulary duty, or any duty usually performed by
soldiers, until we have been duly declared
exchanged"
SAVANNAH, A0C. 2Ith.-We signed our parole
papers yesterday, and were sent ninety-five
miles to this city without single rebel soldier
on any Of the trains to guard US. Like fools, we
did escape and make for Fort Pulaski. We
came up by night, and every man of us might
by this time have reached the Union lines. As
it is, we are now under guard again and are
bound for Charleston. The pretended parole
was bold piece Of strategy on the part of the
rebels. They must be getting short of troops.
As most Of us ate up all our rations last night,
on the strength of the exchange canard, we
must now starve for forty-eight hours. They
Will never deceive us again. Ton December
9th Sherman's army reached Savannah.
FLORENCE, S. c., Nor. 29h.-We left Savannah