Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-06-20
The Dry TOrfugas.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT A NOTED
MILITARY PRISON.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NOTED
MILITARY PRISON.
W. r. Prentice, an old New York
soldier, recalls the following interest
log "reminiscences of the old military
prison, in a letter TO the San Francisco
Bulletin 1t happeued 10 be my for
tune also to be sent TO the Dry T9rgu-
gas soon after DR.. Mudd, though | had
the good fortune TO he relieved from
duty somewhat sooner. The place ls a
queer one. and has seldom been descrlb
ed. The Dry Tortugas (the word, !
beleye, means turtles) embrace
group OF several small coral island, or
keys. lying IN the gulf Of Mexico, 100
miles west from the southern point OF
Florida. The largest only embraces a
few acres, they are lestitude of fresh
water. and barren, with the exception
Of few small mangrove and cedar
trees. They were part Of the Florida
purchase, and a fort was commenced
on Garden Key, one Of the larger, by
the Spanards. 1t IS now hrst.class
brick fort, with two tiers of easements,
and mounts more than three hundred
guns. During the war II was used as
military prison, and many poor fell
low, after a court-marial, heard the
words: Sentenced 10 the Dry Tortu-
gas for llfe.' These had accumulated
till, in the autumn of 1865. more than
600 men of all nationalities and all
colors. were gathered there, and for all
crimes, from some hasty word, most
likely true, said to a subalteran officer,
to robbery aud attempted murder.
Our guard consisted Of only about
two hundred men, and there was plenty
OF work for us 10 DO. The records had
been but lmperfectly kept, and the
term of sentence Of soma prisoners had
long before expired. These were
hunted out and sent home first. Then
100 or more Of the better men wero
recommended TOR pardon, which was
freely granted by President Johnson,
for he was in a pardonlng mood at that
time. But the main interest centered
around The four cODspirators. Mudd,
Arnold Spangler and O'Lougblin.
They were supposed 10 be terrible fell
lows. ready to cut all our throats any
time on a moments notice. DR.. Mudd
was the central figure. He was fair
haired man of good size and rather
prepossessing appearance. His one
ll.absorbng thought was that he was
the victim of great injustice, and when
ever he could gain listening ear, in
TO it he always poured his erieis. He
was detailed as general nurse IN The
hospital and did good service there, till
in an evil day he attempted to escape
by secreting himself on board steam
er.. Of course be was found, sent
back in disgrace, and aflerward kept in
solitary confinement. Arnold was a
Young man, not more than twenty
four or twenty five, handsome, highly
educated, refined and retiring in his
manners. He said little, never COM
plaired, but felt his disgrace most
keenly. He was kept as clerk IN the
provost marsEaPs office, and many a
descriptive or mus ter-roll in bis beau j.
fnl handwriting went to Washington.
He had the ability, and ought to-day 10
be taking good care Of himself some.
where. SQapgler, the Stage carpenter
at Ford's theatre, was jolly German,
and, 10 all appearances, as happy there
as mortal man ever is. How we'll re-
member bis portly form, bustling about
at his work, the happlest looking man
in the fort. Lastly was poor O'Loagh-
lln, an Irishman, l think shoemaker
by trade. He had left a family in
Washington, and could not bear up un-
der his punishment He dropped from
the day he reached the place, aud died
soon after left. l haye to-day let
ter fIom Mudd aud one from Arnold,
written after l had let the service, ask
ing my aid in procuring some mitlga-
ton of their punishment: While l did
not pity them as did the more than
$50 soldiers sent there for the most
trlhing breaches Of militry law, can
still see how they were all, perhaps,
m ore unfortunate than criminal.