The National tribune., 1885-02-19

air from above TO rush down. 1t was an incon-
ceivablc relict.-a turury that none could ap-
preciate who had not, like us, been deprived
of Gods greatest physical blcssing-pure air.
We wondered who was coming next, as the
feeble glinmering of a candle above revealed
several forms descending. The Tennesseeans
cried out, Don't put any more down here
We're full! Well die if more are put down
| here!" But these remonstrances, reasonable
| as they were, produced no effect. Down they
came, and /, sta.ionng myself at the foot Of
the ladder, spoke something indifferently to
them, and heard my own name called i'll re-
turn. There was a warm clasp of ironed hands,
and l knew that had three comrades in our
common misery. 1t was Andrews WollaD,
and Ross. Strangely mingled feelings swept
over my BOSOM l was sorry that they had
come to this terrible place. yet glad Of their
companonship. We got into corner by our
selves, for we did not know but spy might be
waiting to catch our words, and cautiously
spoke of our past adventures and strove to
form some plans for the future. The trap-dOor
was soon closed, and the free air, which had
seemed to flow to US in sympathy, was once
more shut ont.
Others of our band were brought do not
remember whether the same evening or the
next morning, and we wondered what had be-
come of those who were still absent. But they
continued to arrive by twos and threes until
all had met in this doeful place of assemblage.
The whole number was %, and as fast as they
came the Tennesseeans with us were removed
into the room above, and we had the foul den
all to ourselves. This allowed the advantage
of talking freely without fear of betrayal.
We had great difficulty in arranging our
selves for sleep on account of the smallness of
the room. An easy calculation will show how
closely we were packed. A small corner was
necessarily reserved for the water and slop-
buckets. Then two rows, with 10 in each row,
left two over, who had to be disposed of some
how. We did the best we could. Some sat
against the wall, while others leaned against
the breasts of those who were thus supported.
Every motion caused the most dismal clanking
of chains, for the chains were not removed
| even in such dungeon. After we had been
packed away for the night, if any one wanted
to move his position, or go for drink, he was
sure to tread on some of his neighbors, and
| tempers being naturally very short here, some
warm alterations took place, which contrib
uted still more to disturb our slumbers. A
fight in the darkness with manacled hands was
| several times prevented with great difficulty
by those of us who were more pacifcally dis
posed.
A few of us, who were more fortunate, had
no chains around our neckS, but only wore
handouts. l was strongly attached to William
Reddick, one of pair of handouts being placed
on my left hand and the other on his right.
In two instances three persons were fastened
each William Campbell, a man of immense
strength, was member of one trio / have
seen him several times take hold of the chain
near his own neck, and saying Come here,
you Yanks," parade his two chain comrades, in
spite of all their resistance, back and forth
over the room.
In this wretched situation we slept much.
The great quantity of carbonic acid our breath
| ing produced acted as an opiate, and served in
! some measure TO stupefy us and deaden the
| sense of pain. In the morning we slept or
! doZed, for we had no motive to rouse up until
about 8 o'clock. The next morning after my
arrival l was wakened-early, as | supposed
by the opening of the trap-door and the deli
cious shower of cool air that fell upon us. As
| | looked up, there was the white head of our
| old iaier bending over and SAYING in drawing
| tones, Boys here's your breakfast" and he
lowered bucket by a rope, with very small
piece of corn bread and a tiny morsel of meat
for each Of us. 1t was seized and devoured al
most instantly. ! had eaten nothing since the
day before, and this pitiful supply only served
TO whet my appetite. But there was no more
/ learned that we were to get our meals only
| twice q day, and then only n starvation allow
ance. The quality was that which
captives' tears
Have moisten,d many thousand years
! Since man first pent his feliow-men
Like brutcs within an iron den.'
suppose our food in all our Imprisonment
| was about equal as to quantity and quality
| with that supplied at Andelsonyille and other
! Southern prisons But in the claiming, and
the close packing in dungeons. probably no
| prisoners during the whole war Jared SO badly
as we did.
During the day that succeeded my arrival in
this place of horrors few more Of our party
were brought in. and among them was my
! especial friend, George ID. Wilson. / found
| that the same reason which had led to the
| acknowledgment Of my true character as q
| United States soldier had induced them to
make the same confession. Anxious and fre-
/ quent were the consultations we held as to the
! best course for US now TO pursue. 1t was too
late for absolute denial of our participation in
! the railroad adventure, even If that had ever
! been cxpedient. The only possible course
which seemed 10 offer any hope was to continue
| 10 claim the character and protection of sol
/ dIers engaged III regular warfare, and to this
| end answer all reasonable questions that might
| be asked. But there were certain facts we
| pledged ourselves III no case to reveal. Among
| these MAS the name of our engineer, which
| they were specially anxious to ascertain. The
| fact of ignorance i'll such 4 material matter
would indicate that we were merely following
the orders of those higher in authority, and
would preserve poor Brown who had acted i'll
| that capacity, from amy special dangers. The
| fact OF previous expedition having been sent
! down into Georgia upon the same errand as our
! own was on no account TO he dlvGlged rs 1t
! was likely to stimulate our captors 10 intlict
| sterner punishments by way of preventing
! similar attempts in future. We were not to
! allow it TO escape that VIM Campbell was
! civilian only and not an enlisted soldier, as
| this would have made his position more peril
! Gus than our own. We were also to conceal
| having given any expressions of willingness to
| engage in such an expedition, claiming to have
! been detailed without our own consent and
ordered TO obey the directions of a man placed
over US. The most vital point was in relation
to Andrews. He had already admitted being
! the leader of the expedition. We conld. there
fore, do him no good by pretending not TO
| know him. but he asked that we should not
! admit having any knowledge Of him before we
| were put under his orders fand for our sake as
/ well as his, we resolved TO suppose " that he
was some regularly commissioned officer of the
! Federal army. Most of Us knew him in his
| true character of a secret agent or spy.
! But TO have admitted that fact would have
| been fatal to any hopes he may have had, and
would have vely seriously prcjudiced our own
ease. The position We therefore, took, in all
our statements, was that of non commissioned
officers and soldiers belonging to three Ohio
regiments, who had been detailed for an un-
| known service, aud ordered to report to an
unknown officer who had called himself An
| drews, and that we had faithfully and unques-
toningly obeyed such orders as had been given
u.s. Wcagreed to urge that flag of truce should