The National tribune., 1885-03-12
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON THURSDAY r.

our guard, have started across The country to-
wards the Union lines, which conld not have
been more than 80 or 40tmiles west of us. But
George ID. Wilson opposed the project with all
his energy. He thought we might succeed, but
some would probably be killed in the scutfie,
and all might be captured outside, and then
our case be made much worse. while by simply
remaining quiet, we were sure of Il speedy eX-
change. He had talked for hours with the
Captain of our guard, who was certain that our
case had been virtually decided in our favor
He encouraged Wilson by saying that he had
heard officers high i'll authority say that it had
been necessary to execute Mr. Andrews. as he
was a Confederate citizen, and as an example;
but that this was enough, and that no other
would suffer anything worse than possibly, If
no favorable exchange could be arranged, the
penalty of being kept to the close of the war.
This, i'll Wilson's opinion, was not far distant
Wilson's opposition made MS rcgretfuiy yield
the attempt. Could the future have been fore
seen our decision would undoubtedly have
been reversed.
Atlanta, we found, was our destination.
Here almost in the center of the rebel States
the ConfederateS were rs yet free from inter-
ruptiou by Union armies Andrews had al
ready persisted in this city, and here our own
fate was to be determined. AS we marched
with ropes bound tightly round our hands and
piniOning our arms, from the depot to the At
lanta city JAIL a crowd gathered around us, as
usual, and man, calling himself the Mayor of
the city, addressed himself first to Capt. Fry
telling him that he knew his history and would
soon have the pleasure of hanging him. Then
turning to us, he boosted that he had put the
rope around Audrews'S neck and was waiting
and anxious to do the same for us!
The city prison much smaller than that
Mt Knoxville, but was quite a large edilice. The
lower story was occupied by the jailer and
family The upper story.contained four rooms
two on each side of an entry, into which the
staircase from below led. We, in company
with Capt Fry were given one of these rooms.
The other TennesSeeans brought from Knox
vile with us were put into another, just across
the entry from MS. Our comrades, who had
been left behind Mt Chattanooga, had been i'll
this building ever since the death of Andrews,
and in the third room. The fourth room was
on the same side as our own, and had a success
sion of enthusiastically negroes who had
been in search of the North Star. This Jail WAS
to he our home fol- many eyentful months
For some DAYS our food was comparatively
good and abundant Turner the iailcr, was a
kind man, and, in q mild way of Union senti-
ments. He showed us all the favor III his
power, and, indeed, became SO much suspected
that an Odious old man named Thoer was sent
to watch him. The change in our condition
was at once manifest. Our fare became worse
and more scanty than in any former prison.
The constant vigilance of this spy kept the
.jailer from doing anything to mitigate our suf-
ferings. But in this prison we had one great
relief: our ropes were removed and no chains
or handouts put upon US. Within our prison
cell we were free. Here we remained in quiet
for 4 week, thinking the worst of our trials
now over. Little did we imagine how fearful
storm was about to burst over us.
To be coatinued1