The National tribune., 1885-04-02
"ENGINE THIEVES" "
The Great Story Of Capturing a
Locomotive"
By REV. WIN. PITTENGER-
IcoPYBIGHTED. 1881
CHAPTER XVI.
LIBERTY OR DEATH.

! LIBERTY OR DEATH.
| One morning the guard brought up four Fed.
eral soldiers, who were shut up in the front
room. As soon as we were alone we resorted to
our usual method of telegraphing to learn who
they were. To our great surprise and pleasure
we found that two of them-Coleman and IIelb-
| ling-were of the 10th Wis, a regiment of our
| own brigade. They gave US many most inter
esting items of news-among others, that our
comrades had long since given US up for dead,
and were vowiBg vengeance on our behalf.
| They were greatly surprised to find so many OF
US still alive. The other two were of the Reg
ular Army, who had been captured on the coast
| Of Florida They remained with US until we
were taken to Richmond long after. From them
we gained complete detail of the movements
of our army since our departure. We were
greatly grieved to find the military situation far
less favorable than it had been four months be-
| fore. The transfer of Gen. Mitchell from Ten
ncssee to the Atlantic coast we also regarded as
| unfavorable to our interests. These soldiers
were the means shortly of leading us to des-
perate resolution
We frequently talked and plotted about es-
cape This is the one topic that prisoners never
weary of We long before resolved that if any
mONeitcilt WAS ud06 NoNaTuS d
we would make one desperate effort for life,
for the result of the trials in the case of An
drews and our poor comrades assured us that
this fornlality would not be beundertaken for any
other purpose than that of putting us to death,
under a show of law. After the lapse of a con-
siderable time we had hopes that they would
not dispense with this cereomony, and that we
would thus have warning which might be USE
full. But many of our number-those especially
who were vigorous in health and, therefore,
were more ready for action-wished to make
the attempt at any rate. But time rolled on,
and the dreaded preparations for a trial were
not made. Why we were lett in this uncertain
condition for four months we could not tell. 1t
might be that, in the rush of military events,
we We're forgotten, or it might be that the rebel
authorities considered the hanging Of eight men
rs sufficient to show their estimate of the enor-
nifty of our crime. This latter view grew upon
the minds OF some to such degree that we
boldly resolved to test it, even if it did bring
our fate more swiftly upon us-resolving that
if our action should result in calling court
martial we would then break from our prison
or die in the attempt. Indeed the scanty fare,
the uncertainty and the longing for liberty
had become so completely uncomfortable, that
the prospects of perishing on the bayonets of
the guard had little terror. But our resolution
was to write letter directly to Jefferson Davis,
tho President of the Confederacy, reciting our
case, and asking to be put on the footing of
prisoners of war. / acted as scribe, and used
language as strong and yet respectful as posi-
bic. While writing. the whole party gathered
around, and volunteered suggestions Said
Brown, Bo very humble to him, Pittenger.
We can take all back. if we get out Buffum
raised quite laugh by saying, s. Tell him, Pit
finger, that all we ask is to be let alone"
This was an extract from one of Jefferson
Davis's own addresses. But it did not go IN the
tatt Hkn oil sS pft ha H0rI,
meut, obtained from the Confederate archives:
ATLANTA JAIL, August Ia, 1862
To His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President Confederate States of America.
RESPECTED SIR: We are United States soldiers
regularly detailed from our command to obey the
orders of Andrews. He stranger to us, ard
ignorant of his design, but, of course. obeycd
our officers You doubt familiar with all we
did can find it recorded in the trial of COM
rades. Since then, Andrews himself and seven of
US have been executed and fourteen survive. is
this not enough for vengeance and for q warning to
others? Would mercy IN case be misplaced?
We have already been closely confined for more
than four months. Will you not, sir, display noble
generosity by putting us on the same footing as
prisoners of and permitting US to be exchanged,
and thus show that in this terrible war the South
still feels the claim Of mercy and humanity?
If you will be so good rs to grant this request we
will ever be grateful to you
Please inform us of your decision as soon as con-
venient.
Signed by all the survivors-eight of the
2lst Ohio. one of the Cd and five of the Sd, all
of Sill's Brigade, Mitchel's Division.
This paper was forwarded from one officer to
another in an ascending grade, and the indorse
mentS on it, and the correspondence which fol-
lowed, shed much light upon the position aud
fortunes of our party. But this light did not
come to us until long sitter.
The letter was marked (erroneOusly as to its
address) as follows
Petition from the survivors of Andrews's party,
in April last, to Major-General Bragg, commanding
Department No. 2
The first Endorsement is that of Col. Lee,
Provost Marshal at Atlanta:
Respectfully forwarded TO General Staughton.
q. W. LEE.
Commanding Post.
HEADQUARTERS DEPa No. 2.
CHATTANOOGA, August 81 1862.
ADJurAHT- GENERAL C. S. ARMY, Richmond. Va
SIR: have the honor to nclose herewith the pc
ttion of W. w. Brown and Others soldiers of the
Twenty-first and Second Ohio Regiments, u S. A.,
and TO request information in the matter.
am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedent servant,
BRAXIOE BRAGG,
General Commanding.
The next Endorsement shows a favorable dis
position, at least, i'll part:
Endorsement.
Respectfully submitted TO the President
l recommend that they be respted until further
orders, and detained as hostages for our own peo-
q. w. RANDOLPH,
Secretary OF War.
The Secretary of War seems to have had the
impression that we had been also tried and
that sentence of death was pending over US.
Under such circumstances a respite would have
been valuable boon.
But President Davis is infiexible:
Endorsement
Secretary of War, inquire whether there Is any
thing to justify a discrimination between them and
others VINO were executed for the same ofiense.
j. ID.
The inquiry thus ordered was at once begun:
lIndorsement
Write to Maj. q. w. Lee, ProYost-Marshal at At
lanta and inquire why Ia of the engine thieves
were resptcd while the others were executed, and
whether there is anything distinguishing their case.
Ii. w. RANDOLPH,
Secretary of War.
Only the responses to these inquiries were
preserved on file at Richmond, and are now in
Washington. They show the degree of confu-
sion and misunderstanding which prevailed at
the rebel capital:
HEADQUARTERS ATLANTA, GA,
sept. l6. 1862.
Hon. G.. w. RANDOLPH.
Secretary OF War Richmond, Va.
SIR: Your communication of the llth inst. is duly
TO hand. In reply have respectfully to say that
the arrest incar seratOn, trial and execution of the
prisoners you refer TO. occurred before took charge
of this post 10y your order. found a number of
pfi -oners my arrival, aud among them the men