Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-10-25

crates began to get nervous and 70 shifttheir
prisoners. Along with others l was taken
on May g. 1854, to the stockade at Macon
and two months later was sent to Charles
ton, under the fire of the Union guns. Six
or seven weeks after we were sent to the
Columbia stockade, where my companion
and i tried to build little but to shelter
us during the VIII ter. Here the dead
line" rule was strictly enforced and any
attempt to pass it was certain DEATH
Much of our time was spent in playing
cards and we were busy over game one
day when an order came from Johnny on
the outside
go to the dead Iine,' everybody. Spec
ial parole |"
We had heard this order so often, and
answered it so many times fruitlessly, that
we played on and paid no attention. Soon
passing guard struck our frail door with
the butt of his gun AMI shouted;
'sGit outur that, you blasted anks"
We went down to the dead line" and
had nearly + ached it when | heard in
clear tones from the parole off er;
Lieutenant Viii Willis, Fiiry-flrst In
dianaw
Like a flash l yelled out, Justify:
"Herew
/ was just in the nick of time, for had
not answered some one else would have
done SO, signed the parole papers and gone
home on my name.
snow, Yanks, go pack and wait for the
boats tomorrow"
The morning came, and with it the boat
that carried one hundred fifty Of us to the
Union vessel at Charleston, over which
waved proudly the stars and stripes,
frl, \ - u fxxrf.
years.
We were carried ON this vessel, the City
OF Baltimore, TO Annapolis. My compan-
ions were Captain Swayze, OF the Third
Ohio; Lieutenant Ri chic, Of the same
regiment and Captain Westlake, of the
Seventy third Indiana. 1t was in Deem
Der that we landed at Annapolis. Our
long imprisonment had greatly reduced
our wardrobe. We were bare-footed, and
our trousers were worn Of half way to our
knees; our blouses were gone to the elbows,
and the rest of our wardroba was in a SIM
liar state of dilaDiiation. From Annapolis
we were at once Civ n transportation to
Washington. On our way we consulted
anxiously as to where we should go and
what we should do when we reached the
National capital. OF course we had no
money, but we expected to be paid in
Washington for all the time we had been
prisoners; but what we were to do until
we got our money we did not know, and
we saw before us very gloomy prospect
AT length Captain Swayze said
"1sn't there a Metropolitan Hotel there?
think I've heard of such a place.
think it is a quiet, cheap place, and just
what we want"
When we reached Washington it was
after dark, and none of us knew where
the Metropolitan was. Said Captain
Swayze:
81 have just about money enough to pay
our bus fare to the hotel, so we win ride.
If they turn us cut we VIII then think
what is to be doae next"
We found the right bus and were driven
directly to the Metropolitan. In our bare,
FROST bitten feet we walked up the long
marble paved hall TO tn. clerks desk We
were greatly dismayed to find the house
brilliantly lighted MP with gas and filed
with people in rich clothing, and evidently
of the first grade Of society. We saw that
the hotel was the leading one in the city,
and not what we had imagined at all. We
four ragged, dirty, half-clad released
prisoners approached the aristocratic-
looking clerk, and as we did SO the first
thing saw filed me with dismay 1t was
a sign just owe the clerks head;
"Gent emen without aggage viii please
pay ia advance"
We had neither baggage nor money.
The prospect did not look encoura cling.
We had tacitiy agreed that Captain Sway
re should be our spok sman, and he stated
our case truthullv TO the clerk who did
not seem in the least disguised or aston
ished. He smiled cordially as he shook
Captain Swayze's hand, saying;
II am very glad that your troubles are
over gentlemen. We viii try to make you
com portable. win you please to regis
ter ="
II he had tapped his bell for police
man and said: "Remove these unsavory
rufianss" | should not have been aston
ished at all, but his welcoming speech and
manner surprised me beyond measure. A
crowd had gathered around us, and we
were the center of a group of eager spec
tators. A stranger who had been silently
listening to our tale of woe, liberal as he
was patriotic, stepped up to Captain
Swayze and handed him twenty dollar
bill, saying:
TAKE this. You will have use for
it. y
OF course it was thankfully accepted.
The kind-hearted stranger quietly stepped
out of the crowd and was gone before we
could learn his name.
''Hay you had supper" kindly inquired
the clerk.
"No, sir, answered Captain Swayze
''Then step right into the dining
room"
Without further ceremony waiter ush-
cred us into the brilliantly lighted dining
room, where another took charge of us
and seated us at table, which he at once
loaded with every thing we could desire,
and much more than we could possibly eat.
Before we had time to commence our meal,
a tall and handsome officer, with a kindly
smile upon his face, left his table and the
with whom he was taking supper,
and came over to us. As he shook hands
he sais;
IL am General Hancock, and it gives me
a sincere pleasure to welcome you back to
freedom. If there is any thing that can
DO for you or any information / can give
-.