The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-02-10
DARING AND SUFFERING.
A History of the Andrews Railroad
Raid Into Georgia in 1862.

Those who remained in prison suffered
scarcely less than their comrades. The
bitterness of death was upon us ALSO We
did not think that vengeance would stop
with those who had fallen. The hope we
had SO long cherished was overturned at n
blow. In Knoxville we had urged that all
should be tried together, or that the sem
tence OF one should stand for all. There
was no reason for giving any preference to
one over another, and no indication that
such preference was TO be given. But
even IL we had not believed that only a
few days or hours of prison life lay be-
tween US and the scaffold, the parting
from our loved friends, whose voices were
yet lingering in our ears while they them
selves had passed beyond the gates Of
death, was enough to break the stoutest
heart. There were tears then in eyes that
would not have quivered In the presence
Of any danger.
But could not shed a tear. A cloud of
burning heat rushed to my head, and
fever seemed to scorch through every
vein. For hours / scarcely could realize
where was or the loss that had been suf-
fered. Every glance around the room,
revealing the vacant places Of friends,
would bring our sorrow freshly upon us
hension for ourselves were inseparably
blended. The suddenness of the shock by
which we were separated seemed to reveal
spirit that forbade us to hope, while it
was a terrible aggravation Of the pain of
parting. Thus the afternoon hours slowly
drifted by under a shadow too dark for
words. No one ventured as yet to speak
OF hope.
The first distraction in this terrible hour
we owed to our friendly jailer. He asked
rs If we would like to be all put in one
room.
We were eager for this privilege and he
brought over the eight who were in the
front room and placed them with us. We
were now fourteen, Including Capt. Fry,
of East Tennessee fame, who was placed
with us. There would have been much
to talk about in orr separate experiences
in Knoxville and Chattanooga at any
other time, but now the thought Of the
lost swallowed up everything else.
AT length some voice suggested-rathei
family at first, for only few hours be-
fore it would have met keen ridicule-
that it would be well for us to pray. The
thought was warmly welcomed. Not the
slightest objection was offered by any one,
and we at once all knelt. One member
of the party has lately told me that while
he knelt with the rest, and was careful to
say nothing to discourage us, yet he never
led in prayer, or said anything to indicate
that he had changed his life purpose.
did not notice the exception at the time,
as every head was bowed and every face
covered. Capt. Fry was first requested
to lead us, which was peculiarly appro-
pirate, as he had always maintained
to feel our great sorrow as IL it were his
own. He prayed with deep earnestness,
strong sobs mingling with his fervent pc
titions. Then others led, and we con-
tinued until all but the one already al
luded to had prayed in turn; then those
who had prayed before began again.
There seemed to be some help in simply
telling our trouble. On my own part,
do not think that there was great deal
of faith, at least so far as temporal deliv-
erance was concerned, but there came
calmness and passing away Of bitter.
ness that was restful to our tired hearts.
We besought God mainly that he would
prepare us for the fate that seemed
inevitable, and that as he had led
us into great trials, he would in some
manner sustain us there. We kept on
praying with but short intervals till tho
sun went down. AS twilight deepened
into darkness-the emblem of our own
lives-so our petitions grew more solemn.
God seemed nearer than ever before. In
the darkness it appeared easier to behold
the heavenly light. We began to ask for
deliverance in this world as well as in the
hour of death, and to have hope, very
faint and trembling, that it might be grant
ed. Then little by little we began to profess
our purpose to live religious lives while
we were spared, whether the time was
long or short. 4 do not know that there
was anything clear and definite in the
way of conversion or sudden change on
the part of any; but when it is remem-
bered that In the forenoon we had amused
ourselves by all kind Of games, that pro-
fame words and jests were not uncommon,
and that we would have been ashamed to
speak Of prayer or Of religion in any way
except as mere theory, it will be seen
that there was no slight alteration in Us
already. From that hour date the birth
q an immortal hope and new purpose
IN life. And In this experience am not
solitary
It is an interesting fact, which the "a
tionalist may explain as he will, that from
the time OF that long prison prayer meet
cstIly 6lItTnOOu W ullunlRuU-
the fortunes of our party began to i'm
prove. There were fearful trials still be-
fore us, not much inferior to any that we
had passed. we long held our lives by the
frailest thread; yet I'll the close of the
war, though many persisted around us,
death did not claim another victim from
our midst. We committed ourselves to
the Lord, not expecting deliverance in
this world; and in his boundless mercy
he bestowed upon us all we asked, and far
more than we had dared to hope.
Few things in our whole prison expert
ence were more fearful than awakening
the next morning. The chill light of a
new day-the dispelling of dreams that
may have been very pleasant, and have
brought home wildly before us--always
made the morning hour the most dreary
of the day. But on this occasion we
looked around and saw the places of our
friends vacant, and all the great sorrow
OF our bereavement again rolled over us
like the incoming OF the sea.
But we wished to do something. A
small Bible was borrowed from Mr.. Tur-
ner when nc came to bring our scanty
breakfast-Mr. Thoer, who was always
with him to see that he gave us no undue
did mot ohiarf-and thor,