The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-09-27


pile OF clay that had been thrown up from
the ditch, making an appeal to the most miseT-
able set Of wretches that could be collected to-
gether. many of whom death was staring in the
face, ready to calm them in a few weeks at
most, standing and Ginging back IN their teeth
he iusiHuatiUns that their Government had
deserted them. One little Irishman in particu-
iar, who said he was of the 69th \. T., met
every advance in argument that these over
anxious rebel recruiting officers made to in
dDoe them 10 enlist, and when they said that
they would rather have foreign Yankees than
the native blue-beAies, the little Irishman
made them retreat IN disgust.
OF" he said, " you want foreign Yankees,
DO you. You think they haven't got the honor
the natives have. Well, guess your Black
Horse Cavalry didn't think So"
And he kept up such hot and continuous
goiley, IN which all the prisoners Joined, that,
smid a shower Of ridicule and laughter, they
gladly sought safety the outside. But
gbo viii not c0ncede that the tempta-
ti0ns Of these rcbei officers were not one Of
the greatest tests OF loyalty, as much so as
&c who bzres his breast to the leaden storm
And yet. Notwithstanding all these accumu-
lati0ns OF trials and suferincs their loyalty
Tor The cause ia which they had enlisted caused
them 10 spgTn any offer that would cast . stain
On their records. Is 1t any wonder that the
Union armies finally triBmphed, when the
Union men who composed its rank and file
would make such sacrifices for Its cause? Can
any country show an equal TO the Union vol
uHteerg Many brave men Of many nations
have done deeds for which their names have
been handed down in history for US to admire,
but none have ever eZcelled the Union soldiers
whose honor and loyalty was put 70 the test Of
8 rebel military prison IN the South, firm for
the cause unto death, which was preferable 10
liberty and digh0Dor as = deserter.
TRYING TO ROB THE BAKERY.
Bot days come and 60, dragging their weary
lengths along Virgins aud / would occasion
ally take our turn al digging in the tunnel,
which on account OF our tools made slow prog
ress, but we had the satisfaction Of knowing
that We were doing something which raised
our spirits.
One night we thought we would Inspect the
bakery that had been built, the rear Of the oven
extending into the PEN while the front faced
the outside, and ia the Enclosure where the
rebels mounted guard. The oven proper vas
covered with board shed, the sides Of which
stood out and left enough space between the
brick oven 70 allow a man 70 enter. Upon in
Festigating the structure we concluded that II
We could remove some Of the brick we could
make hole large enough TO reach in and get
the baking bread, which we could plainly
smell. We sci 10 work and lO0sened aud lifted
Of brick by brick until we neared the heated
not handle them, aud we were compelled 10
give il Up. As We l00sened the bricks we would
carry them out and drop them in some Of the
bitches. We loosened and carried out quite a
number Of the bricks which attracted atteu-
tion next day, and il was the talk Of the pen
that some one had tried to rob the bakery. Oh
course Virgins and kept still until il was for.
gotten.
Nov and then rumors Of Sherman's advanc,
iutO the COnfederacy would be circulated
through the prison, bat IS a general thing
nothing definite could be learned, until one DAY
just as darkness began 10 settle over the pei
We were informed that about $50 prisoner
from some prison south Of US were to be pu
into our pen 70 stay over night and that theI
were 70 be taken cut next morning and sen
North for parole OF exchange. ] did not sc
them enter, but knew from information tia
they were IN. Virgins aud ] concluded "
would 80 over and see who they were an
where they came from.
MEETING coARADE.
Leaving our hole in the ground, We proceede
10 where they were, which was alongside th
frame hospital, and | must say they were th
most wretche6 looking lot OF human being
tbat ] ever looked upon. We walked anon
them, asking questions and making inquire
IS to their destination and the cause Of the
removal from one prison 70 another They IL
formed Us that Sherman was marching thToug
the COnfederacy, aud was sweeping everythin
before him. aud that they were removed {,
fear tina. his army would release them. Viii
this good news was being impaired 10 Us thel
was something more that these Woe-begoI
prisoners had with them that caused much ia
and rejoicing AT least TO myselfif not TO other
While talking with them and passing from OF
% another almost the last man in the lii
proved to be James Costello, Orderly sergeal