Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-06-21


ten ten yards away alive.
At last the orderly returned with q
line from Gen. Lee, saying "he did
not care to decide what should be
done with me-" and ordering Capt.
Randolph ITO send me, under guard,
to Lieut.. Gen. Longstreet. So, after
thanking the captain for his courtesy,
and leaving with him note for my
old father, and another to our colonel,
which he promised to send across the
lines land, as | afterward found out,
did, at the earliest moment possible), l
set off in charge of about as woebe-
gone, used up specimen of Confed-
crate soldier as one would likely find
in Lees army. The fellow had lots of
sand" Notwithstanding his looks,
and we had hardly gone mile on our
road when he ordered me to strip off
that coat, Yank; whar yer a-gwine yer
won't need it, and do" | declined
doing this, and was threatened with
sudden death and other pleasant al
ternatives, but was determined.
Finally, he offered to compromise
if l would exchange boots with him.
This, too, l declined doing, saying,
See here, Johnny you're not
fool. You can kill me if you want to
do so cowardly an act and take my
boots and coat, but how will you ac-
count for me at Gen. Longstreets
headquarters, where you are under
orders to take me2"
That 'ud be easy enuff," said the
Johnny; II could say yer jist tried to
light out, EN- | drapped we, couldn't
II But don't yer be afraid, Yank; l
was only jist trying yer. hain't
no murderer, eff | do wear a pretty
ragged gray suit of clothes. / like
yer grit, SO jst lope along, an we'll
soon be to the old mans.
Arrived at Gen Longstreet's head
quarters, which were established in
what had once been a handsome
mansion of ante-bellum days, and
which had two large trees still
standing in front OF the house,
rare sight in this almost
treeless region, was told to sit down
on bench at the door," and was
guarded, by the sentry who paced in
front of the door, while my attend
ant passed inside. After a lapse of
some moments | heard door open,
and this ominous remark Goated out
on the air to me: Hang the -
Yankee" Now to this day l have
never found out who said these words,
or whether they were meant for me
but at that time the effect was terrific
upon me; my heart beat like trip
hammer; my mouth became parched
with sheer terror, and l leaped to my
feet, but instantly the rifle of the sentry
was brought to bee line on me, with
very stern Set down thar Yank, or
it'll be wuss for YOU and l sank back
on the bench as one exhausted. a
silence ensued that seemed to me in
terminable.
L thought to myself, they are get
ting rope now, and l remember look
ing up pitifully, pathetically among
which one of them | should orna-
ment, for, thought |, that unfortunate
proclamation is what they will not
overlook.
Time, which to me seemed SO long,
was not many minutes on the watch
dial, and | was recalled by the appear
ance of an officer, followed by my
first guardian. The officer Zone of
Longstreets staff had kindly face,
and asked me my full name, regiment,
age, rank, etc., taking all my answers
down in pencil in small book He
then said:
Lieut.. North, as you must be
aware, the introduction, by any
means, of such an incendiary docu-
ment as this (here he held up one of
the proclamations) into our lines con-
stitutes an act which places you with
out the pale of military law; at any
rate, beyond the jurisdiction of the
division. You will be sent from here
to Richmond, and the authorities there
will take such action in the matter as
may seem proper. For your own
sake, | trust your youth may be taken
into account i'll settling the matter"
To this | made no reply, none being
necessary. That night l slept under
guard; the next day was forwarded
by railroad to Libby prison, at Rich
mond
After some examination in the office
of the prison, I was put in room fill
ed by men in a variety of costumes
very few in our own uniform. |
thought little of this at first, for had
myself sold my overcoat and blouse
en- route to prison. and appeared in .
suit of Confederate gray. AS enter
ed this room a man of fine appearance
and about middle age raised himself
up on his elbows Che was reclining on
a handsome travelling rug, and said;
81 say, young man addressing mel,
have you just come inf"
Il have" said |.
well, if you are sure you are per-
fectly clean, you may came over here
and bunk with me"
| thanked him, and although some
of the others prisoners laughed, l soon
found | was fortunate in having this
gentleman for a chum. l soon dis
covered the room was in was used
to confine spies, traitors and others
under suspicion of disloyalty to the
Confederacy.
The gentleman who had spoken to
me was a lieutenant colonel in the
British army, who, foolishly ventur-
ing too far into Jeff Davis domains