The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-10-31

made in the factory and Superntendtd its
baling and shipment. 1t was while thus
engaged the writer first saw this man. who
had on his finger at the time magnificent
costly diamond ring. which the officers per
mitted him to keep and wear. Time rolled
around. bringing in its train war and
desolatOn, until one day in 1862 Federal
regiment halted i'm front of the pententiary
while its commanding officer entered its
portals. ordering its officials to assemble the
convicts on one side of the yard, where the
colonel thus addressed them:
Men. | presume you are aware of the
fact that the forces of the United States
are in possession of Baton Rouge. We have
just landed and our first act will be to re-
lease You prisoners and enroll you in the
Federal ranks. You number. so | learn.
about 500. sufficient to form good regi-
ment. All of you willing to accept your
berty and enlist in our service will cross
over to the other side of the yard"
He had scarcely ceased speaking when
the cOnvictS rushed to the other side with
one single solitary exception. and that was
No. 2O43. With bold. defiant look. his
eyes flashing with anger. he said to the
officer:
..HOW dare you, sir. release those con-
victS? You have no authority to pardon
them! They and are here to be punished
for violating the laws of God and man. We
were tried by juries of our countrymen and
declared guilty. and should undergo our
sentences. Besides. you are turning loose
upon defencelesS people whose able bodied
men are away fighting, some of the most
desperate scOundrels upon the face of the
earth"
Never you mind. old man. about my au
thOrity: just enroll yourself in our army and
you need no further pardon"
Enlist in your army!' said Patton
why. sir, Eans-arNi rginian- +Seutherner-
and though wear this infamous garb. am
not a traitor or renegade to my native land!
No. sir. were l a free man | would soon
join my cOuntrymen iIf srms."
you are good grit old man. but if you
prefer Imprisonment to freedom. 20 back to
your CELL"
And back he went the one lone convict
of the Louisiana penitentiary. However.
the Yankees having taken possession and
made barracks of the prison. soon tired of
guarding one man. and turned him out bod
lily. A gentleman who kent a store during
the war gave him shelter. and was well re-
paid for his kindness by the services of Pat
ton. who became his clerk and bookkepper.
After the war. upon the reorganization of
the office and reported himself as convict
No. 2043 and asked to be confined. The
officers stated that the records had been
lost and that they did not intend to seek or
to take back those released by tie chances
of war;
But have not been pardOned and must
serve my time. l insist upon being admit
ted.'
He was admitted. but never again was he
treated as convict He had light work
assigned him, and passed in and out with
out question while attending to his allotted
duties. He was a devOut convert to CathOI
iciSm and attended mass regularly every
morning from the time of his second entry
into the prison until the day of his death.
which took place some years ago. Although
a convict. he died gentleman and a Chris
tian. respected by all who knew him.
Truth" Baton Rouge. La.