Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-07-03

been foolhardy enough TO have tried a
sudden bolt for liberty, though | feel
sure now that | would never have got
ten ten yards away alive.
At last the orderly returned with o
line from Gen. Lee, saying she did
not care 10 decide what should be
done with me-" and ordering Capt.
Randolph TO send me, under guard,
TO Lieut.. Gen. Longstreet." So, after
thanking the captain for his courtesy,
and leaving with him n note for my
old father. and another To M colonel,
which he promised 10 send across tho
lines land, as aftcrwurd found out
did, at the earliest moment possiblcl, |
set of in charge of about as woebe-
gone, used up a specimen of a Confed.
crate soldier rs one would likely find
in Lees army. The fellow had lots OF
sand" Notwithstanding his looks,
and we had hardly gone "A mile on
road when he ordered me 10 Strip of
that coat, Yank; whar yer a-gwinc yer
won't need il, and do" | declined
doing this, and wac threatened with
sudden death and other pleasant al.
ternatives, but | was determined.
Finally, he otfersl TO compromise
il ] would exchange boots with him.
This, too, | declined doing, saying,
See here, Johnny you're not a
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. Longstreet's
headquarters, where you are under
orders To take meT'
THAT I'D be easy %enutf." said the
Johnny; Il could say yer jist tried TO
light out, en- | drapped ye, couldn't
II But don't yer be afraid, Yank; /
was only jist a trying yer. | hain't
no murderer, ef | do wear a pretty
ragged gray suit of clothes. ! like
yer grit, 50 jist lope along, an well
soon be 10 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,
a rare sight in this almost
t~reeleSs region, / was told to ''sit down
on a 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 q door open,
and this ominous remark hoated out
on the air To me: Hang the -
Yankee" Now 10 this day | have
never found out who said these words,
or whether they were meant for me;
but at that time the effect vas terrific
upon me; my heart beat like "A trip
hammer; my mouth became parched
with sheer terror, and | leaped TO my
feet, but instantly the rifle of the sentry
was brought TO a bee line ON me, with
a very stern set down thar, Yank, or
it'll be wuss for you;' and | sank back
on the bench as one exhausted. a
silence ensued that seemed TO me in
terminable.
| thought TO myself, they are get
ting a rope now, andl remember look
ing up pitifully, pathetically among
the limbs Of the trees, and wondering
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
Longstreet's staff had a kindly face,
and askedme my full name, regiment,
age, rank, etc., taking all my answers
down in pencil in a 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 II 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
lieutenant general commanding this
division. You will be sent from here
TO Richmond, and the authorities there
will take such action in the matter rs
may seem proper. For your own
sake, | trust your youth may be taken
into account i'll settling the NATTER
To this | made no reply, none being
necessary. That night | slept under
guard; the next day ! was forwarded
by railroad 10 Libby prison, at Rich.
mond.
After SOME examination in the Office
Of the prison, | was put in u room ill.
cd 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 a
suit Of Confederate gray. As | enter.
ed this room "A man Of line appearance
and about middle age raised himself
up on his elbows Qho was reclining ON
a handsome travelling rug), and said:
II say, young man addressing mel,
have you just come inf
II have said |.
well, if you n sure you are per
iectly clean, you may came over hero
and bunk with me-
thanked him, and although some
Of the others prisoners laughed, | soon
found | was fortunate in having thi,
gentleman for a Chum. | soon dis,
covered the room | was in was used
to ]couiinc spies, traitors and others
under suspicion OF dislOyalty 10 the
Coniederlcy.
The gentleman who had spoken &c
nc was "A lieutenant colonel in the