Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-10-11

so tortured that life is not worth the
living and becomes burdensomo, and
that n visit from grim-visaged death
becomes pleasure rather than n cal
amity. Here, after n march of three
hundred miles for liberty; after enjoy
ing in our imagination the greetings
OF loved ones, and then to have these
pleasant thoughts broken in upon by
u re-capture, blasting all our fond
expectations, is it any wonder that
life had grown burdensome, and the
fear of death had wholly departed ?
Besides, we were sick because of
cold, hunger and arduous marching
and to cap the climax, on our way
back to a rebel prison. All things con-
sidered, think almost any one would
have answered this rebel cur us / did.
In reply to his threat, replied: "You
miserable coward shoot l ask no
favors at your hands, and am ready to
die thousand times, rather than
make an apology to any reb for having
fought in defense of my country"
certainly expected to be shot after
this speech just as sure as | am OF
finishing this little page Of history.
But such was not the case, as you are
aware. The budget of bombast left me
to my reflections, and l was bothered
with him no more that night.
About nine o'clock of the same
morning the captain of the company
appeared. l learned from him after
wards that he lived six miles from the
camp, and he had been there over
night. Whom he came, one of the
first questions he asked was whether we
had slept warm, and had been to
breakfast; 'you boys look worn out" :"
1t did not take long to ascertain that
Capt. Brown was human man; in
fact he was IL soldier-brave and kind.
l told him just what our usage had
been during the night, and us yet had
had no breakfast. He Immediately
sent for the lieutenant, and inquired
of him why he had treated soldiers
who had been to the front, in such a
shameful manner? The lieutenant
began to deny, as | expected he would;
then | asked the captain TO send for
some OF his reliable men.
When they arrived, | made my
statement TO them precisely us | had
done before, and asked them us sol
diers to boar me out in my statements
if was telling the truth-every word
and sentence. They all replied in the
affirmative, corroboratinG everything
| had told the captain.
The look that captain gave his lieu
tenant will long be remembered by me
nor can forget the sneaking, COW
ardly, crnging visage of the lower
officer as he passed out of sight and
hearing. / shall not attempt to give
the language OF Capt. Brown as he ex
pressed his utter contempt for the
lieutenant; but it was rs scathing ant
cutting as language could make it, ant
branded him as coward and dirty dog
We were kept by Capt. Brown thu
balance of that day, and until the mex
morning about nine o'clock, and l ma.
say well kept too. Then the Capt
with two other men started with u
to railroad station about thirty mile
distant, to be shipped to Richmond
We were all on horseback, and as w
rode along, had very pleasant con
versation with Captain Brown. H
regretted the necessity of the war YER,
much, and thought the South was to
hasty in resorting to arms. He be
lieved that the North would finally b
victorious, although at u great sacritic
of life and property.
He also said that it would be n graft
fcation to him, if he could in justic
to himself, give us our liberty but a
he was responsible for our safe-keeping
he dare not do it.
After seeing us safely on the train i
charge Of some rebel soldiers, he sal
to them, ''be kind to these yankees
they are honorable and brave"
have always had sweet remembrance
Tor Captain Brown, and have though
of him many times since.
I, From this station we were taken I
Lynchburg, Va, and then taken fror
the train and lodged in Jail, where W
remained about one week, and althoug
our usage was not very bad, we wer
vigilantly guarded in fact, wheneve
the jail door was opened to give us foot
we never saw less than two guaro
t ready to receive us in case we attempte
to make break for liberty.
One day asked the negro IA rec
, headed negro) why the rebels SCENE
= to be so afraid of our escaping. Il
said that they thought we were spie
and had been sent to ascertain strengt
and location of the rebel forces in thi
section of the country, and had mao
arrangements to burn some railroa
% bridges on our return. The last tv
A days of our detention in that Jail, hui
. dreds came to look at us.
a was considerably worried on a
y count of the trumping up of II fall
= case against us, yet | could not he
=, feeling amused at some of the remarl
4 in regard to us. had always been lt
to understand that had mild blue ey
. and when Lynchburg lady said ''lot
what II fierce, wicked eye that fello