The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-06-20
CHAPTER XIV.

Now and then letters were received
under flag Of truce, and those were &C.
casions never TO be forgotten. Soon
after reaching Libby wrote number
of letters to my parents and friends and
one to Carrie Bront in which explained
my situation. AS our letters could not
exceed page in length, and were all
read over by tho prison authorities, l
was in despair of hearing from Carrie,
when to my great delight-and this on
the eve of our exodus from Libby re-
ceived an answer from her.
The part vital to my story l here
transcribc:
HOME, Feb. 4, 1864.
'MY DEAR CAPTAIN WATTS: While all
my sympathies in this cruel war are on
the side of the Sunny South, still must
confess l am deeply panied to learn OF
the misfortune that has befallen you.
For brave man to be deprived OF his
liberty is trying, no matter how kind
his treatment; but as the Confederate
authorities can not properly feed nor
clothe their own brave men in the field,
it stands to reason that the prisoners of
wal Jntlr IhuSb SuUcr utdriy
for life's necessities.
''Your mother has sent you through
two boxes of provisions and clothing,
and / nave tried to show my esteem in
the same way. Read all the books
send you, Bible among the rest, and
note the marked passages. The set of
chess are the same you and so often
played with in the happy past.
Sand now as to brother. lie was re-
prieved by Mr.. Lincoln for ninety days
and sent to Johnstons Island up near
Sandusky. / have been to see him three
times, and each time he has seemed
thinner and more worn. He is in the
hospital, and the doctors say he has con-
sumption, but he refuses to believe this
and says he would be himself in week
if he were only back in the saddle.
IT have recently seen our mutual
friend, General Boyle and he is hard at
work on plan whereby you can be ex-
changed for Frank. General Holt is
interested in this matter, and as he has
much influence, it will not surprise me
to SEQ you homo any day.
II wish you and Frank, once you are
free, would pair off, as they do in Con-
gross, and let others finish up the war.
l am sure al Kentuckians would agree
to this plan, il they only knew how the
hearts of mothers, wives, sisters and
sweet-hearts are breaking at home.
Our beautiful land seems changed into
the valley of the shadow of death, for
there is mourning in every household,
one day for q dead boy in gray, and an
other for dead boy in blue. But the
bullets that Stay them do not stop on
the battlefield, but wing their way over
hill and dale. nor rest till they find
Judgment in some woman's heart.
"With an ever-keen memory of your
goodness to me and mine, and praying
night and day for the dawn of peace,
believe me Your Friend,
CARRIE BRENT"
/ read this letter over and over, read
1t till knew it by heart, read 1t till
it separated at the folds, and then,
sentimental youth that was, 1 placed
it over my heart and felt happier and
better for having 1t there.
The same mail brought Howard Scott
letter from Mollie Vernon, and he
showed that the love of love is stronger
than the love of liberty, by forgetting
all about the tunnel, while, with
moisture in his fine, brave eyes, he told
me of tho comfort this letter had brought
him.
At length the day came, or rather the
night, when there we're two openings to
the tunnel, the new one being inside
tho high board fence across the way.
The time had come when the pledge of
secrecy could be removed from the
workers and they were free to tell their