Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-08-16

WulSu Tic prlSOncr<S, looking unOIe nag
gard for tholr slecar, were forming four
deep. The men were counted, and as
deception WIS cay with this form OF
''roll call," Lirtic Toss often had ten
Yankees moro than there should be-"
or "a half-dozen Yankees short" but tho
counting was always kept up till the
proper number was found.
Some time after this, all the prisoners
were driven every morning into the Up
per Potomac room and counted out one
at 10 time, into the Upper Chickamauga.
At the southern ends of all the rooms
there were sinks and spigots, but clean
illness was out of the question. The
room opening from Carey street and di-
rectly under the lower Chickamauga had
in it number Of old-fashioned kitchen
ranges and was known as "the cook
room"
After we had wet our faces and hands
and dried them on a much soiled towel,
which thechaplain had left among other
effects, we went down to the stoves, and
as Howard had given me all his bread
the night before, we would have gone
hungry till noon, had it not been for the
kindness of friends who shared with US
their little corn-bread and remaining
black beans.
About eleven O'Clock corn bread,
beans and enough tough beef to give
few ounces to each man, were dis
tributed; during the nine weeks that
followed we did not receive any more
meat.
Still faithful to the promise 1 had
made Carrie Brent and her brother,
took the first opportunity could find to
talk to Lieutenant Scott without being
overheard by the crowds about us. l
told him Franks story and asked for
his.
Howard Scott had never before been
bitter or profane in my presence, SO
that l was quite unprepared for the
vindictive wrath he showed on this oc-
casion.
Had captured Frank Brent, know
ing what now do about him, I'd have
hung him to the first tree within reach, :"
he Kissed.
"You are Jealous of him because of
his devotion to Miss Vernon" said;
"but you have nothing to fear there"
"No, Captain, am not Jealous, but
am righteously indignant, Frank Brent
captured me in Powoll's Valley, and at
the time he said, so that he could not
have been guilty of John Harding's
murder. This world will not be big
enough to hold him and me once this
war is over, that is. if he is not hung in
the mean time, as he deserves to be, or
| if do not die in this hole"
On being pressed to give the reason for
his dislike, Howard continued:
You know my cousin George Skill
man, who was with Brent? Well,
George was fine fellow, even II he was
in such company. One day an old
scoundrel, named Mckee, who claimed
to be Union man-how 1 would like to
use halter on that fellow-came to us
with letter purporting co have been
written by Cousin George, and saying
that he was lying helpless and wounded,
| over in Powell's Valley, ] showed the
letter to General Carter. and as the
enemy was not believed to be within
fifty miles of the place, he told me to
take an ambulance, find my cousin, and
| have him sent to our hospital at tho Gap,
where he would be sure to get good care.
I started off, under the guidance OF old
Mckee, and, In reaching the valley l
| found myself in Frank Brent's hands.
My cousin had been dead for month,
but Brent forged the letter so as to trap
me. But the end is not yet" And
Howard SCOTS eyes flashed and he be-
gan biting his mustache.
| felt too much Inundated to tell my
friend of the part l believed this same
old Mckee played in my capture; but
did explain my own situation, and as
serted my belief that If Frank Brent
were hanged should be treated in the
same way by the Confederate authori
ties.
They've condemned Sawyer and
Flynn to death, but the two men are
here in Libby. Let them begin the re-
taliation, Captain Watts, and they'll
soon learn that that is game two car
play at"
But what good will that do me after
am hanged?" asked.
Howard put both arms around my
neck and whispered
!, Don't lose heart, old fellow; If they
don't hang you mighty soon I'll show
you the road out Of Libby and lead yol
on the trail to freedom!"
The more l tried to get the Lieuten
ant to explain the more mysterious h
became, till at length, to avoid my i'm
portunities, he called a stranger, intro
duced me and turned away.
1nlS stranger was colonel Oil SeSnOla
of the Fourth New York Cavalry,
, handsome, dark-faced man, who wa
distinguished from every other Office
in prison by the fact that he wore
warm, blue cavalry tunic trimmed witt
fur. The Colonel was explaining to M
, that this most desirable garment ha,
! been received under flag Of truce, whe1
suddenly it seemed that every man il
, prison began shouting my name.
= Captain Watts! Captain Watts! Cap
. tain Harry Wattsw
ut is evident you are wanted by tht
! prison authorities" explained Colone
! ,di Cesnola.
Acting on his direction, made m;
way to the head of the stairs leading
down to the prison Office. Here foun,
Little Ross, and on making mysel
, known, he said:
Captain, they want you downstairs.
"Who wants me?" asked, and fel
~ L