Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-10-09
Howard insisted on my putting on the

Howard insisted Oh my putting on the
overeoat, then he led me to the room
beneath the Lower Chickamauga, along
which yhe prisoners, looking more bag
gard for their sleep, were forming four
deep. The men were counted, and as
deception was easy with this form of
roll call, Little Ross often had ten
Yankees more than there should be-"
or "a half-dozen Yankees short, but the
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
alta 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 ChicBamauga had
in it a 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 leftamong 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 eorn-bread and remaining
black beans.
About eleven o'clock corn bread,
beans and enough tough beef to give 3
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 had
made Carrie Brent and her brother |
took the first opportunity | could find to
talk TO LieutenRut Scott without being
overheard by the crowds about us. |
told him Franks story and asked for
his.
Howard Scott had never before been
bitter or profane in my presence, 50
that was quito unprepared for the
vindictive wrath be 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. "
mo, Captain, am not jealous, but 1
am righteously indignant. Frank Brent
captured me in powolrs Valley, and at
the time he said. so that Ne could not
have been guilty Of John Harding's
murder This world viii not be big
enough TO hold him and me once this
war is over, that is. II 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 a fine fellow, even II he was
IN such company. One day an oll
Hcoundrel, named Mckee, who claimed
90 be Union man how ! would like 70
use a halter on that follow-came to US
with a letter purporting 90 have been
written by Cousin George, and saying
that he was lying helpless and wounded,
over in Powell's Valley | showed the
letter 10 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 20 our hospitalat the Gap,
where he would be sure to get good care.
started of, under the guidance Of old
Mckee. and, in reaching the valley |
found myself In Frank Brcnt's hands
MY cousin had been dead for q month,
but Brent forged the letter so as 70 trap
me. But the end is not yet And
Howard Scott's eyes flashed and he boz
gan biting his mustache.
felt too much humiliated to tell my
friend OF the part / believed this same
old Mckee played in my capture; but l
did explain my own situation, and as
serted my belief that II 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 a game two can
play at"
But what good will that do me after
] am hangede" | asked.
Howard put both arms around my
neck and whispered;
Don't lose heart, old fellow; II they
don't hang you mighty soon III show
YOU the road out OF Libby and lead you
on the trail to freedomi'
The more | tried 70 get the Lieuten.
ant to explain the more mysterious nc /
became. till at length. to avoid my inn /
portunities he called stranger, intro /
duced me and turned away.
This stranger was Colonel iii Cesnola, /
OF the Fourth New York Cavalry, a
handsome. dark-faced man, who was
distinguished from every other officer /
in prison by the fact that be wore a /
warm, blue cavalry tunic trimmed with |
fur. The Colonel was explaining to me /
that this most desirable garment had 1
been received under flag of truce. when !
it seemed that every man in /
prison began shouting my name.