The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-13


pressed regret at the pain his tidings had given
me, but showed his kindness in n marked
manner. lie went off to his battery, milo
and more distant, and an hour later returned
with a haversack of newly-baked hoecake and
several good slices of bacon, which was truly
Godsend, for ] was nearly fainting from long
fast, and made still more miserable with my
inhamed eye md wounded ankle. had lived
since my capture. 10 days before, OH few
handouts of raw flour irreguarly issued by tho
Confederates (who could really do no better for
themselves during that trying intervaD F.; and
indeed, rs already narrated ] had gone into
the battle hungry, having eaten my last salts
fling meal at Frederick on our march to
Gettysburg.
In speaking of his battery, my Confederate
friend gave it to me as fact that the terms
under which IL had enlisted was for 20 years
or during the war;"
In the light of subsequent events 20 years
or during the Confederacy would seem to have
been n more prudent contract. Ho was an
educated, fne-looking young man, and my i'm
preston is relation to the Maurys of Rich
mond. do not doubt that he was a gallant
soldier; certainly his conduct proved him a
gentleman, and had Jefferson Davis committed
the care of the Union prisoners TO soldiers of
his calibcr instead of to thugs" like the
Winders, tho Turner's, Wirz and Gee tho South
and Chrstendum would not to-day have the
sonville, Salisbury, Libby and Belle Isle
TO BLUSH FOR.
Learning that ! was from New York, and
believing that an early exchange would enable
me to visit that city, no asked me as n favor to
deliver a lettor which he had written to Dan
Bryant, the famous New York minstrel, to
whom he was in some way related
j made no reference to Dement'S letter, but
suggested that the privacy of his own com
mu ication might not be respected by the
authorities at Richmond, where a rigid search
might be expected. To this he answered that
in such contingency, should / find my com.
rades being deprived of their letters, / was
authorized to destroy 1t. With this under.
standing accepted the trust, glad 10 render
so slight a service to one who had so generously
favored me. He then babe me gOod-by, and |
saw him no more. Our march took us through
Winchester, along the broad turnpike made
famous by Buchanan Reeds poem of "Sheri-
dams Ride" aud through the towns of tho
Shenandoah Valley. Near Winchester we
passed Gen. Lee seated at the side of the road
on q camp-stool, he and his staff having halted
in the shade to rest aud refresh themselves and
horses.
His hair was white aud his manner grave
and dignited. He looked at tho column OF
Federal officers as they passed with no more
and no less visible emotion or interest than if
they were troop of passing Contoderates, and
when band, at the spOrtive instigation of some
young fellows of his staff, struck up Yankee
Doodle wildly cheercd by the prisoners, then
switched onto Dixie" chGered louder yet by
our guards and Lees staff, and when both prs-
oncrs and COntederates rOared with laughter
aud chocred together over the ludicrous effect
aud the harmless and witty absurdity, his face
alone remained uuTippled with "a smile.
/ caunot doubt that the Confederate loader
was Mt that moment bowed down with tre-
mcudous responsibility. aud possibly minded
Afresh by the sight OF the prisoners Of tho
mighty stake for which he had lately played
and lost at Gettysburg; yet his studied frigid.
Ity was disappointing, and quite rs much, so
| feel assured, TO his comrades who stood Loyalty
| around him as TO the Union captves For my
own part, ! could not help thinking this was
oyordone dignity, and the impression was
| forced upon my mind that Gen. Lee, concoding
| him the high qualities OF head and heart claim
| ed for him by his admirers waa not immaculate
or above IA bit OF acting, aud that his role of
dignity" seemed ovorstrRined from over
study.
Even the undcnOnstratiye Grant would have
smiled at the nonsense. Sherman would have
greeted 10 with honest OUTLAW, aud Sheridan
would have roared; yet all these great soldiers
were West Pointers aud all bad dignity of tho
healthiest growth. The incident, though tri-
fling, WAS both memorable aGd suggestive, aud
hence IL gathered III with the more impressive
! pictures remembered by the Union captivcs
during this memorable march, under guard of
| 100 miles from the field of Getty sbuTg.
AT Stanton weSvefe at last put on board
cars, and on July u, in the early evening, VIC
were admitted
WITHIN THE DOORS OF LIBBY PRISON.
The Introductory ceremony was the registry
of names by Little Ross" Then Dick Turner.
| of infamous ronown, began bis search aud
I 49, IL - -
! showed bis love for tho work aud drove his
! pilfering fingers through the prisoners pockets
with speed and skill acquired by long psac.
| ticc
| To my disuiay and disgust saw now that pri.
waite Letters were not respected, aud the officers
! yet unsearched noting the fact began rapid
destruction OF their letters, until tho floor soon
looked like fall OF snow. ] thought OF George
! Dennens letter and that of my Confederate
! friend, aud dreaded the imperative duty which
was now forced upon me. i would indeed have
! taken any reasonable risk To have saved aud
delivered those messages inviOlatcly, but the
search was close and the chances OF conccalinp
! them from the brute now before me were
| slender nearly all had been searched and sent
10 their quarters upstairs; my turn was at
| hand.
! Turner at this moment discovered the ole
sale destruction OF letters by The sight OF the
Uttered floor. lie had been drinking heavily,
| as usual, and the sight enragcd him. lie roaTcd
with oath to George Stansil, the Sergeant,
| 20 " Stop them id Yankees from tearing up
any more papers" / stepped back ward 10 the
| window, aud before the Sergeant could reach
| me made small ribbons Of the two letters aud
| flung the fragments right and left.
Turner SAW the action, stopped his search,
and for "A few seconds glOweTed on me with d
maIeVolencc that sm0thered speech and which
gave his ylilainous couutenRnce an expression
absolutely hideous
lie ceased his search of the few yet around
him, and ordered the Sergeant 10 bring me for
ward. He searched me with the eager keen
ness of a ferret from head to foot, aud even ran
his hand roughly under the handkerchief that
still held "A damp rag over my eye.
j had spent the little money / had by me
when captured TO purchase biscuit and other
food on the long weary journey from the bat
tleneld, and Turner, now more than eager 20
rob me, found nothing TO crafty his savage hui
NOR but penkniio and small piece Of shell
that had wounded the head Of Martin Kowitz,
OF my company, at Gettysburg.
This tritie offered the opportunity he thirsted
for, and c0olly putting IL in his pocket lac
pushed me rudcIy aside aud proceeded TO search
! another victim.
had not grown accustomed as yet TO the spe-
cial class OF guards selected 10 carry out the
| system" of Davis and the cabal al Richmond
among the prisoners. BY intercourse thus far
| had been since capture with Conlederntes who
served at the front, and usually treated their
captves by the recognized and honorable code
/ a civilized uarf