The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1891-04-24

n
his voice:
Turn out TO roll callr'
Howard insisted on my putting on the
overcoat, then he led me to the room
beneath the Lower Chickamauga. along
which the prisoners, looking more bag
gard for their sleep, we're 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
at 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 1t 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 much soiled towel,
which the chaplain 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 a
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 Lieutenant 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, so
That | was quite unprepared for the
vindictive wrath he showed on this &C.
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
am righteously indignant. Frank Brent
captured me in Powells 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, il he is not hung in
the mean time, as he deserves to be, or
II ! 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 IL he was
N such company. One day an old
;coundrel, named Mckee, who claimed
10 be Union man-how would like to
Use halter on that fellow-came to us
With letter purporting co have been
written by Cousin George, and saying
hat he was lying helpless and wounded,
,ver in Powell's Valley. l showed the |
etter to General Carter, and as the
nemy was not believed to be within
ifty miles OF the place, he told me to |
axe an ambulance, find my cousin, and |
ave him sent to our hospital at the Gap,
where he would be sure to get good care
started Off, under the guidance OF old |
icKee, and, in reaching the valley |
ound myself in Frank Brents hands.
Iy cousin had been dead for month,
nut Brent forged the letter so as TO trap
ne. But the end is not yet" And
Toward SCOTS eyes flashed and he be-
an biting his mustache.
felt too much Inundated to tell my
riend OF the part l believed this same
Id Mckee played in my capture; but
id explain my own situation, and as
erted my belief that if Frank Brent
'ere hanged l should be treated in the
anne way by the Confederate authori-
les.
They've condemned Sawyer and
lynn to death, but the two men are
ere in Libby. Let them begin the re-
lliation, Captain Watts, and they'll
Don learn that that is game two can
lay at"
But what good will that do me after
am hanged?" l asked.
Howard put both arms around my
eek and whispered:
Don't lose heart, old fellow: IL they
ont hang you mighty soon III show
on the road out OF Libby and lead you
n the trail TO freedom!"
The moro tried to get the Lieuten.
mt to explain the more mysterious he
ecame, till at length, to avoid my i'm.
ortunities, he called stranger, intro
4 al |