The National tribune., 1891-11-19
THE HOSTAGES.
Their Last Days in Prison. and How thsy We're
Exchanged.

LAehahEfd.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: IN the article
in the issue Of Aug. 20 ] promised 10 give the
closing scenes Of their confinement and escape
Of the hostages n Libby, but the sickness Of
Capt. lockwood has prevented till now.
The Captain continues: Soon after our con-
fncmeut in the Jail, or about New Years. was
taken sick with what the Surgeon called ty-
phoid pneumonia, was carried 30 a hospital,
aud remained there till February. On the
18Th Of February we were informed that the
Confederate Secretary Of War had issued an
order releasing on parole all Federal prisoners
IN the South.
/" ] think the order must have applied 10 the
prisoners az Richmond only. The information
was given by the COmmandant Of The prison.
About Wednesday, the 2Jth, the hostages were
transferred 10 the Tobacco Warehouse. where
the officers were confined and on Thursday /
went back there from hospital, aud ] heard
then that all were % be paroled except the
hostages
"Ail officers that had men in prison were
permitted 10 20 10 their quarters upstairs to
assist IN siguing the parole. Friday morning
the officers were 10 sign The parole, aud we all
fell IN liue awaiting what might turn M We
expected 10 be refused, but as they commenced
TO call the roll II Was ia alphabetical order for
the first time. Col CogsWeil, the first in order
Of the hostages, looked up surprised and hope
iul, turned and winEcd 10 Col. Lea, which we
understood meant 30 do as / do, and as his
name was called he stepped up aud signed the
parole, and no one was refused.
Then we were in a dilemma, as the day
before we had drawn our weekly hundred dol
lars. IL was il Richmond bank money. aud
good FOR nothing IN the Federal lines. Col.
Wood, who was a man well up in the Orders.
took the money, called for the Officer Of the
Guard, and asked for parole Of tie city for
I.u Al
turned, and soon dray unl0aded four - pound
bags Of klllklulck tobacco, which cost 81 a
pound Early in tho day the United States
Government had furnished the men with new
/ uniforms. aud in their delight at having new
clothes and were going home were wildly gem
crgus. large crowd Of negroes collected about
the prison 10 see Massa Yankee go home, aud
The mua began 70 throw their old clothes out OF
the Windows 10 them. Old gray headed men,
women, and children were wild in running Ia
secure some article flying from the window.
The crowd Increased, aud the Officer OF the
Day went out rushed into the crowd. and Law
4 about him with the fat Of his sword; but il
was 30 use, the crowd could not be driven
away lill the last article Of clothing had been
sCruT,8.
six o'clock p. m came, aud with IL the
order to march. We shouldercd our blanket.
+ ln which was rolled bag Of tobacco, and bid
FDod-by 10 the old warehouse, aud Samuel A.
/ Pancoast a civilian OF Virginia, was left tic
4 sole occupant Of the huge building.
Tho boat was small, and we were crowded
standing, aud could not lie down. The rain
/ commenced 10 fall, the might was dark aud
! i0ggy; we were full Of Impotence and AZ
morning broke all were eagerly looking Tor.
ward 10 catch sight Of the Federal flag. As the
4 morning advanced the fog lifted, aud We soon
/ passed the black hulls Of the Confederate
/ steamers jamestown aud Patrick Henry, and in
the distance the Federal aag,oEtruce boat ap.
poarcd.
We were formally transferred 10 the United
! States boat. We steamed down the river past
the mcn-Ofwar Congress aud Cumberland
whose rigging was filed with sailors, who
! greeted Us with hurrahs, which we answered
TIL unable 10 do SO any longer.
Fortress Monroe az last, and many Of the
| officers went up to pay their respects 10 Cen
/ Wool and as his eyes ioll on Col. Lea, who was
classmate Of the General, burst into tears
embraced him, saying Il did not expect 10 SEQ
you, ms IL was a bluuder Of the Confederate OH.
Gers Ia paroling you, and they tclegaphcd the
police boat 10 intercept tile lag-0t-truce boat
aud take Oh the hostages aud return them.
The fog had delayed the hag-ol-truce boat
so long that the police boat officers thought il
bad passed, and they returned to their port. -
l.. w. BAKER, Marlboro, Mass.