The National tribune., 1891-09-24
REBEL PRISONS.

One OF The First Sen to be Connnad As a Hostage.
EDITOR NATIONAL TEInUSa: Allow me to
give some Information In regard TO comrades
who were first put under the sentence Of death
as hostages during the war. In 1861 | was
confined IN the prison described be- I.W. Baker
in bis letter 10 The NATIONAL TEIEUSE-
Ross tobacco factory His description Of IL
D. correct. Officers were imprisoned on the
lower floor, aud pr.ya,c5 aud non-commis-
stoned officers on tie middle aud upper floors.
WinGer aId H.rz came into the prison some
time during the month Of October lo6l, aud
called on ali who were mE.liuists, boiler
makers OF biaCEsmitbs come here, we want
10 tall, with you" There was about 20 Of Us
representing those trades who answered their
call, not knowing what they wanted They
said they wanted Us 90 work on vessel they
were bailding two altcrward learned il was
the Merrmac We all refused 10 do IT, Wiuder
offered s. q day, in gold, aud exemption from
military duty II wo would DO so. We gave
them TO understand as well as We could that
we would not iorslkc the flag Of the Union,
and that wc would suffer honorable imprisUu-
ncnt rather than accept di5h0HOTable liberty.
They cursed rs terribly; called US - AbO-
litiOuis.s etc, and said SIC would be sorry that
we did mot accept their 1lcr. On Oct. 81, l-Gl,
Wirz came iuto the prison, called my name,
cursed me- and said no wanted $50 hostages to
send 10 Columbia, s. C., 90 be hung If tho North
hung thc Southern privatCcrs they had in
prison, land you said he calling my name
with q curse, shall be the first one % hang"
lie put mo at the head, aud OH, how he did
curse rs rs 80 formed Ia line in front Of the
prison.
Oh, God, if I could get news home Of how
died j would be willing 20 meet my fate was
my silent prayer. Just then ] heard some one
shout: John, keep still upper lip. / will let
the folks at home know about you" Looking
10 where the sound came i-Om i saw VIM. ~.
Uphau che same c1mTadc vino IS now Com
maudlr If the GAR Of Wisconsin,, who was
wounded at the battle OF Bull Run, standing
IN the door Of the hospital prison on the Othar
side Of the street, and he repeated what he
had said when he saw ! was looking toward
him. ] was Tcc0Hciled 10 my fate.
Co q, 5Glh Va. was our guard. and through
tho streets % Richmond. with WirZ and the mob
who bad gathered round us iecriHg aud ours
ing as. we were taken 20 the depot. Our guard
was glad 20 get Tii Of WiTZ, aud said they
would have cursed him back II they had dared
10 do SO. We never saw Nirl again. We ar
rived ia Columbia Nov. 2 and were taken to
the prison there One hundred Of Us were put
In six cells On the middle floor aud 90 on the
upper floor; we were held IN close confinement,
and, 10 use tho language Of Gen. Wilcox re-
gardiug our treatment aud suffering try
10 forget the internal place but / cannot"
On Jan. ], SD, additional hostages were sent
from Charleston, :. G., 10 bc confined with u.s.
They were guarded by young cadets i'm hollow
Square. Col Corcorau seth y. Y; Col. Wilcox
"a Mich; Col. Woodruff, 2i Ky; DR.. Gray, Of
q. :. Regulars; Capt Sprague 9TH Ohio; Capt
q. W. Shart.iT. 9TH Ohio; Lieut.. Dempsey,
G9lh y. Y; Capt. Morrel, U. S. Navy, aud
Capt. Drew were some OF the officers.
On Sunday, Feb. -, 1852, Col. Prescott aud
Capt. Shiver7 came into prison and told Us we
must be- ready 20 start 10 Richmond next
/ Thurs lay in three divisions. The three Colo
neis drew cuts 10 see who would start first
Col Wilcox, of Michigan, went on Tuesday !;
col. Corcorgu. G1th y. Y, OF Wednesday, aud
Col Woodruff. ID Ky, on Thursday, the last
lot being the one in which l went
j copy these dates and items from my prison
diary;
Tuesday Feb. 25-Col. Wilcox started for
Richmond, Va, in company with 100 hostages
Wednesday, Feb. 26-AEother LOT Of hostages
started for Richmond with Col. COrcOran, 6gth
N. ", az their head.
Thursday, Feb 27-'rhc last of the hostages
IN Columbia, enc Of whom / am started this
iecrning for Richmond with Col. Woodruff, %
Ky. Got TO Richmond March l, and were con-
Aled in Libby Prison.
&c left Richmond by flag OF truce boat TO be
exchanged by parole about May 10, ls62.
believe some Of those comrades who refused to
work on rebel vessels were the first ones who
were put under sentence Of death as hostages
JOHN II. AsDEEsoS, Co. +, ID Wis, Oseeola,
keb