Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-08-20
go HE VOTED % BE.
A Brutal Soldiers, Act on Governors
Island and Its Conseqnenees.

A Brutal soldier's Act on Governors
Island and Its Consequences.
A party of gentlemen sat in a cafe
enc evening discussing politics. says
Schenectady correspondent OF the New
York Sun when Capt Henry Rice Of
this city remarked shat he had been a
Democrat all his re. but had once
voted the Republican, Tickets casting
his ballot for Gen John A. DIX when
the latter ran for governor in 1872.
'.Dix saved my life. he answered
in reply TO an inquiry regarding his
reasons. During the war 1 was
private IN The Twelfth New York cav
airy. commanded by Colonel Haynes.
In October 1853. obtained thirty
days furlough and left for my home
In otscgo county. The period Of my
leave of absence had expired when
reached West Troy on my way back
to my regiment and, as had not my
| furlough with me. / was arrested in
that town on the charge Of desertion
and taken to Governors island and
placed in confinement
while there / saw considerable
cruelty exercised by officers IN charge
OF the prison. and particularly in the
case Of man named Wilson GUAR
termastcr's sergeant. lie was in the
habit OF striking the prisoners for the
most trivial offenses-in fact for
actions which in no way should have
been con sidered offensive. { ne day
he hit friend Of mine. a man well
advanced in years and 1 resolved tC
get even with him If he ever gave me
chance. The opportunity came the
next day. The bread for the men was
placed in a large barrel and each mar
helped himself as he came along il
the line. / picked up one piece o
bread but 1 put it back and selected
another.
Why didn't you keep that bread?'
growled the sergeant
Because didn't like il, ] re
piled.
Well perhaps you'll like this
. he cried drawing back his clenchet
fist 10 strike me. | was too quick TO
j him and knocked him down A guar
Z rushed up and plunged his bayone
e into my side. where / carry scar l
y ! tl~o Adgs as uI dtNGLA4 LkSA W 4IFNH
e the dose / wrenched his musket fret
i him, aimed it straight at his hear
!. and pulled the trigger. The gu
: contained only blank cartridge
d was court martialed and sentenced |
Il be shot the following Friday. Qul
a ing the interval from the time of sci
il tence / succeeded in cutting ho
through the floor OF my cell by NEAR
e Of which / could escape TO the ba.
or at least take chances should L
S relief come
lc But my case had been presente
D. by Colonel Lummis commanding Go
"a errors island, to General Dix WI
81 was in command Of the northern d
IL partment OF the army. and Thursds
lr 1 received word that was to have
rs rehearing. / was subsequently a
a. Quilted. joined my regiment in d
u South and fought through the wa
Il while the man Wilson got four mont
~ with a ball and chain attachmer
N General Dix asked the sergeant il t
Il reports were true regarding his stri
of ing the prisoners. He replied that
!. was obliged to do so.
u Well / have been a soldier
A several years said General Dix a
III never had occasion TO strike q mi
IA in my command So Wilson got {
~ four months and appurtenances, and
~ got my liberty. Do you wonder Il
h voted for the general?"