The National tribune., 1897-07-29

that seven of their number had been tried
by court martial, but none of them knew
what the decision was.
About this time and before any more
could be tried, events occurred in other
quarters that caused the cour:-martial to
break up and the officers to hurry TO their
re pecfive commands. i suppo this was
caused by the capture of. Cumberland Gap
by Gen. Morgan and the threatened in
vasion Of East Tennessee BY the Federals or,
perhaps, the officers were needed TO go with
Bragg on his great raid into Kentucky.
Oar comrades seemed in good spirits and
hopeful. They had heard of the death of
Andrews before they left Knoxville They
had also been told by some of the guard
that Andrews was the only man intended to
| be executed, and that the rest of us would
| simply be kept until the war was over
This gave much encouragement to some of
our men, but | must confess | was not in a
frame of mind to build much hope on these
reports The admonition of Andrews still
rang in my ears.
MARKED FOR BRUTALITY.
There seemed to exist a feeling of fiend-
ish, malicious brutality toward us that was
felt and shown toward no other prisoners
except the East Tennessee Union men,
whose wrongs and sufferngs during the war
have been SO graphically portrayed by Par
son Brownlow.
For instance, our comrades who had Just
arrived told us that as they reached the
depot in Atlanta they were tainted and
jeered by the mob, and man, who said he
was the Mayor, told them he should have
the pleasure OF putting the rope on each OF
their necks, as he had done O their miser-
able, thieving, spying scoundrel of leader,
Andrews. He. told them they would not
be troubled with any more railroad rides.
Again, the Jailer, whom l have since
visited. when | was free and wore the blue
was humane man, and At first gave us
| liberal ratlOna. He was soon suspected OF
being too friendly with us, and this duty
taken out Of his hands, and an odious old
! Yankee hater, named Thor, who was fit
instrument for the business, was hired as a
spy on the jailer's actions.
l will here give it as my hest impression
that Thor met his just deserts when Sher-
mans men captured Atlanta There were
six men in that vast army of veteran fighters
who had been victims to the old mscreant's
cruelty and hatred OF Yankees
This whole matter of doubt and uncer.
about a week after the arrival of our Knox.
vile comrades, a body of cavalry, in charge
of officers, fled in and halted in front of the
Jail. Several of the officers and a strong
guard of men came up and halted in front
OF our room. Our party at this time had
arranged so that we had all been allowed in
room together during the day. We knew
then there was something up. Soon the
door opened, and the officer read off the
names of our comrades who had been tried
| at Knoxville: Samuel Robinson John Scott
Perry G. Shadrack, Samuel Slavens. VIM.
Campbell, Marion Ross and Geo d. Wilson.
| One of the men, Robinson, was sick with
| fever, and had to be assisted to his feet and
out OF the room. He was abused by the
officers shametully. They were taken to a
room near by, occupied by The Tennessee
| prisoners, and the latter were brought over
and put into our room. There was much
excitement and speculation on our part
With bated breath we eagerly inquired oil
each other what this could all mean Some
even supposed that our comrades had been
taken out to be paroled or exchanged
The room. into which they were taken was
only separated from ours by hall, and we
could hear the doom of the poor fellows
| pronounced as their death sentences were
read TO them, and they were enjoined to
hurry up and get ready to accompany the
guard to the place of execution, as time was
precious and they had no moments 10 waste
| The whole party at once returned to oui
room, and George ID. Wilson, with pale
face and quivering lip, informed us in q
startling whisper that hey were to be hung
Immediately.
Ito be continued