The National tribune., 1897-11-25

it; it has not deserted us; their hell
born Conlederacy is not going to succeed.
| tell you that before the Spring breezes
stir the tops of these blasted old pines
their Confederacy will be SO deep in hell
that nothing but search warrant from
the throne of God Almighty can ever
find it again. And the glorious old
Stars and Stripes -
Here we began cheering tremendously.
A rebel Captain came running up, said
to the guard, who was leaning on his
gun, gazing curiously at Lloyd:
What are you standing gaping there
for? Why don't you shoot him." and
snatching the gun away from him,
cooked and leveled it at Lloyd, but the
boys near jerked the speaker down from
the stump and saved his life.
We became fearfully wrought up.
Some Of the more excitable shouted out
to charge on the line of guards, snatch
their guns away from them, and force
our way through the gates. The shouts
were taken up by others, and, as if in
obedience to the suggestion, we instinct
lively formed in line-ot- battle facing the
guards.
A glance down the line showed me
an array of desperate, tensely drawn
faces, such as one sees who looks at men
when they are summoning up all their
resolution for some deed of great peril.
The rebel officers hastily re;reated be-
hind the line of guards, whose faces
blanched, but they leveled their muskets
and prepared to receive us.
Capt. Bowes, who was overlooking
the prison from an elevation outside,
had, however, OWNED the trouble at the
outset, and Was preparing to meet it.
The gunners, who had shotted their
pieces and trained them upon us when
we came out to listen to the speech, had
again covered us with them, and were
ready 10 sweep the prison with grape
and canister at the instant of command.
The long roll was summoning the in
fantry regiments back into line, and
some of the cooler-headed among us
pointed these facts out and succeeded in
getting the line to dissolve again into
groups of muttering. sullen-faced men,
When this was done, the guards
marched out, by cautious, indirect
manuver, so as not to turn their backs
to us.
1t was believed that We mad some
among us who would like to avail them
selves of the offer of the rebels, and
that they would try to inform the rebels
Of their desires by going to the gate
during the night and speaking to the
Otiicer-of-the-Guard. A squad armed
themselves with clubs and laid in wait
for these. They succeeded in catching
several-snatching some of them back
even after they had told the guard their
wishes in tone so loud that all near
could hear distinctly
The Officer-of-the-Guard rushed in
two or three times in vain attempt to
save the would-be deserter from the
cruel hands that clutched him and bore
him away to where he had lesson in
loyalty impressed upon the fleshiest part
of his person by a long, flexible strip of
pine, welded by very willing hands
After this was kept up for several
nights different ideas began to prevail.
1t was felt that if a man wanted to join
the rebels, the best way was to let him
go and get rid of him. He was of no
benefit to the Government, and would
be of none to the rebels. After this no
restriction was put upon anyone who de-
sired to go outside and take the oath.
But very few did so, however and these
were wholly confined to the Raider
crowd.
To be continued.