The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-11-17

got orders from Col. Stearns to keep you
tied till we get you to Bridgeport. He says
you are a mighty hard case, and he gave
us orders to shoot you If you didn't &c
along willingly, SO you had better ride in.
My right foot caught on the top of the
rock in the trail and my left against the
side of the cliff, and for about three steps
idown the mountain the whole weight oil
the horses fore parts rested on my
ankles by the rope under his belly. The
torture was excruciating; but acting on
Indian principles, l uttered no complaint
The horse lunged forward three times on
his hind feet, until he dragged my foot
over the rock to the end of il, when | wa:
down to the ground again. The rebels
| seemed to enjoy my sufferings, but other
| wise they treated me well enough.
A REBEL COLONEL FURIOUS.
| My imprisonment was not entirely with
| out it's sources of amusement. Every
| thing was not tragedy, but l was de-
| lighted by occasional comedy. Ono cir
| cumStance, in particular, may be worthy
of a rehearsal. When they were taking
me from the Chattanooga Jail to Knoxville
| | was kept in the depot about an hour,
awaiting the departure of the train, and
| as was natural, the citizens who were
lounging around had great many ques-
| tons to ask me, and my answers gave
them evident satisfaction.
| Two young officers and a lawyer came
| up and engaged in conversation with
me, being particularly severe on Yankee
prOwesS. / at once waived all further
conversation by remarking that l had
| taken them for gentlemen. They at once
whirled away through the crowd, exceed
ingy indignant, and thought no more of
the matter, when in short time in came
Col. Bibb, post cOmmandant, or Provost
Marshall believe the latter, and shouted:
"Where is that Yankee? Where is the
Sergeant of the guard"
"Here am" said the Sergeant.
"Mr Sergeant" added the Colonel, 'if
you allow the people to talk to that man
any more l will put you in irons, sir;
and then turning to me, with fierce
gesture, he fairly screamed "and you,
sir, Mr.. Yankee, if l hear another word out
of you, will put you in double irons"
Crack away, sir" was my response;
"there is nobody afraid but you"
He Immediately whirled around and
left the depot, trembling with rage, and l
expected every minute to see guard
come in with the irons; but the train was
soon after ready and was put on board.
When I was in Ledbetter's camp they
put me under a guard Of eight men in Col.
Stearns IS tent, as he was not in camp;
and while there the Major of the battalion
came to me and told me that Gen. Led
better would have me released and COM
mlSSlOneO, ana put III COHiIJduu vi IL
company of conscripted men, if l would
renounce my cause and take the oath of
allegiance to the Southern Confederacy.
But declined, telling him l would rather
be private in the Union army than
Brigadier in theirs. He then left me and
did not renew the proposition.
Next morning | was turned over to the
Provost-Marshal, and put in the guard
tent, along with two other men, who
wouldn't soldier" The Johnnies
crowded around to see me, sometimes
passing into the tent, past the guard,
contrary to all order and discipline. The
Lieutenant of the guard, a fine, portly
fellow, finding that it would do no harm to
let them in, came and sat down by me on
my blanket, in the most social manner
possible, and we passed some time III
friendly conversation, when an Indian
Adiutant forced his way into the tent.
He began to boast of the prowess of the
Southern troops and decry the pluck OF
the Yankees, affirming that the latter
would not stand the bayOnet.
'YOu are a liar, sir" ! fairly shouted.
He was on his feet in an instant, as well
as myself; he reaching for pistol, while
raised my fist to knock him down. AT
this juncture, however, the Lieutenant OF
the guard stepped between Us, and taking
the Adiutant by the collar with one hand
and the seat of the pants with the other,
raised him on one knee and tossed HIM
headlong out of the tent; then turning to