Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-03-29
Bsek to DixIe.

BY CAPT. GEORGE BAYLOR.
Itmight be months. or years, or daya,
kept no count-I took no note;
At last men came to set me free,
asked not why and reck'd not whore.
BYRON.
Whilst at Fort Delaware, in Justice
TO officers and men on duty there,
must record tue fact that, excepting
in a few instances, our treatment was
such as reflects on them credit and
commentator. James n. GenmiI.
clerk to the commandant, with whom
we had daily intercourse, could not
have been more genial, pleasant and
considerate of our feelings and well
fare had he been kinsman and
brother. If lie has not met his re-
ward in this life, feel assured his
good deeds will speak with angel
tongues in his behalf when he stands
before the great judgment seat. The
noble women, whose names are mem
toned in these letters, though stran-
gers to us, were untiring in their zeal
to ameliorate our condition and soften
the asperities of prison life, and what
human effort could do, was done by
them cheerfulIy and generously. The
recording angel has written their
names above, and their treasure is
laid up "where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt, nor thieves break
through nor steal" Fair hands may
strew our graves with flowers, but
these noble women have softened our
hardships and filed our lives with
their generous deeds, which is far
better. Sympathy and tenderness
shown the living is above all the
scutcheons on the tomb. Crown my
life with blessings. The dead need
no friends, e for in death there is no
remembrance of thee; in the grave
who shall give thee thanks. -
1 want your love just while | live,
While can still that love return,
1t Will not joy or comfort give
When lamp of life has ceased to burn;
When the soldiers companion falls,
He waits to sec the pause of life,
Then onward goes where duty calls,
And browns his woe in battle strife,
Thus when It's fate for me to Gle,
Breathe but one sigh for memory dear,
And gently close the fading eye,
Pluck not, pray, the wild flowers bloom,
Nor chOplet wreathe OF rustic crown,
To deck a cold and lifeless tomb,
Where mortal dust alone is found.
Can sweetest flowers illume the grave,
Or cheer or bless the tenant there:
Knows he the haud that loving gave
Those flowers so beautiful and fair?
can us calm and sweetly sleep,
In deaths silent rcposing lair,
Without friend to sigh or weep,
Or place in love rosebud there.
But love me friends while 1 can still
Clasp hand with hand in kinship given,
Meet heart with heart in joyous thrill,
And feel this earth is nearing heaven.
While 1 longed for freedom, it
grieved me much to leave my father
in prison, still an invalid suffering
from his wound, and retained under
charges TO be tried by a military
commission, needing only accusation
to insure conviction. Earnestly urged
Col. Perkins for his release, but was
informed by that officer he had no
discretion in the matter, that orders
had proceeded from higher source.
He promised, however, to intercede
for his trial or exchange, which
promise I believe he faithfully kept.
On the evening of April 2, 1868,
babe farewell to my father, Purvis
and Fort Delaware, and our little
party boarded a steamer bound for
Baltimore and were landed the fol-
lowing morning at Fort McHenry.--
Lieut.. Morris, whose acquaintance 1
had made while a prisoner at this
fort, met me at the landing and kind
ly gave me parole of the fort and ex-
tended me many little courtesies and
attentions.
Found there my friend, Capt. W.
B. Compton, now a prominent lawyer
in Harrisonburg, Va, detained un-
der charges which / deemed trivial,
but upon which he was afterwards
tried by military commission and
sentenced TO be hung; which penalty
he evaded by miraculous escape
from his cell few days before his
execution was to have taken place
and after his gallows had been
erected.
Note from my fathers diary the
following
" May 10th, 1S94.-Laet night five of our
officers, who were in the interior cell. Comp
ton. Dorsey. shearer. Lamar ard Gubbins,)
made their escape by cutting hole through
the roof and getting over the parapct."
And on the 25th of May the fol-
lowing:
I was awakened from my slumber by the
noise of large body of armed men drawn up
in hollow square around the gallows erected
to hang Capt. w. B. Compton, who made his
escape few days ago. In moment discov-
cred the victim was Leopold, Confederate
officer tried and convicted by military COM
mission held at this place last February, since
which time he has been confined in cell. /
learned the sentence was read to him this
morning just before they brought him ont to
ascend the scaffold. Our officers were all
aroused from their beds to witness the eXecu-
ton Leopold assembled the scaffold firm and
undaunted. He said he died in defence of his
country. for which he was willing to part
| with his life without pang. He trusted chat
God wonld yet give her Independence and lib
erty. He then pointed to Gen. Morris, who
was present on horseback, and said that the
old gray headed gentleman there was the
cause of his death, that he was about to suffer
| O felon's death, but God was Judge he was
not, that he forgave Gen Morris, and hoped
| to meet him in heaven. He waved his hand
kerchief twice to the Confederate officers, of
| fered a prayer to God and then told
them he was ready. Elijah Brown, of