The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-12-04

of those days, where the captured soldiers
of the Union armies were Imprisoned, and
in point Of nnntterable horf6r3 was exceed
ed only By Andersonville. il The State of
Georgia. As an effective ldhth-trap for
Union soldiers there coufpst during the
Fall ard Winter of 1S64-5, ! will have a
word TO say later. Il
In those days the SouthSfn railroads
were very much out of REPAIR and the
trains made poor time; the wonder was
that they managed to rur at all. We left
Charlotte not later than ksdclOck p. M,
but it was we'll along in Nd night when
we reached Salisbury.
LIEUT.. JONES, Ct s.sA.
We We're in charge of a.sIuad of Con-
federate soldiers commandkl by Ser
geant, and as he was getting. us in line on
the depot platform, after NiGhad alighted
from the train, who should pass but Lieut..
Jones. carrying lantern, which lighted up
the platform and enabled us to recognize
the Lieutenant at n glance. Jones was
Maj Griswold's Adjutant, and had charge
of Camp Asylum at Columbia during our
sojOurn therein, and was always on friend
ly and even familiar terms with the pris-
oners. He was a lOng-haifed, rOllicking,
harum-scarum Southern boy, about 10 or
20 years old, but was never known to do
an unkind act to a prisoner. though he
often talked pretty wild and eXtravagant.
When we left Columbia on st. Valen-
tines Day, Jones came along with us to
Charlotte, and on the trip mingled freely
with our boys. and many. times assured
us that there was general exchange of.
prisoners agreed upon by the two Govern
ments, which would be carried into effect
in 4 short time We had. however, but lit
tie confidence in J0nes's knowledge or
on the exchange question. On
e l..
escape by jumping from the train, when
he was shot in the leg by q guard and. of
course, re-captured. At that time Jones
had said: whats the use of you Yanks
being such crazy fools: Heal, you're all
going to be exchanged within 80 days with
out taking any risks, and still you can't
wait, but must keep OH trying to escape.
Don't another one of you make break
like that; if you do you'll get shot, and
can't help it, and it will serve you right
if you do"
Jones was never known to trump up an
,Xcuse to injure a prisoner, but always pre-
erred an excuse not to harm him. He was
always agreeable and understanding. but
so after INDUCING little freely
in Paddy's eyewater, Which he sometimes
lid, and on this occasion that was his ex-
let condition. At all events, he proved
himself remarkably humane aud consider
tie; in fact, he surpassed all our expecta
ions.
When the rays from Jones's lantern re-
1ealed his face to us called out: Hello, |
here, Adjutant Jones! Where are you
reading for with that lantern?n Immed- |
ltely Oh hearing his name called, Jones |
stopped, and discovering his old prisoners, |
anne forward, and shaking hands all
round, greeted us in language about as
OllOws: Hello, you crazy Yanks; back
gain are you! A nice time y0u all had,
allow, out in the woods, freezing and |
starving like a pack of fools, which you
ire, when you might have been in camp,
where you were sure of the best fare
little sense. and hear the advice / gave
'ou: told you that within 30 days you'd
III be-out of this, and you see now for
that you'll be ont; in half that |
ime: but you knew too much yourselves
o take good advice, and you got just what |
-ou deserved. I've a good mind to let |
hem put you into that old prison-pen to-
light, and there's just where, they would |
tut you if I'd let them, but I reckon you've
,een punished enough for one offense."
Then, turning to the officer in charge. he
aid: Sergeant, these are iabmy old boys
rom Columbia, and I'll be responsible for
hem; so you just come with them to the
Office gnd:hI'll see the
myself"
linen we followed Lieut.. Jones and his
antern to said Office, which was near, and
rom which Jones returned } in less than
minute and, dismissing the guard, said
o us in his most happy and assuring
manner: Now, gentlemen, you may con-
ider yourselves paroled. Gene along with
ne"
Jones was great on pet names. but this
vas the first time he ever called us gen.
lemen, but We didn't care for that. With
is lantern he lighted our way to his tent,
which was not far away, and on arriving
here he skirmished around and secured
ents enough to shelter us, besides rations
( cornbread and pail full of blackberry
uice. We soon had the tents up and.
fter dispOsing of our rations, retired for
he night.
The next morning Jones found something
or our breakfast, and about noon, when
he train for Raleigh came along he put
8 aboard thereof without guard, on the
onor of our parole, as he administered it
ne night before, and sent us on our way re-
Oicing. Jones himself remained in Sails
ury, and there we babe him a last
ood-by.
CTo be continued.)