The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-15
lRH0LD's STORY Of
THE LINCOLN PLOT
The Only Survivor of the
ConspiratOrs Imprisoned
at Dry Tortugas Gives
His Confession to
the Public.
SILENCE OF YEARS BROKEN
FULFILLING CHRONICLE OF THE
FAMOUS CONSPIRACY.

Details of Alleged CrueItIes inflicted on
gas-AwfuI Punishment Melted Out to
James Dunn-Omcers Charged With
Drunkenness-Took Whiskey from
Hospital supplies.
In a short time a damp and I'M
healthy dungeon was placed in readi-
ness to receive us, through which but
little air could penetrate, and on Octo-
Der IS Col. G. st. Leger Grenfell, Mudd,
Spangler, O'Laughlin and myself We're
removed to these selected quarters and
herded Together like so many cattle.
The doors for the first few days were al
ways kept closed, with an armed SEN
tinel walking to and fro from his seat,
closely guarding against any approach
to our quarters.
Soon leg irons were introduced, and
each ironed, with the exception of my
self, they remaining off me, because
was engaged in writing for some of
the officers at post headquarters. When
the instructions contained in General
Newton's communication of September
had been looked into, the ringleaders
of the plot ferreted out and placed in
irons, the commanding officer, to prove
how willingly the duty of his superior,
but likewise of himself, had been per-
formed, ,penned the following COM
munication to the War Department:
Headquarters, Fort Jefferson, Fla,
October 20, 1865.
Brevet, Lieut.. Col. Samuel Breck,
Assistant Adjutant General:
Colonel have the honor to report
that when 1 relieved Major Willis E.
Craig, One Hundred and SiXty-first
New York Volunteers, of the command
of this post, he failed to turn over to
me any particular order or instructions
relative to the confinement of state
prisoners at this post, and to-day for
the first time, learned from Brigadier
General Newton, commanding Depart
1ment of Middle Florida, that instruc-
lions had been sent to the commanding
officer of this post to keep them In close
confinement, when not at work. When
this post was visited by Major General
Foster, commanding Department OF
Florida, on the 14th day of this month
he gave me instructions to put them ir
close confinement, and 1 have accord
fngly fitted up a dungeon to carry out
his instructions, but I had never unit
this day known anything in regard tc
the orders from the War Department
I am, sir,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) GEO. E. WENTWORTH.
Major Eighty-second United States
Colored Infantry, commanding.
AMID May WINDINGS.
What mind amongst those may
windings can unearth the cause of al
these secret Vaccinations. Everything
connected so far as to the cause assign
ed for the placing Of us in irons hal
been refuted by their own correspond
ence We were closely confined, whet
not at work, in this damp and ill-ven
tilated dungeon, prepared by Majo
George E. Wentworth for our reception
forced to labor daily, heavily irone'
about our feet, our footsteps closet!
followed by an armed guard (black)
denied intercourse with everyone upol
gloomy dungeon at shutdown.
This continued unchanged until TIL
arrival of the Fifth Artillery, Brigade
General Bennett H. Hill, commanding
The rations issued at this time wer
putrid unfit to eat, and during thes
three months Of confinement I live
upon cup Of slop coffee and the dry
hard crust of bread. This is no exag
geration, as many others can testify t.
its truthfuness. Coffee was brough
over to our quarters in dirty, greas,
bucket, always with grease swimming
upon it's surface; bread, rotten fish ant
meat, all mixed together, and thus W
were forced to live for months unit
starvation stared US in the face.
When the Fifth Artillery arrived an
we looked upon the faces of men o
our own color and race, we felt create
security for our lives. We did no
think it possible that worse men coul
be found upon the face of the cart
than most of the officers connecte
with the Eighty-second United State
Colored Infantry, but we soon foun
that we had traded off the witch TO
the devil. AS for the enlisted men, o
private soldiers, both white and blac]
I must say that we were treated b
them with the utmost kindness an
consideration, which shall ever be re
membered with the most grateful fee
ings.
1t was but a short period before tn
hatred of the officers of the Fifth Al
tillery became visible and felt in NOR
instances than one. Their arrival dat
ed from about November 10, when Ger
eral Hill assumed command of tn
post Frequent visitations were mad
by them to our. quarters without
word being spoken or question pre-
pounded, they looking upon us as if W
were wild beasts and connecting som
plan to degrade and further torture u
A USELESS PROTEST.
First Lieutenant William Van Rec
adjutant, being officer of the da.
O'Laughlin determined to ask him tn
cause of his being placed in iron
OLaugh1in stated to him it was not
conformity with the findings of til
court: that sentence did not call fc
such inhuman treatment at the hanG
of his iailers; that he had conformed I
every requirement since a prisoner
the hands of the government, neve
violating any rule governing the CON