The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-16
BY
SAMUEL BLAND ARNOLD
Who was imprisoned at
the Dry Tortugas.
Lincoln Conspiracy and
Its COnSpirdtOrSasassas


less acts of cruelty and babarity. which
daily were being practiced upon the island,
feeling that continuation of them might
revert upon his own shoulders, as none
knew what day would bring forth, as
every officer seemed TO be invested with
unlimited authority. practicing every kind
of cruelty the mind could conceive Of
1t is natural that brother officers would
uphold one another, as the acts of one re-
fected upon the whole. but doubly the dis
honor when he stoops to deception and de-
basing falsehood. 1 speak of nothing here
in but that can be substantiated by intelli-
gent and respectable witnesses. If living at
the present day, and pronounce that Gren-
felrs statement, with but few exceptions,
was truthful in its whole tenor. notwith-
standing all that has been said by General
Hill and others. It's truth could be seen in
all parts of the island.
Punishments heretofore practiced were
abolished. ball-carrying and tying men up
by the thumbs were strictly prohibited and
for a few months the island, which had
existed as a hell, assumed brighter appear
ances. The heavy cannon balls were re-
moved from the guardhouse, leaving only
24-pound shot to be carried by offenders
against military rules, and orders were is
sued from headquarters directing that no
man be punished except on orders directly
from the commanding officer.
ORDERS WE'RE VIOLATED.
These orders were daily violated by the
company commanders. Private soldiers. in
stead of being sent to the guardhouse, as
formerly, were taken back of the barracks,
beyond the observation of the commanding
officer, and punished with the usual sever
ity. When it became apparent that the eff
feet of the article published by Grenfell
had died out they gradually increased the
| punishment, resorting in many instances to
the inhuman practice of throwing men into
| the sea. Drunken men were frequently
| wheeled to the wharf in barrow and sub
merged beneath the water and almost suf-
| located.
There was a prisoner by the name of
Brown who had been suffering from sick
ness for some time, and on the morning In
| question had gone to the doctors call, and
by him had been excused from labor during
| the day. Contrary to custom, he was or
dered out to work by the provost marshal.
| He stated his case, that he was excused; in
fact, that he was SO weak that he could
not labor. when to cure him of his ailment
| he was ordered to carry forty-two-pound
shot. He did as commanded for some time,
until overcome by the and his aff1ic-
ton, when he dropped the ball and re-
| fused to carry it longer. Forthwith he
was bound around the feet, his arms being
| tied behind him, and he was conducted to
the sea and submerged beneath the waves.
The officer in charge repeatedly asked
| him, when his head was brought above the
surface, If he would carry the ball. The
man, from swallowing so much salt water,
| was unable, no matter how much he de-
sired to do so, to give him the required an
swer, when he was submerged again.
Finally, when nearly drowned, he was
raised from the water to the wharf, where
| he remained until sufficiently restored to
| speak, and, finding 1t was death by drown
| ing if he refused to obey the order, he ac-
| quiesced in the demands, and in his ill con-
| dition, his entire clothing saturated with
| salt water, plodded, more dead than alive
around the ring, with tottering footsteps
| carrying the ball until sunset. Then in HIS
| wet clothing he was thrust within the
guardhouse. to remain during the night
| without bed or covering of any kind
A PECULIAR HAPPENING.
Some time afterward quite a number o.
colored prisoners were released by order.
from the War Department, many Of whom
had been waiting upon the officers at head
quarters as cooks, walters, etc. 1t seems al
If theft had been committed, in tn,
shape of clothing, money, pistols etc., b.
some Of them, and before being allowed t,
leave the island which was perfectly just
l~4.~
missing articles were found in their posses
sion and they were closely questioned b.
the officers relative to the other articles
but to no avail
Innocent and guilty alike were marched t,
the wharf, with General Hill to view tn
sport, occupying a prominent position Oh
the stern of the schooner Matchless, moore,
| at the wharf. Bound up In cords with thei
hands, as usual, tied behind them, the,
were cast into the sea- AS they wer
pushed off the wharf into the sea thei
cries filled the air. to be suddenly quenche
as their bodies sank beneath the waves
This was repeated several times, when the,
were reconducted into the fort.
General Hill seemed to enjoy the seen
wonderfully, his whole frame being con
vulsed with laughter. After being con
Quoted into the fort consultation was hel,
among the officers, when one of the pris
oners, named James, of Baltimore, from tn
evidence. being deemed innocent, was re
leased and ordered to do his duties at head
quarters. Finally all but one were re
leased, colored man from louisiana VIII
was taken into the guardhouse, his cloth
ing stripped down from his shoulders an
back and given twenty-nine lashes upon tn
back, laid well by the enlisted men O
| the guard.
A NEGRO VICTIM.
His cries for mercy as every lash cut int
the flesh could be heard in every portio
of the fort. gaining force as lash quickl
followed lash. After this proceeding, i
direct conflict with the laws of the LAND
the negro remained shut up in the guard
house, moaning most piteously. The boa
being in readiness to leave. he was brough
from the guardhouse. marched to the boa
, and left with bleeding and sore bach
the shores of the Inflated Island of DR.
. Tortugas.
, The system in our mode of confluence
) remained unchanged; still guarded and CON
PEELED to dwell in our damp and unwhole
some quarters when not at work. In I'll
month of January. 1867. a subdistrict ha,
ing been formed. Brevet Brig. Gen. B. +
| Hill was relieved of the command of Fol-
I jefferson and assumed command of the sui