The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-16


mand, Va. gave a truthful and graphic de-
scription of the inhuman punishment which
was being inflicted upon both soldiers and
prisoners. His friend, deeming that the
country should be informed, sent the article
TO a New York newspaper for publication,
and in the month of November II appeared
in print. By chance one of the officers at
tached TO the garrison had been sent North
in charge OF four prisoners from South Car
DINA, and in overlooking the daily paper
his eye came in contact with the article.
The officer returned to the fort before the
mails had been received at the post bear
ing with him the paper containing the ar
ticle. which he presented to Brig. Gen. b.
II. Hill, commanding. That ii was start
ling news to them proved itself in the rigid
search that was made of the effects of the
prisoners. Suspicion centered itself upon
Colonel Grenfell as its author. and his quar-
tiers and his papers were carefully searched,
when in diary kept by him was found a
copy of the article sought after.
For the heinous offense of publishing to
the world the brutal tyranny existing upon
the island he was removed from his quar-
tiers and placed within a dungeon in soli-
tary confinement, where he was denied pen,
paper or ink, reading matter of every de-
scrption and all intercourse and communi-
cation with everyone at the fort Small
openings which had been left in the con-
struction of the fort for ventilation were
tightly boarded up and closed by orders
from the commandment. His quarters were
visited frequently during the day by the
officer Of the guard, who caused the person
he'd m
prevent the secreting of paper, etc.
Truth had awakened them and startled
them from their seeming security when
finding that the cruelties practiced had
been exposed to the country, and they be-
came very careful that it should not again
happen. Colonel Grenfell from this time
out became the object of all their atten-
ton, he being kept closely confined and
guarded from the 18th of November, 1866,
until September, 1867. in the miserable
cell allotted to him. suffering intensely from
heart and other ailments arising from his
ill-ventilated quarters.
TROUBLE BEGINS AGAIN.
Feeling secure, now that the object of
their solicituie had been placed beyond the
power to do more harm, as they supposed,
the cruelties depicted in his published ar
ticle were again enacted. Private Gosner,
of Company d, a mere boy, was cruelty
maltreated. his body being covered with
bruises received at the hands of a noncom-
missioned officer of his company. 1 saw
this myself, he having come to my quar-
tiers. He disrobed himself to show his
bruised person to me.
Duffy. another member of his company,
passed through the same ordeal; in fact,
these instances were so numerous that it
would be impossible to give a full account
of them. Suffice it to say they were of
daily occurrence, and inflicted by the COM
mands of officers who were more or less
under the influence of liquor.
The press of the country soon cried out
against these practiced cruelties and de-
manded that an investigation of the matter
should forthwith be made. In the mean
time Gen. B. III. Hill, commanding, wrote
| denial in toto of the entire article and
| forwarded the same to the adjutant gen.
| eral, United States army, assigning many
untruths as TO the cause which led to its
publication by Grenfell. In a very short
time after the War Department had been
communicated with an officer, was sent
ordered to proceed to Fort Jefferson. Fla.
General Hill was absent at the time or
leave at Havana, a subaltern officer being
| in command. The investigation was 9
| farce. Parties desiring to lay complaint
were denied speech with the officer, ano
| others were fearful of opening their lip:
for fear of after consequences. They hao
become slaves to their tyrant rulers ant
trembled at their approach. The officers
had a picnic over the matter, indulgint
| in frequent draughts from the old brown
jug, and in this manner were their crue
acts smoothed over and for the time being
| hushed up.
OTHER SIDE OF AFFAIR.
| Lieutenant - had lately assumed com
mand of Company -, Major Having
been placed on detached service, an1
branded the entire article as lie, as vii
be seen by the following article published
by him in Philadelphia paper of date o
July Z. 1867:
IT desire to make a statement through
your columns relative to some reports
which have been going the rounds or TIT
| newspapers in the North. An abstract o
| a letter purporting to have been writer
from this post was published in New YORK
! containing false and scandalous account
| Oh the treatment VI pilSoucio ny
here. The author of this letter, 1t is ascer
| tanned, is one CT. St Leger Grenfeli, al
| Englishman and an ex-Rebel ofhcer, VIII
| is now confined at hard labor for life 10
| infamous crimes. After exhausting ever,
| means of procuring his release, this mai
seems to have hit upon the plan OF en-
| deavoring 10 excite public sympathy Il
the North and also In England by having
published in such papers as were willing Z
lend themselves 10 the transaction tn
statement referred TO, in hopes that NOR
active measures would be adopted by hi
friends in the latter country and else
where to effect his release.
.'This man has been treated with marke
| kindness by all of the officers here, and, b.
orders of General Hill. very pleasant an
easy duty was assigned him, and create
prisoner. BY some means he secured
medium of corresponding secretly, and a.
examination of his papers shows that h
has forwarded similar falsehoods to variou
places, and that the letter published i
New York was sent through Bradley John
son, of Richmond, Va.
AN investigation into the subject wa
made few days ago by member of Ger
Sheridans staff, aud full reports have ais
been forwarded TO the War Department b
General Hill. which | suppose will be mad
public in due time, IL demanded by the i'm
terest of the service In relation to thi
subject l will say further that | am in n
way concerned in any OF the allegation
contained in the letter published. and car
therefore, speak and write freely on tn
subject. / recently joined the command OF
and assumed command of, Company =
Fifth Artillery, on Oct l. or Whereabouts.
Several OF the crueltieS referred TO 1
that letter and said To have occurred in tina
company. l have called upon the sergean