Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-19
lConyriehtcd. 1902.

When the commanding officer found that
crenfell and the other escaped prisoners
mad not been overhauled he issued the
mos. stringent orders against The re-
manning prisoners. No one after reIeas
was permitted 70 place his head Out OF
inc aperture Of his easement. under the
nr,1altv OF having n musket oa4i sent
crashing through his brain. All intercourse
nntwoen soldiers and prisoners was strict
~ prohibited violation OF sGch oTuer
being at first severely punished. ana rope
tinr leaving them open to be afralsheo
before a court-nl2rtiai. Many orders We're
ss.ged without sense or reason in them.
TIE escape Of Grcptell was another
blow struck the commander whc felt
dubious about his commission. Conse-
oucntly something had to be done 10 eN-
onerate himself from all blame lie com
,nun!cated TO headquarters that STen-
fell had been furnished with means py
outsiders which had been used in briolns
the sentinel: also that he had considerable
,7,oncy In his possession when he escaped.
This was mot so. Grenfell did not have IN
mis- possession At the time OF his escape
SIS. He could have gone without dollar.
as the rule OF the place was as disgusting
10 the soldier as il was 10 those confined,
and help al any time would have been
rendered 10 any man who deslrco 10
escape, providing that the soldiers IN
go doing were not compromised.
The remaining prisoners had 10 bear
The brunt for the escape of Grenfell and
the others They were worked from sun
rise until sunset in the heat Of the broi!-
ing sun, 4 provost guard, with the COM
.pandintZ officer and the provost marshal,
more frequently than otherwise, standing
over them and hurrying them up Not
q moments rest vas allowed during the
day. excepting at dinner hour-and this
continued until the Fifth Artillery was
relieved. or March 10Th, 1859.
Seven prisoners were sent there from
iIutaw, Ala, for the alleged ofense Of
attempting to ride carpet-bagger on
rail. on them was centercd deep ha-
bred and prejudice. They were termed
hu-hlux by the provost marshal for
The purpose of engendering hatred in the
hearts of the soldiers against them in
which il failed 10 some extent Their
stay was short, owing TO the press OF the
country taking the matter UP, but their
manner Of treatment was cruel, unjust
md tyrennical in the extreme.
When they were torn from their homes
and families sup; lies of every kind were
denied them. They suffered from indiS-
mites heaped ul,on them all along the
route from Eutaw to Dry Tortusas,
weighted down IL chains, and most spite
fully used by these in charge OF them.
AS q matter OF course they were with
cut money. and when released they ask
cd for transportation a nd subsistence 10
their homes, which was denied them.
They were taken TO Key West, an island
In The sea, and there. among strangers,
were left to make the best OF the stu
alton that they could.
AIDED BY FRIENDS.
From them learned that they met
with friends (all being Free Masonsl and
without the assistance of the government,
safely arrived ct their homes. But
ehort time after the departure OF the prls-
oners from Eutaw, Ala. it was reported
that some parties had been overheard
10 express an OPINION as to how easy
matte: it would be to break through their
quarters some night. seize their guns
when the whole garrison. excepting
those on duty,,vas at the theatre, over
come the guard. and seize the quarter
masters schooner Matchless moored at
The wharf, raise anchor, cut ropes and
put to sea
This rumor reached the ears Of the pro-
eost marshal so said, when in trice
the INST stringent measures were adopted
to Illustrate the design. Double sentinels
were placed over the prisoners quarters,
and every privilege formerly granted was
rcscinded Myself and companions became
the recipients OF a necessity created only
to persecute. From the first touch OF the
hand OF the military branch OF the United
States we had received the full weight
Of their cruelty and tyranny: we had been
made to study the effects of partial and
then ot total darkness, OF damp ana
loathsorle cells, Of foul and filthy dun
sAeons. Of fortunes, irons and chains. OF
degradation OF all kinds. and now we
We're forced 10 study branches OF a more
edifying nature. as we were boarded
Up and denied the pleasure OF looking
upon mother earth and the few green
spots of vegetation growing within the
Enclosure Of the tort, the only visible parts
Of the creation lett us 10 observe being
the overhangilg sky and the bouncless
decp They determined by such procedure
snG action that we should become learn
ed in astronomy and navigation.
This unjust proceeding on The part OF
those ruling not only deprived our quar-
fers of proper Ventilation but caused the
dampness 10 inc. ease. and at the same
time had q tendency TO cast odium upon
us alone. Every person in and out OF
the fort was confronted with it, and natu-
rally Were LED 10 inquire why Of all quar-
tc1s this alone WIS boarded up.
ASKED FOR ACCUSERS.
AS no cause had been assigned for this
unlocked for and sudden display OF hatred
OF the provost marshal. We applied TO the
commanding officer to be informed as TO
what offense we had committed to justify
such action and whether he was acting
upon SEGiSl !illtl!lldllp!i, tIilt- II Sct 4" Z
desired 10 be confronted with our &C
cusers, knowing thai we had neither in
1ringe6 upon the rules governing nor con-
1somplated any unlawful undertaking.
We were informed that we We're not &C
cUsed OF anything, but that the rumor
was current Of the contemplated escape
OF some Of the prisoners. and that the
boards were placed up TO prevent priso-
ncrs from escaping the guardhouse shed
to The corridor beyond thence into the
Enclosure of The fort a poor excuse was
better than none. Immediately below our
quarters was stationed the whole guard
and two sentinels guarded all exits from
<the fort. who had full view at all times
OF our Immediate quarters which would
have rendered il impossible for anyone
10 have crossed over. Even had it been
possible 10 have cluded the vigilance Of
the sentirels at this point. they would
liave been forced to have come in direct
contact with the entire guard as they
descended the steps leading to the ground
work Of the enclosure Of the fort.
Finding that we could not accomplish
having the boards removed, we became
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