The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-17


versed with the soldiers who were com
PEELED to perform this piece OF inhuman
duty, gaining from them sufficient Informal
ton 20 corroborate the evidence Of MY
own eyes.
They may attempt to stamp my rendition
as false, a. has been done ia occurrences of
similar purport, but, outside Of those per.
sonally connected in II, the truth OF my as
sertions can be substantiated by respecta-
BILE and competent Witnesses, If at present
living.
These pages contain nothing but truth
throughout. They have not been written
through any vindictivencss or malice on my
part, but only TO show the inhumanities
practised upon the island at that time,
which were degrading and most dishonor-
able Of men in a civilized country.
VERY NEAR TO DEATH.
In a short time Grenfe, his footsteps
tottering, was conducted 10 his quarters.
supported on either side by sentinel He
was then placed in his cell, undressed by
the soldiers, where he remained during the
day, sick almost unto death from the large
quantity Of salt water swallowed during
| the drowning process resorted TO, From
| this period he remained in his cell.
A few months afterward all Of the officers.
with the exception OF one, were transferred
TO other posts, new officers taking their
places.
| Tie barbarous acts Of cruelty we're never
| to such an extent resorted to tn. reafter.
| Major Valentine II. Stone arrived at the
post some time in May, 1857. and assumed
| command. lie was a strict discipil arian.
and caused the officers to stand up to the
| required regulations guiding the army He
was not only strict as to the enlisted men,
but likewise to the officers, causing each To
perform regularly his required duties.
| He was not only a soldier. but also gen.
| tleman Of noble type, honorable and hui
name. His treatment both Of Us and Gren-
| lelf was very kind. He was the same to
| each and all who conformed 10 the rules
| laid down Furnishing no one through hatred
or prejudice.
PRISONER sTABs A SOLDIER.
Any violation Of the rules was severely
punished, no matter by whom. he Icing no
respeCtef Of persons. During the period OF
his command, which was Of short duration,
everything progressed most iavorably III
the garrison, only one case calling Tor
stringent measures to be resorted to.
! George I. jackson, assistant military
| storekeeyer. was assaulted by a prisoner
named James Orr. Orr was one of the
| gang of a working party at that time I'M
| loading lumber from schooner lying al the
wharf. 1t was rot, as was the general case
! on I lac island hut the men as We'll as the sol
diers had performed the task faithfully.
| jackson. happened TO run upon Orr while
| seated upon pile of lumber resting him
s-N. In a gruf and commanding voice he
| ordered him 20 work again. at the same
| to the provost marshal.
To say that he would report him was
| equivalent 10 saying that he must carry a
| ball throughout the night, after working
! hard during the day. which fact was known
| 20 Orr from past experience, and, a. II was
| his fate 10 be punished, he determined 10
| work very eas ~ at his assigned task.
| As ordered. he proceeded 10 his work as
| usual no doubt studvlng out some mode OF
| procedure TO avengc himself upon jackson
1 4 tNrFn
| afterward Ia execute some order, Orr had
| matured his plan.
| On his return toward the boat jackson
| was met bv Orr, who stated that there was
| an officer dcsirous Of seeing him l. iCk Of the
| stable jackson started 20 see the person,
| Orr following clos" behind him. He turned
| upon jackson finally. iniiicting a severe
wound upon his face with penkniie IN
his hand.
| GENERAL ORDER TO SHOOT
jackson fed toward headquarters the
| blood gushing from the wound Inflicted al
| the hands Of Orr, and reported the occur
| renee to the commanding officer The az
| fair created intense coInnoItOn, and Or
| was Immediately arrest ed hv the guard and
| confined. No doubt OR fully intended TO
kill the mar when ha struck the blow, and
| deserved due ~ n'shmert for the crime
| Yet could not 70 i that for his oferc" eN cr v
| other man confined should have been made
| to suffer,
| About n month after the occurrence
| Major George +. Andrews arrived and as
sumed command Of the post. The facts ii
| the Orr case were cOmmuncat TO him
whereupon he ISSUED the following post
! order, making every mans life insecure
in fact, empowering any ill-minded scntine
to take ones life furnish herewith az
extract from the order ~ promulgated, anC
through which one man lost his life:
HEADQUARTERS FORT JErFrRsoS, fla
Special Order 10 IS
The, attention, Of Il" Officers Of the post
| have been committed by prisoners NJ this post
who seem TO think that they cannot I've reached
by hs u ahd 4tgrf f{sry p no
who faithfully tries to do his duty shall! ever
50. The inside Of the grardhouse "a prisoner
shoot him and then use his hnyonet, Mt tho
tim" GallnS for tn guard ThH r r Sr
by the commanding officer
BY order Major George p. Andrews. Com
| manting Post,
signed PAUL RoFNrR,
First ~. Fifth Arty Post Adjutant.
| STATIONS oRtER. ARNOLD SAYS
After the issuing OF Special Order No.7S
| a man had to be very particular and careful
| as his tenure of life hung upon slender
threads. The sentinel held within his hand:
the life of every individual over whom h
!
| hatred or revenge he was invest ed with III,
| power to kill his victim, under cover OF
| faithful execution of his duty, assgnin 8
cause for his deed a refusal on the part OF
| the vic i'm to comply with orders given
Neither in a civilized or uncivilized country
| did there before eInanate such an atrociou-
order. sanctioning murder.
II was a stigma and disgrace upon the
| nation which they represented. | do not
| attach any blame 10 Ma ior Andrews in the
matter. for, from what heard him remark
on one occasion, of which will speak her,-
| after, he received his orders from n higher
source from Edwin VI. Stanton, Secretary
| of War,
Punishment of severity soon becam,
the order of the day. Trivial offences
were soon punished by the carrying of a
l2s-nound cannon ball from one place tC
anot her and back again, through which
| many men became injured.
| ! will now state the remark Ma jor An
| drews made, which gives the authority iOl
the issuance Of the infamous order hereto
fore alluded to.
| was on my way to headquarters one
afternoon. and a. turned TO 60 up the patti
leading To he barracks ! came in contact
| with n soldier named Fisher. Of Company
|, who was straining and tugging TO rails.
a l2s-pound ball upon his shoulder, n senti-
mel with loaded musket standing over him
A. | neared him Major Andrews turned
| from he garden and, approaching Fisher