The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-14

III II In LILA ~ al O1<A0
stantly preventing the approach of any
one to our quarters. excepting when &C
companied by the officer of the day, the
commanding officer or surgeon OF the post
We were made show of when any ma
bob or officers came upon the island, to
whom we were not permitted to speak,
standing like so many statues in their
presence.
Officers whose minds should have been
clear to act with justice were reyeling In
intoxicating beverages, and frequently TO
such an extent that they dwelt on earth as
in a dream, relentlessly carrying to ex-
tremes visionary orders under an assumed
authority when laboring under impaired
functions produced through too copious
draughts upon the bottle. The prisoners
and soldiers received the full benefit of
their wandering minds. The emaciated
prisoner could be seen performing his
daily labor weighted down in chains, with
heavy balls attached. Another, for some
supposed dereliction of duty, could be seen
marching around a ring under the torrid
heat of the sun, weighted down by
monster cannon balls upon his shoulders.
FELL WITHIN THEIR TRACKS.
have seen them fall within their tracks,
unable to perform the inhuman duty ez-
acted. from sheer exhaustion. to be then
thrust within a dungeon, to remain until
strength was sufficiently restored TO re-
sumo the barbarous task. 1 have seen
them suspended between heaven and eartn
by their thumbs. and every species OF in
humanity that the mind of man could IN
vent was heaped upon both prisoners ana
soldiers, slaves beneath the petty tyrants
control. This and much more, which Will
in due time disclose, was practiced within
that stronghold, built 10 protect freemen
and uphold liberty, whilst our starry ban
ner waved majestically in the breeze, en-
blem Of liberty to the world as seen from
afar, but beneath which tyranny prevailed,
devising means to surpass the cruelties In
ficted in barbarous ages.
Our condition remained unchanged until
some time in the month of February, 1866,
when a communication was received from
the War Department asking to be informed
whether or not DR.. Mudd, as reported by
his wife, was working in irons, and, If so,
to relieve them at once. Orders were re-
ceived that night to discontinue the irons,
and from that period on we were all re-
leased from that uncalled-for and INSANE
toned cruelty and indignity. This, with
other communications heretofore men
toned, conciusively established the fact
that a base subterfuge had been practiced
upon us to crafty alone the evil passions
of those who were prejudiced against us.
Shortly after our change of quarters Col.
George ST. Leger Grenfell. who had been
M fo in
tice as ourselves. wrote communication to
the commanding officer, Gen. b. II. Hill,
asking the reason why he had been placed
in irons, etc, as the same reasons could
not be attributed to him as to the others,
from the fact that he was upon Governors
island at the time Mudd made his attempt
at escape, and certainly could not have
been connected Herewith nor have any
knowledge thereof. In fact, he did not
know that there was such a person in ex-
istence as DR.. Mudd, and, If there were no
just grounds for the irons. he asked that
they be struck off and other quarters as
signed him.
RELIEF FOR GREENFIELD.
The next day he was relieved of the irons
and assigned other quarters, the general
having found that there were no orders in
MS case AFTER the OLD COlOnel n2u SuIleTeo
through their injustice for six months.
The only view from our quarters was the
inside of the fort. There were but few
things that transpired within it's environs
| but that came under our observation, be-
cause directly beneath was the guardhouse.
the chief point where the barbarities were
practiced and inflicted upon prisoners and
soldiers. AT this time it was everyday
occurrence to behold men plodding around
a ring, both day and night, carrying logs
and cannon balls, the balls varying in
weight from twenty-four up to 12S pounds.
To be reported was enough to award pun
ishment, neither soldier nor prisoner being
allowed to utter word in his own defense.
| To look sideways at an officer was the fore
| runner of a ball to be carried two honrs
| on and two hours off, frequently for a week
| or ten days. There was a soldier by the
name of Wheeler, Company NJ, Fifth Ar
| tillery, who was required to carry a ball
for a month, both day and night. two hours
| on and two hours off, because he altered
| his pantaloons furnished by the govern
ment instead of going to the tailor
| to have it done. preferring to do it himself
| to save the cost of the same, he being a
| poor man and having family dependent
/ upon him.
4 TTo Do Continued To-poorrouv