The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-19


oners. No one after retreat was per-
mitted to place his head out of the aperture
of his casemate, under the penalty of hav-
ing musket ball sent crashing through his
brain. All intercourse between soldiers and
prisoners was strictly prohibited, viola
ton of such order being at first severely
punished, and repetition leaving them open
TO be arraigned before a court-martial.
Many orders were issued without sense or
reason in them.
The escape of Grenfell was another blow
struck the commander, who felt dubious
about his commission. Consequently. some
thing had to be done to exonerate himself
from all blame. He communicated to head
quarters that Grenfell had been furnished
with means by outsiders, which had been
used in bribing the sentinel; also that he
had considerable money in his possession
when he escaped. This was not so. Gren-
fell did not have in his possession at the
time of his escape s25 He could have gone
without a dollar, as the rule of the place
was as disgusting to the soldier as it was
to those confined. and help at any time
would have been rendered to any man who
desired to escape, providing that the SOL
diers in so doing were not compromised.
The remaining prisoners had to bear the
brunt for the escape of Grenfell and the
others. They were worked from sunrise
until sunset in the heat of the broiling sun,
a provost guard, with the commanding Off
Ger and the provost marshal, more fire.
quently than otherwise. standing over them
and hurrying them up. Not moment S
rest was allowed during the day, excepting
at dinner hour. and this continued until the
Fifth Artillery was relieved, on March 10.
1862
Seven prisoners were sent there from Eu-
taw, Ala, for the alleged offense Of threat
ening to ride carpet-bagger on a rail. On
them was centered a deep hatred and
prejudice. They were termed Ku-KluX by
the provost marshal for the purpose of en-
gendering hatred in the hearts of the SOL
diers against them, in which it failed to
some extent. Their stay was short, owing
to the press of the country taking the mat
ter up, but their manner of treatment was
cruel. unjust and tyrannical in the ex-
IRENE.
When they were torn from their homes
and families supplies of every kind were
denied them. They suffered from indigni-
ties heaped upon them all along the route
from Eutaw to Dry Tortugas, weighted
down in chains and most spitefully used by
those in charge of them. AS a matter of
course they were without money, and when
released they asked for transportation and
subsistence to 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 situation that they could.
AIDED BY FRIENDS.
From them / learned that they met with
friends (all being Freemasons) and with
out the assistance of the government safe
ly arrived at their homes But short
time after the departure of the prisoners
from Eutaw. Ala, it was reported that
some parties had been overheard to ex-
press an opinion as to how easy a matter it
would be to break through their quarters
into one of the soldiers company quarters
some night, seize their guns when the
whole garrison excepting those on duty
was at the theater, overcome the guard
and seize the quartermaster's schooner
Matchless, moored at the wharf, raise
anchor, cut ropes and put to sea.
This rumor reached the ears of the pro-
vost marshal. so said, when in a trice the
most stringent measures were adopted to
Illustrate the design. Double sentinels were
placed over the prisoners quarters, and
every privilege formerly granted was re-
scinded. Myself and companions became
the recipients of a necessity created only
to prosecute. 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 of total darkness, of damp and loath-
some cells, of foul and filthy dungeons, OF
tortures irons and chains, of degradat ior
of all kinds and now we were forced to
study branches of 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 fort, the only
visible parts of the creation left us to OBJ.
serve being the overhanging sky and the
boundless deep. They determined by such
procedure and action that We should be.
come learned in astronomy and navigation
This unjust proceeding on the part Of
those ruling not only deprived our quarter:
of proper ventilation but caused the damp
ness to increase, and at the same time ha,
a tendency 20 cast odium upon us alone
Every person In and out OF the fort wa:
confronted with it. and naturally were lee
| to INQUIRE why of all quarters this alon'
was boarded up.
ASKED FOR ACCUSERs.
| AS no cause had been assigned for thii
| unlocked for and sudden display of hatred
| of the provost marshal. we applied to thu
| commanding officer to be informed as Il
what offense We had committed to justif.
| such action and whether he was actins
upon secret information, and, if so. we de
| sired to be confronted with our accusers
| knowing that we had neither infringet
upon the rules governing nor contemplated
| any unlawful undertaking.
We were informed that we were not &C
| cused of anything, but that the rumor wa
| current of the contemplated escape of SOM
of the prisoners, and that the boards wer
| placed up to prevent prisoners from cross
| ing the guardhouse shed to the corrido
| beyond, thence into the Enclosure of tn
| fort. A poor excuse was better than none
Immediately below our quarters was sta
toned the whole guard and two sentinel
guarded all exits from the fort, who ha'
full view at all times of our immediat
quarters, which would have rendered it i'm
possible for anyone to have crossed over
| Even had 1T been possible to have elude'