The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-21

colored thieves. In that room-con- sorting with such characters, some of them raving inebriates. cursing slnsing black guard songs. and swearing that they could whip Jen Davis. the preachers, and all the secesh in the room: in that room. con nned with some who had no opportu- nity 10 change their garments. or wasl their persons for eleven days. and. con sequently were exceedingly filthy; in that room in which were huddled to. Kether sometimes thirty-two men. witt tneir old and dirty blankets and bed riothes. valisss. saddle-bags. cooking utensils, (the cooking was done in the room). living on prison fare. sleeping on the floor with drunken soldiers an. negroes for bed-fellows-- the prisoner was confined closely for eleven days.
 on Sabbath morning. when ordered rom his first and comparatively com- Iortable place of confinement. into tn nttny guard room. prisoner enquired the city provost marshal why he wa suoJected to the additional indigni ana Humiliation. The answer was: Tt IS the order of Major Vanhosen, C3tl ioWa). provost marshal general" Af terwards. the city provost marshal stat ca 10 prisoner and others. that: Ma lor Vanhosen was not aware. until Sat- urday evening that Dr. Mitchell was not In the common guard room. And as soon as the fact was known to him the oroer was peremptory for his removal!' Alter prisoners removal. Major Bell, lthe Federal officer who was in con- hnement). expostulated with the city provost, in the presence of Captain Ray or the Confederate Army. in regard to Dr M----'s removal. and the city pro- vost remarked that the Doctor was a leading man and deserved such treat ment"; showing 1t was the intention of Major aVnhosen to compel prisoner to submit to every privation and indignity he could put upon him. Since prison CTS arrival at Alton. August 14, 1S62), ne has nothing whatever to complain of, more than the privations and hard ships incident to his situation, the place. the number of prisoners. and the close connnement. His quarters are as good as the prison affords; and the officers, whilst they are strict and reserved, show themselves humane and accom- modating.
 facts are briefly submitted
 Ftrst--On another ocsasion, within a few weeks. prisoner. in presence of quite number of United States officers and soldiers, in the same church, on Sabbath morning. made a similar prayer with tmpunity; no exceptions were ta- Ken; no censure was expressed. and no -AeScS ChSdC0s OH thc Cou- trary. 1t was remarked by the congregation that the soldiers present seemed not only atten- tive to the sermon but interested. Second, there was no unanimity among the troops present. the day of arrest; for nearly one-thfrd remained and list ened to as much of the sermon as was delivered prior to the arrest. One off, ficer in the church yard remarked hoN h@ AN h> ing-that when he entered the church he expected to hear just such pray. CT. Another officer demonstrated his dissent by hiring a buggy; driving to Dr. Mitchelps residence; introducing himself to Mrs. Mitchell. expressing his sympathy: and stating that he had hired 6 conveyance specially to take her to the river to see her hus- band.
 Under all the circumstances of the case, prisoner entertains the hope that something will be speedily done for his relief. by the presentation of the case to government.
 References.
 For his position and standing he would refer to the following per- Major General Polk, C. s. A.-General
 Polk, although not personally &C., quainted with prisoners. knows inti-
 mately. his family connections and
 friends, and his standing as min-
 ister and man.
 Brigadier General s. A. M wood-Has
 known prisoner intimately for
 twelve years.
 Hon. Wm. L. Yancey, Senator, Mont
 gomery, A1a.-Has known prison
 CT intimately for twenty years. Hcn R. w. Walker. Montgomery, Ala -Ex-member Confederate Congress.
 and a ju odgfeshrdluuauaa!f ma
 and a judge of the Supreme Court
 of Alabama; is one of prisoners
 next door neighbors-has known
 him intimately for twelve years;
 and Is an attendant on his Minis
 try.
 Rev wm. H. Mitchell. D. D., was born at Monaghan. County of Mono ghan, Ireland, September 2oth 1872. Educated at Belfast and trained for the law Became a minister of the Presbyterian Church. Moved to Amer ica about the year 1s40. Was installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Wetumpka, Alabama. in December. 1843. and continued in that charge nn- til he was called to Presbyterian Church at Florence, Alabama in July, 1850.
 His pastorate of the Florence Church was continuous until 1871 when he re- signed on account of failing health.
 pr. Mitchell was president of the Florence Synodical Female College. one of the leading educational institu- tions of the South in It's day-from 1858 to the date of his death, October 3rd. 1872.
 Dr Mitchell was the father of Hon. J. J. Mitchell. Chairman of the State Tax Commission of Alabama.
 This fnat iS from the original statement written by Dr. Mitchell to Hon. Wm. L. Yancey and found among the papers of the latter. Permission to make copy kindly given me by Dr. Thomas M. owen, Director of Department of Archieves and History.
 Let us Slow Down.
 WaShingtOn Post.