The National tribune., 1907-07-18
DOWN ON THE TORTUGAS.
The Case Of DIR. Nudd-NOt Much Of a
Physician-A Clergyman's Grandson
Who Went Wrong.

Editor National Tribune: / was inter-
ested in Comrade Merwin's account of
| his regiment, the 161st y. Y, as it mem
toned the 10th n. Y. He speaks OF
going to Fort Jefferson. Fla. in July.
| / presume 1865, as that was the time
| the 10th n. Y. Can Oswego regimenD
was relieved at that post, where they
had served about Is months. His men,
| ton of Dr. Mudd recalls circumstance
occurring soon after Mudd reached Tor
tugas (by the way, Mudd never ought
to have been honored with the title OF
! Doctor, as his knowledge of that pro-
| fession was very slight. Surg. Alfred
Rice, of the 10th. was considera bly,
| overworked. his Assistant Surgeon hav-
| ing died. 1t was thought there was an
| element among the 10th officers not in
| favor of as vigorous prosecution of the
war as Gen. Butler and others. so they
got their heads together to formulate Il
plan to relieve Mudd of his ball ana
chain and accompanying hard labor.
| The Surgeon was known to be man
of very decided opinions, and with no
heSitancy in expressing them COM
mittee called upon the Doctor one even
! ing, and after pleasant smoke and
stories told and .'taffy'' given the Doctor
as to his working too hard, one officer
| more brave than the others ven.ured to
suggest to the Doctor that he detail DR..
! Mudd to assist him in the hospital. II
| took the Doctor some moments to real
| izc the import of this visit, but when
he did his wrath and rank Union pro-
clivities caused him to state in terms
more forcible than polite of what
Muid's duties would consist in case he
came to the hospital. That ended any
detail while the l10th was at the fort
Mudd was afterward detailed, and /
have been informed remained so until
pardoned by Andrew Johnson.
1t is frequently said that truth is
stranger than fiction. and the following
would seem to prove this: The Doctor
was called t. see 4 prisoner sick in one
of the Casemates. and as he was leaving
a young boy, wearing a ball and chain
in one of the upper hunks. called
Doctor" The Doctor turned about.
when the lad said. Il know you;
YOU are DR.. -. and live in -. and
belong to the Presbyterian Church.
where my grandfather preached few
years ago. You used to sit in the third
row of seats back from the pulpit"
Upon inquiry the boy stated that he
had tried to enlist. but on account of
size and age was rejected In search
of employment after Gen. Buffers cap
ture of New Orleans. he drfted to that
city. where he fell into the hands of
some hard customers and was induced
to join squad of six men, who, clothed
and armed with Union equipments,
robbed banks and private dwellings.
Upon the gang being captured the six
were sentenced TO be hung. Five of
them were executed, but Gen. Butler
commuted the boys sentence to impris-
onment for life at hard labor. I believe
an account of it will be found in Gen.
Buffers Memoirs and his reason for
commutation was the boys youth. He
afterwards was pardOned by President
johnson. The Doctor mitigated the Sc
verify of his sentence quite a little.
Some years after the war the young
man visited this city and called upon
relatives. After his pardon he drifted
into one of the Cotton States alabama,
believe), and during the carpet-bag
times was Il member of the State Leg
islature.-Eighth Corps, Oswego, N. Y.