Negro Prison--Swims, the Jailor--Horrible Dungeon--Black Hole of
Calcutta--Suffocation--Union Prisoners--Slave Catching--Our Party
Reunited--Breakfast Lowered by Rope--Hunger--Counseling--Fiendish
Barbarity--Chained in the Dungeon--Andrews tried as a Spy and
Traitor--Sweet, but Stolen News--Removed from Dungeon--Pure Air and
Sunlight--Attacked by a Mob--"A Friend"--Madison--Daring Adventure and
Narrow Escape.
The captain now called a guard of eight men, and conducted me through
the streets for some time; at last we came to a little brick building,
surrounded by a high board fence. Those who have ever been in
Chattanooga, and visited the negro prison, will recognize my
description. A portion of the building was occupied by the jailor, but
the prison part consisted of two rooms, one under the other, and also
partly underground. This under room had no entrance from the outside,
but was accessible only through a trap-door from the room directly
overhead.
Chattanooga is not a county-seat, and, therefore, this prison was
built only for the accommodation of negroes by their humane owners.
The jailor, Swims, was a character, and merits a particular
description. He was an old man--perhaps sixty. His hair, which was
very abundant, was white as snow, and his face had a dry and withered
expression. His voice was always keyed on a whining tone, except when
some great cause, such as the demand of prisoners for an extra bucket
of water, excited him, and then it rose to a hoarse scream. Avarice
was his predominant, almost his only, characteristic. He seemed to
think his accommodations were vastly too good for negroes and Yankees,
and that when they were admitted within his precincts, they should be
thankful, and give as little trouble as possible. With such notions,
it was not wonderful that he managed to make the lot of the prisoner
an uncomfortable one. In addition to this, he was very fond of a dram,
and frequently became sufficiently intoxicated to reveal many
important matters that we would not otherwise have learned.
He bustled to the gate, growling all the time about being troubled so
much, unlocked it, and admitting us, led us up the outside stairway,
and then into the upper room. I now saw why the General called the
place a "hole," and truly I thought the name was appropriate. It was
only thirteen feet square, destitute of every convenience, without
chairs, beds, or anything of the kind. There were in it five or six
old, miserable-looking men, who had not been washed for months. The
place looked hard to me, and I shuddered at the idea of taking up my
abode in such a den. But I soon found that I was not to enjoy that
luxury.
Said the jailor to the captain, "Where shall I put him?"
"Below, of course," was the reply.
The jailor then advanced to the middle of the floor, and taking a
large key from his pocket, knelt down and unlocked two rusty locks;
then, with a great effort, raised a ponderous trap-door just at my
feet. The hot air and the stifling stench smote me back, but the
bayonets of the guards were just behind, and I was compelled to move
forward again. A long ladder was next thrust down through the
trap-door, and the inmates warned to stand from under. A mingled
volley of cries, oaths, and questions ascended, and the ladder was
secured. The captain then ordered me to descend into what seemed more
like Pandemonium than any place on earth. Down I went into the
cimmerian gloom--clambering step by step to a depth of fully thirteen
feet; for the place, as I afterwards learned, when I had more leisure
for observation, was a cube, just thirteen feet each way. I stepped
off the ladder, treading on human beings I could not discern, and
crowding in as best I might.
[Illustration: "Down I went into the cimmerian gloom--clambering step
by step to a depth of fully thirteen feet."--Page 129.]
The heat was so great that the perspiration broke from me in streams.
The foeted air made me for a time deadly sick, and I wondered whether
it could be possible they would leave human beings in this horrible
place to perish. The thought of the black hole at Calcutta, where so
many Englishmen died, rushed over me. True, this was done by the cruel
and savage East Indians, while we were in the hands of "our Southern
brethern," the "chivalry;" but I could not perceive that this
difference of captors made any difference of treatment.
My breath came thick and heavy, and I thought of suffocation. The
ladder was drawn up, and with a dull and heavy sound that seemed
crushing down on my heart, the trap-door fell. I wedged and jammed my
way through the living throng to the window. The one I reached was
just under the wooden stairs, and, of course, gave no light. The other
was below the surface of the ground. They were at opposite sides of
the room, and were only about a foot square, being filled with a
triple row of thick set iron bars, that almost excluded every current
of air. I pressed my face close to the bars, and breathed the purest
air I could get, until I became partly reconciled to the oppression,
and then turned to ascertain the condition of my companions. It was
wretched beyond description. They were ragged, dirty, and crawling
with vermin. Most of them were nearly naked; but this was no
inconvenience there, for it was so warm that those who had clothes
were obliged to take them off, and nearly all were in a state of
nudity. I soon found it necessary myself to disrobe, and even then the
perspiration poured off me most profusely. It was an atmosphere of
death.
Yet among the prisoners were old men, just trembling on the verge of
the grave, who were arrested merely because they had ventured to
express a preference for the old, well-tried Government, over the new,
slave-built Confederacy. The cruelty practiced on the Tennessee Union
men will never half be told. It forms the darkest page in the history
of the war. In every prison of which I was an inmate in Georgia and
Virginia, as well as in Tennessee, I found these miserable but
patriotic men thus heartlessly immured. But I will speak more of them
hereafter; at that time the thought of my own danger banished every
other consideration.
There were fourteen white men in the room beside myself, and one
negro. I wonder what those tender soldiers, who consider it derogatory
to their dignity to fight in the same army that blacks do, would think
if they were confined with them so closely that there was no
possibility of getting away. But we endured too many real evils to
fret at imaginary ones; and besides, Aleck was so kind and
accommodating, so anxious to do everything in his power for us, that
he soon became a general favorite; and when he was taken out to be
whipped, as he was several times, to ascertain whether he was telling
a true story or not, we could not help feeling the sincerest sympathy
for him.
The Southern method of catching stray negroes is about this: When one
is found traveling without a pass, he is arrested, taken to the jail,
and severely flogged. This usually brings some kind of a confession
from him, and he is advertised in accordance with that confession. If
no answer is received in a limited time, it is taken for granted that
he lied, and he is whipped again, in order to bring a new confession.
Thus they continue alternately whipping and advertising, till the
close of the year. If a master is found before this, he can pay the
costs and take his property; if not, the negro is sold to pay the jail
and whipping fees. No trial is ever allowed at which the negro might
prove himself free. When once arrested his doom is sealed, and in this
way many free negroes are enslaved.
Aleck had been in this prison seven months, and was to remain five
more, with no other prospect than that of being sold into perpetual
bondage!
Every society has its aristocrats, and here I soon found that the
eminence was given to those who were charged with the most daring
deeds. The spy--there was but one so accused, and he was
blind,[3]--was considered much above the ordinary Union men. I was
charged with the greatest adventure of any confined there, and, of
course, was treated with becoming deference.
[3] The rebels thought he was counterfeiting blindness, but I believe
it was real.
I was not long the only one of the _engine-thieves_, (by which name we
were known during our stay in the Confederacy,) who was confined in
this dungeon. Soon the trap-door again opened, causing a stream of
comparatively cool air from the room above to rush down. It was an
inconceivable relief--a _luxury_ that none could appreciate who had
not, as we had, been deprived of that greatest blessing God has given
to man--pure air.
We wondered who was coming next, as the feeble glimmering of a candle
above revealed several forms descending. The Tennesseeans cried out:
"Don't put any more down here! We're full! We'll die if more are put
down!" which did not seem improbable.
But these remonstrances produced no effect. Down they came, and I,
stationing myself at the foot of the ladder, spoke something
indifferently to them, and heard my name called in return.
It was Andrews, Wollam, and Ross, who gave me their hands in silent
condolence of our common misery. Still others were brought, I do not
now remember whether that evening, or in the morning. Again the door
was closed, and the free air, which had seemed to flow to us in
sympathy, was once more shut out.
We tried to arrange ourselves to secure the repose we so much needed,
but the room was too small. Think of this, ye who sleep on your downy
beds at home. Here were your brothers of Ohio, not only compelled to
sleep on the bare floor, but not even enough of that, in this vilest
of dens, on which to lie down at all! and yet some of you sympathize
with those who were the authors of this cruelty, and think it so hard
that their property should be confiscated for such trifles as these,
and, worst of all, that their negroes should be taken from them! What
shall we think of _you_?
We did the best we could. Some found room to lie down. Others sat
against the wall, and still others leaned on the breasts of those who
were thus supported. It is no wonder if, while in such a situation we
should be afflicted with the nightmare, and have innumerable bad
dreams. If any one wanted to move his position, or go for a drink,
(and the stifling heat rendered us all very thirsty,) he was sure to
tread on his neighbors, and tempers being naturally very short here,
some warm altercations took place, which contributed still more to
disturb our slumbers.
The next morning we slept late. Indeed, as long as we remained in this
prison we were inclined to sleep much. The great quantity of carbonic
acid gas our breathing produced, seemed to act as an opiate, and thus
served, in some measure, to deaden the sense of pain. We were aroused
the next morning--early, as we supposed--by the opening of the door
above, and the delicious shower of cool air that fell on us. As we
looked up, we saw the white head of our old jailor bending over, and
saying, in drawling tones, "Boys, here's your breakfast," and down he
lowered a bucket, by a rope, containing a very small piece of bread,
and the same of meat, for each of us. This was seized and devoured
almost instantly. I had received nothing to eat since breakfast the
day before, and the little morsel I got only served to whet my
appetite; but there was no more! We asked what time it was, and were
told nine o'clock. We were also informed that we would get our meals
only twice a day. This was rather discouraging information for persons
as hungry as ourselves, but we had no remedy.
During the day a few more of our party came in, and among them was G.
D. Wilson. I found that they had all done as I had in acknowledging
themselves United States soldiers, influenced by the same reasons, and
most of them sooner than myself. We consulted about the matter, and
concluded that the only hope we had, was in adhering to the same
story, and trying to make them believe that we were actually detailed
without our consent, and without a knowledge of what we had to do.
This was true for part, but not for all, or even for the most of us.
We agreed to conceal the name of the engineer at all hazards--the fact
of a previous expedition being sent down into Georgia, and that
Campbell was not a soldier--also our previous acquaintance with
Andrews, thus leaving him free to make his own defense. With the
exception of these reserved facts, which were not even to be whispered
among ourselves, we were to talk freely; to answer all questions and
convey the impression that we had nothing to conceal. We carried out
this idea, and, as more of our men came in, they agreed to it, and
gave, without reserve, their true names, companies, and regiments.
This course gained us sympathy from those whose bosoms were not
steeled against every kindly feeling; and to this, more than anything
else, I attribute the fact of some of the party being alive to-day.
We afterward communicated our plan to Andrews, who cordially approved
it--saying that if we adhered to it there would be some chance for our
lives. We did adhere to it, and no amount of persuasion, threatening,
or promises, could induce any of the party to betray one of our
reserved secrets. The rebels were particularly anxious to discover who
was the engineer, and would first ask the question in the most
careless manner; then afterward would sternly demand to know. They
even employed a man, who was a freemason, to visit the party, and try
to gain the confidence of one of our number, who belonged to that
order, and subsequently urge him to tell the desired name, under the
sanction of the masonic oath! But all in vain.
As others of our party joined us, in bands of two or three, they told
the story of their capture. This was, in some cases, most thrilling,
and still further illustrates the fiendish barbarities of the rebels.
Two of them, Parrott and Robinson, who were captured the same day they
left the train, were taken to Ringgold. Here they endeavored to compel
Parrott, who was the youngest looking of the party, to betray his
companions, and particularly the engineer; but he refused to do it;
then these villains in Confederate uniform, stripped him naked, and
stretched him down on a rock, four men holding him by each hand and
foot, while two others stood by with loaded revolvers, threatening him
with instant death if he offered the least resistance; then a rebel
lieutenant commenced whipping him with a raw hide; three different
times he ceased and raised Parrott up, asking him if he was ready to
confess; but the heroic boy refused, and at last the whipping was
discontinued, after more than a hundred lashes had been inflicted. His
back remained sore a long time, and he suffered very much from being
obliged to lie on the hard floor. They did not apply anything to his
wounds to heal them, and the scars still remain.
All the party came in chained, but of course expected, when they were
put down into the dungeon--and _such_ a dungeon!--that they would at
least have the use of their hands. But this was too great an
indulgence to be allowed. We were handcuffed, and then chained
together by the neck in twos and threes. My partner was William
Reddick, to whom I was _strongly attached_ for some time!
Thus chained together, packed into a little cramped dungeon, deprived
even of light, and almost of air, crawled over by all kinds of vermin,
for there were innumerable rats, mice, and bugs, as well as a smaller
and still more pestiferous insect, we presented a picture of nearly
perfect misery.
In this state we remained almost three weeks. During this time Andrews
had received a trial. The evidence was strong against him. A Mr.
Whiteman, whom Andrews himself had directed to be summoned, and who
was a former business partner of his, testified that Andrews had been
repeatedly in the South, that he had professed allegiance to the
Southern Confederacy, and in all things represented himself to be a
citizen of the same. In fact he had passes in his possession when he
was captured that could hardly have been obtained without his taking
the oath of allegiance. This did much to sustain the charge of treason
against him, as he admitted being the leader of the expedition. The
other indictment, which was that of being a spy, was not supported by
any evidence, so far as I could learn; but this was of no importance,
as the punishment of the first charge was death. However, the sentence
was not then given, and Andrews' lawyers gave him some reason to hope
that there was an informality in the proceedings which would render
the whole trial void.
All this time we were most intensely anxious to know how military
affairs were progressing in the world without. I had appropriated from
an officer in charge of us, a paper containing the Confederate account
of our chase, which has been given before, and also an admission that
the battle of Shiloh was not so much of a victory as they had at first
supposed. We managed, likewise, to get one or two other papers which
gave the welcome news that our armies were still pressing onward, and
earnestly did we wish and hope that Chattanooga would be reached in
time to effect our deliverance.
But the best item of news we received, was from our old jailor, who,
on one occasion, became too drunk to remember the orders he had
received against telling us anything, and let out the very interesting
fact that General Mitchel had advanced to Bridgeport, only
twenty-eight miles below us, on the Tennessee river, and there had
sorely defeated the rebels, capturing some of the very same men who
had been guarding us a few days before.
This was very cheering, and we began to hope that we, too, would soon
be captured. The officer of the guard was obviously uneasy. All the
time we were in the dungeon, we had been guarded by twenty-six men,
with a captain over them. This was certainly enough to keep
twenty-two, confined and chained as we were, in our place, but we
thought it would be a capital joke should they be captured with us!
But it was not their intention to let us fall into Mitchel's hands. An
order was sent to the captain in charge to prepare us for moving. He
did so; and soon after, we were in the cars, carried down the same
road we came up so rapidly three weeks before.
How beautiful all nature appeared! It was May, and the time we had
spent without one glance at the expansive sky or green earth, had not
been lost in the material world. The landscape had been robed in a
richer verdure, the budding trees had swelled into leafy screens, the
sky was of a softer blue, the birds warbled with new melody, and
everything seemed to wear its holiday dress.
O, the joy! the gladness! of being once more under the canopy of
heaven, and of looking up to its unfathomable depths, with no envious
bars to obstruct our view. Many a time have I passed the month of May,
amidst the most romantic scenery, but never yet did I so deeply feel,
that this is indeed a pleasant world, full of beauty and goodness, as
on that balmy evening, when the rays of the setting sun, glowing from
the west, streamed over the grass and wheatfields on their path, and
poured in mellowed, yellow radiance, through our car-window. But even
then the glories of earth and sky could not make me forget that I was
still chained to my companion, and surrounded by guards with gleaming
bayonets.
The wild excitement caused by our raid had not subsided in the least,
and as it became known that we were passing along the road, a mob
greeted us at every station. It is not necessary to again describe
these mobs, for all are alike, and one description answers for many.
They were, as usual, rude, loquacious, and insulting.
When we arrived in Atlanta, which was in the morning, there was no
jail-room for us; but before going further, we were obliged to wait
for the evening train. When it became known in the city that we were
there, a mob instantly collected, and prepared to hang us. They were
prevented by our guard, probably on the principle that a mouse is
protected by a kitten--that it may have the pleasure of first playing
with it, and afterwards killing it itself. During the progress of the
strife between those who wanted to hang us and those who wanted the
law to take its course, several persons were severely injured. But
while the disturbance was in progress, one man succeeded in reaching
the car window unnoticed, and handed us a paper, using only the single
but magical word--"a friend"--and then was lost in the throng. We read
the paper by snatches as the attention of the guard was directed to
other objects, and found it to contain glorious news--nothing less
than _the capture of New Orleans by our fleet_! Need I say that, for
the time, all thought of private misfortune was lost in the
exhilaration of national triumph?
The cause of secession then looked gloomy. I took particular pains to
talk with the officer in charge of us, and other intelligent rebels,
about their prospects, and found them discouraged. Our captain would
not let us have any newspapers, or _knowingly_ give us any
information; yet he thought it no harm to talk with us on the great
subject of the war, after we had learned the facts from other sources.
Frequently, by pretending to know, we could get from him a full idea
of things concerning which we were ignorant before. Of this character
was McClellan's advance on Richmond. The captain admitted that he was
moving with an overwhelming force, and that they had then but a
comparatively small army to resist him. Indeed, everything looked
bright for the Union cause, and the only uneasiness that disturbed us
was the apprehension that we might not live to witness that happy
triumph which now seemed so near.
In the evening we glided on again, and at length arrived at Madison.
This is a flourishing village, and looked well as we entered it.
There were then some six hundred of our prisoners confined there, and
we indulged the hope that we might be put with them. But we soon
learned that the brand of criminality for our daring adventure still
rested on us; for we were marched past the dilapidated cotton factory
where our friends were confined, to the old county jail, which was
then entirely unoccupied. It was a gloomy stone building, and had two
rooms, but both had doors, and were above ground. Of the upper story I
can not speak, as our party was divided, and I was one that was
assigned to the lower apartment. The room was very dark, and its heavy
stone walls rendered it quite damp. It would have seemed like a
wretched place, had it not been for our previous experience in
Chattanooga. Besides, we were now further from the influence of
General Leadbetter, and only under the control of our captain, who
showed us some kindness, though we were still in irons.
The citizens of the place were freely admitted to see us, and ranged
themselves--always in the presence of the guard--along one side of the
cell, and talked about all the exciting topics of the day. They
pretended to admire us very much, and contrasted our daring expedition
with what they were pleased to call the cowardice of the Yankees
generally, and asked if there were any more like us in the army.
Wilson, of Cincinnati, assured them that we were the poorest men in
Mitchel's Division, and only sent away because he had no use for us.
This rather astonished them; but from the way in which Mitchel, with
his small and divided force, was controlling Northern Alabama, and
much of Eastern Tennessee, as well as defeating them at all points,
they were rather inclined to believe it.
But among these visitors was one who came not for mere curiosity. He
was dressed in rebel uniform, but was instantly recognized by Andrews
as a _spy in the service of the United States_. They had no
opportunity for private communication, but our situation was revealed
in such a way as not to excite suspicion. His character was made known
to us by Andrews, after his departure; and while we were wondering at
his audacity, and rather inclined to disbelieve the story, the captain
of the guard, who had come to bring supper, told us that a most
remarkable occurrence had taken place that afternoon.
He said that the Provost-Marshal had learned, from some source, that a
spy of Lincoln's had been among our visitors, and had at once sent a
guard to arrest him. The guard found him at the depot, just as the
cars were coming in. The stranger was very indignant at his arrest,
and told them scornfully that he had papers in his pocket that would
prove his character anywhere. They were somewhat abashed at this, and
released their hold on him, but asked him to produce the papers. He
put his hand in his pocket, as though searching for them, and fumbled
about, until he noticed that the train, which was starting, had
attained a good rate of speed, and then, just as the last car swung
by, he dashed from them, and jumped aboard! There was no telegraph
station at Madison, and he escaped.
At this the Confederates were very much enraged, and would permit no
more visiting; but we felt ample consolation in the certainty that our
condition would be at once reported to our officers, and every effort
made for our release.