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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38855-8.txt b/38855-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..696be59 --- /dev/null +++ b/38855-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5671 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Iron Furnace, by John H. Aughey + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Iron Furnace + Slavery and Secession + +Author: John H. Aughey + +Release Date: February 13, 2012 [EBook #38855] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE IRON FURNACE *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive.) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: John H. Aughey. _Engraved by Samuel Sartain, Phila._] + + + + + THE IRON FURNACE: + OR, + SLAVERY AND SECESSION. + + + BY REV. JOHN H. AUGHEY, + A REFUGEE FROM MISSISSIPPI. + + + Cursed be the men that obeyeth not the words + of this covenant, which I commanded your + fathers in the day that I brought them forth + out of the land of Egypt, from the _Iron + Furnace_.--Jer. xi. 3, 4. See also, 1 Kings + viii. 51. + + + PHILADELPHIA: + WILLIAM S. & ALFRED MARTIEN. + 606 CHESTNUT STREET. + 1863. + + + + + Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1863, + BY WILLIAM S. & ALFRED MARTIEN, + In the office of the Clerk of the District Court for the + Eastern District of Pennsylvania. + + + + + TO MY PERSONAL FRIENDS + + REV. CHARLES C. BEATTY, D.D., LL.D., + OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, + Moderator of the General Assembly of the (O.S.) Presbyterian + Church in the United States of America, + and long Pastor of the Church in which + my parents were members, and + our family worshippers; + + REV. WILLIAM PRATT BREED, + Pastor of the West Spruce Street Presbyterian Church, of + Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; + + GEORGE HAY STUART, ESQ., + OF PHILADELPHIA, PA., + The Philanthropist, whose virtues are known and + appreciated in both hemispheres, + + THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +A celebrated author thus writes: "Posterity is under no obligations to a +man who is not a parent, who has never planted a tree, built a house, nor +written a book." Having fulfilled all these requisites to insure the +remembrance of posterity, it remains to be seen whether the author's name +shall escape oblivion. + +It may be that a few years will obliterate the name affixed to this +Preface from the memory of man. This thought is the cause of no concern. I +shall have accomplished my purpose if I can in some degree be humbly +instrumental in serving my country and my generation, by promoting the +well-being of my fellow-men, and advancing the declarative glory of +Almighty God. + +This work was written while suffering intensely from maladies induced by +the rigours of the Iron Furnace of Secession, whose sevenfold heat is +reserved for the loyal citizens of the South. Let this fact be a +palliation for whatever imperfections the reader may meet with in its +perusal. + +There are many loyal men in the southern States, who to avoid martyrdom, +conceal their opinions. They are to be pitied--not severely censured. All +those southern ministers and professors of religion who were eminent for +piety, opposed secession till the States passed the secession ordinance. +They then advocated reconstruction as long as it comported with their +safety. They then, in the face of danger and death, became quiescent--not +acquiescent, by any means--and they now "bide their time," in prayerful +trust that God will, in his own good time, subvert rebellion, and +overthrow anarchy, by a restoration of the supremacy of constitutional +law. By these, and their name is legion, my book will be warmly approved. +My fellow-prisoners in the dungeon at Tupelo, who may have survived its +horrors, and my fellow-sufferers in the Union cause throughout the South, +will read in my narrative a transcript of their own sufferings. The loyal +citizens of the whole country will be interested in learning the views of +one who has been conversant with the rise and progress of secession, from +its incipiency to its culmination in rebellion and treason. It will also +doubtless be of general interest to learn something of the workings of the +"peculiar institution," and the various phases which it assumes in +different sections of the slave States. + +Compelled to leave Dixie in haste, I had no time to collect materials for +my work. I was therefore under the necessity of writing without those aids +which would have secured greater accuracy. I have done the best that I +could under the circumstances; and any errors that may have crept into my +statements of facts, or reports of addresses, will be cheerfully rectified +as soon as ascertained. + +That I might not compromise the safety of my Union friends who rendered me +assistance, and who are still within the rebel lines, I was compelled to +omit their names, and for the same reason to describe rather indefinitely +some localities, especially the portions of Ittawamba, Chickasaw, +Pontotoc, Tippah, and Tishomingo counties, through which I travelled while +escaping to the Federal lines. This I hope to be able to correct in future +editions. + +Narratives require a liberal use of the first personal pronoun, which I +would have gladly avoided, had it been possible without tedious +circumlocution, as its frequent repetition has the appearance of egotism. + +I return sincere thanks to my fellow-prisoners who imperilled their own +lives to save mine, and also to those Mississippi Unionists who so +generously aided a panting fugitive on his way from chains and death to +life and liberty. My thanks are also due to Rev. William P. Breed, for +assistance in preparing my work for the press. + +I am also under obligations to Rev. Francis J. Collier, of Philadelphia; +to Rev. A. D. Smith, D. D., and Rev. J. R. W. Sloane, of New York, and to +Rev. F. B. Wheeler, of Poughkeepsie, New York. + +May the Triune God bless our country, and preserve its integrity! + +JOHN HILL AUGHEY. + +FEBRUARY 1, 1863. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + + SECESSION. + + Speech of Colonel Drane--Submission Denounced--Northern + Aggression--No more Slave States--Northern _isms_--Yankees' + Servants--Yankee inferiority--Breckinridge, or immediate, + complete, and eternal Separation--A Day of Rejoicing--Abraham + Lincoln, President elect--A Union Speech--A Southerner's + Reasons for opposing Secession--Address by a Radical + Secessionist--Cursing and Bitterness--A Prayer--Sermon + against Secession--List of Grievances--Causes which led to + Secession 13--49 + + + CHAPTER II. + + VIGILANCE COMMITTEE AND COURT-MARTIAL. + + The election of Delegates to determine the status of + Mississippi--The Vigilance Committee--Description of its + members--Charges--Phonography--No formal verdict--Danger of + Assassination--Passports--Escape to Rienzi--Union sentiment-- + The Conscript Law--Summons to attend Court-Martial-- + Evacuation of Corinth--Destruction of Cotton--Suffering + poor--Relieved by General Halleck 50--69 + + + CHAPTER III. + + ARREST, ESCAPE, AND RECAPTURE. + + High price of Provisions--Holland Lindsay's Family--The + arrest--Captain Hill--Appearance before Colonel Bradfute at + Fulton--Arrest of Benjamin Clarke--Bradfute's Insolence-- + General Chalmers--The clerical Spy--General Pfeifer--Under + guard--Priceville--General Gordon--Bound for Tupelo--The + Prisoners entering the Dungeon--Captain Bruce--Lieutenant + Richard Malone--Prison Fare and Treatment--Menial Service-- + Resolve to escape--Plan of escape--Federal Prisoners-- + Co-operation of the Prisoners--Declaration of Independence-- + The Escape--The Separation--Concealment--Travel on the + Underground Railroad--Pursuit by Cavalry and Bloodhounds--The + Arrest--Dan Barnes, the Mail-robber--Perfidy--Heavily + ironed--Return to Tupelo 70--112 + + + CHAPTER IV. + + LIFE IN A DUNGEON. + + Parson Aughey as Chaplain--Description of the Prisoners-- + Colonel Walter, the Judge Advocate--Charges and + Specifications against Parson Aughey, a Citizen of the + Confederate States--Execution of two Tennesseeans--Enlistment + of Union Prisoners--Colonel Walter's second visit--Day of + Execution specified--Farewell Letter to my Wife--Parson + Aughey's Obituary penned by himself--Address to his Soul--The + Soul's Reply--Farewell Letter to his Parents--The Union + Prisoners' Petition to Hon. W. H. Seward--The two Prisoners + and the Oath of Allegiance--Irish Stories 113--142 + + + CHAPTER V. + + EXECUTION OF UNION PRISONERS. + + Resolved to Escape--Mode of Executing Prisoners--Removal of + Chain--Addition to our Numbers--Two Prisoners become Insane-- + Plan of Escape--Proves a Failure--Fetters Inspected-- + Additional Fetters--Handcuffs--A Spy in the Disguise of a + Prisoner--Special Police Guard on Duty--A Prisoner's + Discovery--Divine Services--The General Judgment--The Judge-- + The Laws--The Witnesses--The Concourse--The Sentence 143--167 + + + CHAPTER VI. + + SUCCESSFUL ESCAPE. + + The Second Plan of Escape--Under the Jail--Egress--Among the + Guards--In the Swamp--Travelling on the Underground + Railroad--The Fare--Green Corn eaten Raw--Blackberries and + Stagnant Water--The Bloodhounds--Tantalizing Dreams--The + Pickets--The Cows--Become Sick--Fons Beatus--Find Friends-- + Union Friend No. Two--The night in the Barn--Death of Newman + by Scalding--Union Friend No. Three--Bound for the Union + Lines--Rebel Soldiers--Black Ox--Pied Ox--Reach Headquarters + in Safety--Emotions on again beholding the Old Flag--Kindness + while Sick--Meeting with his Family--Richard Malone again-- + The Serenade--Leave Dixie--Northward bound 168--211 + + + CHAPTER VII. + + SOUTHERN CLASSES--CRUELTY TO SLAVES. + + Sandhillers--Dirt-eating--Dipping--Their Mode of Living-- + Patois--Rain-book--Wife-trade--Coming in to see the Cars-- + Superstition--Marriage of Kinsfolks--Hardshell Sermon--Causes + which lead to the Degradation of this Class--Efforts to + Reconcile the Poor Whites to the Peculiar Institution--The + Slaveholding Class--The Middle Class--Northern _isms_-- + Incident at a Methodist Minister's House--Question asked a + Candidate for Licensure--Reason of Southern Hatred toward the + North--Letter to Mr. Jackman--Barbarities and Cruelties of + Slavery--Mulattoes--Old Cole--Child Born at Whipping-post-- + Advertisement of a Keeper of Bloodhounds--Getting Rid of Free + Blacks--The Doom of Slavery--Methodist Church South 212--248 + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + NOTORIOUS REBELS.--UNION OFFICERS. + + Colonel Jefferson Davis--His Speech at Holly Springs, + Mississippi--His Opposition to Yankee Teachers and + Ministers--A bid for the Presidency--His Ambition--Burr, + Arnold, Davis--General Beauregard--Headquarters at Rienzi-- + Colonel Elliott's Raid--Beauregard's Consternation--Personal + description--His illness--Popularity waning.--Rev. Dr. Palmer + of New Orleans--His influence--The Cincinnati Letter--His + Personal Appearance--His Denunciations of General Butler--His + Radicalism.--Rev. Dr. Waddell of La Grange, Tennessee--His + Prejudices against the North--President of Memphis Synodical + College--His Talents prostituted.--Union Officers--General + Nelson--General Sherman 249--263 + + + CHAPTER IX. + + CONDITION OF THE SOUTH. + + Cause of the Rebellion--Prevalence of Union Sentiment in the + South--Why not Developed--Stevenson's Views--Why Incorrect-- + Cavalry Raids upon Union Citizens--How the Rebels employ + Slaves--Slaves Whipped and sent out of the Federal Lines-- + Resisting the Conscript Law--Kansas Jayhawkers--Guarding + Rebel Property--Perfidy of Secessionists--Plea for + Emancipation--The South Exhausted--Failure of Crops--Southern + Merchants Ruined--Bragg Prohibits the Manufacture and Vending + of Intoxicating Liquors--Its Salutary Effect 264--281 + + + CHAPTER X. + + BATTLES OF LEESBURG, BELMONT, AND SHILOH. + + Rebel Cruelty to Prisoners--The Fratricide--Grant Defeated-- + Saved by Gunboats--Buell's Advance--Railroad Disaster--The + South Despondent--General Rosecrans--Secession will become + Odious even in the South--Poem 282--296 + + + + +THE IRON FURNACE; OR SLAVERY AND SECESSION. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +SECESSION. + + Speech of Colonel Drane.--Submission Denounced.--Northern + Aggression.--No more Slave States.--Northern _isms_.--Yankees' + Servants.--Yankee inferiority.--Breckinridge, or immediate, complete, + and eternal Separation.--A Day of Rejoicing.--Abraham Lincoln + President elect.--A Union Speech.--A Southerner's Reasons for opposing + Secession.--Address by a Radical Secessionist.--Cursing and + Bitterness.--A Prayer.--Sermon against Secession.--List of + Grievances.--Causes which led to Secession. + + +At the breaking out of the present rebellion, I was engaged in the work of +an Evangelist in the counties of Choctaw and Attala in Central +Mississippi. My congregations were large, and my duties onerous. Being +constantly employed in ministerial labours, I had no time to intermeddle +with politics, leaving all such questions to statesmen, giving the +complex issues of the day only sufficient attention to enable me to vote +intelligently. Thus was I engaged when the great political campaign of +1860 commenced--a campaign conducted with greater virulence and asperity +than any I have ever witnessed. During my casual detention at a store, +Colonel Drane arrived, according to appointment, to address the people of +Choctaw. He was a member of one of my congregations, and as he had been +long a leading statesman in Mississippi, having for many years presided +over the State Senate, I expected to hear a speech of marked ability, +unfolding the true issues before the people, with all the dignity, +suavity, and earnestness of a gentleman and patriot; but I found his whole +speech to be a tirade of abuse against the North, commingled with the bold +avowal of treasonable sentiments. The Colonel thus addressed the people: + + MY FELLOW-CITIZENS--I appear before you to urge anew resistance + against the encroachments and aggressions of the Yankees. If the + Black Republicans carry their ticket, and Old Abe is elected, our + right to carry our slaves into the territories will be denied us; and + who dare say that he would be a base, craven submissionist, when our + God-given and constitutional right to carry slavery into the common + domain is wickedly taken from the South. The Yankees cheated us out of + Kansas by their infernal Emigrant Aid Societies. They cheated us out + of California, which our blood-treasure purchased, for the South sent + ten men to one that was sent by the North to the Mexican war, and thus + we have no foothold on the Pacific coast; and even now we pay five + dollars for the support of the general Government where the North pays + one. We help to pay bounties to the Yankee fishermen in New England; + indeed _we_ are always paying, paying, paying, and yet the North is + always crying, Give, give, give. The South has made the North rich, + and what thanks do we receive? Our rights are trampled on, our slaves + are spirited by thousands over their underground railroad to Canada, + our citizens are insulted while travelling in the North, and their + servants are tampered with, and by false representations, and often by + mob violence, forced from them. Douglas, knowing the power of the + Emigrant Aid Societies, proposes squatter sovereignty, with the + positive certainty that the scum of Europe and the mudsills of + Yankeedom can be shipped in in numbers sufficient to control the + destiny of the embryo State. Since the admission of Texas in 1845, + there has not been a single foot of slave territory secured to the + South, while the North has added to their list the extensive States of + California, Minnesota, and Oregon, and Kansas is as good as theirs; + while, if Lincoln is elected, the Wilmot proviso will be extended over + all the common territories, debarring the South for ever from her + right to share the public domain. + + The hypocrites of the North tell us that slaveholding is sinful. Well, + suppose it is. Upon us and our children let the guilt of this sin + rest; we are willing to bear it, and it is none of their business. We + are a more moral people than they are. Who originated Mormonism, + Millerism, Spirit-rappings, Abolitionism, Free-loveism, and all the + other abominable _isms_ which curse the world? The reply is, the + North. Their puritanical fanaticism and hypocrisy is patent to all. + Talk to us of the sin of slavery, when the only difference between us + is that our slaves are black and theirs white. They treat their white + slaves, the Irish and Dutch, in a cruel manner, giving them during + health just enough to purchase coarse clothing, and when they become + sick, they are turned off to starve, as they do by hundreds every + year. A female servant in the North must have a testimonial of good + character before she will be employed; those with whom she is + labouring will not give her this so long as they desire her services; + she therefore cannot leave them, whatever may be her treatment, so + that she is as much compelled to remain with her employer as the slave + with his master. + + Their servants hate them; our's love us. My niggers would fight for me + and my family. They have been treated well, and they know it. And I + don't treat my slaves any better than my neighbours. If ever there + comes a war between the North and the South, let us do as Abraham + did--arm our trained servants, and go forth with them to the battle. + They hate the Yankees as intensely as we do, and nothing could please + our slaves better than to fight them. Ah, the perfidious Yankees! I + cordially hate a Yankee. We have all suffered much at their hands; + they will not keep faith with us. Have they complied with the + provisions of the Fugitive Slave Law? The thousands and tens of + thousands of slaves aided in their escape to Canada, is a sufficient + answer. We _have_ lost millions, and _are_ losing millions every year, + by the operations of the underground railroad. How deep the perfidy of + a people, thus to violate every article of compromise we have made + with them! The Yankees are an inferior race, descended from the old + Puritan stock, who enacted the Blue Laws. They are desirous of + compelling us to submit to laws more iniquitous than ever were the + Blue Laws. I have travelled in the North, and have seen the depth of + their depravity. Now, my fellow-citizens, what shall we do to resist + Northern aggression? Why simply this: if Lincoln or Douglas are + elected, (as to the Bell-Everett ticket, it stands no sort of chance,) + let us secede. This remedy will be effectual. I am in favour of no + more compromises. Let us have Breckinridge, or immediate, complete, + and eternal separation. + +The speaker then retired amid the cheers of his audience. + +Soon after this there came a day of rejoicing to many in Mississippi. The +booming of cannon, the joyous greeting, the soul-stirring music, indicated +that no ordinary intelligence had been received. The lightnings had +brought the tidings that Abraham Lincoln was President elect of the United +States, and the South was wild with excitement. Those who had been long +desirous of a pretext for secession, now boldly advocated their +sentiments, and joyfully hailed the election of Mr. Lincoln as affording +that pretext. The conservative men were filled with gloom. They regarded +the election of Mr. Lincoln, by the majority of the people of the United +States, in a constitutional way, as affording no cause for secession. +Secession they regarded as fraught with all the evils of Pandora's box, +and that war, famine, pestilence, and moral and physical desolation would +follow in its train. A call was made by Governor Pettus for a convention +to assemble early in January, at Jackson, to determine what course +Mississippi should pursue, whether her policy should be submission or +secession. + +Candidates, Union and Secession, were nominated for the convention in +every county. The speeches of two, whom I heard, will serve as a specimen +of the arguments used _pro_ and _con_. Captain Love, of Choctaw, thus +addressed the people. + + MY FELLOW-CITIZENS--I appear before you to advocate the Union--the + Union of the States under whose favoring auspices we have long + prospered. No nation so great, so prosperous, so happy, or so much + respected by earth's thousand kingdoms, as the Great Republic, by + which name the United States is known from the rivers to the ends of + the earth. Our flag, the star-spangled banner, is respected on every + sea, and affords protection to the citizens of every State, whether + amid the pyramids of Egypt, the jungles of Asia, or the mighty cities + of Europe. Our Republican Constitution, framed by the wisdom of our + Revolutionary fathers, is as free from imperfection as any document + drawn up by uninspired men. God presided over the councils of that + convention which framed our glorious Constitution. They asked wisdom + from on high, and their prayers were answered. Free speech, a free + press, and freedom to worship God as our conscience dictates, under + our own vine and fig-tree, none daring to molest or make us afraid, + are some of the blessings which our Constitution guarantees; and these + prerogatives, which we enjoy, are features which bless and distinguish + us from the other nations of the earth. Freedom of speech is unknown + amongst them; among them a censorship of the press and a national + church are established. + + Our country, by its physical features, seems fitted for but one + nation. What ceaseless trouble would be caused by having the source of + our rivers in one country and the mouth in another. There are no + natural boundaries to divide us into separate nations. We are all + descended from the same common parentage, we all speak the same + language, and we have really no conflicting interests, the statements + of our opponents to the contrary notwithstanding. Our opponents + advocate separate State secession. Would not Mississippi cut a sorry + figure among the nations of the earth? With no harbour, she would be + dependent on a foreign nation for an outlet. Custom-house duties would + be ruinous, and the republic of Mississippi would find herself + compelled to return to the Union. Mississippi, you remember, + repudiated a large foreign debt some years ago; if she became an + independent nation, her creditors would influence their government to + demand payment, which could not be refused by the weak, defenceless, + navyless, armyless, moneyless, repudiating republic of Mississippi. + To pay this debt, with the accumulated interest, would ruin the new + republic, and bankruptcy would stare us in the face. + + It is true, Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United States. + My plan is to wait till Mr. Lincoln does something unconstitutional. + Then let the South unanimously seek redress in a constitutional + manner. The conservatives of the North will join us. If no redress is + made, let us present our ultimatum. If this, too, is rejected, I for + one will not advocate submission; and by the coöperation of all the + slave States, we will, in the event of the perpetration of wrong, and + a refusal to redress our grievances, be much abler to secure our + rights, or to defend them at the cannon's mouth and the point of the + bayonet. The Supreme Court favours the South. In the Dred Scott case, + the Supreme Court decided that the negro was not a citizen, and that + the slave was a chattel, as we regard him. The majority of Congress on + joint ballot is still with the South. Although we have something to + fear from the views of the President elect and the Chicago platform, + let us wait till some overt act, trespassing upon our rights, is + committed, and all redress denied; then, and not till then, will I + advocate extreme measures. + + Let our opponents remember that secession and civil war are + synonymous. Who ever heard of a government breaking to pieces without + an arduous struggle for its preservation? I admit the right of + revolution, when a people's rights cannot otherwise be maintained, but + deny the right of secession. We are told that it is a reserved right. + The constitution declares that all rights not specified in it are + reserved to the people of the respective States; but who ever heard of + the right of total destruction of the government being a reserved + right in any constitution? The fallacy is evident at a glance. Nine + millions of people can afford to wait for some overt act. Let us not + follow the precipitate course which the ultra politicians indicate. + Let W. L. Yancey urge his treasonable policy of firing the Southern + heart and precipitating a revolution; but let us follow no such + wicked advice. Let us follow the things which make for peace. + + We are often told that the North will not return fugitive slaves. Will + secession remedy this grievance? Will secession give us any more slave + territory? No free government ever makes a treaty for the rendition of + fugitive slaves--thus recognising the rights of the citizens of a + foreign nation to a species of property which it denies to its own + citizens. Even little Mexico will not do it. Mexico and Canada return + no fugitives. In the event of secession, the United States would + return no fugitives, and our peculiar institution would, along our + vast border, become very insecure; we would hold our slaves by a very + slight tenure. Instead of extending the great Southern institution, it + would be contracting daily. Our slaves would be held to service at + their own option, throughout the whole border, and our gulf States + would soon become border States; and the great insecurity of this + species of property would work, before twenty years, the extinction + of slavery, and, in consequence, the ruin of the South. Are we + prepared for such a result? Are we prepared for civil war? Are we + prepared for all the evils attendant upon a fratricidal contest--for + bloodshed, famine, and political and moral desolation? I reply, we are + not; therefore let us look before we leap, and avoiding the heresy of + secession-- + + "Rather bear the ills we have, + Than fly to others that we know not of." + +A secession speaker was introduced, and thus addressed the people: + + LADIES AND GENTLEMEN--FELLOW-CITIZENS--I am a secessionist out and + out; voted for Jeff Davis for Governor in 1850, when the same issue + was before the people; and I have always felt a grudge against the + _free state_ of Tishomingo for giving H. S. Foote, the Union + candidate, a majority so great as to elect him, and thus retain the + State in this accursed Union ten years longer. Who would be a + craven-hearted, cowardly, villanous submissionist? Lincoln, the + abominable, white-livered abolitionist, is President elect of the + United States; shall he be permitted to take his seat on Southern + soil? No, never! I will volunteer as one of thirty thousand, to + butcher the villain if ever he sets foot on slave territory. Secession + or submission! What patriot would hesitate for a moment which to + choose? No true son of Mississippi would brook the idea of submission + to the rule of the baboon Abe Lincoln--a fifth-rate lawyer, a + broken-down hack of a politician, a fanatic, an abolitionist. I, for + one, would prefer an hour of virtuous liberty to a whole eternity of + bondage under northern, Yankee, wooden-nutmeg rule. The halter is the + only argument that should be used against the submissionists, and I + predict that it will soon, very soon, be in force. + + We have glorious news from Tallahatchie. Seven tory-submissionists + were hanged there in one day, and the so-called Union candidates, + having the wholesome dread of hemp before their eyes, are not + canvassing the county; therefore the heretical dogma of submission, + under any circumstances, disgraces not their county. Compromise! let + us have no such word in our vocabulary. Compromise with the Yankees, + after the election of Lincoln, is treason against the South; and still + its syren voice is listened to by the demagogue submissionists. We + should never have made any compromise, for in every case we + surrendered rights for the sake of peace. No concession of the scared + Yankees will now prevent secession. They now understand that the South + is in earnest, and in their alarm they are proposing to yield us much; + but the die is cast, the Rubicon is crossed, and our determination + shall ever be, No union with the flat-headed, nigger-stealing, + fanatical Yankees. + + We are now threatened with internecine war. The Yankees are an + inferior race; they are cowardly in the extreme. They are descended + from the Puritan stock, who never bore rule in any nation. We, the + descendants of the Cavaliers, are the Patricians, they the Plebeians. + The Cavaliers have always been the rulers, the Puritans the ruled. The + dastardly Yankees will never fight us; but if they, in their + presumption and audacity, venture to attack us, let the war come--I + repeat it--let it come! The conflagration of their burning cities, the + desolation of their country, and the slaughter of their inhabitants, + will strike the nations of the earth dumb with astonishment, and serve + as a warning to future ages, that the slaveholding Cavaliers of the + sunny South are terrible in their vengeance. I am in favour of + immediate, independent, and eternal separation from the vile Union + which has so long oppressed us. After separation, I am in favour of + non-intercourse with the United States so long as time endures. We + will raise the tariff, to the point of prohibition, on all Yankee + manufactures, including wooden-nutmegs, wooden clocks, quack nostrums, + &c. We will drive back to their own inhospitable clime every Yankee + who dares to pollute our shores with his cloven feet. Go he must, and + if necessary, with the bloodhounds on his track. The scum of Europe + and the mudsills of Yankeedom shall never be permitted to advance a + step south of 36° 30'. South of that latitude is ours--westward to + the Pacific. With my heart of hearts I hate a Yankee, and I will make + my children swear eternal hatred to the whole Yankee race. A mongrel + breed--Irish, Dutch, Puritans, Jews, free niggers, &c.--they scarce + deserve the notice of the descendants of the Huguenots, the old + Castilians, and the Cavaliers. Cursed be the day when the South + consented to this iniquitous league--the Federal Union--which has long + dimmed her nascent glory. + + In battle, one southron is equivalent to ten northern hirelings; but I + regard it a waste of time to speak of Yankees--they deserve not our + attention. It matters not to us what they think of secession, and we + would not trespass upon your time and patience, were it not for the + tame, tory submissionists with which our country is cursed. A fearful + retribution is in waiting for the whole crew, if the war which they + predict, should come. Were they then to advocate the same views, I + would not give a fourpence for their lives. We would hang them + quicker than old Heath would hang a tory. Our Revolutionary fathers + set us a good example in their dealings with the tories. They sent + them to the shades infernal from the branches of the nearest tree. The + North has sent teachers and preachers amongst us, who have insidiously + infused the leaven of Abolitionism into the minds of their students + and parishioners; and this submissionist policy is a lower development + of the doctrine of Wendell Philips, Gerritt Smith, Horace Greely, and + others of that ilk. We have a genial clime, a soil of uncommon + fertility. We have free institutions, freedom for the white man, + bondage for the black man, as nature and nature's God designed. We + have fair women and brave men. The lines have truly fallen to us in + pleasant places. We have indeed a goodly heritage. The only evil we + can complain of is our bondage to the Yankees through the Federal + Union. Let us burst these shackles from our limbs, and we will be free + indeed. + + Let all who desire complete and eternal emancipation from Yankee + thraldom, come to the polls on the ---- day of December, prepared not + to vote the cowardly submissionist ticket, but to vote the secession + ticket; and their children, and their children's children, will owe + them a debt of gratitude which they can never repay. The day of our + separation and vindication of States' rights, will be the happiest day + of our lives. Yankee domination will have ceased for ever, and the + haughty southron will spurn them from all association, both + governmental and social. So mote it be! + +This address was received with great eclat. + +On the next Sabbath after this meeting, I preached in the Poplar Creek +Presbyterian church, in Choctaw county, from Romans xiii. 1: "Let every +soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: +the powers that be, are ordained of God." + +Previous to the sermon a prayer was offered, of which the following is the +conclusion: + + ALMIGHTY GOD--We would present our country, the United States of + America, before thee. When our political horizon is overcast with + clouds and darkness, when the strong-hearted are becoming fearful for + the permanence of our free institutions, and the prosperity, yea, the + very existence of our great Republic, we pray thee, O God, when flesh + and heart fail, when no human arm is able to save us from the fearful + vortex of disunion and revolution, that thou wouldst interpose and + save us. We confess our national sins, for we have, as a nation, + sinned grievously. We have been highly favoured, we have been greatly + prospered, and have taken our place amongst the leading powers of the + earth. A gospel-enlightened nation, our sins are therefore more + heinous in thy sight. They are sins of deep ingratitude and + presumption. We confess that drunkenness has abounded amongst all + classes of our citizens. Rulers and ruled have been alike guilty; and + because of its wide-spreading prevalence, and because our legislators + have enacted no sufficient laws for its suppression, it is a national + sin. Profanity abounds amongst us; Sabbath-breaking is rife; and we + have elevated unworthy men to high positions of honour and trust. We + are not, as a people, free from the crime of tyranny and oppression. + For these great and aggravated offences, we pray thee to give us + repentance and godly sorrow, and then, O God, avert the threatened and + imminent judgments which impend over our beloved country. Teach our + Senators wisdom. Grant them that wisdom which is able to make them + wise unto salvation; and grant also that wisdom which is profitable to + direct, so that they may steer the ship of State safely through the + troubled waters which seem ready to engulf it on every side. Lord, + hear us, and answer in mercy, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. + Amen and Amen! + +The following is a synopsis of my sermon: + + Israel had been greatly favoured as a nation. No weapon formed against + them prospered, so long as they loved and served the Lord their God. + They were blessed in their basket and their store. They were set on + high above all the nations of the earth. * * * * When all Israel + assembled, ostensibly to make Rehoboam king, they were ripe for + rebellion. Jeroboam and other wicked men had fomented and cherished + the sparks of treason, till, on this occasion, it broke out into the + flame of open rebellion. The severity of Solomon's rule was the + pretext, but it was only a pretext, for during his reign the nation + prospered, grew rich and powerful. Jeroboam wished a disruption of the + kingdom, that he might bear rule; and although God permitted it as a + punishment for Israel's idolatry, yet he frowned upon the wicked men + who were instrumental in bringing this great evil upon his chosen + people. + + The loyal division took the name of Judah, though composed of the two + tribes, Judah and Benjamin. The revolted ten tribes took the name of + their leading tribe, Ephraim. Ephraim continued to wax weaker and + weaker. Filled with envy against Judah, they often warred against that + loyal kingdom, until they themselves were greatly reduced. At last, + after various vicissitudes, the ten tribes were carried away, and + scattered and lost. We often hear of the lost ten tribes. What became + of them is a mystery. Their secession ended in their being blotted out + of existence, or lost amidst the heathen. God alone knows what did + become of them. They resisted the powers that be--the ordinance of + God--and received to themselves damnation and annihilation. + + As God dealt with Israel, so will he deal with us. If we are exalted + by righteousness, we will prosper; if we, as the ten tribes, resist + the ordinance of God, we will perish. At this time, many are + advocating the course of the ten tribes. Secession is a word of + frequent occurrence. It is openly advocated by many. Nullification and + rebellion, secession and treason, are convertible terms, and no good + citizen will mention them with approval. Secession is resisting the + powers that be, and therefore it is a violation of God's command. + Where do we obtain the right of secession? Clearly not from the word + of God, which enjoins obedience to all that are in authority, to whom + we must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. + The following scriptural argument for secession is often used, 1 Tim. + vi. 1--5. In these verses Paul was addressing believing servants, and + commanding them to absent themselves from the teaching of those who + taught not the doctrine which is according to godliness. In a former + epistle he had commanded Christians not to keep company with the + incestuous person who had his father's wife. He directed that they + should not keep company with any man who was called a brother, if he + were a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a + drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat; but he + expressly declares that he does not allude to those who belong to the + above classes that have made no profession of religion. He does not + judge them that are without, for them that are without, God judgeth. + He afterwards exhorts that the church confirm their love toward the + incestuous person as he had repented of his wickedness. This direction + of the Apostle to believers to withdraw from a brother who walked + disorderly, till he had manifested proper repentance; and his + exhortation to believing servants to absent themselves from the + teachings of errorists, cannot logically be construed as a scriptural + argument in favour of secession. Were the President of the United + States an unbeliever, a profane swearer, a Sabbath-breaker, or a + drunkard, this fact would not, _per se_, give us the right to secede + or rebel against the government. + + There is no provision made in the Constitution of the United States + for secession. The wisest statesmen, who made politics their study, + regarded secession as a political heresy, dangerous in its tendencies, + and destructive of all government in its practical application. + Mississippi, purchased from France with United States gold, fostered + by the nurturing care, and made prosperous by the wise administration + of the general government, proposes to secede. Her political status + would then be anomalous. Would her territory revert to France? Does + she propose to refund the purchase-money? Would she become a territory + under the jurisdiction of the United States Congress? + + Henry Clay, the great statesman, Daniel Webster, the expounder of the + Constitution, General Jackson, George Washington, and a mighty host, + whose names would fill a volume, regarded secession as treason. One of + our smallest States, which swarmed with tories in the Revolution, + whose descendants still live, invented the doctrine of nullification, + the first treasonable step, which soon culminated in the advocacy of + secession. Why should we secede, and thus destroy the best, the + freest, and most prosperous government on the face of the earth? the + government which our patriot fathers fought and bled to secure. What + has Mississippi lost by the Union? I have resided seven years in this + State, and have an extensive personal acquaintance, and yet I know not + a single individual who has lost a slave through northern influence. I + have, it is true, known of some ten slaves who have run away, and have + not been found. They may have been aided in their escape to Canada by + northern and southern citizens, for there are many in the South who + have given aid and comfort to the fugitive; but the probability is + that they perished in the swamps, or were destroyed by the + bloodhounds. + + The complaint is made that the North regards slavery as a moral, + social, and political evil, and that many of them denounce, in no + measured terms, both slavery and slaveholders. To be thus denounced is + regarded as a great grievance. Secession would not remedy this evil. + In order to cure it effectually, we must seize and gag all who thus + denounce our peculiar institution. We must also muzzle their press. As + this is impracticable, it would be well to come to this + conclusion:--If we are verily guilty of the evils charged upon us, let + us set about rectifying those evils; if not, the denunciations of + slanderers should not affect us so deeply. If our northern brethren + are honest in their convictions of the sin of slavery, as no doubt + many of them are, let us listen to their arguments without the dire + hostility so frequently manifested. They take the position that + slavery is opposed to the inalienable rights of the human race; that + it originated in piracy and robbery; that manifold cruelties and + barbarities are inflicted upon the defenceless slaves; that they are + debarred from intellectual culture by State laws, which send to the + penitentiary those who are guilty of instructing them; that they are + put upon the block and sold; parent and child, husband and wife being + separated, so that they never again see each other's face in the + flesh; that the law of chastity cannot be observed, as there are no + laws punishing rape on the person of a female slave; that when they + escape from the threatened cat-o'-nine-tails, or overseer's whip, they + are hunted down by bloodhounds, and bloodier men; that often they are + half-starved and half-clad, and are furnished with mere hovels to live + in; that they are often murdered by cruel overseers, who whip them to + death, or overtask them, until disease is induced, which results in + death; that masters practically ignore the marriage relation among + slaves, inasmuch as they frequently separate husband and wife, by sale + or removal; that they discourage the formation of that relation, + preferring that the offspring of their female slaves should be + illegitimate, from the mistaken notion that it would be more numerous. + They charge, also, that slavery induces in the masters, pride, + arrogance, tyranny, laziness, profligacy, and every form of vice. + + The South takes the position, that if slavery is sinful, the North is + not responsible for that sin; that it is a State institution, and that + to interfere with slavery in the States in any way, even by censure, + is a violation of the rights of the States. The language of our + politicians is, Upon us and our children rest the evil! We are willing + to take the responsibility, and to risk the penalty! You will find + evil and misery enough in the North to excite your philanthropy, and + employ your beneficence. You have purchased our cotton; you have used + our sugar; you have eaten our rice; you have smoked and chewed our + tobacco--all of which are the products of slave-labour. You have grown + rich by traffic in these articles; you have monopolized the carrying + trade, and borne our slave-produced products to your shores. Your + northern ships, manned by northern men, brought from Africa the + greater part of the slaves which came to our continent, and they are + still smuggling them in. When, finding slavery unprofitable, the + northern States passed laws for gradual emancipation, but few obtained + their freedom, the majority of them being shipped South and sold, so + that but few, comparatively, were manumitted. If the slave trade and + slavery are great sins, the North is _particeps criminis_, and has + been from the beginning. + + These bitter accusations are hurled back and forth through the + newspapers; and in Congress, crimination and recrimination occur every + day of the session. Instead of endeavouring to calm the troubled + waters, politicians are striving to render them turbid and boisterous. + Sectional bitterness and animosity prevail to a fearful extent; but + secession is not the proper remedy. To cure one evil by perpetrating a + greater, renders a double cure necessary. In order to cure a disease, + the cause should be known, that we may treat it intelligently, and + apply a proper remedy. Having observed, during the last eleven years, + that sectional strife and bitterness were increasing with fearful + rapidity, I have endeavoured to stem the torrent, so far as it was + possible for individual effort to do so. I deem it the imperative duty + of all patriots, of all Christians, to throw oil upon the troubled + waters, and thus save the ship of State from wreck among the + vertiginous billows. + + Most of our politicians are demagogues. They care not for the people, + so that they accomplish their own selfish and ambitious schemes. Give + them power, give them money, and they are satisfied. Deprive them of + these, and they are ready to sacrifice the best interests of the + nation to secure them. They excite sectional animosity and party + strife, and are willing to kindle the flames of civil war to + accomplish their unhallowed purposes. They tell us that there is a + conflict of interest between the free and slave States, and endeavour + to precipitate a revolution, that they may be leaders, and obtain + positions of trust and profit in the new government which they hope + to establish. The people would be dupes indeed to abet these wicked + demagogues in their nefarious designs. Let us not break God's command, + by resisting the ordinance of God--the powers that be. I am not + discussing the right of revolution, which I deem a sacred right. When + human rights are invaded, when life is endangered, when liberty is + taken away, when we are not left free to pursue our own happiness in + our own chosen way--so far as we do not trespass upon the rights of + others--we have a right, and it becomes our imperative duty to resist + to the bitter end, the tyranny which would deprive us and our children + of our inalienable rights. Our lives are secure; we have freedom to + worship God. Our liberty is sacred; we may pursue happiness to our + hearts' content. We do not even charge upon the general Government + that it has infringed these rights. Whose life has been endangered, or + who has lost his liberty by the action of the Government? If that man + lives, in all this fair domain of ours, he has the right to complain. + But neither you nor I have ever heard of or seen the individual who + has thus suffered. We have therefore clearly no right of revolution. + + Treason is no light offence. God, who rules the nations, and who has + established governments, will punish severely those who attempt to + overthrow them. Damnation is stated to be the punishment which those + who resist the powers that be, will suffer. Who wishes to endure it? I + hope none of my charge will incur this penalty by the perpetration of + treason. You yourselves can bear me witness that I have not heretofore + introduced political issues into the pulpit, but at this time I could + not acquit my conscience were I not to warn you against the great sin + some of you, I fear, are ready to commit. + + Were I to discuss the policy of a high or low tariff, or descant upon + the various merits attached to one or another form of banking, I + should be justly obnoxious to censure. Politics and religion, however, + are not always separate. When the political issue is made, shall we, + or shall we not, grant license to sell intoxicating liquors as a + beverage? the minister's duty is plain; he must urge his people to use + their influence against granting any such license. The minister must + enforce every moral and religious obligation, and point out the path + of truth and duty, even though the principles he advocates are by + statesmen introduced into the arena of political strife, and made + issues by the great parties of the day. I see the sword coming, and + would be derelict in duty not to give you faithful warning. I must + reveal the whole counsel of God. I have a message from God unto you, + which I must deliver, whether you will hear, or whether you will + forbear. If the sword come, and you perish, I shall then be guiltless + of your blood. As to the great question at issue, my honest conviction + is (and I think I have the Spirit of God,) that you should with your + whole heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, oppose secession. You + should talk against it, you should write against it, you should vote + against it, and, if need be, you should fight against it. + + I have now declared what I believe to be your high duty in this + emergency. Do not destroy the government which has so long protected + you, and which has never in a single instance oppressed you. Pull not + down the fair fabric which our patriot fathers reared at vast expense + of blood and treasure. Do not, like the blind Samson, pull down the + pillars of our glorious edifice, and cause death, desolation, and + ruin. Perish the hand that would thus destroy the source of all our + political prosperity and happiness. Let the parricide who attempts it + receive the just retribution which a loyal people demand, even his + execution on a gallows, high as Haman's. Let us also set about + rectifying the causes which threaten the overthrow of our government. + As we are proud, let us pray for the grace of humility. As a State, + and as individuals, we too lightly regard its most solemn obligations; + let us, therefore, pray for the grace of repentance and godly sorrow, + and hereafter in this respect sin no more. As many transgressions have + been committed by us, let the time past of our lives suffice us to + have wrought the will of the flesh, and now let us break off our sins + by righteousness, and our transgressions by turning unto the Lord, and + he will avert his threatened judgments, and save us from dissolution, + anarchy, and desolation. + + If our souls are filled with hatred against the people of any section + of our common country, let us ask from the Great Giver the grace of + charity, which suffereth long and is kind, which envieth not, which + vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself + unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no + evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth + all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all + things, and which never faileth; then shall we be in a suitable frame + for an amicable adjustment of every difficulty; oil will soon be + thrown upon the troubled waters, and peace, harmony, and prosperity + would ever attend us; and our children, and our children's children + will rejoice in the possession of a beneficent and stable government, + securing to them all the natural and inalienable rights of man. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +VIGILANCE COMMITTEE AND COURT-MARTIAL. + + The election of Delegates to determine the status of Mississippi--The + Vigilance Committee--Description of its + members--Charges--Phonography--No formal verdict--Danger of + Assassination--Passports--Escape to Rienzi--Union sentiment--The + Conscript Law--Summons to attend Court-Martial--Evacuation of + Corinth--Destruction of Cotton--Suffering poor--Relieved by General + Halleck. + + +Soon after this sermon was preached, the election was held. Approaching +the polls, I asked for a Union ticket, and was informed that none had been +printed, and that it would be advisable to vote the secession ticket. I +thought otherwise, and going to a desk, wrote out a Union ticket, and +voted it amidst the frowns and suppressed murmurs of the judges and +bystanders, and, as the result proved, I had the honour of depositing the +only vote in favour of the Union which was polled in that precinct. I knew +of many who were in favour of the Union, who were intimidated by threats, +and by the odium attending it from voting at all. A majority of secession +candidates were elected. The convention assembled, and on the 9th of +January, 1861, Mississippi had the unenviable reputation of being the +first to follow her twin sister, South Carolina, into the maelstrom of +secession and treason. Being the only States in which the slaves were more +numerous than the whites, it became them to lead the van in the +slave-holders' rebellion. Before the 4th of March, Florida, Alabama, +Georgia, Louisiana and Texas had followed in the wake, and were engulfed +in the whirlpool of secession. + +It was now dangerous to utter a word in favour of the Union. Many +suspected of Union sentiments were lynched. An old gentleman in Winston +county was arrested for an act committed twenty years before, which was +construed as a proof of his abolition proclivities. The old gentleman had +several daughters, and his mother-in-law had given him a negro girl. +Observing that his daughters were becoming lazy, and were imposing all the +labour upon the slave, he sent her back to the donor, with a statement of +the cause for returning her. This was now the ground of his arrest, but +escaping from their clutches, a precipitate flight alone saved his life. + +Self-constituted vigilance committees sprang up all over the country, and +a reign of terror began; all who had been Union men, and who had not given +in their adhesion to the new order of things by some public proclamation, +were supposed to be disaffected. The so-called Confederate States, the new +power, organized for the avowed purpose of extending and perpetuating +African slavery, was now in full blast. These _soi-disant_ vigilance +committees professed to carry out the will of Jeff. Davis. All who were +considered disaffected were regarded as being tinctured with abolitionism. +My opposition to the disruption of the Union being notorious, I was +summoned to appear before one of these august tribunals to answer the +charge of being an abolitionist. My wife was very much alarmed, knowing +that were I found guilty of the charge, there was no hope for mercy. +Flight was impossible, and I deemed it the safest plan to appear before +the committee. I found it to consist of twelve persons, five of whom I +knew, viz., Parson Locke, Armstrong, Cartledge, Simpson, and Wilbanks. +Parson Locke, the chief speaker, or rather the inquisitor-general, was a +Methodist minister, though he had fallen into disrepute among his +brethren, and was engaged in a tedious strife with the church which he +left in Holmes county. The parson was a real Nimrod. He boasted that in +five months he had killed forty-eight raccoons, two hundred squirrels, and +ten deer; he had followed the bloodhounds, and assisted in the capture of +twelve runaway negroes. W. H. Simpson was a ruling elder in my church. +Wilbanks was a clever sort of old gentleman, who had little to say in the +matter. Armstrong was a monocular Hard-shell-Baptist. Cartledge was an +illiterate, conceited individual. The rest were a motley crew, not one of +whom, I feel confident, knew a letter in the alphabet. The committee +assembled in an old carriage-shop. Parson Locke acted, as chairman, and +conducted the trial, as follows. + +"Parson Aughey, you have been reported to us as holding abolition +sentiments, and as being disloyal to the Confederate States." + +"Who reported me, and where are your witnesses?" + +"Any one has a right to report, and it is optional whether he confronts +the accused or not. The proceedings of vigilance committees are somewhat +informal." + +"Proceed, then, with the trial, in your own way." + +"We propose to ask you a few questions, and in your answers you may defend +yourself, or admit your guilt. In the first place, did you ever say that +you did not believe that God ordained the institution of slavery?" + +"I believe that God did not ordain the institution of slavery." + +"Did not God command the Israelites to buy slaves from the Canaanitish +nations, and to hold them as their property for ever?" + +"The Canaanites had filled their cup of iniquity to overflowing, and God +commanded the Israelites to exterminate them; this, in violation of God's +command, they failed to do. God afterwards permitted the Hebrews to reduce +them to a state of servitude; but the punishment visited upon those seven +wicked nations by the command of God, does not justify war or the +slave-trade." + +"Did you say that you were opposed to the slavery which existed in the +time of Christ?" + +"I did, because the system of slavery prevailing in Christ's day was cruel +in the extreme; it conferred the power of life and death upon the master, +and was attended with innumerable evils. The slave had the same complexion +as his master; and by changing his servile garb for the citizen dress, he +could not be recognised as a slave. You yourself profess to be opposed to +white slavery." + +"Did you state that you believed Paul, when he sent Onesimus back to +Philemon, had no idea that he would be regarded as a slave, and treated as +such after his return?" + +"I did. My proof is in Philemon, verses 15 and 16, where the apostle asks +that Onesimus be received, not as a servant, but as a brother beloved?" + +"Did you tell Mr. Creath that you knew some negroes who were better, in +every respect, than some white men?" + +"I said that I knew some negroes who were better classical scholars than +any white men I had as yet met with in Choctaw county, and that I had +known some who were pre-eminent for virtue and holiness. As to natural +rights, I made no comparison; nor did I say anything about superiority or +inferiority of race; I also stated my belief in the unity of the races." + +"Have you any abolition works in your library, and a poem in your +scrap-book, entitled 'The Fugitive Slave,' with this couplet as a refrain, + + 'The hounds are baying on my track; + Christian, will you send me back?'" + +"I have not Mrs. Stowe's nor Helper's work; they are contraband in this +region, and I could not get them if I wished. I have many works in my +library containing sentiments adverse to the institution of slavery. All +the works in common use amongst us, on law, physic, and divinity, all the +text-books in our schools--in a word, all the works on every subject read +and studied by us, were, almost without exception, written by men opposed +to the peculiar institution. I am not alone in this matter." + +"Parson, I saw Cowper's works in your library, and Cowper says: + + 'I would not have a slave to fan me when I sleep, + And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth + That sinews bought and sold have ever earned.'" + +"You have Wesley's writings, and Wesley says that 'Human slavery is the +sum of all villany.' You have a work which has this couplet: + + 'Two deep, dark stains, mar all our country's bliss: + Foul slavery one, and one, loathed drunkenness.' + +You have the work of an English writer of high repute, who says, 'Forty +years ago, some in England doubted whether slavery were a sin, and +regarded adultery as a venial offence; but behold the progress of truth! +Who now doubts that he who enslaves his fellow-man is guilty of a fearful +crime, and that he who violates the seventh commandment is a great sinner +in the sight of God?'" + +"You are known to be an adept in Phonography, and you are reported to be a +correspondent of an abolition Phonographic journal." + +"I understand the science of Phonography, and I am a correspondent of a +Phonographic journal, but the journal eschews politics." + +Another member of the committee then interrogated me. + +"Parson Aughey, what is Funnyography?" + +"Phonography, sir, is a system of writing by means of a philosophic +alphabet, composed of the simplest geometrical signs, in which one mark is +used to represent one and invariably the same sound." + +"Kin you talk Funnyography? and where does them folks live what talks it?" + +"Yes, sir, I converse fluently in Phonography, and those who speak the +language live in Columbia." + +"In the Destrict?" + +"No, sir, in the poetical Columbia." + +I was next interrogated by another member of the committee. + +"Parson Aughey, is Phonography a Abolition fixin?" + +"No, sir; Phonography, abstractly considered, has no political complexion; +it may be used to promote either side of any question, sacred or profane, +mental, moral, physical, or political." + +"Well, you ought to write and talk plain English, what common folks can +understand, or we'll have to say of you, what Agrippa said of Paul, 'Much +learning hath made thee mad.' Suppose you was to preach in Phonography, +who'd understand it?--who'd know what was piped or harped? I'll bet high +some Yankee invented it to spread his abolition notions underhandedly. I, +for one, would be in favour of makin' the parson promise to write and talk +no more in Phonography. I'll bet Phonography is agin slavery, tho' I never +hearn tell of it before. I'm agin all secret societies. I'm agin the +Odd-fellers, Free-masons, Sons of Temperance, Good Templars and +Phonography. I want to know what's writ and what's talked. You can't throw +dust in my eyes. Phonography, from what I've found out about it to-day, is +agin the Confederate States, and we ought to be agin it." + +Parson Locke then resumed: + +"I must stop this digression. Parson Aughey, are you in favour of the +South?" + +"I am in favour of the South, and have always endeavoured to promote the +best interests of the South. However, I never deemed it for the best +interests of the South to secede. I talked against secession, and voted +against secession, because I thought that the best interests of the South +would be put in jeopardy by the secession of the Southern States. I was +honest in my convictions, and acted accordingly. Could the sacrifice of my +life have stayed the swelling tide of secession, it would gladly have been +made." + +"It is said that you have never prayed for the Southern Confederacy." + +"I have prayed for the whole world, though it is true that I have never +named the Confederate States in prayer." + +"You may retire." + +After I had retired, the committee held a long consultation. My answers +were not satisfactory. I never learned all that transpired. They brought +in no formal verdict. The majority considered me a dangerous man, but +feared to take my life, as they were, with one exception, adherents of +other denominations, and they knew that my people were devotedly attached +to me before the secession movement. Some of the secessionists swore that +they would go to my house and murder me, when they learned that the +committee had not hanged me. My friends provided me secretly with arms, +and I determined to defend myself to the last. I slept with a +double-barrelled shot-gun at my head, and was prepared to defend myself +against a dozen at least. + +Learning that I was not acceptable to many of the members of my church, +whilst my life was in continual jeopardy, and my family in a state of +constant alarm, I abandoned my field of labour, and sought for safety in a +more congenial clime. I intended to go North. Jeff. Davis and his Congress +had granted permission to all who so desired, to leave the South. Several +Union men of my acquaintance applied for passports, but were refused. The +proclamation to grant permits was an act of perfidy; all those, so far as +I am informed, who made application for them, were refused. The design in +thus acting was to get Union men to declare themselves as such, and +afterwards to punish them for their sentiments by forcing them into the +army, confining them in prison, shooting them, or lynching them by mob +violence. Finding that were I to demand a passport to go north, I would be +placed on the proscribed list, and my life endangered still more, I +declared my intention of going back to Tishomingo county, in which I owned +property, and which was the home of many of my relatives. I knew that I +would be safer there, for this county had elected Union delegates by a +majority of over fourteen hundred, and a strong Union sentiment had always +prevailed. + +On my arrival in Tishomingo, I found that the great heart of the county +still beat true to the music of the Union. Being thrown out of employment +I deemed it my duty, in every possible way, to sustain the Union cause and +the enforcement of the laws. It was impossible to go north. Union +sentiments could be expressed with safety in many localities. Corinth, +Iuka, and Rienzi had, from the commencement of the war, been camps of +instruction for the training of Confederate soldiers. These three towns in +the county being thus occupied, Union men found it necessary to be more +cautious, as the cavalry frequently made raids through the county, +arresting and maltreating those suspected of disaffection. After the +reduction of Forts Henry and Donelson, and the surrender of Nashville, the +Confederates made the Memphis and Charleston railroad the base of their +operations, their armies extending from Memphis to Chattanooga. Soon, +however, they were all concentrated at Corinth, a town in Tishomingo +county, at the junction of the Memphis and Charleston railroad with the +Mobile and Ohio. After the battle of Shiloh, which was fought on the 6th +and 7th of April, the Federal troops held their advance at Farmington, +four miles from Corinth, while the Confederates occupied Corinth, their +rear guard holding Rienzi, twelve miles south, on the Mobile and Ohio +railroad. + +Thus there were two vast armies encamped in Tishomingo county. Being +within the Confederate lines, I, in common with many others, found it +difficult to evade the conscript law. Knowing that in a multitude of +counsellors there is wisdom, we held secret meetings, in order to devise +the best method of resisting the law. We met at night, and had our +countersigns to prevent detection. Often our wives, sisters, and daughters +met with us. Our meeting-place was some ravine, or secluded glen, as far +as possible from the haunts of the secessionists; all were armed; even the +ladies had revolvers, and could use them too. The crime of treason we were +resolved not to commit. Our counsels were somewhat divided, some +advocating, as a matter of policy, the propriety of attending the militia +musters, others opposing it for conscience' sake, and for the purpose of +avoiding every appearance of evil. Many who would not muster as +conscripts, resolved to escape to the Federal lines; and making the +attempt two or three at a time, succeeded in crossing the Tennessee river, +and reaching the Union army, enlisted under the old flag, and have since +done good service as patriot warriors. Some who were willing to muster as +conscripts, were impressed into the Confederate service, and I know not +whether they ever found an opportunity to desert. Others, myself among the +number, were saved by the timely arrival of the Federal troops, and the +occupation of the county by them, after Beauregard's evacuation of +Corinth. I had received three citations to attend muster, but disregarding +them, I was summoned to attend a court-martial on the first day of June, +at the house of Mr. Jim Mock. The following is a copy of the citation. + + Ma the 22d. 1862 + + _Parson Awhay_, You havent tended nun of our mustters as a konskrip. + Now you is her bi sumenzd to attend a kort marshal on Jun the fust at + Jim Mock. + +When I received the summons, I resolved to attempt reaching the Union +lines at Farmington. Two of my friends, who had received a similar +summons, expected to accompany me. On the 29th of May, I left for Rienzi, +where my two friends were to meet me. I had not been many hours in Rienzi +when it became evident that the Confederates were evacuating Corinth. On +the 1st of June, (the day the court-martial was to convene,) I had the +pleasure of once more beholding the star-spangled banner as it was borne +in front of General Granger's command, which led the van of the pursuing +army. Had I remained and attended the court-martial, I would have been +forced into the army. Were I then to declare that I would not take up arms +against the United States, I would have been shot, as many have been, for +their refusal thus to act. General Rosecrans, on his arrival, made his +head-quarters at my brother's house, where I had the pleasure of forming +his acquaintance, together with that of Generals Smith, Granger, and Pope. +As this county was now occupied by the Federal army, I returned to my +father-in-law's, within five miles of which place the court-martial had +been ordered to convene, considering myself comparatively safe. I learned +that the court-martial never met, as Colonel Elliott, in his successful +raid upon Boonville, had passed Jim Mock's, scaring him to such a degree, +that he did not venture to sleep in his house for two weeks. The Union +cavalry scoured the country in all directions, daily, and we were +rejoicing at the prospect of continuous safety, and freedom from outrage. + +The Rebels, during their retreat, had burned all the cotton which was +accessible to their cavalry, on their route. At night, the flames of the +burning cotton lighted up the horizon for miles around. These baleful +pyres, with their lurid glare, bore sad testimony to the horrors of war. +In this wanton destruction of the great southern staple, many poor +families lost their whole staff of bread, and starvation stared them in +the face. Many would have perished, had it not been for the liberal +contributions of the North; for, learning the sufferings of the poor of +the South, whose whole labour had been destroyed by pretended friends, +they sent provisions and money, and thus many who were left in utter +destitution, were saved by this timely succor. I have heard the rejoicings +of the poor, who, abandoned by their supposed friends, were saved, with +their children, from death, by the beneficence of those whom they had been +taught to regard as enemies the most bitter, implacable, unmerciful, and +persistent. Their prayer may well be, Save us from our friends, whose +tender mercies are cruel! I have never known a man to burn his own cotton, +but I have heard their bitter anathemas hurled against those who thus +robbed them, and their denunciations were loud and deep against the +government which authorized such cruelty. It is true that those who thus +lose their cotton, if secessionists, receive a "promise to pay," which all +regard as not worth the paper on which it is written. Ere pay-day, those +who are dependent on their cotton for the necessaries of life, would have +passed the bourne whence no traveller returns. 'Tis like the Confederate +bonds--at first they were made payable two years after date, and printed +upon paper which would be worn out entirely in six months, and would have +become illegible in half that time. The succeeding issues were made +payable six months after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the +United States and the Confederate States. Though not a prophet, nor a +prophet's son, I venture the prediction that those bonds will never be +due. The war of elements, the wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds, +announcing the end of all things, will be heard sooner. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ARREST, ESCAPE, AND RECAPTURE. + + High price of Provisions--Holland Lindsay's Family--The + arrest--Captain Hill--Appearance before Colonel Bradfute at + Fulton--Arrest of Benjamin Clarke--Bradfute's Insolence--General + Chalmers--The clerical Spy--General Pfeifer--Under + guard--Priceville--General Gordon--Bound for Tupelo--The Prisoners + entering the Dungeon--Captain Bruce--Lieutenant Richard Malone--Prison + Fare and Treatment--Menial Service--Resolve to escape--Plan of + escape--Federal Prisoners--Co-operation of the Prisoners--Declaration + of Independence--The Escape--The Separation--Concealment--Travel on + the Underground Railroad--Pursuit by Cavalry and Bloodhounds--The + Arrest--Dan Barnes, the Mail-robber--Perfidy--Heavily ironed--Return + to Tupelo. + + +At this time--May and June, 1862--all marketable commodities were +commanding fabulous prices; as a lady declared, it would soon be +necessary, on going to a store, to carry two baskets, one to hold the +money, and the other the goods purchased. Flour was thirty dollars per +barrel, bacon forty cents per pound, and coffee one dollar per pound. +Salt was nominally one hundred dollars per sack of one hundred pounds, or +one dollar per pound, but there was none to be obtained even at that +price. Ladies were compelled to dispense with salt in their culinary +operations; even the butter was unsalted. Cotton-cards, an article used in +every house at the South, the ordinary price of which is fifty cents per +pair, were selling at twenty-five dollars per pair, and wool-cards at +fifteen dollars per pair, the usual price being thirty-eight cents. All +the cotton used in the manufacture of home-made cloth, is carded into +rolls upon these cotton-cards, which are brought from the North, there +being not a single manufactory of them in the South. When the supply on +hand becomes exhausted, the southern home manufacture of cloth must cease, +no one as yet having been able to suggest a substitute for the +cotton-card. There are only three factories in Mississippi, which must +cease running as soon as their machinery wears out, as the most important +parts of the machinery in those factories are supplied from the North. The +people are fully aware of these difficulties, but they can devise no +remedy, hence the high price of all articles used in the manufacture of +all kinds of cloths. All manufactured goods were commanding fabulous +prices. On the occupation of the county by Federal troops, goods could be +obtained at reasonable prices, but our money was all gone, except +Confederate bonds, which were worthless. Planters who were beyond the +lines of the retreating army had cotton, but many of them feared to sell +it, as the Rebels professed to regard it treason to trade with the +invaders, and threatened to execute the penalty in every case. As there +was no penalty attached to the selling of cotton by one citizen of +Mississippi to another, some of my friends offered to sell me their cotton +for a reasonable price. + +I was solicited also to act as their agent in the purchase of commodities. +I agreed to this risk, because of the urgent need of my friends, many of +whom were suffering greatly for the indispensable necessaries of life. I +thought it was better that one should suffer, than that the whole people +should perish. By this arrangement my Union friends would escape the +punishment meted out to those who were found guilty of trading with the +Yankees; if discovered, I alone would be amenable to their unjust and +cruel law, and they would thus save their cotton, which was liable to be +destroyed at any moment by a dash of rebel cavalry. I now hired a large +number of wagons to haul cotton into Eastport and Iuka, that I might ship +it to the loyal States. On the 2d of June the wagons were to rendezvous at +a certain point; there were a sufficient number to haul one hundred bales +per trip. I hoped to keep them running for some time. + +On the first of June I rode to Mr. Holland Lindsay's on business. I had +learned that he was a rabid secessionist, but supposed that no rebel +cavalry had come so far north as his house since the evacuation of +Corinth. Mr. Lindsay had gone to a neighbour's. His wife was weaving; she +was a coarse, masculine woman, and withal possessed of strong prejudice +against all whom she did not like, but especially the Yankees. I sat down +to await the arrival of her husband, and it was not long before Mrs. +Lindsay broached the exciting topic of the day, the war. She thus vented +her spleen against the Yankees. + +"There was some Yankee calvary passed here last week--they asked me if +there wos ony rebels scoutin round here lately. I jest told em it want +none of ther bizness. Them nasty, good for nothin scamps callen our men +rebels. Them nigger-stealin, triflin scoundrels. They runs off our +niggers, and wont let us take em to Mexico and the other territories." + +I ventured to remark, "The Yankees are mean, indeed, not to let _us_ take +_our_ negroes to the Territories, and not to help catch them for _us_ when +they run off." + +The emphatic _us_ and _our_ nettled her, as none of the Lindsays ever +owned a negro, being classed by the southern nabobs as among the _poor +white trash_; nor did I ever own a slave. Her husband, however, had once +been sent to the Legislature, which led the family to ape the manners, and +studiously copy the ultraism of the classes above them. Mrs. Lindsay +became morose. I concluded to ride over and see her husband. + +On my way I met a member of Hill's cavalry. He halted me, inquired my name +and business, which I gave. He said that, years ago, he had heard me +preach, and that he was well acquainted with my brothers-in-law, who were +officers in the Rebel army. He informed me that his uncle, Mr. Lindsay, +had gone across the field home, and that he himself was on his way there. +I returned with him, but fearing arrest, my business was hastily attended +to, and I at once started for my horse. By this time one or two other +cavalry-men rode up. I heard Mrs. Lindsay informing her nephew that I was +a Union man, and advising my arrest. When I had reached my horse, Mr. +Davis, Lindsay's nephew arrested me, and sent my horse to the stable. +After supper, my horse was brought, and I was taken to camp. Four men were +detached to guard me during the night. They ordered me to lie down on the +ground and sleep. As it had rained during the day, and I had no blanket, +I insisted upon going to a Mr. Spigener's, about fifty yards distant, to +secure a bed. After some discussion they consented, the guards remaining +in the room, and guarding me by turns during the night. The next morning I +sought Captain Hill, and asked permission to return home, when the +following colloquy ensued. + +"Are you a Union man?" + +"I voted the Union ticket, sir." + +"That is not a fair answer. I voted the Union ticket myself, and am now +warring against the Union." + +"I have seen no good reason for changing my sentiments." + +"You confess, then, that you are a Union man?" + +"I do; I regard the union of these States as of paramount importance to +the welfare of the people inhabiting them." + +"You must go to head-quarters, where you will be dealt with as we are +accustomed to deal with all the abettors of an Abolition government." + +A heavy guard was then detached to take charge of me, and the company set +off for Fulton, the county seat of Ittawamba county, Mississippi, distant +thirty miles. After going about ten miles, we halted, and two men were +detached to go forward with the prisoners, a Mr. Benjamin Clarke and +myself. Our guards were Dr. Crossland, of Burnsville, Tishomingo county, +Mississippi, and Ferdinand Woodruff. They were under the influence of +liquor, and talked incessantly, cursing and insulting us, on every +occasion, by abusive language. They detailed to each other a history of +their licentious amours. We halted for dinner at one o'clock, and being +out of money, they asked me to pay their bill, which I did, they promising +to refund the amount when they reached Fulton. This they forgot to do. + +On our arrival at Fulton, we were taken into the office of the commander +of the post, Colonel Bradfute. My fellow-prisoner was examined first. +Woodruff stated that they had played off on Mr. Clarke--calling on him, +as he was plowing in the field, stating that they were Federal soldiers. +They asked Clarke what were his political views. He replied that he always +had been a Union man--had voted the Union ticket, and would do it again, +if another election were held; that he hated the secession principles, and +would enlist in the Federal army as soon as he got his crop in such a +condition that his family could attend to it. On hearing this statement, +Bradfute became very angry, swearing that Clarke ought to be taken out and +shot then, but that a few days' respite would make but little difference. +Said he, addressing the guards, had you hung Clarke, you would have saved +us some trouble, and have done your country good service. The Colonel, +turning round, glared upon me with eyes inflamed with passion and liquor, +and thus addressed me: + +"Are you a Union man too?" + +"I am, sir. I have never denied it." + +"Where do you reside?" + +"I consider Rienzi my home, but have been staying for some time at my +father-in-law's, in the south-eastern part of Tishomingo county." + +"What is your father-in-law's name?" + +"Mr. Alexander Paden." + +"I know the old gentleman and his three sons. They are all in the +Confederate service. They are brave men, and have done some hard fighting +in our cause. How happens it that you look at matters in a different light +from your relatives?" + +"I am not guided in my opinions by the views of my friends." + +"What is your profession?" + +"I am a minister of the gospel." + +"I suppose, then, that you go to the Bible for your politics, and that you +are a sort of higher-law man." + +"My Bible teaches, 'Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, for +there is no power but of God; the powers that be, are ordained of God. +Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; +and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.' I have seen +no reason for resistance to the government under which we have, as a +nation, so long prospered." + +"I command you to hush, sir; you shan't preach treason to me, and if you +get your deserts you will be hung immediately. Have you ever been within +the Federal lines?" + +"I have, sir." + +"At what points?" + +"At Rienzi and Iuka." + +"When were you at Iuka?" + +"On last Saturday." + +"Had the Federals a large force at that place, and who was in command?" + +"They have a large force, and Generals Thomas and Steadman are in +command." + +"That is contrary to the reports of our scouts, who say that there are but +two regiments in the town. I fear you are purposely trying to mislead us." + +"General Steadman has but two regiments in the town, but General Thomas is +within striking distance with a large force." + +"What was your business in Iuka?" + +"I went there to pay a debt of fifty dollars which a widow owed, as she +wished it to be paid in Confederate money before it became worthless." + +"Have you a Federal pass?" + +"I have none with me, but I have one at home." + +"How does it read?" + +"It was given by General Nelson, and reads thus: 'The bearer, Rev. John H. +Aughey, has permission to pass backward and forward through the lines of +this division at will.'" + +"Where were you born?" + +"I was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, New York." + +"Yankee born," said the Colonel, with a sneer; "you deserve death at the +rope's-end, and if I had the power I would hang all Yankees who are among +us, for they are all tories, whatever may be their pretensions." + +"My being born north of the nigger-line, Colonel, if a crime worthy of +death, was certainly not my fault, but the fault of my parents. They did +not so much as consult me in regard to any preference I might have +concerning the place of my nativity." + +Woodruff, one of my guards, now informed the Colonel that I was a spy, +and, while the Confederates were at Corinth, had, to his certain +knowledge, been three times at Nashville, carrying information. I told +Woodruff that his statement was false, and that he knew it; that I had +never been at Nashville in my life. General Chalmers, who was present, and +Colonel Bradfute, at the conclusion of the examination, spent fifteen or +twenty minutes in bitterly cursing all Yankees, tories, and traitors, as +they termed us. All the conversation of the rebel officers was interlarded +with the most horrid profanity. General Chalmers, in speaking, invariably +called me the clerical spy. We were placed under guard, and sent to +Brooksville, ten miles distant, the head-quarters of General Pfeifer. +Immediately after our arrival, we were soundly berated by General Pfeifer, +and then sent out to the camp, half a mile from the town, where we were +placed under guard for the night, in a small plot of ground surrounded by +a chain. We had no supper, and no blankets to sleep on. Our bed was the +cold ground, our covering the blue canopy of heaven. The next morning we +were started, without breakfast, under a heavy guard, numbering fourteen +cavalry, to Priceville, six miles west of Brooksville. Priceville was +named in honour of General Sterling Price, or rather the little village +where he encamped had its name changed in his honour. When we reached +Priceville we were taken to the head-quarters of General Jordan, and +immediately brought into his presence. After reading the letter handed to +him by one of the guard, he said, looking sternly at me, + +"You are charged with sedition." + +I asked him what sedition meant, to which he replied: + +"It means enough to hang you, you villanous tory!" + +He also asked me where I was born. My reply was, in the State of New York, +near Utica, in Oneida county. + +"Then you doubly deserve death," said he. + +"As to the guilt of my nativity," said I, "it is not my fault, for I could +not have helped it if I had tried. But I glory in my native State. She has +never done anything to disgrace her. She never repudiated her just debts, +nor committed any other disgraceful act." + +"Well, you ought to have staid there, or have gone back when Mississippi +seceded." + +"Give me an opportunity, and I will go instanter." + +"The first _going_ you will do, will be to go to hell, where, if the devil +had his due, you would have been long ago; and before you leave us, we +will give you a free ticket to the shades infernal." + +"Thank you for your kind offer to give me a free pass to the infernal +regions. I did not know before that you were the devil's ticket-agent. You +have me in your power, and may destroy my life; but when you have done +that, there is no more that you can do." + +Very little was said to my fellow-prisoner, Clarke. A few curses for a +traitor, tory, &c., was about all. We were now placed under guard, and +conducted to Tupelo, and after visiting the provost-marshal's office and +the office of the commander of the post, whose names were Peden and Clare, +we were committed to the Central Military Prison. As we entered, Captain +Bruce and Lieutenant Malone (two gentlemen who had been elected to those +offices by their fellow-prisoners) received us with a cordial greeting. +Captain Bruce thus addressed us: + +"Welcome, gentlemen, thrice welcome. I am rejoiced to see you at my hotel. +We are now doing a land-office business, as the large number of my +boarders, whom you see, will testify. We have numerous arrivals daily, +whilst the departures are very few, giving evidence that all are satisfied +with their treatment. The bill of fare is not very extensive. In these war +times we must not expect the luxuries of life, but be content with the +necessaries. It is true, we cannot furnish you with coffee, or molasses, +or sugar, or salt, or beef, or vegetables; but we have something more +substantial--we have flour, rather dark in colour, to be sure, but people +must not be squeamish. The boarders are required to do their own cooking, +as they could otherwise have but little exercise; we consider it a +sanitary measure, exercise being indispensable to health. We furnish the +boarders, also, with meat--none of your lean meat, either, but fat +middling, with a streak of lean in it. The Bible promises the righteous +that their bread shall be given, and their water sure; but we go beyond +the promise, and give not only bread (or rather the flour to make it) and +water, but also fat, strong meat. What room will you be pleased to have?" + +I replied, that as they seemed to be crowded, I would choose number 199. + +"Well," said the Captain, "it shall be prepared. Lieutenant Malone, have +room number 199 fitted up for the reception of these gentlemen." + +Lieutenant Malone replied, that the room designated would be fitted up in +style for our reception. He asked us if we had dined. + +"No," replied Clarke; "we have not tasted food since yesterday at noon, +when the Parson paid for his own dinner and the dinner of the guards. We +asked for something to eat, but were as often refused, and now we are in a +starving condition." + +"I pity you," said Malone, laying aside his facetious style; "you shall +have something to eat as soon as it can be cooked." + +He then went to some of the prisoners, and set them to cooking, and we +were soon furnished with the best repast the poor fellows could supply. + +We entered the prison July 3d, 1862, at two o'clock, P. M. Our prison was +a grocery-house, its dimensions about twenty-five by fifty feet. When we +were incarcerated, there were about seventy prisoners in the building, +whites, mulattoes and negroes. The prison was filthy in the extreme, and +filled with vermin; even our food was infested with them. No brooms were +furnished us, and we could not sweep the floor. No beds were furnished, +and we were compelled to lie upon the floor, with no covering, and +nothing but the hard planks beneath us. + +Several times a day officers would come in and order a specified number of +men to go and work, under a strong guard. We were made to clean the +streets, roll barrels, and clean the hospital; but our own prison we were +not permitted to clean. Every kind of drudgery, and the most menial +services, were imposed upon us. + +The crimes charged upon the prisoners were desertion, trading with the +Yankees, adhesion to the United States government or Unionism, acting as +spies, refusing Confederate bonds, and piloting the Yankees. The crime of +the negroes and mulattoes was endeavouring to escape on the underground +railroad from Dixie land and the Iron Furnace. These remained till their +masters were informed of their arrest, and came for and released them. On +the evening preceding our imprisonment, two prisoners had been led out and +shot, and I soon learned that this was no unusual occurrence. Nearly +every day witnessed the execution of one or more of us. Those who were +doomed to die were heavily ironed. In some cases, however, those who were +not in fetters were taken out and shot or hanged, often with no previous +warning; though sometimes a few hours warning was given. + +Our privations were so great from a want of proper food and water--for the +scanty amount of water furnished us was tepid and foul--and from a lack of +beds, cots, couches, or something better than a filthy floor whereon to +sleep, that I resolved to attempt an escape at the risk of my life. I felt +confident that I could not long survive such cruel treatment. As soon as +my arrest was known to the thirty-second Mississippi regiment, encamped in +the suburbs of Tupelo, the colonel, major, adjutant, and one of the +captains called upon me. This regiment was raised in Tishomingo county, +one of the companies, the Zollicoffer Avengers, being from Rienzi, where I +had been for years proprietor and Principal of the Rienzi Female Seminary. +The daughters of many of the officers of this regiment had been educated +at this Seminary during my superintendence. Some of these officers had +expressed themselves under great obligations to me, for the thorough, +moral, mental, and physical training of their children while under my +care. As proof of this, I have their own statements, as published in the +public journals of the day. Owing me a debt of gratitude, as they +professed, could I expect less than the manifestation of deep sympathy for +me in my sad condition--confined in a gloomy dungeon, deprived of the +comforts, yea, even the necessaries of life, menaced and insulted by the +officers in whose power I was? Whatever may have been my hopes, they were +doomed to be blasted. These summer friends, so obsequious in my +prosperity, conversed for a while on indifferent topics, never alluding to +my condition, and as I did not obtrude it upon their attention, they left, +promising to call again. I said, "Do so, gentlemen; you will always find +me _at home_." Adjutant Irion, as he passed out, asked Lieutenant Malone +what the charge was against me. Malone replied that I was charged with +being a Union man. The adjutant said, in a bitter and sarcastic tone, that +I should never have been brought to Tupelo, but on my arrest should have +been sent to hell from the lowest limb of the nearest tree. + +Having determined to escape at all hazards, I sought out an accomplice, a +_compagnon de voyage_; that person was Richard Malone; his piercing eye, +his intellectual physiognomy, led me to believe that if he consented to +make the attempt with me, our chances for escape would be good. I drew +Malone to one side, and covertly introduced the matter. He soon got my +idea, and drawing from his pocket a paper, showed me the route mapped out +which he intended to pursue, as he had for some days determined to escape, +or die in the attempt. He was charged with being a spy, and there was +little doubt that they would establish his guilt by false testimony. We +went out now under every possible pretext. We no longer shunned the guard +who came to obtain prisoners to do servile labour. Our object being to +reconnoitre, in order to learn where guards were stationed, and to +determine the best method of escape through the town after leaving the +prison. During the day we made these observations: that there were two +guards stationed at the back door, who were very verdant; that they would, +after relief, come on duty again at midnight; that there was a building on +the south side of the prison, extending beyond the prison and beyond the +guards; that the moon would set about eleven o'clock, P. M.; that there +were no guards stationed on the south side of the prison during the day; +that one of the planks in the floor could be easily removed; and that +there were several holes, when we were once under the floor, by which +egress might be made either on the north or south side; that the coast was +probably clearest in the direction of a corn-field some two hundred yards +distant in a northwest direction. + +At four o'clock P. M., our plan was fully matured. At midnight, (the moon +being down, and the verdant guards on duty) we would raise the plank, get +under the floor, and myself in the advance, make our exit through one of +the holes on the south side of the jail, then crawl to the building, some +fifteen feet distant, and continue crawling till we passed the guards; +then rise and make our way as cautiously as possible, to a point in the +corn-field, a short distance in the rear of a garment which was hanging +upon the fence. The one who first arrived must await the other. A signal +was agreed upon, to prevent mistake. If the guards ordered us to halt, we +had resolved to risk their fire, our watchword being, Liberty or death! + +About this time the prisoners chose me their chaplain by acclamation. +During the day, we made known our intention of escaping to several +fellow-prisoners, who promised us all the assistance in their power. All +the prisoners who knew of the matter, earnestly desired our escape, and +co-operated with us in effecting it. Clarke and Robinson begged us to take +them along, averring there was no doubt that they would be shot. Malone +told them that no more than two could go together; that if they wished to +escape, they could make the attempt half an hour after us, which they +agreed to. Clarke, however, came to me, and desired me to take him along, +as he would rather go with us than with Robinson. He had a wife and five +small children dependent on him for support, and if he perished, they must +perish too. I consulted Malone, but he would not agree to have Clarke go +with us. Three would be too many for safety, and he doubted whether Clarke +had sufficient nerve to face the glittering bayonet, or tact enough to +pass through the camps without detection. He might commit some blunder +which would endanger our safety. I informed Clarke that the arrangement +made, in which he and Robinson were to go together, must be adhered to. He +begged me, by all that was sacred, to take him along. But Malone was +inexorable, and I thought it best to acquiesce in his judgment. + +Night drew on apace. Thick darkness gathered around us, and murky clouds +covered the sky, as we sat down with the Federal prisoners to our scanty +allowance. While partaking of our rude fare, Malone thus spoke: + +"This day is the 4th of July, 1862, the anniversary of our patriot +fathers' declaration of independence of British tyranny and oppression. +They had much to complain of. They suffered grievous wrongs and cruel +bondage. But eighty-six years ago to-day they declared themselves to be a +free and independent people, who would rather die than be again enslaved. +Of what worth was their declaration if they had remained inactive? +Supineness would not have saved them. But trusting in our God, who gives +success to the righteous cause, they imperilled their lives, they hazarded +their fortunes, and with untiring energy and sleepless vigilance they +contested to the bitter end against all efforts to deprive them of their +inalienable rights. Success crowned their efforts, and they rid themselves +of tyrants' chains. We (I allude to my friend, Parson Aughey, and myself,) +degenerate sons of these noble sires, have suffered wrong, nay, gross +outrage. Citizens of the sunny South, guilty of no offence whatever, not +even of constructive crime, we are immured in a loathsome dungeon, +deprived of the comforts of life, separated from our families, and +suffered to have no communication with them; dragging out a miserable +existence, which an ignominious death on the scaffold must soon end. We, +therefore, John H. Aughey and Richard Malone, in view of these accumulated +wrongs and outrages, solemnly swear before High Heaven, and in presence of +these witnesses, that we will be free, or perish in the attempt. Appealing +to the God of liberty, of truth, and of righteousness, for the rectitude +of our motives and the justness of our cause, we commit ourselves into his +hands, and implore his protection amid the dangers through which we are +about to pass, and humbly pray that he will give us success, and restore +us speedily to our families and friends, and to the enjoyment of our +inalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." + +Grasping the Lieutenant by the hand, I consented to this Declaration of +Independence of rebel thraldom. We gave our respective addresses to our +friends, who promised, that if they were ever liberated, and we were +killed by the guards, they would write to our families, informing them of +the manner of our death. + +About ten o'clock, Malone raised the plank, and I went under to +reconnoitre. I remained under the floor about ten minutes, having learned +that there were no guards patroling the south side of the house, as we +feared might be the case after night. We had learned, from observation, +that there were none during the day. Just at the noon of night, we heard +the relief called. Malone and I endeavoured to find the prisoners who were +to raise the plank, but not being able readily to do so, we raised the +plank ourselves, and both got under without difficulty. Malone getting +under first, was, contrary to agreement, compelled to take the lead. As he +was passing out, he made considerable noise. To warn him of the danger, I +patted him on the back. Reaching back, he gave my hand a warm pressure, to +assure me that all was right, and passed out. I followed, and reached the +designated point in the corn-field in about half an hour, having to use +the utmost precaution, and in some cases to pass the guards by crawling in +a serpentine manner. When I arrived, I gave the preconcerted signal, but +Malone was nowhere to be seen. I waited for him two hours at least, when I +was compelled to seek my safety alone. + +Not being able to meet with my friend, I regarded as a great misfortune, +because, after reaching a point ten miles north of Tupelo, he would be +familiar with the country. I had frequently passed through the town on the +railroad, but knew nothing of the country through which I must travel. +Somewhat depressed in spirits at the loss of my _compagnon de voyage_, I +resolved to reach my family by the safest and most practicable route. +Still in the midst of camps, I had considerable difficulty in making my +way out of them. When I thought that this had been effected, I found that +day was brightening in the east. Looking around for some place to hide, I +soon found a dense, though small thicket, in which I secreted myself as +covertly as possible. Having slept but little since my arrest, I +endeavoured to compose myself to slumber, and partially succeded; but soon +the noise and confusion of soldiers passing and re-passing near, awoke and +alarmed me. I soon learned that I was near a camp, and that the soldiers +had found a suitable place for bathing in a creek which ran within thirty +yards of my place of concealment. There were two paths by which they +reached the creek. On one, they passed within fifteen feet of me; on the +other, within six or seven. About nine o'clock, I heard the booming of +cannon all around me, proceeding from the different camps. The soldiers +who passed me stated, in their conversation, that the cannon were firing +in honour of a great victory obtained over General McClellan, in Virginia. +According to their statement, his whole army, after a succession of +losses, during eight days' fighting, had been completely annihilated, and +that Stonewall Jackson would be in Washington city before the close of the +week. + +The day passed slowly away. At one time two soldiers came within a few +feet of me in search of blackberries, but passed out without detecting me. +At another time two soldiers sat down to converse, so near that their +lowest tones were distinctly audible. One informed the other that he had +been in town in the morning, and had learned that the _Clerical Spy_, +Parson Aughey, and a fellow by the name of Malone, had broke jail, but +that they would soon be brought in, as a company of cavalry had been put +on their track, with a pack of bloodhounds. Soon after this, one of them +arose and struck a bush several times, which seemed to be but a very short +distance above my head. I thought that he had discovered me, and was about +to rise and run, when I heard him say to his companion, that he had +attempted to kill a very large snake, which had escaped to the bushes. I +began to feel somewhat uncomfortably situated when I learned that I was in +close proximity to a large snake, though I would have preferred meeting +with an anaconda, boa-constrictor, rattlesnake, or even the deadly cobra +di capello, rather than with those vile secessionists thirsting for +innocent blood. + +I thought this 5th of July was the longest day I had ever known. The sun +was so long in reaching the zenith, and so slow in passing down the steep +ecliptic way to the occident. The twilight, too, seemed of endless +duration. But as all long days have had an end, so had this. The stars +came glittering one by one. I soon recognised that old staunch and +immovable friend of all travellers on the underground railroad, the +polar-star. + +Rising from my lair, I was soon homeward bound, guided by the north-star +and an oriental constellation. Plunging into a dense wood I found my rapid +advance impeded by the undergrowth, and great difficulty in following my +guiding stars, as the boughs of the great oaks rendered them invisible, or +dimly seen. Fatigued, hungry, and sleepy, I at length lay down at the foot +of a large swamp-oak tree, intending to take a nap, and then rise and +pursue my journey. When I awoke the sun was just rising. I arose filled +with regret for the time I had lost. Though somewhat refreshed by my +sound sleep, yet I was very hungry and almost famished with thirst. + +After travelling about half a mile I came to a small log-house on a +road-side. Feeling sick and faint, I resolved to go to the house to obtain +water, and, if I liked the appearance of the inmates, to reveal my +condition and ask for aid. Upon reaching the house I met the proprietor, +but did not like his physiognomy. He looked the villain; a sinister +expression, a countenance revealing no intellectuality, except a sort of +low cunning, bore testimony that it would be foolish to repose confidence +in the possessor of such villanous looks. I asked for water, intending to +drink and leave. He pointed to the bucket; I drank and bade him good +morning, and turned to leave. I had proceeded but a few steps, when I was +ordered, in a stentorian tone, to halt. On looking round, I saw a soldier +within a few steps, presenting a double-barrelled gun; another soldier was +standing near, heavily armed. I asked by what authority he halted me. To +which he replied: + +"I know you, sir; I have heard you preach frequently. You are Parson +Aughey, and you were arrested and confined in prison at Tupelo. I was in +Lowrey's regiment yesterday, and learned that you had broken jail; and +now, sir, you must return. My name is Dan Barnes. You may have heard of +me." + +I had indeed heard of him. He had been guilty of robbing the United States +mail, had fled to Napoleon or Helena, Arkansas, where he was arrested, +brought back, and incarcerated in jail at Pontotoc, and confined there for +nearly a year. As the evidence against him was positive, he would have +been sent to the penitentiary; but, fortunately for him, at this juncture +Mississippi seceded. There being then no United States officers to execute +the laws, he was liberated, and soon after joined the army. + +After breakfast, which I paid for, Barnes called me to one side, and told +me that he felt sorry for me, and would afford me an opportunity of +escaping, if I would pay him a reasonable sum. He had been in a tight +place himself, and would have been glad had some friend been near to aid +him. He named two hundred and forty dollars as the _reasonable sum_ for +permitting me to escape. After getting my money, their horses were +saddled, and telling me he was playing-off on me, said I must go to +General Jordan's head-quarters at Priceville, to which place he and Huff, +the proprietor of the log cabin, conducted me. + +On my arrival, General Jordan ordered me to be put in irons, and placed +under guard. I was taken to a blacksmith's shop in the town, the General +accompanying the guard, and heavy iron bands were put around my ankles, +and connected by a chain. The bands were put on hot, and my boots were +burnt in the operation. The blacksmith seemed averse to the order, and +only obeyed it upon compulsion. The General stood by, and saw that it was +well done. "Iron him securely--securely, sir," was his oft repeated order. +The ironing caused me much pain. My ankles were long discoloured from +the effects of it. + +[Illustration: "I was taken to a blacksmith's shop, and heavy iron bands +put around my ankles." Page 104.] + +After my manacles were put on, I was taken back to Tupelo by Barnes and +another guard. On my arrival, the commander of the post and the Provost +Marshal were filled with joy. Barnes gave them the history of the arrest, +stating that I had attempted to bribe him; that he listened to my +proposition with indignation, and when he had got the money, performed +what he regarded his duty. The commander replied that all the property of +traitors was theirs, and that he did right in deceiving me, after +accepting the bribe. He also recommended Barnes for promotion for his +heroic and patriotic act in arresting me. (Perhaps it secured for him a +captaincy.) The following colloquy now took place between the commander of +the post, the Provost Marshal, and myself: + +"Why did you attempt to leave us?" + +"Because, sir, your prison was so filthy, and your fare so meagre and +unwholesome, that I could not endure it long, and live." + +"Parson, you know the Bible says, the wicked flee when no man pursueth, +but the righteous are as bold as a lion. You must have been guilty of +crime, or you would not have tried to escape." + +"I may have been guilty of the offence charged against me, and yet +innocent of real _guilt_." + +"You shall never be taken back to the prison you left, rest assured of +that. Did any of the prisoners know of or aid you in your escape?" + +"No, sir; none of them knew anything about it." + +"Are you telling the truth?" + +"I am." + +"Where is Malone?" + +"I never saw him after I left the building." + +"He cannot escape; the cavalry are after him, and he will be brought in +soon, dead or alive." + +"Why did you attempt to bribe Barnes?" + +"It was his own offer. I knew that his cupidity was great, and thought it +no harm to accept his offer. If Barnes had his deserts, he would now be +hard at work in the penitentiary." + +"Did the jury that tried him, acquit him?" + +"No. The secession of Mississippi saved him. I refer you to Colonel Tison, +who is in Tupelo, for the particulars. He being marshal of North +Mississippi, arrested Barnes, and knows all about it. He found on his +person the evidence of his guilt, the money and checks stolen when he +robbed the mail." + +"Parson, you will not be immediately executed, but you will, without +doubt, hang in a week or two, so that, if you have any word to send your +family, you have permission to do so." + +"May I write a letter to my wife?" + +"You may, and I will see that it is forwarded to her." + +I sat down and wrote a letter, a very common-place letter, to my wife, +inserting, occasionally, a word in phonography, which, taken in +connection, read thus: "If possible, inform General Rosecrans or Nelson of +my arrest." While inspecting the letter, Lieutenant Peden noticed the +phonography, and asked me to read it. I read it thus: "My dear wife, I +hope to be at home soon. Do not grieve." This letter they never sent. It +was merely an act of duplicity on their part, to obtain some concession, +which might be used against me. The guard, receiving orders, now conducted +me to a hotel, and placed me in a small room, two guards remaining inside, +and two at the door outside, with orders to shoot me if I made the least +attempt at escape. I remained in this room only a few hours, after which I +was taken to my old prison. As I entered, my old friends, the prisoners, +crowded around me, and Captain Bruce addressed me in his facetious manner. +In prison, his wit had beguiled many a tedious hour. His humour was the +pure Attic salt. + +"Parson Aughey, you are welcome back to my house, though you have played +us rather a scurvy trick in leaving without giving me the least inkling of +the matter, or settling your bill." + +I replied: "Captain, it was hardly right; but I did not like your fare, +and your beds were filled with vermin." + +"Well, you do not seem to have fared better since you left, for you have +returned." + +"Captain, my return is the result of coercion. Some who oppose this +principle when applied to themselves, have no scruples in enforcing it +upon others. + + "No rogue e'er felt the halter draw, + With good opinion of the law;" + +is an old saw, and the truth of proverbs is seldom affected by time. I am +your guest upon compulsion; but remember, I will leave you the first +opportunity." + +Upon hearing this, an officer present swore that when I again left that +building, it would be to cross the railroad, (the place of execution.) + +The prisoners gathered around me, and I related to them my adventures. +They then informed me of what had transpired during my absence. Clarke was +taken out of prison to guide a cavalry company in search of me. Clarke +informed me that they scoured the country, and then went to my +father-in-law's; and after searching the premises, returned, believing +that I had gone due north towards Rienzi, in which direction another +company had been despatched. On their return, Clarke was remanded to jail. +At roll-call--seven o'clock, A. M., we were missed. The cavalry were +immediately sent in pursuit. All the guards on duty during the night were +put under arrest. Our method of escape was soon discovered, and the guards +were released, as they were not at fault. A large number of spikes were +hammered in the floor, the guards were doubled, and greater vigilance +enjoined. The prisoners were questioned, strictly and individually, to +learn whether any of them knew of our intention to escape, or had rendered +us any assistance. They all positively denied any knowledge of the matter. +They asked me whether I had given the officers any information about their +knowledge of our designs, and coöperation in effecting them. I replied +that I had positively denied that any except Malone and myself were privy +to our plans. + +I may state here that it is difficult to justify a falsehood. We ought to +utter truth always, without exaggeration or prevarication, leaving +consequences with God. We should do right without regard to results, for +with consequences we have no business; but in this case the temptation to +utter an untruth was great. These wicked men, thirsting for my blood, had +no right to make me criminate myself or my coadjutors. It would have been +wrong for me to give them the information they desired. Truth is too +precious for a secessionist, thirsting for innocent blood. Had I refused +to answer, they would have suspected that some of my fellow-prisoners +aided us, and would have either forced me to tell who they were, or would +have hanged me instantly for my refusal. If I had given information, and +criminated those who had befriended us, they would have been severely +punished, and I have been guilty of the basest ingratitude; I would have +been shunned by the prisoners, and regarded as one of the meanest of men, +one of the veriest wretches in existence; I could never again ask nor +expect aid in a similar attempt to save myself from a violent death. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +LIFE IN A DUNGEON. + + Parson Aughey as Chaplain--Description of the Prisoners--Colonel + Walter, the Judge Advocate--Charges and Specifications against Parson + Aughey--A Citizen of the Confederate States--Execution of two + Tennesseeans--Enlistment of Union Prisoners--Colonel Walter's second + visit--Day of Execution specified--Farewell Letter to my Wife--Parson + Aughey's Obituary penned by himself--Address to his Soul--The Soul's + Reply--Farewell Letter to his Parents--The Union Prisoners' Petition + to Hon. W. H. Seward--The two Prisoners and the Oath of + Allegiance--Irish Stories. + + +I was remanded to jail on Sabbath, the 6th of July, 1862. On the day of my +escape I had been elected chaplain. Captain Bruce asked permission for me +to hold divine service, to which no special objection was made. I +conducted the services as I would have done were I in my own pulpit. The +best order was maintained by the prisoners, and a deep seriousness +prevailed. The songs of Zion resounded through the prison-house, and a +great concourse of soldiers assembled outside the guards in front of the +door, causing considerable interruption by their noise and insulting +language. Several officers, also, saw fit to come in and interrupt the +services by conversing in a loud tone, and asking me how I liked my +jewelry, referring to my fetters. The prisoners protested against their +rude and ungentlemanly conduct, but with little effect. They sent a +remonstrance to the commander of the post, but he treated it with silent +contempt. + +As the prisoners insisted upon it, I persisted in preaching, +notwithstanding the persecutions endured, as long as I remained with them. +We were a motley assemblage. Some were dressed in cloth of finest texture; +others were clad in filthy rags. There were present the learned and the +illiterate, the rowdy and the minister of the gospel, the holy and the +profane, the saint and the sinner. All the Southern States, and every +prominent religious denomination were represented. The youth in his +nonage, and the gray-haired and very aged man were there. The superior and +the subordinate were with us. The descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, +were here on the same common level, for in our prison were Afric's +dark-browed sons, the descendants of Pocahontas, and the pure Circassian. +Death is said to be THE great leveller; the dungeon at Tupelo was _a_ +great leveller. A fellow-feeling made us wondrous kind; none shared his +morsel alone, and a deep and abiding sympathy for each other's woes +pervaded every bosom. When our fellow-prisoners were called to die, and +were led through us with pallid brows, and agony depicted on their +countenances, our expressions of sorrow and commiseration were not loud +(through fear) but deep. + +On Monday morning an officer entered; my name was called, and I arose from +the floor on which I had been reclining. I recognised him as my old +friend, Colonel H. W. Walter, of Holly Springs, Mississippi. After the +ordinary salutations, he informed me that he was Judge Advocate, and that +my trial would take place in a few days, and inquired whether I wished to +summon any witnesses. I gave him the names and residences of several +witnesses, but he refused to send for them, upon the plea that they were +too near the Federal lines, and their cavalry might be in danger of +capture were they to proceed thither. I told him that the cavalry which +went in pursuit of me had visited that locality. He then wished to know +what I desired to prove by those witnesses. I replied that I wished to +prove that the specifications in the charge of being a spy were false. + +"Your own admissions are sufficient to cause you to lose your life," said +the Colonel, "and I will not send for those witnesses." + +I replied: "I know that I must die, and you need not go through the +formality of a trial. If condemned as a spy, I must be hanged. I only +wished the witnesses to prove that Woodruff is a man of no moral worth, +that his testimony is false; that Barnes is a mail-robber, and that his +testimony, therefore, should be rejected. Proving these facts, the other +charges which I admit, will cause me to be shot. I hope I am prepared to +die, but do not wish to die a dog's death. Promise me that I shall be +shot, and not hanged, and I will cavil no more." + +"Parson Aughey, your chances for living are very slender. The proof +against you on both charges will be established; the testimony as to your +guilt is positive, and spies are always hanged." + +He then stated the charges and specifications against me as follows: + +First charge--_Treason_. + +Specification 1st. That said Aughey stated to a member of Hill's cavalry, +that if McClellan were defeated, the North could raise a much larger army +in a very short time; that the North would eventually conquer the South, +and that he was a Union man--this for the purpose of giving aid and +comfort to the enemy. + +Specification 2d. That when said Aughey was requested to take the oath of +allegiance to the Confederate States, he refused, giving as a reason, that +England, France, and himself, had not yet recognised the Southern +Confederacy, stating, also, that he had voluntarily taken the oath of +allegiance to the United States Government, which he regarded as +binding--this in North Mississippi. + +Specification 3d. That said Aughey was acting as a Federal agent in the +purchase of cotton, and had received from the United States Government a +large amount of gold, to pay for the cotton purchased. + +Second charge--_Acting as a spy_. + +Specification 1st. That said Aughey, while a citizen of the Confederate +States, repeatedly came into our lines for the purpose of obtaining +information for the benefit of the enemy, and that he passed through the +lines of the enemy at pleasure, holding an unlimited pass from General +Nelson, granting that privilege--this in the vicinity of Corinth, +Mississippi. + +Witnesses, ---- Wallace, Dan Barnes, Ferdinand Woodruff, ---- Williams, +David Huff. + +I demanded a copy of the charges, which Colonel Walter promised to +furnish. + +About three o'clock in the afternoon, I went to a couple of prisoners who +were heavily ironed; they were handcuffed, had a chain on their legs +similar to mine, and were chained together to a post, or to some fixture +at the side of the jail. I inquired for what offence they were +incarcerated. + +The prisoner whom I addressed was a tall gentleman, with a very +intellectual countenance, and of prepossessing manners. He was somewhat +pale, and wore a sad countenance. He replied: + +"We are charged with desertion." + +"Did you desert?" + +"I enlisted in the Confederate service for twelve months. At the +expiration of my term of service, I asked permission to return home, +stating that my family were suffering for the necessaries of life; that +they lived in Tennessee, which is occupied by Federal troops. Confederate +bonds are there not worth the paper on which they are printed; provisions +are scarce, and my family have not the means of purchasing. I wish to +relieve their wants, and as my term of service has expired, I wish a +discharge. This they refused, stating that the Confederate Congress had +passed a law requiring all troops who had enlisted for any term, however +short, to be held to service during the war, and all who left before that +time would be considered guilty of desertion, and if arrested, would be +shot. I attempted to return to my family, regarding the law a tyrannical +enactment. I was arrested and committed to this prison." + +"What will be your fate?" + +"I know not, but fear the worst." + +I learned that the other prisoner had about the same statement to make, +and was also in dread of capital punishment. I left them and walked to the +opposite side of the prison, when I observed a file of soldiers drawn up +in front of the building. Two officers entered, and walking up to the two +prisoners whom I had just left, unfastened their chains, and ordered them +to follow. One of the prisoners asked whether he should bring his blanket. +"No," replied the officer, in a jocular tone; "you have no more need for a +blanket in this world." + +On reaching the door, the soldiers separated, received the prisoners in +their midst, closed up, and marching them across the railroad, shot them. +As the officers passed Captain Bruce, he asked where the prisoners were +going. They replied, "Going to be shot!" and showed him the warrant for +their execution, having written across it, in red letters, "_Condemned to +death!_" + +Thus was perpetrated an act of cruel tyranny, which cries loudly to Heaven +for vengeance. Two families, helpless and destitute, were thus each +deprived of its head, on whom they were dependent for support, and +abandoned to the cold charity of a selfish world. The wages they earned by +a year's faithful service in behalf of the wicked, cruel, and vindictive +Confederate States, was an ignominious death and a dishonoured grave. Will +not God visit for this? The widow and the fatherless cry to Heaven for +vengeance, and their cries have entered into the ears of the Lord of +Sabaoth. + +On Tuesday morning, six young men, who had been arrested for their Union +sentiments, resolved to escape. Their plan was to enlist in the +Confederate service, then to desert on the first opportunity, and make +their way to the Federal lines. They consulted me as to the propriety of +taking the oath of allegiance under these circumstances. Such a step would +give them another chance for life; but were they to profess adherence to +their Union principles, they had no hope of living many days. If permitted +to enlist, they thought there was little doubt of their escape in a few +days; and should a battle take place, no Federal soldiers would be injured +by them, and an opportunity to desert might occur during the engagement. I +drew up a paper for them, requesting permission to enlist in a company +which they specified. Their petition was granted by the authorities, and +they were removed from prison to the camp. I feel confident that ere this, +they are safe in the Federal lines, for they knew the whole country, so as +to be able to travel by night or by day, with little danger of detection. +They had all been arrested at their homes by the Rebel cavalry. They were +bitter in sentiment against the military usurpation, self-styled the +Confederate States of America. + +This (Tuesday) evening, Colonel Walter called again, to give me a copy of +the charges against me. He informed me that my trial had been deferred +till Monday, the 15th inst. He also informed me in advance, that I must +die, and that, doubtless, on the day after the trial. I asked and obtained +permission to send for the Rev. Dr. Lyon, of Columbus, Mississippi, to be +present at my execution. Dr. Lyon and I were co-presbyters, both being +members of the Tombeckbee Presbytery. Colonel Walter was a renegade +Yankee. Coming from Michigan to Mississippi, he married the daughter of a +wealthy slave-holder. Obtaining through her the control of a large number +of slaves, he became a very ultra advocate of the peculiar institution, +and a rabid secessionist. + +Soon after Colonel Walter left, Colonel Ware came in, and asked me if I +had been President of a Female College in Rienzi. I replied in the +affirmative. 'Tis strange, said he, that one who has been so favoured, and +one who has accumulated property in the South, should prove a traitor to +the land of his adoption, and side with his enemies. I replied that I had +given a fair equivalent for every dollar I had obtained from the citizens +of the South; that for eleven years I had laboured faithfully as a teacher +and minister of the gospel to promote the educational and spiritual +interests of the Southern people; and that now I was receiving my reward +in being chained, starved, and insulted; and that they intended soon to +pay the last instalment by putting me to death ignominiously on the +scaffold; I also denied being an enemy to the South. I regarded those who +imperilled all her best interests, and plunged her into a protracted and +desolating war, as the real enemies of the South. If my advice had been +followed, the South and the whole country would now be enjoying its wonted +peace and prosperity. He only replied with cursing and vituperation. + +Believing my end to be near, I sat down upon the floor of my dungeon, and +penned the following letter to my wife. + + TUPELO MILITARY DUNGEON, July 10th, 1862. + + MY DEAR MARY--The Confederate authorities announce to me that I have + only a few more days to live. When you receive this letter, the hand + that penned it will be cold in death. My soul will have passed the + solemn test before the bar of God; I have a good hope through grace + that I will be then rejoicing amid the sacramental host of God's + elect, singing the new song of redeeming love in the presence of Him + who is the Chief among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely. + Mary, meet me in heaven, where sorrow, and crying, and sin are not + known, and where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at + rest. I will request your brother Ramsey, and cousin, Captain + Tankersley, to convey my body to you. Bury me in the graveyard at + Bethany. Plant an evergreen--a cedar--at my head, and one at my feet, + and there let me repose in peace, till the Archangel's trump shall + sound, calling the dead to the judgment of the great day, and + vouchsafing to saints the long wished-for "redemption of the body." + + As to my property, it has all been confiscated; and after years of + incessant toil, I leave you penniless and dependent; but trust in God. + To his protecting care I commit you and our dear little Kate, who has + promised that he will be the widow's husband, and the father of the + fatherless. Rest assured, the Lord will provide. Only trust in him, + and love him with your whole heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. + "I know that it shall be well with those that love God." Be not + faithless, but believing, and though clouds and thick darkness + surround you at present, a more auspicious day will dawn, and God will + bring you safely to your journey's end, and our reunion in heaven will + be sweet. + + Our dear little daughter, Kate, bring up in the nurture and admonition + of the Lord. Teach her to walk in wisdom's ways, for her ways are ways + of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Her mind may be compared + to wax, in its susceptibility for receiving impressions, and to + marble, for its power of retaining those impressions. O that she may + be satisfied early with the mercy of God, that she may rejoice and be + glad all her days! Teach her to remember her Creator in the days of + her youth, before the evil days come, in which she shall say, I have + no pleasure in thee. Make the Bible her constant study, and let its + words be as household words to her. Inspire her mind with a reverence + for _the Book_ which is able to make wise unto salvation. See to it + that the words of Christ dwell richly in her soul, that she may be + filled with wisdom, and knowledge, and spiritual understanding. Pray + for the Holy Spirit to bless your labours and instructions, without + which all your efforts would be in vain, and pray that the Third + Person of the adorable Trinity may take up his abode in her heart, and + dwell with her for ever. + + As my duties in regard to instructing our child, will devolve solely + on you, take for your guidance, in this respect, Deut. vi. 5-9. Let + your example be such as you would wish her to follow. Children are + much more inclined to follow example than precept. Exercise care in + this respect, for, "as is the mother, so is her daughter." + + I regret my family will, from the force of circumstances, be compelled + to remain in a land where my death will be considered disgraceful, but + it cannot be avoided. The time may come when, even in Mississippi, I + may be regarded as a patriot martyr. My conscience is void of offence, + as regards the guilt attached to the charges made against me. I am + charged with treason against the Confederate States. The charge and + the specifications are true, except that I was not a Federal agent in + the purchase of cotton. That was a private arrangement altogether. I + am also charged with acting as a spy. The specifications under this + charge are false. I think that this accusation was made to prevent + retaliation by the Federal generals; and in the Rebel army they are + not at a loss to prove any charge, however false. Ferdinand Woodruff + is their tool to prove me a spy, and he will do it, though he knows + his testimony to be as false as that of the suborned witnesses who + bore testimony against the Saviour. + + How long shall the wicked triumph? How long will God forbear to + execute that vengeance which is his, and which he will repay sooner or + later! I feel confident that the right cause will prevail, and though + I will not live to see it, for my days are numbered, yet I firmly + believe that the rebel power will be destroyed utterly. + + "Truth, crushed to earth, will rise again; + The eternal years of God are hers; + But error, wounded, writhes in pain, + And dies amid her worshippers." + + I write this letter amid the din and confusion incident to a large + number of men crowded into a narrow compass, and free from all + restraint. This letter will be transmitted to you by friends. The + names of those friends you will know hereafter. They will present your + case to General Rosecrans or Nelson, who may obtain a pension for you. + My services heretofore in the Union cause are known to them, and I + think they will see that you do not suffer; all my real estate will + be restored to you if the Union cause triumphs, and I think there is + no doubt as to its success. Give my love to all my friends. Remember + that I have prayed for you unceasingly during my imprisonment, and my + last utterances on earth will be prayers for your welfare. + + Farewell. God bless you, and preserve you and our dear little Kate. + + Your affectionate husband, + + JOHN H. AUGHEY. + +I next wrote my obituary, which I placed in the hands of a Union soldier +who expected soon to be exchanged. By him it was to be sent to the editors +of _The Presbyterian_, published in Philadelphia, with a request that it +should appear in their columns. + +OBITUARY. + +Died, in Tupelo, Ittawamba county, Mississippi, July --, 1862, the Rev. +John H. Aughey. The subject of the above notice was executed on the +gallows, by authority of the Confederate States, on the charges of treason +and acting as a spy. + +John H. Aughey was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, New York, May 8th, +1828; removed with his parents to Steubenville, Ohio, in 1837; is an +alumnus of Franklin College, New Athens, Harrison county, Ohio; studied +theology in Memphis, Tennessee, under the Rev. John H. Gray, D. D., +President of Memphis Synodical College--also under the care of the Rev. S. +I. Reid of Holly Springs, Mississippi; was licensed to preach the gospel +by the Presbytery of Chickasaw, October 4th, 1856; was ordained to the +full work of the gospel ministry by the Presbytery of Tombeckbee, at its +session in Winston county, Mississippi, in April, 1861. God blessed his +labours by giving him many seals to his ministry. After labouring eleven +years in the South as a teacher and minister of the gospel, having never +injured a citizen of the South either in person or property, he suffered a +felon's death for attachment to the Federal Union, because he would not +turn traitor to the government which had never in a single instance +oppressed, but had always afforded him protection. He rests in peace, and +in the hope of a blessed immortality. + + "Leaves have their time to fall, + And flowers to wither in the north wind's breath, + And stars to set; but all-- + Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death!" + +ADDRESS TO MY SOUL. + +O my soul! thou art about to appear in the presence of thy Creator, who is +infinite, eternal, unchangeable in his being, power, wisdom, holiness, +justice, goodness, and truth. He cannot look upon sin. He is a +sin-avenging God, and thou art stained with sin. Thy transgressions are as +numerous as the stars of heaven, and the sand that is upon the sea-shore. +Thou art totally debased by sin, and thy iniquities abound. Thou art +guilty of sins of omission and of commission. Justice would consign thee +to everlasting burnings, to dwell with devouring fire, even to everlasting +destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power. +Guilty, helpless, wretched as thou art, what is thy plea why sentence of +eternal death should not be pronounced against thee? + +THE SOUL'S REPLY. + +I plead the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses from +_all_ sin, even from sins of the deepest dye. I plead the sufferings of +Him who bore my sins in his own body, on the tree, and wrought out a +perfect righteousness, which I may obtain by simple faith. No money, no +price is demanded. This I could not pay, for all my righteousness is as +filthy rags, and I must perish, were any part of the price demanded. +Nothing in my hand I bring. My salvation must be _all_ of grace, or to me +it would be hopeless. I trust that Christ will clothe me in the spotless +robes of his own righteousness, and present me faultless before his +Father. With this trust, I go to the judgment-seat, assured that the soul +which trusts in Christ shall never be put to shame. God is faithful who +has promised. + + MILITARY DUNGEON, Tupelo, + Ittawamba Co., Miss., July 11th, 1862. + + DEAR PARENTS--"Life is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing to behold the + sun." "All that a man hath, will he give for his life." "Having + promise of the life that now is." "The life is more than meat." "They + hunt for the _precious_ life." The above quotations from the Word of + Life, show the high estimate that is placed upon life. My life is not + "_precious_" in the eyes of the Secessionists, for their authorities + declare that "my chances for living long are extremely slender." "Yet + a few days, and me the all-beholding sun shall see no more in all his + course." Mourn not for me, my dear parents, as those who have no hope. + "For me to live, is Christ; but to die, is gain." I fear not those + who, when they have killed the body, have no more that they can do. + But I fear Him whose fear casteth out every other fear. When these + lines are read by you, their author will be an inhabitant of the + Celestial City, the New Jerusalem, and will be reposing in Abraham's + bosom, in the midst of the Paradise of God. Next to God, my thanks are + due to you, for guiding my infant feet in the paths of wisdom and + virtue. In riper years, by precept, I have been warned and instructed. + By example I have been led, until my habits were fixed, and then, + accompanied by your parental blessing, I sought a distant home, to + engage in the arduous duties of life. Whatever success I have met + with, whatever influence for good I may have exerted, are all due to + your pious training. I owe you a debt of gratitude which I can never + repay. Though I cannot, God will grant you a reward lasting as + eternity. It will add to that exceeding and eternal weight of glory + which will be conferred on you in that day when the heavens shall be + dissolved, and the elements melt with fervent heat. I die for my + loyalty to the Federal Government. I know that you would not have me + turn traitor to save my life. Life is precious, but death, even death + on the scaffold, is preferable to dishonour. Remember me kindly to all + my friends. Tell sisters Sallie, Mary, and Emma, to meet me in heaven. + I know that _my_ Redeemer liveth. Dying is but going home. I have + taught many how to live, and now I am called to teach them how to die. + May God grant that as my day is, so may my strength be, and that, in + my last moments, I may not bring dishonour upon my Master's cause, + but may glorify him in the fires! + + My dear parents, farewell till we meet beyond the river. + + Your affectionate son, + JOHN H. AUGHEY. + + TO DAVID AND ELIZABETH AUGHEY, + Amsterdam, Jefferson Co., Ohio. + +The following letter was written to the Hon. William H. Seward in behalf +of the Union men in prison and within the rebel lines. + + CENTRAL MILITARY PRISON, Tupelo, + Ittawamba Co., Mississippi, July 11th, 1862. + + Hon. William H. Seward: + + DEAR SIR--A large number of citizens of Mississippi, holding Union + sentiments, and who recognise no such military usurpation as the + so-called Confederate States of America, are confined in a filthy + prison, swarming with vermin, and are famishing from hunger--a + sufficient quantity of food not being furnished us. We are separated + from our families, and suffered to hold no communication with them. + We are compelled, under a strong guard, to perform the most menial + services, and are insulted on every occasion by the officers and + guards of the prison. The nights are very cool; we are furnished with + no bedding, and are compelled to lie down on the floor of our dungeon, + where sleep seldom visits us, until exhausted nature can hold out no + longer; then our slumbers are broken, restless, and of short duration. + Our property is confiscated, and our families left destitute of the + necessaries of life; all that they have, yea, all their living, being + seized upon by the Confederates, and converted to their own use. Heavy + fetters are placed upon our limbs, and daily some of us are led to the + scaffold, or to death by shooting. Many of us are forced into the + army, instant death being the penalty in case of refusal; thus + constraining us to bear arms against our country, to become the + executioners of our friends and brethren, or to fall ourselves by + their hands. + + These evils are intolerable, and we ask protection, through you, from + the United States Government. The Federal Government may not be able + to release us, but we ask the protection which the Federal prisoner + receives. Were his life taken, swift retribution would be visited upon + the rebels by a just retaliation--a rebel prisoner would suffer death + for every Federal prisoner whom they destroyed. Let this rule hold + good in the case of Union men who are citizens of the South. The loyal + Mississippian deserves protection as much as the loyal native of + Massachusetts. We ask, also, that our confiscated property be restored + to us, or, in case of our death, to our families. If it be destroyed, + let reparation be demanded from the rebels, or the property of known + and avowed secessionists sequestered to that use. + + Before this letter reaches its destination, the majority of us will + have ceased to be. The writer has been informed by the officers that + "his chances for living long are very slender;" that he has confessed + enough to cause him to lose his life, and the Judge Advocate has + specified Tuesday, the 15th inst., as the day of his execution. We + have, therefore, little hope that we, individually, can receive any + benefit from this petition, though you regard it favourably, and + consent to its suggestions; but our families, who have been so cruelly + robbed of all their substance, may, in after time, receive + remuneration for their great losses. And if citizens of avowed + secession proclivities, who are within the Federal lines, are arrested + and held as hostages for the safety of Union men who are and may be + hereafter incarcerated in the prison in Tupelo and elsewhere, the + rebels will not dare put another Union man to death. + + Hoping that you will deem it proper to take the matters presented in + our petition under advisement, we remain, with high considerations of + respect and esteem, your oppressed and imprisoned fellow-citizens, + + JOHN H. AUGHEY, + BENJAMIN CLARKE, + JOHN ROBINSON, + and thirty-seven others. + +Two young men informed me to-day that they had been forced into the rebel +service. They had been taken prisoners at Corinth by General Pope, and had +taken the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government, to which their +hearts had always been loyal. Recently they had been arrested, and on +refusing to rejoin their regiment, were immured in this dungeon. From the +threats of the officers, they expected to be shot at any moment. They had +used every means to banish the thoughts of death--had forced themselves to +engage in pleasantry and mirth to drive away the sadness and gloom which +oppressed them when alone, and recalled the pleasures of their happy +homes--homes which they would never see again. I counselled them to +prepare to meet their God in peace; to wisely improve the short time +granted them to make their calling and election sure. They replied that +they hoped all would be well. They had long since confessed Christ before +men, and hoped for salvation through his merits. Still, they could not +help feeling sad in the near prospect of death. They left me to mingle +with a group of prisoners, who were endeavouring to dissipate the tedium, +and vary the monotonous routine of prison life, by "telling stories." +Captain Bruce led off by telling the following Irish story: + +"Once upon a time, an Irishman, who rejoiced in the possession of a fine +mare and a colt, wished to cross the Mississippi river at Baton Rouge with +them. By some mishap, they were all precipitated from the ferry-boat into +the water. The Irishman, being unable to swim, grasped the colt's tail, +hoping thus to be carried to the shore. Some of the passengers called out +to him: 'Halloo, Pat, why don't you take hold of the mare's tail; she is +much stronger, and much more able to carry you safely to the shore.' 'O, +be jabers!' says Pat, 'this is no time for swapping horses.'" This tale +was received with applause. + +Baltimore Bill, a real Plug-ugly, told his story next, as follows: "Two +Irishmen, immediately after their arrival in America, found a gun. After +long inspection, they concluded it was some kind of musical instrument, +and wishing to hear the music, it was agreed that Jimmie should blow at +the muzzle, while Pat worked with the 'fixins' at the breech. At it they +went. Soon the gun went off, and Jimmie fell down, shot dead. 'Och!' says +Pat, 'are you charmed at the first note?'" This story was received with +loud bursts of laughter. An officer then entered, and ordered us to be +quiet, forbidding us to narrate any more tales. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +EXECUTION OF UNION PRISONERS. + + Resolved to Escape--Mode of Executing Prisoners--Removal of + Chain--Addition to our Numbers--Two Prisoners become Insane--Plan of + Escape--Proves a Failure--Fetters Inspected--Additional + Fetters--Handcuffs--A Spy in the Disguise of a Prisoner--Special + Police Guard on Duty--A Prisoner's Discovery--Divine Services--The + General Judgment--The Judge--The Laws--The Witnesses--The + Concourse--The Sentence. + + +On Friday morning, the twelfth of July, as I lay restless and sore, +endeavouring to find some position which would be sufficiently easy to +permit me to enjoy, even for a few moments, the benefit of "Tired nature's +sweet restorer, balmy sleep," the thought occurred that it would be well +to attempt an escape, though it should result in death from the fire of +the guards, which would be far preferable to death by strangling at the +rope's end, and in the presence of a large concourse of rebel enemies. +Their method of shooting was, to dig a hole, and make the victim sit with +his legs hanging in it. The soldiers would fire three balls through the +brain, and three through the heart; then the mangled and bleeding body +fell into the grave, and was immediately covered with earth. At first, +coffins were used, but of late, these had been dispensed with, owing to +the increased expense, and the increasing number of executions. + +I had not long meditated upon this subject, when I arose, fully resolved +on death or liberty. My intentions were communicated to several prisoners, +who promised me all the aid in their power. My fetters were examined, and +it was concluded, that with proper instruments my bands could be divested +of the iron which secured the chain-rings. A long-handled iron spoon, a +knife, and an old file, were obtained, and two were detached at a time to +work on my fetters. We went to one side of the building, and a sufficient +number of prisoners stood in front of us, to prevent the guard from +noticing our proceedings. Our locations were changed frequently, to +prevent detection; and when an officer entered, labour was suspended till +his exit. + +We called General Bragg, Robespierre; General Jordan, Marat; and General +Hardee, Danton. Several prisoners were led out and shot to-day. The +majority of them were Union men. Six Union men were committed to jail +to-day. The horrors of our situation were sufficient to render two of +these victims insane. A reign of terror had been inaugurated, only +equalled, in its appalling enormity, by the memorable French Revolution. +Spies and informers, in the pay of the Rebel government, prowl through the +country, using every artifice and strategy to lead Union men to criminate +themselves, after which they are dragged to prison and to death. The +cavalry dash through the country, burning cotton, carrying off the +property of loyal citizens, and committing depredations of every kind. + +Several prisoners resolved to attempt an escape with me. Our plan was, to +bring in the axe with which we split wood for cooking, and raise a plank +in the floor, a sufficient number to stand around those who lifted it, to +prevent observation, and then make our way out among the guards, who were +off duty on the north side of the building. At this time there were three +guards in front of each door, and two on the south side of the building. +On the north side of the building, there were no guards on duty, for, if +the other three sides were securely guarded, the prisoners could not +escape on the north side. There were, however, several hundred guards, +who, when off duty, slept on this side of the prison. When their turn +came, they went on duty; and those who were relieved, came there to sleep. +They were coming and going all the time, and during the whole night, they +kept up an incessant noise. + +After the unremitting labour of my friends during the day, I found that I +could slip my chain off and on at pleasure. The sun was now setting, but +the axe had not been brought in. At this time a guard was stationed in +each door; the favourable moment had passed; none dared to bring the axe +past the guard. While deliberating on the best course to pursue--as +raising a plank had proved a failure for the present--General Jordan and +Colonel Clare entered. I was standing with others in the middle of the +floor. General Jordan came directly to me; either accidentally or +intentionally, he held up a light to my face. "Ah! you are here yet," said +he. I gave an affirmative nod. "Well," said he to Colonel Clare, "I must +examine this fellow's irons." Putting his hand down, and ascertaining that +they had been tampered with, he endeavoured, ineffectually, to pull the +bands off; he did not notice that I could slip the chain-rings off. "These +irons," said he, "are very insecure; who helped you to put them in this +condition?" I made no reply. After waiting until he found I intended none, +he continued: "Colonel Clare, have these irons secured in the morning; +also put handcuffs on him, and chain him, so as to confine him to one +locality; the gallows shall not be cheated of their due." Having given +these orders, they passed out. As soon as they were gone, the prisoners +who had aided me crowded around, stating that they believed there was a +spy in the house, in the guise of a prisoner, and declaring that I must +escape that night, or it would be too late. All realized that on to-morrow +there would be no hope. + +There were eleven guards on duty--three in front of each door, one in each +door, two on the south side of the building, and at night one passing back +and forth through the centre of the prison, which was lighted during the +whole night. There was also a special police guard on duty that night, as +five Federal prisoners, who remained in our prison until some formalities +were gone through with, would be sent in the morning to the prison at +Columbus, Mississippi, and it was feared they might attempt to escape ere +they were sent further south. + +At this juncture, a young man ran up and informed me that he had made a +discovery which might result in my escape; I must go alone, however, and +though they would aid me, they would run great risk in doing so. Only +four could assist, and he would volunteer to be one of them. Several +others immediately volunteered, of whom three were selected by M----, and +the plan then communicated. At this moment, Captain Bruce announced that +the hour for divine worship had arrived. I asked my friends whether I +should plead indisposition, and dispense with the services for that time. +They replied that it might lead to suspicion, and advised me to give them +a short sermon. I went to my usual place of standing, clanking my chains +as heretofore. I give a synopsis of the sermon. + +The text was 2 Cor. v. 10: "We must all appear before the judgment-seat of +Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according +to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." + +The doctrine of a general judgment was revealed to mankind at a very early +period of the world's history. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, +saying, "Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to +execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among +them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of +all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." +Job declares: "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at +the latter day upon the earth." Daniel also speaks of a general judgment: +"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did +sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the +pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning +fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand +thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood +before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." The New +Testament is also explicit in its declarations that God hath appointed a +day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he +hath ordained. The text declares that we must all appear before the +judgment-seat of Christ. + +The scenes which will usher in the judgment of the great day will be of +the most magnificent character. "The heavens shall pass away with a great +noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and +the works that are therein, shall be burned up." This does not indicate +annihilation. God will never annihilate any of his creatures, animate or +inanimate. + +The inquiry is often made, what becomes of the soul after death, and where +does it await the general judgment? A sect called the Soul-sleepers, take +the position that the soul, after death, goes into a torpid state, like +bears in winter, and thus remains till the sounding of the Archangel's +trump. There is no Scripture to sustain this view, and it is only assumed, +to avoid the objection that God would not judge a soul, and send it to +reward or punishment, and then bring it back, to be again judged. That the +soul, at death, passes immediately into glory or torment, is proved by +many scriptures. Paul "desired to depart, and be with Christ, which was +far better," than remaining on earth. He declares that to be present with +the body, is to be absent from the Lord. The dying Stephen calls upon the +Lord Jesus to receive his spirit. These holy men would not thus have +spoken, if they supposed that ages must elapse ere they entered heaven. +God is not the God of the dead or torpid, but of the living. Moses and +Elias appeared on the mount of transfiguration in a state far from +torpidity. The dying thief received the promise, "This day shalt thou be +with me in paradise." No mention is made of Purgatory or torpidity. The +objector urges that paradise is not heaven. We are told that the river of +life flows from the throne of God, that the tree of life grows on both +sides of the river, and that the tree of life grows in the midst of the +paradise of God. The paradise of God is where he is seated on his throne, +which is heaven. Paradise is where Christ is. The thief would be with +Christ in paradise. He who regards the Lord Jesus as the Chief among ten +thousand, the One altogether lovely, will deem his presence heaven indeed. +As to the wicked, it is said of the rich man, that in hell he lifted up +his eyes, being in torment. If, after being judged, the souls of +believers, do pass immediately into glory, and the wicked into torment, +what use is there of another or general judgment. I reply, We are +responsible not only for our acts, but for the influence which those acts +exert through all time. Gibbon, Hume, Rosseau, Paine, and other infidel +writers, wrote works which, during the life of the authors, did great +evil. If those wicked men passed away from earth impenitent, they are now +suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. But the influence for evil, of +those wicked works, did not cease with the death of their authors. +Thousands of young men every year are led into pernicious and hurtful +errors by their perusal. At the general judgment, the accumulated guilt, +for the baleful influence exerted through their writings in all time, will +sink them deeper in the flames of perdition. The sainted Alexander, and +other pious men who are now in heaven, wrote many works whose influence +for good was great while their authors lived; and since their death they +are, and will continue to be, instrumental in the hand of God in turning +many to righteousness. All the good accomplished by their writings, +through all time, will, at the judgment, add to their exceeding and +eternal weight of glory. + +In this life, we often see the righteous man contending with life's +unnumbered woes; all the dealings of Providence seem to be adverse. While +the wicked are in great power, they flourish in life, like the green +bay-tree, and have no bands in their death. These things are strange and +mysterious. We understand them not now; but we shall learn, in that great +day, when all mysteries are made plain, that God's dealings were just, +both with the righteous and the wicked. + +The text declares that _we_ must all appear before the judgment-seat of +Christ. This _we_ includes all who are now within the sound of my voice, +and not only us, but all who live upon the face of the earth; and the +Archangel's trump will wake the pale nations of the dead, and summon them +to judgment. The dark domain of hell will be vacated, and the angels that +kept not their first estate, and are now reserved in chains of darkness, +will appear in the presence of the Judge. Heaven's holy inhabitants will +be present. Thus heaven, earth, and hell, will be represented in that +august assemblage. The scene will bear some resemblance to that which +takes place in our earthly courts. The Lord Jesus Christ will be the +Judge, and the angels and saints will be the jurors, who will consent to +and approve of the acts of the Judge. The angels will be the officers who +will summon, from the prison-house of hell, the devils, to the trial, and +also those wicked men who will call upon the rocks and mountains to fall +upon them, and hide them from the face of the Lamb. Nor, as is so often +the case with earthly officers, will any be able to elude the vigilance of +these. They will be clothed with ample power to compel the attendance of +all; none will escape. We _must all_ appear before the judgment-seat. As +in earthly courts, law is the basis of judgment, so we shall be judged +according to law in that day. The heathen will be judged by the law of +nature--the law written in their hearts, and on their consciences. The +light of nature teaches the being, wisdom, power, and goodness of God. For +a violation of this law, they will be beaten with few stripes. The Jews +will be judged by both the law of nature, which they have, in common with +the heathen and the Mosaic law. But we who live in the nineteenth century, +in the full blaze of gospel light, will be judged not only by the light of +nature and the Mosaic law, which we possess in common with the heathen and +the Jew, but also by the glorious gospel of the Son of God, which brought +life and immortality to light; and if condemned, how fearful our doom, who +are so highly favoured! In earthly courts, we are judged for our overt +acts alone; but in the court of heaven, the commandment is exceeding +broad; it reaches every thought. Our words, too, are taken into account. +We must give an account for every idle word. By our words, we shall be +justified, and by our words we shall be condemned. Our thoughts, our +words, our deeds, will all be taken into account. + +As in our courts there are witnesses, so also there will be at the bar of +God. Our pious relatives and friends will bear this testimony, that they +have prayed with us and for us; that they had a deep concern for our +souls, and that we who are found on the left hand of the Judge, refused +all their counsel, and despised their admonitions. Ministers of the gospel +will testify that they came as ambassadors from the King of kings, and +beseeching you, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled to God, pointing to +the coming wrath, and warning you from that wrath to flee; and yet their +labour of love ye despised, and scorned the message from on high. The +Bible will be a witness against you. Its teachings are able to make wise +unto salvation. It is the chart which is given to guide us through this +wilderness-world, to fairer worlds on high. It tells of the Lamb of God, +who taketh away the sin of the world. It is truth without any mixture of +error, and yet you have despised this necessary revelation, and chosen to +perish, with the Word of Life open before you. God, the Father, will be a +swift witness against you. In the greatness of his love for you, in the +counsels of eternity, he devised the plan of salvation, and sent his only +begotten Son to suffer and die, that you might live, and yet you have +despised that love, and rejected that Saviour. God, the Son, will bear +this testimony, that he came from the shining abodes of glory, where +seraphim and cherubim fell prostrate at his feet, in humble adoration, and +emptying himself of his glory, bore all the ills of life--the persecutions +of wicked men, and the accursed death of the cross, that salvation might +be yours, and yet ye refused it, and trod the blood of the Son of God +under foot, and put him to an open shame. The Holy Spirit, the Third +Person of the adorable Trinity, will bear witness that he often knocked at +the door of your hearts for admittance; that he wooed you to embrace his +love, offering to abide with you for ever, and yet you rejected the offer, +and did despite to the Spirit of grace, till, in sorrow, he took his +everlasting flight. + +The devil is now going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may +devour, and sometimes transforming himself into an angel of light. He is +tempting you to sin, by presenting before your minds the superior charms +of the riches and pleasures of earth, to things that are unseen and +eternal. He has no power to compel you to sin. His evil suggestions are +whispered in your oft too willing ears, and then it remains with you to +accept or reject. He has no power of compulsion. Your sin must be an act +of your own will, or it is not sin. When you consent to the wiles of this +arch enemy, and sin against God, remember that with eager desire and base +ingratitude he will fiercely accuse in the great day of God Almighty, and +urge these very sins of his suggestion as a reason why he should have you +to torment you for ever in the bottomless pit. + +That internal monitor, that light which enlightens every man that cometh +into the world--the moral sense, or conscience--will be a swift witness +against you. By it you have been enlightened and warned; and in the case +of many who have denied a future state of punishment, the goadings of +remorse have convinced them that there is a hell, the kindlings of whose +fires they have felt in their own bosoms. Conscience will compel you to +confess that your doom is just, though for ever debarred from the joys and +happiness of heaven. O! my fellow-prisoners and travellers to the bar of +God, listen to her warning voice to-day, before it be too late, and you +are compelled mournfully to exclaim, "The harvest is past, the summer is +ended, and I am not saved!" The conscience of the sinner will be compelled +to admit the truth of the testimony. In earthly courts, oftentimes +witnesses are suborned, and their testimony false. Not so at the grand +assize. Not a scrap of false testimony will be admitted. The evidence will +be in truth, and the judgment in righteousness. + +After all these scenes have occurred, the Judge will render a verdict, and +pronounce the sentence, which will be irreversible and eternal. With +regard to the righteous, though they have been guilty of many sins, both +of omission and commission, and have no merits of their own to plead, and +consider themselves justly obnoxious to eternal banishment, their +Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom, while in the flesh, they +exercised a true and living faith, will now present them, clad in the +white robes of his perfect righteousness, faultless before his Father, and +they will now hear the welcome plaudit, "Come ye blessed, inherit the +kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." But those on +the left hand, who all their life rejected the mercy offered--the great +salvation proffered without money and without price--will now hear the +dread sentence, "Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for +the devil and his angels!" + +O my dear, impenitent fellow-prisoners! how can ye take up your abode, +your eternal abode, in everlasting burnings? How can ye dwell with +devouring fire? How can ye endure everlasting destruction from the +presence of the Lord and the glory of his power, shut up for ever in the +fearful pit out of which there is no egress except for the vision of the +damned, and the smoke of its torment? Be wise to-day, 'tis madness to +defer. Procrastination is the thief of time. Delay is fraught with awful +danger. Trust not in promises of future amendment. The way to hell is +paved with good resolutions, which are never kept. The future convenient +season never arrives. Like Felix, we may tremble when the minister reasons +of a judgment to come; and like Agrippa, we may be almost persuaded to be +a Christian, and yet come short of the glory of God through +procrastination. Procrastination has populated hell. All the doomed and +damned from Christian lands are victims of this pernicious and destructive +wile of the devil. It is foolish to procrastinate. Though the Bible teems +with rich and glorious promises of a hundred-fold blessings in this life, +and eternal glory in the world to come, to those who break off their sins +by righteousness, and their transgressions by turning unto the Lord, yet +all these promises are limited to the present tense. There is not a single +blessing promised the future penitent. He procrastinates at the risk of +losing all. Behold, _now_ is the accepted time, and now is the day of +salvation. _To-day_ if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. +"Ho, every one that thirsteth, _come_ ye to the waters; and he that hath +no money, _come_ ye, _buy_ and _eat_; yea, _come buy_ wine and milk +without money and without price." "Seek ye _first_ the kingdom of God and +his righteousness." "And the Spirit and the Bride say, _come_; let him +that heareth say, _come_; and let him that is athirst _come_: and +whosoever will, let him _take_ the water of life freely." + +Choose ye _this day_ whom ye will serve. There is no warrant for deferring +till to-morrow the momentous and eternal interests of the immortal soul. +The shortness and uncertainty of life furnish a strong reason why we +should not procrastinate. In the Bible, life is compared to everything +that is swift, transient, and fleeting in its nature. It is compared to +the swoop of the eagle hasting to the prey; to the swift post, to the +bubble on the river. Life is compared in its duration to a year, a day, +and to nothing, yea, less than nothing, and vanity. All these comparisons +indicate that it is very brief and evanescent. We have no lease of life; +we hold it by a very slight tenure; and this is especially true of us in +our present condition. Confined in prison, some of us led to death every +day without a moment's warning, every evening I address some who, before +the next evening, are in eternity. Myself in chains, my life declared +forfeited, ought we not all to be deeply impressed with the necessity of +immediate preparation to meet our God? I feel that I am preaching as a +dying man to dying men, and I beseech you in Christ's stead, be ye +reconciled to God. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and ye shall be +saved. Trust in him for salvation, for he is faithful who has promised. +God has never said to any, seek ye my face in vain. By the love and mercy +of God, by the terrors of the judgment, by the sympathy and compassion of +Jesus, I entreat you, my fellow-prisoners, to seek an interest, a present +interest, in the great salvation! + +I close for the present. We shall never all engage in divine service +together again on earth. We separate--some to go to a distant prison, and +some to death. May God grant that when we are done with earthly scenes, we +may all meet in the realms of bliss, where there is in God's presence +fulness of joy, and at his right hand pleasures for evermore! And may the +love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion of the +Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us, and all the Israel of God, now, +henceforth, and for ever, Amen! + +The following hymn was then sung: + + In the sun, and moon, and stars, + Signs and wonders there shall be; + Earth shall quake with inward wars, + Nations with perplexity. + + Soon shall ocean's hoary deep, + Tossed with stronger tempests, rise; + Wilder storms the mountains sweep, + Louder thunders rock the skies. + + Dread alarms shall shake the proud, + Pale amazement, restless fear; + And, amid the thunder-cloud, + Shall the Judge of men appear. + + But though from his awful face, + Heaven shall fade, and earth shall fly, + Fear not ye, his chosen race, + Your redemption draweth nigh. + +I preached longer than I had intended, having become so fully engrossed +with the subject as to forget my chains and my frustrated plans. My +fellow-prisoners were listening apparently with interest; great solemnity +prevailed, and penitential tears were flowing. It was evident that the +Spirit of the living God was in our midst; and though danger and death +were before our eyes, the consolations of the glorious gospel of the +blessed God caused our peace to flow like a river. The precious seed was +sown in tears. May we not entertain a good hope that he who cast the seed +into this soil, prepared by affliction, shall come again with rejoicing, +bringing his sheaves with him. By my side stood two in chains, who +appeared deeply moved. During the day I had conversed with them about +their souls. They expressed regret that they had not heretofore given this +matter the attention its importance demanded. Since their imprisonment, +however, they had been led to feel that they were great sinners, and had, +as they hoped, put their trust in Christ alone for salvation. I have since +learned that on the morrow they were shot. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +SUCCESSFUL ESCAPE. + + The Second Plan of Escape--Under the Jail--Egress--Among the + Guards--In the Swamp--Travelling on the Underground Railroad--The + Fare--Green Corn eaten Raw--Blackberries and Stagnant Water--The + Bloodhounds--Tantalizing Dreams--The Pickets--The Cows--Become + Sick--Fons Beatus--Find Friends--Union Friend No. Two--The night in + the Barn--Death of Newman by Scalding--Union Friend No. Three--Bound + for the Union Lines--Rebel Soldiers--Black Ox--Pied Ox--Reach + Headquarters in Safety--Emotions on again beholding the Old + Flag--Kindness while Sick--Meeting with his Family--Richard Malone + again--The Serenade--Leave Dixie--Northward bound. + + +After the sermon was concluded, the preparations for my escape were +commenced. The building used for our prison was built with the front +toward the east. The doors were at the eastern and western extremities, +which were the gable ends, one door being in each end. There were also two +windows at each end, the door being between them. The doors and +window-sashes had been removed, to allow the guards stationed in front an +unobstructed view of the interior. At night the apartment was lighted, and +a guard patrolled the floor; it was, therefore, nearly impossible for a +person to escape the observation of the guards, either within or without +the jail. In the North, the houses are usually built with a cellar +underneath; at the South, such a thing is very rare, the houses being +built upon the ground, or upon piles. Our prison was built upon piles, the +floor being elevated about eighteen inches above the ground. The boards +were nailed upon the building perpendicularly, and in some cases did not +quite reach to the ground. Small openings were thus left between the floor +and the ground, through which a person could crawl underneath the +building. Around each door was an enclosure, formed by stakes surmounted +with poles, in the shape of a parallelogram, whose dimensions were about +ten by sixteen feet. In each of these enclosures four guards were +stationed, one of them being seated in the doorway. The rear enclosure was +used for cooking purposes; and into both enclosures we were permitted to +go at pleasure during all hours of the day, and as late at night as ten +o'clock. Only three prisoners were allowed to be in an enclosure at one +time. + +M---- had discovered a hole by the side of the steps within the front +enclosure, by which I could get under the building. I felt unwilling to +make such an attempt, as the aperture was in the immediate vicinity of the +guards. M---- stated that four others would aid me, though at considerable +risk on their part. "I'll take the risk," was the individual response of +all present. M---- selected three, who with himself assumed the perilous +task, in which discovery would have cost them their lives. M----, who had +devised the plan of escape, now instructed us in the respective parts we +were to perform. All promised implicit obedience. At half-past nine, three +prisoners and myself were to go into the enclosure. They would stand up +and converse with the guards, whilst I sat upon the ground by the hole, to +wait for an opportunity to crawl under the building unobserved. This +opportunity we expected to occur at ten o'clock, when the relief-guard +came on duty. The duty of one prisoner was to remain inside and engage the +attention of the guard who sat in the doorway, while the other three would +go into the enclosure, and entertain the other guards, according to the +previously devised plan. At half-past nine o'clock, we placed ourselves in +the designated positions. I readily removed my chain, coiled it up, and +laid it by the side of a little stump. The moon shone with great +brilliancy, revealing the tents which surrounded us on every side. +Officers and soldiers passed hurriedly to and fro. We were in the midst of +the noise and confusion of a great encampment, as there were in and around +Tupelo some fifteen thousand soldiers. Mingled sounds of mirth and +contention proceeded from the surrounding tents. My prisoner friends were +engaged in a fierce argument with the guards as to the comparative merits +of Tennessee and Mississippi troops. This was done to divert their +attention, and I observed with pleasure that they were meeting with +success. I reflected that a few more moments would decide my fate. If +detected, my life must end ignominiously and on the gallows. In the +morning, my anklets would be securely welded. I would also be handcuffed +and chained to a post. Then all hope must end, and soon my corpse would be +borne into the presence of her whose tears were flowing, and who refused +to be comforted because of my ominous absence. + +The order for the relief-guard now came loud and clear. I heard their +hurried tramp, and saw their glittering bayonets in the bright moonlight. +The set time, the appointed moment, big with my fate, had arrived. I +offered an ejaculatory prayer to Him who sits upon the throne of heaven +for protection at this critical moment. The guard stood within ten feet of +me, with their eyes constantly upon me. Just as they were turning to +receive the advancing relief-guard, I crawled backward under the building, +and disappeared from their view. The relief-guard went on duty, and those +relieved retired. The prisoners were ordered into the house, and as the +new guards did not know that four were in the enclosure, I was not +missed. + +[Illustration: "Just as they were turning to receive the relief-guard, I +crawled backward under the building, and disappeared from view." Page +172.] + +I was now under the prison, but there were guards on every side, and the +jail was in the midst of a camp, so that I was still in great danger of +detection. I saw, through the crevices in the floor, the guard who +patrolled the prison. I heard the murmurings and mutterings of the +prisoners, as he occasionally trod upon them in his carelessness. I could +hear, though not distinctly, the conversation of the prisoners. One of my +assistants was detailing to his companions their success in getting me off +unnoticed. The prisoners slept but little that night, owing to their +anxiety for my safety, and I frequently heard my name mentioned, and hopes +for my safety expressed. I occasionally fell into uneasy slumbers, but the +fleas and other vermin were so annoying, that my sleep refreshed me but +little. I could distinctly hear the new guard conversing, and among other +topics, one remarked that he had forgotten the countersign; the other +replied that it was _Braxton_. Well, said the former, I thought it was +Bragg, or Braxton, or something like that. Knowing the countersign +emboldened me, as I could, if halted, give it, and pass on. I soon crawled +to the north side of the prison, and found that there were three apertures +sufficiently large to admit of my egress. Upon reaching the first one, I +found a number of guards, some sitting and some lying so close to it, that +I dared not make the attempt at that point. + +Crawling to the second, I remained till there was comparative quiet; but +at the instant I was about to pass out, a soldier, who was lying with his +face toward me, commenced to cough, and continued to do so, at intervals, +for more than an hour. Finding it unadvisable to run the risk of detection +at this point, I made my way, with considerable difficulty, to the third +and last aperture, near the rear of the building, and not very distant +from the rear-guards. I remained at this aperture till I heard one guard +say to another that it was three o'clock, and that they must soon go on +duty. I felt confident that then was my time, or never, as morning would +find me under the house, and I would be re-arrested in that situation. +Committing myself into the hands of God, and asking him to keep me from +detection, and grant me a safe escape, I arose from under the building, +passed by two sleeping guards, who were lying within three or four feet of +the prison. As it was my first essay at walking without chains, I reeled, +as if under the influence of strong drink, striking my foot against the +head of one of those sleeping guards, who, awaking, turned over, and +uttering some exclamation of disapprobation, took no further notice of me, +doubtless mistaking me for one of his companions. After proceeding a few +steps, I sat down upon the ground among some of the guards. I took out my +knife, and whistling, to appear as unconcerned as possible, commenced +whittling a stump, around which they were collected--some sitting, some +standing, and others reclining. I readily passed for one of them, as I was +wearing a colored shirt, which resembled that worn by the guards. I soon, +however, arose, and wound my way among the various groups, endeavouring +to reach the corn-field, to which I had made my first escape. After +passing the guards off duty, a sentinel arose a short distance in front of +me, evidently with the intention of halting me, if I advanced farther. +Stopping a few minutes, to avoid suspicion, I changed my direction, +bearing southwest, and after a time, got into the woods. Kneeling down, I +returned God thanks for thus crowning my efforts with success, and prayed +for his continuous protection, and that he would choose out my path, that +I might escape detection, and rejoin my family and friends in safety. + +I now pursued my journey rapidly in a southwest direction, choosing that +which led directly from my home, for two reasons. The cavalry and +bloodhounds would not be so likely to follow in that direction, and after +listening, while in prison, to the drum-beat morning and evening, in the +various surrounding camps, I noticed that it had ceased in the southwest +for several mornings; hence I supposed that the camp in that direction had +been broken up, and that, in taking that route, I could more readily get +beyond the rebel pickets, and then I could change my course, and bear +northward, and reach the Federal lines at some point on the Memphis and +Charleston railroad. I hastened on till the sun arose, having passed +through woods and corn-fields, studiously avoiding all roads, when, as I +was rapidly travelling along a narrow path, I met a negro. The suddenness +of our meeting alarmed both. I, in a peremptory tone, addressed him, in +quick succession, the following interrogatories: + +"Where are you going? To whom do you belong? Where have you been? Have you +a pass?" + +"I belong," said the boy, trembling, "to Mr. ----. I have been to wife's +house; am gwine back home, but I haint got nary pass." + +"I suppose it is all right with you?" + +"Oh, yes, master! it's all right wid me." + +Concluding that it was not all right "wid" myself, I hurried on, soon +leaving the path, and turning into a dense woods. Travelling on till +about one P. M., I came to an open country, so extensive that I could not +go round it, neither could I, in daylight, travel through it with safety. +I sought out a place to hide, and finding a ditch which bisected a +corn-field, I concealed myself in that. During the day, negroes and whites +passed near, without discovering me. Becoming hungry, I ate a small piece +of the bread which one of my fellow-prisoners had given me, but it made me +quite sick. On my former escape, I had, just before leaving the house, +traded pants with a fellow-prisoner, without his knowledge or consent. On +my return, he refused to trade back. My reason for trading was, to get a +dark pair, as mine were so light-coloured, I feared the guards would +discover me more readily. Their owner had been accustomed to use tobacco, +and the bread had become tinctured with it. Tobacco being very offensive +to me, its presence on my bread caused me to lose it. + +The day passed away, and the night came. The stars came out in silent +glory, one by one. Fixing my eye upon the pole-star, the underground +railroad travellers' guide, I set out, bearing a little to the west of +north. I soon reached the thick woods, and found it very difficult to make +rapid progress, in consequence of the dense under-growth and obscure +light. The bushes would strike me in the eyes, and often the top of a +fallen tree would cause me to make quite a circuit. Soon, however, the +moon arose in her brightness--the old silver moon. But her light I found +to be far less brilliant than that of the sun, and her rays were much +obscured by the dense foliage overhead; hence my progress was necessarily +slow, laboured, and toilsome. I slept but little during the day, in +consequence of the proximity of those who might be bitter foes, and also +the unpleasant position I occupied, as the ditch in which I had concealed +myself was muddy, and proved an uncomfortable bed. I therefore became +weary, my limbs stiff from travel and from the pressure of the heavy iron +bands. Sleep overpowered me, and I laid down in the leaves, and slept till +the cold awoke me, which, judging from the moon's descent, must have been +an hour and a half. The nights in Mississippi are invariably cool, however +hot the days may be. Arising from my uneasy slumber, I pressed on. My +thirst, which for some time had been increasing, now became absolutely +unendurable. I knew not where to obtain water, not daring to go near a +well, through fear of being arrested. At length I heard some suckling pigs +and their dam, at a short distance from me, in the woods. There seemed to +be no alternative. I must either perish, or obtain some fluid to slake my +raging thirst; so I resolved to catch a little pig, cut its throat, and +drink the blood. I searched for my knife, but I had lost it. I was, +therefore, reluctantly compelled to abandon my design on the suckling's +life. As I went forward, the sow and her brood started up alarmed, and in +their flight, plunged into water. I immediately followed, and found a +mud-hole. Removing the green scum, I drank deep of the stagnant pool. My +thirst was only partially quenched by this draught, and soon returned. As +day dawned, I found some sassafras leaves, which I chewed, to allay the +pangs of hunger; but they formed a paste which I could not swallow. + +I soon after came to an old field, where I obtained an abundant supply of +blackberries, which not only served to check the gnawings of hunger, but +also to allay my intolerable thirst. I reflected that this day was the +holy Sabbath, but it brought neither rest to my weary frame, nor composure +to my agitated and excited mind. Like Salathiel, the Wandering Jew, the +word _March!_ was ringing in my ears. Onward! was my motto; Liberty or +death! my watchword. About ten o'clock I came to an open country, and +sought out a ditch, in which to conceal myself. Here I fell into a +troubled sleep. I saw, in dreams, tables groaning under the weight of the +most delicious viands, and brooks of crystal waters, bubbling and +sparkling as they rushed onward in their meandering course; but when I +attempted to grasp them, they served me as they did Tantalus, of olden +time, by vanishing into thin air, or receding beyond my reach. While lying +here, I was now and then aroused by the trampling of horses grazing in +the field, which I feared might be bringing on my pursuers. And once the +voices of men, mingled with the sounds of horses' feet upon a little +bridge, some twenty feet distant, induced me to look out from my +hiding-place, and lo! two cavalry-men--perhaps hunting for my life!--rode +along. + +When the sun had reached the zenith, I was again startled by voices, which +approached nearer and nearer my place of concealment, till at length the +cause was discovered. Several children, both black and white, had come +from a farm-house, about a quarter of a mile distant, to gather +blackberries along the margin of the ditch. They soon discovered me, and +seemed somewhat startled and alarmed at my appearance. I soon saw them +gazing down upon me, in my moist bed, with evident amazement and alarm. +Pallid, haggard, unshaven, and covered with mud, I must have presented a +frightful picture. + +As soon as the children passed me, fearing the report they would carry +home, I arose from my lair, and hurried on, though I had to pass in sight +of several houses. After travelling three or four miles through an open +champaign country, I came to a dense woods, bordering a stream which had +ceased running, in consequence of the great drought that had, for a long +time, prevailed throughout this section of Mississippi. The creek had been +a large one, and in the deep holes, some water still remained, though +warm, and covered with a heavy scum, and mingled with the spawn of frogs. +I drank it, however, from sheer necessity, tepid and unhealthy as it was. +It did not allay my thirst, but created a nausea, which was very +unpleasant. + +About four o'clock P. M., I was startled by the baying of bloodhounds +behind me, and apparently on my track. Before escaping from jail, I had +been advised by the prisoners to obtain some onions, as these, rubbed on +the soles of my boots, would destroy the scent. They could only be +procured, however, by a visit to some garden-patch, and I feared to go so +near a house. I had left no clothes in prison from which the hounds could +obtain the scent in order to find my track, and my starting in a +southwest direction was an additional precaution against bloodhounds. +Their baying soon became alarmingly distinct. Having heard them almost +every night for years, as they hunted down the fugitive slave, I could not +mistake the fearful import of their howling. I could devise no plan for +breaking the trail. Dan Boone, when pursued by Indians, succeeded in +baffling the hounds by catching at some overhanging branches, and swinging +himself forward. Negroes often destroy the scent by carrying matches, and +setting the leaves on fire. One negro of whom I heard, ran along the brink +of a precipice, and dug a recess back from the narrow path. Crawling into +it, he remained till the hounds reached that point, when he thrust them +from the path. They fell and were dashed to pieces on the jagged rocks +below. + +None of these plans were practicable to me, and I supposed death imminent, +either from being torn to pieces by the hounds, or by being shot by the +cavalry, who were following them. Climbing a tree, I resolved to await +the arrival of the cavalry, and having determined to die rather than be +taken back again to Tupelo, I would refuse to obey any summons to descend. +O, how I wished for my navy repeater, that I might sell my life as dearly +as possible! that I might make some secessionist bite the dust ere I was +slain! I often thought of the couplet in the old song-- + + "The hounds are baying on my track, + Christian, will you send me back?" + +A feeling of strong sympathy arose in my bosom for the poor African, who, +in his endeavour to escape from the Iron Furnace of Southern slavery, +often encountered the bloodhounds, and was torn to pieces by them. "A +fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind." + +I had remained but a short time in the tree, when I ascertained that the +hounds were bearing eastward, and they soon passed at a distance. They +were on the track of some other poor fugitive, and I rejoiced again in the +hope of safety. Coming to a corn-field, I plucked two ears of corn, and +ate them raw, having no matches wherewith to kindle a fire, which, indeed, +would have increased my peril, as the smoke might advertise my presence to +bitter and unrelenting foes. + +Toward night I lay down in the woods, and fell asleep. Visions of +abundance, both to eat and drink, haunted me, and every unusual sound +would startle me. A fly peculiar to the South, whose buzz sounded like the +voice of an old man, often awoke me with the fear that my enemies were +near. As soon as Ursa Minor appeared, I took up my line of march. The +night was very dark, and I became somewhat bewildered. At length I reached +a crossroads, and as I was emerging from the wood, I saw two pickets a few +yards from me. Stooping down, I crawled on my hands and knees back into +the woods. As I retired, I heard one picket say to the other, "Who is +that?" + +He replied, "It is the lieutenant of the guard." + +"What does he want?" said the first. + +"He is slipping round to see if we are asleep." + +After I got a safe distance in the bushes, I lay down and slept till the +moon arose. To the surprise of my bewildered brain, it seemed to rise in +the west. Taking my course, I hastened on, sometimes through woods, +sometimes through cornfields, and sometimes through swamps. Coming to a +large pasture, in which a number of cows were grazing, I tried to obtain +some milk, but none of them would allow me to approach near enough to +effect my purpose. My face was not of the right colour, and my costume +belonged to a sex that never milked them. I travelled until day-break, +when I concealed myself in a thicket of cane, and had scarcely fallen +asleep when I heard the sound of the reveille, in a camp close at hand. +Arising, I hurriedly beat a retreat, and travelled several hours before I +dared take any rest. I at length lay down amid the branches of a fallen +tree, and slept. Visions of home and friends flitted before me. Voices +sweet and kind greeted me on all sides. The bitter taunts of cruel +officers no longer assailed my ears. The loved ones at home were present, +and the joys of the past were renewed. But, alas! the falling of a limb +dissipated all my fancied pleasures. The reality returned, and I was still +a fugitive escaping for life, and in the midst of a hostile country. + +To-day my mock trial would have taken place, and I fancied the +disappointment of Woodruff, who had stated that to his knowledge I was a +spy, and to-day would have sworn it. And Barnes, the mail-robber, +recommended for promotion because of his heroism in re-arresting me, how +sad he must feel, that the bird had flown, and that he would not have the +pleasure of witnessing my execution. I thanked God and took courage. +Though faint and weary, I was still hopeful and trusting, often repeating, + + "'Tis God has led me safe thus far, + And he will bring me home." + +On this (Monday) night, I travelled steadily, crossing swamps, +corn-fields, woods, and pastures. I came to only one cotton-field during +the night. I passed through several wheat-fields, where the wheat had been +harvested; I pulled a handful from a shock, and rubbed out some of the +grain, but it was so bitter I could not eat it. I suspected every bush a +secessionist, though I felt much more secure at night than in daylight. I +avoided roads as much as possible, travelling on none except to cross +them, which was done with great rapidity. The rising sun still found me +pressing onward, and thirst and hunger were now consuming me. To satisfy +hunger, I had recourse to the corn-field; but I could find no water. I +would gladly have drank any kind of beverage, however filthy, so that my +thirst might be allayed. About nine o'clock, when I had almost despaired +of getting water at all, I came to a copious fountain in a gorge of the +hills, and from its appearance, I seemed to be the discoverer. Around it +there was no trace of human foot, nor hoof of cattle. On beholding it, I +wept with joy. I remained by it about four hours, quaffing its cool and +crystal waters, the first running water I had tasted since leaving +prison. I also bathed my body and washed my clothes, drying them in the +sun, and endeavoured to rid them of vermin, in which I only partially +succeeded. I named this fountain _Fons Beatus_, and left it with sincere +sorrow. + +Three o'clock, P. M., arrived, and I felt bewildered. I knew not where I +was. I might be near friends, I might be near bloodthirsty foes. I could +scarcely walk. My iron bands had become very irksome. I felt that I was +becoming childish. I could tell all my bones. I tried to pray, but could +only utter, "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner!" Still I felt thankful +that it was so well with me as it was. + +At that very hour, had I not escaped, I should have been either on the +scaffold at Tupelo, or suspended between heaven and earth, surrounded by +an insulting and jeering army. This reflection made me thankful to God, +even though I should die in the swamps. The sky became overcast, and I +found it impossible to distinguish north from south. I therefore concealed +myself and slept. It was night when I awoke, and the clouds still covered +the sky threateningly, concealing my guiding star, and rendering it +impossible for me to proceed. Thus, when I wished most to go forward, my +progress was arrested, and my distressing suspense prolonged. During the +whole night I was asleep and awake alternately, but could not at any time +discern either moon or stars. Once, while sleeping behind a fallen tree by +the roadside, a horseman passed by. His dog, a large and ferocious-looking +animal, came running along by the side of the tree where I was lying. When +he reached me, I raised up suddenly and brandishing a club menacingly, the +alarmed and howling dog incontinently and ingloriously fled, leaving me +master of the field. + +On Wednesday morning the sun was still obscured until nine o'clock. I was +then sick. There was a ringing in my ears, and I was affected with +vertigo, a dimness of vision and faintness, which rendered me absolutely +unfit for travel. It required an hour to walk a quarter of a mile. I found +a good supply of blackberries, which very much refreshed me. Before me +was a hill, the top of which I reached after two hours' laborious ascent. +I despaired of getting much further. I thought I must perish in the Iron +Furnace of secession, which was heated very hot for me. Feeling confident +that I must be near Tippah county, and knowing that there were many Union +men in that county, I resolved to call at the first house on my route. If +I remained where I was, I must perish, as I could go no further, and if I +met with a Union family, I should be saved; if with "a secesh," I might +possibly impose upon their credulity, and get refreshment without being +arrested. They might, however, cause my arrest. It was a dilemma such as I +hope never to be placed in again. About an hour before sunset I came to a +house, and remained near it for some time. At length I saw a negro girl +come to the door. Knowing that where there were negroes, in nine cases out +of ten there were secessionists near, I left the house as quickly as my +enfeebled condition would permit. Going to another house, I remained near +it till I was satisfied there were no negroes held by that family. I then +went boldly up, knocked, gained admittance, and asked for some water, +which was given me. The lady of the house, scrutinizing me closely, asked +me if I were from Tupelo. I replied in the affirmative. She then inquired +my name. I gave her my Christian name, John Hill, suppressing the surname. +Her husband was sitting near, a man of Herculean frame; and as the wife's +inquisitiveness was beginning to alarm me, I turned to him and said: "My +friend, you are a man of great physical powers, and at this time you ought +to be in the army. The Yankees are overrunning all our country, and the +service of every man is needed." His wife replied that he was not in the +army, nor would he go into it, unless he was forced to go. They had been +told that the cavalry would be after him in a few days, to take him as a +conscript; but she considered the conscript law, base and tyrannical. +Overjoyed at the utterance of such sentiments as these, I then revealed my +true character. I told them that I had recently made my escape from +Tupelo, where I was doomed to execution on the gallows, and that I was +now flying from prison and from death. I then exhibited the iron bands +upon my ankles. Both promised all the aid in their power. The lady at once +proposed to prepare supper, but I was too near the point of starvation to +await the slow process of cooking. She therefore turned down the +tablecloth, which covered the fragments remaining from dinner, and +disclosed some corn bread and Irish potatoes. Though I never liked corn +bread, I must confess I thought that was the sweetest morsel I had ever +tasted. + +After eating a little, however, I became very sick, and was compelled to +desist. It was so long since I had partaken of any substantial food, that +my stomach now could not bear it. The lady soon prepared supper, +consisting of broiled chicken, and other delicacies. The fowl was quite +small, and I ate nearly the whole of it, much to the chagrin of a little +daughter of mine host, whom I heard complaining to her mother, afterward, +in an adjoining room, saying, "Ma, all I got of that chicken was a little +piece of the wing," and "aint that gentleman a hoss to eat?" with other +remarks by no means complimentary to my voracious appetite. + +After supper, mine host endeavoured to remove the heavy iron bands by +which my ankles were clasped. This was accomplished after considerable +labour. I asked him to retain the bands till called for, which he promised +to do. The good lady furnished me with water and a suit of her husband's +clothes. After performing a thorough ablution, I donned the suit, and felt +completely metamorphosed, and was thoroughly disguised, as my new suit had +been made for a man of vastly larger physical proportions. I spent the +night with my new friends, during which a heavy thunder-storm passed over. +Had I been out in the drenching rain in my wretched condition, I must +surely have perished. In the morning my host informed me of a Union man +who knew the country in the direction of Rienzi, the point which I now +determined to reach. This gentleman lived half a mile distant, and my host +accompanied me to a thicket near his house, where I concealed myself till +he brought Mr. ---- to me. Said my friend No. 2, "I am not familiar with +the route to Rienzi, but will go with you to friend No. 3, who I am +positive is well acquainted with the road. He can take you through the +woods, so as to avoid the Confederate cavalry. As I undertake this at the +risk of my life, we must wait till night. I would gladly have you come to +my house, but I fear that it might transpire through my children that I +had helped you to escape. I have a large family, and most of 'em is gals, +and you know gals will talk. You can stay in my barn till I come for you. +I will carry you provisions during the day, and to-night we will go to my +friend's." + +About three o'clock in the morning, he came with two horses, one of which +he mounted, and I the other. The horse I rode was a blooded animal, and to +use my friend's expression, could run like a streak of lightning. I +provided myself with a good whip, resolving, in case of danger, to put my +horse to his utmost speed. A short time after daylight, we reached friend +No. 3, who promised to conduct me to Rienzi. While at his house, I learned +that a Unionist, Mr. N----, had been killed under circumstances of the +greatest cruelty. His sentiments had become known to the rebels. He was +arrested by their cavalry, and refusing to take the oath, they resolved to +put him to death on the spot. He had a large family of small children, +who, together with his wife, begged that his life might be spared. He +himself had no favours to ask of the secessionists. Among his foes, the +only point of dispute was, as to the mode of his death. Some favoured +shooting, some hanging; but the prevailing majority were in favour of +scalding him to death. And there, in the presence of his weeping and +helpless family, these fiends in human form _deliberately heated water, +with which they scalded to death their chained and defenceless victim_. +Thus perished a patriot of whom the State was not worthy. The corpse was +then suspended from a tree, with a label on the breast, stating that +whoever cut him down and buried him, should suffer the same fate. My +companions cut down the corpse by night, and buried it in the forest. May +God reward them! + +My friend No. 3 thought that it would be best to travel in daylight. He +could follow by-paths, and avoid the rebel cavalry. We started about eight +o'clock on Friday morning, and met with no incident worth narrating until +we reached a mill; here we fell in with some six or seven rebel soldiers, +who had been out on sick furlough, and were returning. They scanned us +closely, and inquired whence we came, and whither bound. My friend +specified a neighbourhood from which he affirmed we came, and stated that +we were hunting stray oxen, asking whether they had seen a black ox and a +pied ox in their travels. They replied in the negative; and in turn asked +him who I was. He replied that I was his wife's brother, who had come from +Alabama about three months ago. They said I looked like "death on a pale +hoss," and wished to know what was the matter with me--if I were +consumptive. My friend replied that I had had the chills for several +months; and as there was no quinine in the country, it was impossible to +stop them. + +During this inquisition, I was ready at any moment to put spur to my +horse, and run a race for life, had any attempt been made to arrest me, or +if I had been recognised by any of the soldiers. We were, however, +permitted to pass on, not without some suspicious glances. We at length +reached a point ten miles from Rienzi. My guide now insisted on returning. +It would be morning ere he reached home, and if met by cavalry, he must +invent some plausible excuse for having a led horse. Nor did he dare +return by the same route. Knowing the country, I permitted him to return. +I then set out on foot, and at length reached the Federal pickets, three +miles from Rienzi, where a horse was furnished me; and about ten o'clock I +reached the head-quarters of Colonel Misner in Rienzi. When I gazed upon +the star-spangled banner, beneath whose ample folds there was safety and +protection--when I saw around me the Union hosts--I shed tears of joy, and +from the depths of my heart returned thanks to Almighty God, who had +given me my life at my request, preserving me, amid dangers seen and +unseen, till I now was safe amid hosts of friends. + +Colonel Misner requested me to report all that would be of service to +General Rosecrans, which I did, he copying my report as I gave it. I +reported, so far as I was informed, the probable number of troops in and +around Tupelo, the topography of the country, the probable designs of the +rebels, the number of troops sent to Richmond under Beauregard, &c. The +Colonel requested me to go with him to head-quarters in the morning; but +at the hour specified I was sick, and my physician, Dr. Holley, of the +Thirty-sixth Illinois, thought it would not be advisable for me to go, +even in an ambulance. My report, however, was carried up to General +Rosecrans. + +Through proper treatment I recovered in a few days, so as to be able to go +into Jacinto, the nearest point in the Federal lines to my family. I +called on General Jefferson C. Davis, who was in command of that post. The +General had heard of my arrest, and expressed gratification at my safe +return. I informed him of my desire to get my family within the lines. The +General immediately proffered me all the cavalry at his command, and +ordered them to prepare for the expedition. I thankfully accepted his kind +offer, but after reflection concluded to send a messenger first, with a +letter to my wife; if he were not intercepted, I knew that she would come +in as soon as possible. The order to the cavalry was countermanded until +this plan would be tried. The messenger was not intercepted, and on the +next day I had the pleasure of beholding my wife and child, whose faces, a +short time before, I had given up all hope of ever beholding on earth. + +While here, I called on my friend, Lieutenant Richard Malone, who resides +in Jacinto. On inquiring at his house for him, he heard my voice, and ran +out to the gate to meet me. Grasping my hand, he could not for some time +control his emotions so as to speak. + +Malone gave me his history since we had parted at the outer wall of the +prison. He reached the corn-field at the point designated, and anxiously +awaited my arrival until near daylight, when he was compelled to seek +safety in flight. We had agreed to meet in the corn-field at a place where +there was a garment suspended upon the fence. We think there must have +been two garments suspended at different points, and hence our mistake. We +could not signal loud in consequence of the nearness of the pickets, and +therefore did not meet. Soon after daylight, Malone found himself in the +midst of a cavalry company which had encamped there during the night; they +were making preparations for departure, and the majority of them were +gathering blackberries. Joining them, he passed as a citizen, and when he +reached the rear of the company, he gathered some sticks in his arms, and +started towards a small cabin at a short distance, as if it were his +residence. Before reaching it, he made a detour to the right, and passed +into the dense woods. On the next day, about ten o'clock, A. M., he +reached an open champaign country, through which it would have been +dangerous to travel. To the west, about three hundred yards distant, was a +dense woods, which he hoped to reach without detection. While travelling +down a road for this purpose, four cavalrymen who were in pursuit dashed +towards him, and ordered him to return with them to Tupelo. Malone +replied, that as it was useless to resist, he must submit. He asked for +some water; they had none in their canteens, but went to a house in the +distance to obtain some. Malone was ordered to march before them, which he +was compelled to do, though famishing from hunger and thirst. On reaching +the house, they all went to the well and drew a bucket of water. There +being no dipper, Malone remarked that he would go into the house and get +one. One of the guards followed, and stationed himself at the door with +his gun. Malone went into the house, and immediately passed out at the +back door. The garden gate being open, he passed into the garden, when he +commenced running. Two women in the house noticed his running, and +clapping their hands exclaimed, "Your Yankee's gone! Your Yankee's gone!" +The guards immediately followed, ordering him to halt, and firing at him +with their revolvers. Malone quickly reached a corn-field, and soon after +a swamp, whence he made good his escape, and after various vicissitudes +reached his family in Jacinto, where I now found him. + +I returned to Rienzi with my family, resolved to leave for the North. My +wife, before leaving her father's, learned, through a letter sent by a +rebel officer to his wife, that all the guards who were on duty during the +night I escaped from prison, were placed under close arrest, and were +still in the dungeon at the time of his writing. There were eleven guards +on each relief, and three reliefs during the night; there were, therefore, +thirty-three guards placed under arrest because of my escape. + +On the night previous to our departure from Rienzi, we were honoured with +a serenade, through the politeness of General Granger, of the cavalry, and +Colonel Bryner, of the Forty-seventh Illinois Regiment. Being called on +for a speech, I thus responded: + + GENTLEMEN--I return you sincere thanks for the honour intended myself + and family. In the language of the last tune played by your band, I + truly feel at "home again," and it fills my soul with joy to meet my + friends once more. What a vast difference a few miles makes! Tupelo is + about forty miles south of Rienzi, on an air-line. There I was + regarded as a base ingrate, as a despicable traitor, as an enemy to + the country, chained as a felon, doomed to die, and before the + execution of the sentence, subjected to every species of insult and + contumely. Here I meet with the kindest expressions of sympathy from + officers of all ranks, from the subaltern to the general, and there is + not a private soldier who has heard my tale of woe, who does not + manifest a kindly sympathy. + + I hope that you will soon pass south of Tupelo; but in your march to + the Gulf, may you fare better than I did in my journey to this place. + Green corn eaten raw, berries, and stagnant water, would soon cause + you to present the emaciated appearance that I do. On your route, call + upon the secession sympathizers, and compel them to furnish you with + better and more substantial food. My horse I left at Tupelo. He is a + valuable animal. The rebel General Hardee, in the true spirit of + secession, appropriated--that is, stole--him. However, I did not call + to demand him when I left. Being in haste, I did not choose to spare + the time, and leaving in the night, I did not wish to disturb the + slumbers of the Tupelonians. He is a bright bay. If you meet with him, + you may have him for nothing. I would much prefer that he serve the + Federal army. + + If you take General Jordan prisoner, send me word, and I will furnish + you with the iron bands that he put on me, by which you may secure him + till he meets the just award of his crimes, which would be death, for + destroying the lives of so many Union men. + + I hope that you may soon plant the stars and stripes on the shores of + the Gulf of Mexico, and play the "Star-spangled Banner" within + hearing of its vertiginous billows, after having conquered every foe + to the permanence of the glorious Union. I close with the sentiment of + the immortal Jackson, which I wish you to bear constantly in mind, in + your victorious progress--"The Federal Union--it must and shall be + preserved!" Relying upon the God of battles, rest assured that the + right cause will triumph, and that after having secured the great + object of your warfare, the preservation of the Union, your children + and your children's children will rise up and call you blessed, + rejoicing in the enjoyment of a free, united, and happy country. + + Wishing you abundant success, I beg leave to retire. + +On Saturday, the 2d of August, 1862, we left Rienzi, _en route_ for the +North, in company with William H. Hubbard, Esq., and family, who were also +refugees. From the moment I reached the Federal lines I experienced +nothing but kindness. I could not mention all who are deserving of thanks +from myself and family. I am under special obligations to Generals Nelson, +Rosecrans, Granger, Davis, and Asboth; also to Colonel Bryner and +Lieutenant Colonel Thrush, of the Forty-seventh Illinois, and Surgeon +Lucas, of same regiment, and to Dr. Holley, of the Thirty-sixth Illinois +Volunteers; to Josiah King, Esq., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Dr. +McCook, of Steubenville, Ohio; also Mrs. Ann Wheelwright, of Newburyport, +Massachusetts, whose kind letter will ever be remembered, and whose +"material aid" entitles her to lasting gratitude; and to Rev. George +Potts, D. D., of New York; and Mr. William E. Dubois, of Philadelphia; +Rev. Dr. Sprole, Newburgh, New York; Rev. N. Hewitt, D. D., Bridgeport, +Connecticut; and Rev. F. N. Ewing, Chicago, Illinois; Rev. J. M. Krebs, D. +D., New York; Rev. A. D. Smith, D. D., New York; and Rev. F. Reck +Harbaugh, Philadelphia, and many others. + +Before closing this chapter I would mention the following incident: + +On Wednesday evening, November 19th, I addressed the citizens of +Philadelphia at the Sixth Presbyterian Church, (Rev. F. Reck Harbaugh's.) +A report of this address found its way into the city papers. Two days +afterwards, while in conversation with Mr. Martien, at his book-store, two +soldiers entered, one of whom approached, and thus addressed me: + +"Do you know me, sir?" + +I replied: "Your face is familiar, but I do not remember your name. It is +my misfortune not to be able to remember proper names." + +"I read the report of your address in the newspaper, and through the aid +of my comrade, I have succeeded in finding you. We have met before, at +Tupelo." + +At the mention of Tupelo, I immediately recognised in the speaker the man +who, after labouring with the others in sundering my chain, engaged the +guard, who sat in the doorway, in conversation, while I watched an +opportunity to disappear under the prison. Grasping him warmly by the +hand, I said: "I now recognise you. You are Mr. Howell Trogdon, of +Missouri, late my fellow-prisoner in Tupelo. How and when did you succeed +in leaving that prison?" + +"Being a Federal prisoner, I was removed from Tupelo to Mobile, and there +parolled on the 26th of August last." + +"When was I missed after my escape, and how did the officers act when they +learned that I was gone?" + +"You were missed at roll-call, the next morning, and in a short time, many +officers came into the prison. They were greatly enraged at this, your +second flight. The prisoners were closely questioned as to their +complicity in your escape, but they denied all knowledge of the matter. +Soon all the prison-guards on duty during the night, thirty-three in +number, were brought into the prison in chains. The cavalry was ordered +out in search of you, and directed to shoot you down wherever found. The +mode of your escape was not discovered, and the officers were of the +opinion that you had bribed the guards. _From that time, the officers +became more cruel than ever, and in two weeks, thirty-two of our +fellow-prisoners were taken out and shot!_ We never learned whether you +had succeeded in escaping to the Union lines. We feared that you were +overtaken and shot, or that you perished in the swamps from hunger, +thirst, and fatigue. I hope soon to see McHatten, Speer, De Grummond, and +Soper, who are also parolled, and they will rejoice to learn that you +still live. During the night of your escape, we slept but little, through +fear that _our chaplain_ might be shot by the guards, and I assure you +many fervent prayers ascended to Heaven for your safety." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +SOUTHERN CLASSES--CRUELTY TO SLAVES. + + Sandhillers--Dirt-eating--Dipping--Their Mode of + Living--Patois--Rain-book--Wife-trade--Coming in to see the + Cars--Superstition--Marriage of Kinsfolks--Hardshell Sermon--Causes + which lead to the Degradation of this Class--Efforts to Reconcile the + Poor Whites to the Peculiar Institution--The Slaveholding Class--The + Middle Class--Northern Isms--Incident at a Methodist Minister's + House--Question asked a Candidate for Licensure--Reason of Southern + Hatred toward the North--Letter to Mr. Jackman--Barbarities and + Cruelties of Slavery--Mulattoes--Old Cole--Child Born at + Whipping-post--Advertisement of a Keeper of Bloodhounds--Getting Rid + of Free Blacks--The Doom of Slavery--Methodist Church South. + + +The sojourner in the Slave States is struck with the wretched and degraded +appearance of a class of people called by the slaveholders, "poor white +folks," and "the tallow-faced gentry," from their pallid complexion. They +live in wretched hovels, dress slatternly, and are exceedingly filthy in +their habits. Many of them are clay or dirt-eaters, which is said to cause +their peculiar complexion. Their children, at a very early age, form this +filthy and disgusting habit; and mere infants may be found with their +mouths filled with dirt. The mud with which they daub the interstices +between the logs of their rude domicils, must be frequently renewed, as +the occupants pick it all out in a very short time, and eat it. This +pernicious practice induces disease. The complexion becomes pale, similar +to that occasioned by chronic ague and fever. + +Akin to this is the practice of snuff-dipping, which is not confined +exclusively to females of the poor white caste, though scarcely one in +fifty of this class is exempt from the disgusting habit. The method is +this: The female snuff-dipper takes a short stick, and wetting it with her +saliva, dips it into her snuff-box, and then rubs the gathered dust all +about her mouth, and into the interstices of her teeth, where she allows +it to remain until its strength has been fully absorbed. Others hold the +stick thus loaded with snuff in the cheek, _a la quid_ of tobacco, and +suck it with a decided relish, while engaged in their ordinary +avocations; while others simply fill the mouth with the snuff, and +imitate, to all intents and purposes, the chewing propensities of the men. +In the absence of snuff, tobacco in the plug or leaf is invariably +resorted to as a substitute. Oriental betel-chewing, and the Japanese +fashion of blacking the teeth of married ladies, are the height of +elegance compared with snuff-dipping. The habit leads to a speedy decay of +the teeth, and to nervous disorders of every kind. Those who indulge in it +become haggard at a very early age. + +The _Petersburg_ (Va.) _Express_ estimates the number of women in that +State as one hundred and twenty-five thousand, one hundred thousand of +whom are snuff-dippers. Every five of these will use a two-ounce paper of +snuff per day; that is, to the hundred thousand dippers, two thousand five +hundred pounds a day, amounting, in one year, to the enormous quantity of +nine hundred and twelve thousand pounds. This practice prevails generally, +it says, among the poor whites, though some females of the higher classes +are guilty of it. + +The poor whites obtain their subsistence, as far as practicable, in the +primitive aboriginal mode, viz., by hunting and fishing. When these +methods fail to afford a supply, they cultivate a truck-patch, and some of +them raise a bale or two of cotton, with the proceeds of the sale of which +they buy whiskey, tobacco, and a few necessary articles. When all other +methods fail, they resort to stealing, to which many of them are addicted +from choice, as well as from necessity. They are exceeding slovenly in +their habits, cleanliness being a rare virtue. Indolence is a prevailing +vice, and its lamentable effects are everywhere visible. They fully obey +the scriptural injunction, take no thought for the morrow. A present +supply, sufficient to satisfy nature's most urgent demands, being +obtained, their care ceases, and they relapse into listless inactivity. +They herd together upon the poor sand-hills, the refuse land of the +country, which the rich slaveholder will not purchase, for which reason, +they are sometimes called sand-hillers, and here they live, and their +children, and their children's children, through successive generations, +in the same deplorable condition of wretchedness and degradation. + +They are exceedingly ignorant; not one adult in fifty can write; not one +in twenty can read. They can scarcely be said to speak the English +language, using a patois which is scarcely intelligible. An old lady thus +related an incident of which her daughter "_Sal_" was the heroine. "My +darter Sal yisterday sot the lather to the damsel tree, and clim up, and +knocked some of the nicest saftest damsels I ever seed in my born days." I +once called to make some inquiry about the road, at a small log tenement, +inhabited by a sand-hiller and family. A sheet was hanging upon the wall, +containing the portraits of the Presidents of the United States. I +remarked to the lady of the house that those were, I believed, the +pictures of the Presidents. + +"Yes!" she replied; "they is, and I've hearn tell of 'em a long time. They +must be gittin' mighty old, ef some of 'em aint dead. That top one," she +continued, "is Gineral Washington. I've hearn of him ever sence I was a +gal. He must be gittin' up in years, ef he aint dead. Him and Gineral +Jackson fit the British and Tories at New Orleans, and whipped 'em, too." + +She seemed to pride herself greatly on her historical knowledge. + +One of these geniuses once informed me of a peculiar kind of book "he'd +hearn tell on," that the Yankees had. He had forgotten its name, but thus +described it: "It told the day of the week the month come in on. It told +when we was a gwine to have rain, and what kind of wether we was gwine to +have in gineral. May-be they call it a rain-book." + +I replied that I had heard of the book, and I believed that it was called +an Almanac. + +"You've said it now," remarked the man. "It's a alminick, and I'd give +half I's wuth to have one. I'd no when to take a umberell, and if I +haddent nary one, I'd no when I could go a huntin' without gittin' wet." + +Two of these semi-savages had resolved to remove to the West, in hope of +bettering their condition. One wished to remove to Arkansas, the other to +Texas. The wife of the former wished to go to Texas, the latter to +Arkansas. The husbands were desirous of gratifying their spouses, but +could devise no plan that seemed likely to prove satisfactory, till one +day when hunting, finding game scarce, they sat down upon a log, when the +following dialogue took place: + +"Kit, I'm sort o' pestered about Dilsie. She swars to Rackensack she'll +go, and no whar else. I allers had a hankerin' arter Texas. Plague take +Rackensack, I say! Ef a man war thar, the ager and the airthquakes ed +shake him out on it quicker en nothin'." + +"When a woman's set on a gwine anywhar, they're a gwine. It's jest no use +to talk. I've coaxed Minnie more'n a little to go long with me to +Arkansas, and the more I coax, the more she wont go." + +"Well, Kit, 'sposen we swap women." + +"Well, Sam, what trade'll ye gin?" + +"Oh! a gentleman's trade, of course!" + +"Shucks, Sam! 'sposen I had a young filly, and you a old mar, ye wouldn't +ax an even trade, would ye?" + +"No; it 'ud be too hard. I tell you what I'll do, Kit. Here's a shot-gun +that's wuth ten dollars, ef it's wuth a red. I'll give it and that ar +b'ar-skin hangin' on the side of my shanty, to boot, and say it's a +trade." + +"Nuff sed, ef the women's agreed." + +Home they went, and stated the case to the women, who, _after due +deliberation_, acceded to the proposition, having also made a satisfactory +arrangement about the children, and they all soon went on their way +rejoicing to their respective destinations in that + + "American's haven of eternal rest, + Found a little farther West." + +On the Sabbath after the completion of the Memphis and Charleston +railroad, a large number of the sand-hillers came to Iuka Springs, to +witness the passing of the cars. Arriving too early, they visited a church +where divine service was progressing. Whilst the minister was in the midst +of his sermon, the locomotive whistle sounded, when a stampede took place +to the railroad. The exodus left the parson almost alone in his glory. +The passing train caused the most extravagant expressions and gestures of +wonder and astonishment by these rude observers. It was an era in their +life. + +Once while standing on the railroad-track, I observed a crowd of these +people coming to see the "_elephant_." They came so near, that I overheard +their conversation. One young lass, of sweet sixteen, with slattern dress +and dishevelled hair, looking up the road, which was visible for a great +distance, thus expressed her astonishment at what she saw: "O, dad! what a +long piece of iron!" Soon the whistle sounded; this they had never heard +before, and came to the conclusion that it was a dinner-horn. As soon as +the cars came in sight, they scattered like frightened sheep, some on one +side of the road, and some on the other. Nor did they halt till they had +placed fifty yards at least between them and the track. + +Superstition prevails amongst them to a fearful extent. Almost every hut +has a horse-shoe nailed above the door, or on the threshold, to keep out +witches. In sickness, charms and incantations are used to drive away +disease. Their physicians are chiefly what are termed faith-doctors, who +are said to work miraculous cures. They are strong believers in luck. If a +rabbit cross their path, they will turn round to change their luck. If, on +setting out on a journey, an owl hoot on the left hand, they will return +and set out anew. If the new moon is seen through brush, or on the left +hand, it is a bad omen. They will have trouble during the lunar month. +When the whippoorwill is first heard in the spring, they turn head over +heels thrice, to prevent back-ache during the year. Dreams are harbingers +of joy or wo. To dream of snakes, is ominous. To dream of seeing a coffin, +or conversing with the dead, is a sign of approaching dissolution, and +many have no doubt perished through terror, occasioned by such dreams. +Fortune-tellers are rife amongst them--those sages whose comprehensive +view knows the past, the present, and the future. They seek unto familiar +spirits, that peep and mutter, for the living to the dead. + +They have many deformed, and blind, and deaf among them, in consequence of +the intermarriage of relatives. Cousins often marry, and occasionally they +marry within the degrees of consanguinity prohibited by the law of God. +Perhaps this divine law forbids the marriage of cousins when it declares, +"Thou shalt not marry any that is near of kin." The sad effects on +posterity, both mentally and physically, lead to the conviction that if +the law of God does not condemn it, physiological law does. + +These sand-hillers do not (when no serious preventive occurs) fail to +attend the elections, where the highest bidder obtains their vote. +Sometimes their vote will command cash, and sometimes only whiskey. It is +sad to witness the elective franchise, that highest and most glorious +badge of a freeman, thus prostituted. + +The proverb holds good--Like people, like priest. Their ministers are +ignorant, ranting fanatics. They despise literature, and every Sabbath +fulminate censures upon an educated ministry. The following is a specimen +of their preaching. Mr. V---- is a Hard-shell Baptist, or, as they term +themselves, "Primitive Baptists." Entering the pulpit on a warm morning in +July, he will take off his coat and vest, roll up his sleeves, and then +begin: + + MY BRETHERING AND SISTERN--I air a ignorant man, follered the plough + all my life, and never rubbed agin nary college. As I said afore, I'm + ignorant, and I thank God for it. (Brother Jones responds, "Passon, + yer ort to be very thankful, fur yer very ignorant.") Well, I'm agin + all high larnt fellers what preaches grammar and Greek fur a thousand + dollars a year. They preaches fur the money, and they gits it, and + that's all they'll git. They've got so high larnt they contradicts + Scripter, what plainly tells us that the sun rises and sets. They seys + it don't, but that the yerth whirls round, like clay to the seal. What + ud cum of the water in the wells ef it did. Wodent it all spill out, + and leave 'em dry, and whar ed we be? I may say to them, as the + sarpent said unto David, much learning hath made thee mad. + + When I preaches, I never takes a tex till I goes inter the pulpit; + then I preaches a plain sarment, what even women can understand. I + never premedertates, but what is given to me in that same hour, that I + sez. Now I'm a gwine ter open the Bible, and the first verse I sees, + I'm a gwine to take it for a tex. (Suiting the action to the word, he + opened the Bible, and commenced reading and spelling together.) Man is + f-e-a-r-f-u-l-l-y--fearfully--and + w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l-l-y--wonderfully--m-a-d-e--mad.--"Man is fearfully + and wonderfully made." (Pronounced _mad_.) Well, it's a quar tex, but + I said I's a gwine to preach from it, and I'm a gwine to do it. In the + fust place, I'll divide my sarment into three heads. Fust and + foremost, I show you that a man will git mad. 2d. That sometimes he'll + git fearfully mad; and thirdly and lastly, when thar's lots of things + to vex and pester him, he'll git fearfully and wonderfully mad. And in + the application I'll show you that good men sometimes gits mad, for + the Posle David hisself, who rote the tex, got mad, and called all men + liars, and cussed his enemies, wishen' 'em to go down quick into hell; + and Noah, he got tite, and cussed his nigger boy Ham, just like some + drunken masters now cusses their niggers. But Noah and David repented; + and all on us what gits mad must repent, or the devil'll git us. + +Thus he ranted, to the great edification of his hearers, who regard him as +a perfect Boanerges, to which title his stentorian voice would truly +entitle him. This exordium will serve as a specimen of the "sarment," as +it continued in the same strain to the end of the peroration. + +Where there is no vision, the people perish. Such blind leaders of the +blind are liable, with their infatuated followers, to fall into a ditch +worse than Bunyan's Slough of Despond. This minister had undoubtedly run +when he was not sent, though he "had hearn a call; a audible voice had, +while he was a shucken corn, said unto him, Preach." Though God does not +need men's learning, yet he has as little use for their ignorance. +Learning is the handmaid of religion, but must not be substituted in its +stead. + +The causes which induce this "wilderness of mind" are patent to all who +make even a cursory examination. There is a tendency in the poor to ape +the manners of the rich. Those having slaves to labour in their stead, +toil not physically; hence labour falls into disrepute, and the poorer +classes, having no slaves to work for them, and not choosing to submit to +the degradation of labour, incur all the evils resulting from idleness and +poverty. Ignorance and vice of every kind soon ensue, and a general apathy +prevails, which destroys in a great measure all mental and physical +vigour. + +The slaveholders buy up all the fertile lands to be cultivated by their +slaves; hence the poor are crowded out, and if they remain in the vicinity +of the place of their nativity, they must occupy the poor tracts whose +sterility does not excite the cupidity of their rich neighbours. The +slaveholders' motto is, "Let us buy more negroes to raise more cotton, to +buy more negroes, and so on _ad infinitum_." To raise more cotton they +must also buy more land. Small farmers are induced to sell out to them, +and move further west. For this reason, the white population of the +fertile sections of the older slave States is constantly on the decrease, +while the slave population is as constantly increasing. Thus the +slaveholder often acquires many square miles of land, and hundreds of +human chattels. He is, as it were, set alone in the earth. Priding himself +upon his wealth, he will not send his princely sons to the same school +with the poor white trash; he either sends them to some distant college or +seminary, or employs a private teacher exclusively for his children. The +poor whites in the neighbourhood, even should they desire to educate their +children, have no means to pay for their tuition. Compelled to live on +poor or worn-out lands, honest toil considered degrading, and forced to +submit to many inconveniences and disabilities (all the offices of honour +and profit being monopolized by the slaveholders,) through the workings of +the "peculiar institution," they find it utterly impossible to educate +their offspring, even in the rudiments of their mother tongue. As the +power of slavery increases, their condition waxes worse and worse. + +The slaveocracy becomes more exacting. Laws are passed by the legislature +compelling non-slaveholders to patrol the country nightly, to prevent +insurrections by the negroes. They denounce the law, but coercion is +resorted to, and the poor whites are forced to obey. When their masters +call for them, they must leave their labour, by day or by night, patrol +the country, follow the bloodhounds, arrest the fugitive slave, and do all +other dirty work which their tyrants demand. If they refuse to obey, they +are denounced as abolitionists, and are in danger of death at the hands of +Judge Lynch, the mildest punishment they can hope for being a coat of tar +and feathers. + +The house-negroes feel themselves several degrees above the poor whites, +as they, from their opportunities for observation amongst the higher +classes, are possessed of greater information and less rusticity than this +less favoured class. The poor whites have no love for the institution of +slavery. They regard it as the instrument of inflicting upon them many +wrongs, and depriving them of many rights. They dare not express their +sentiments to the slaveholders, who hold them completely under their +power. A. G. Brown, United States Senator from Mississippi, to reconcile +the poor whites to the peculiar institution, used the following arguments +in a speech at Iuka Springs, Mississippi. He stated, that if the slaves +were liberated, and suffered to remain in the country, the rich would have +money to enable them to go to some other clime, and that the poor whites +would be compelled to remain amongst the negroes, who would steal their +property, and destroy their lives; and if slavery were abolished, and the +negroes removed and colonized, the rich would take the poor whites for +slaves, in their stead, and reduce them to the condition of the Irish and +Dutch in the North, whose condition he represented to be one of cruel +bondage. These statements had some effect upon his auditors, who +believed, from sad experience, that the rich could oppress the poor as +they chose, and might, in the contingency specified, reduce them to +slavery. Labour is considered so degrading, that any argument, based upon +making labour compulsory on their part, has its weight. Even the beggar +despises work. A sturdy beggar asked alms at a house at which I was +lodging. As he appeared to be a man of great physical strength, he was +advised to go to work, and thus provide for his wants. "Work!" said he, in +disgust; "niggers do the work in this country"--and retired highly +insulted. + +This people form a distinct class, distinguished by as many +characteristics from the middle and higher classes of Southern society, as +the Jews are from the nations amongst whom they sojourn. The causes which +brought about their reduction to their present state of semi-barbarism, +must be removed, ere they can rise to the condition whence they have +fallen. They must rise upon the ruins of slavery. When the peculiar +institution is abolished, then, and not till then, will their disabilities +be removed, and they be in reality what they are nominally--freemen. + +Slaveholders and their families form a distinct class, characterized by +idleness, vanity, licentiousness, profanity, dissipation, and tyranny. +There are glorious exceptions, it is true, but those are the +distinguishing traits of the class. The middle class is the virtuous class +of the South. They are industrious, frugal, hospitable, simple in their +habits, plain and unostentatious in their manners. Some of this class are +small slaveholders, but the great majority own none. The gross vices of +the higher class are not found among them. They labour regardless of the +sneers of their aristocratic neighbours. Senator Hammond, of South +Carolina, may call them mudsills; they regard it not, but pursue the even +tenor of their way. The slow, unmoving finger of scorn may be pointed at +them by the sons of pride, yet they refuse to eat the bread of idleness, +and labour with their _own hands_, that they may provide things honest in +the sight of all men. Equidistant from poverty and riches, they enjoy the +golden mean, and immunity from the temptations incident to the extremes of +abject poverty and great riches. + +In the slave States all those born north of the "nigger line," are +denominated Yankees. This is applied as a term of reproach. When a +southerner is angry with a man of northern nativity, he does not fail to +stigmatize him as a Yankee. The slaveholders manifest considerable +antipathy against the Yankees, which has been increasing during the last +ten years. In 1858, the Legislature of Mississippi passed resolutions +recommending non-intercourse with the "Abolition States," and requesting +the people not to patronize natives of those States residing amongst them, +and especially to discountenance Yankee ministers and teachers. In the +educational notice of Memphis Synodical College, at La Grange, Tennessee, +it is expressly stated that the Faculty are of southern birth and +education. The principals of the Female Seminaries at Corinth and Iuka, +Mississippi, give notice that no Yankee teachers will be employed in those +institutions. While on a visit at the house of a Methodist clergyman, +quite a number of ministers, returning from Conference, called to tarry +for the night. During the evening, one of them, learning that I was +"_Yankee born_," thus interrogated me: "Why is it, sir, that all kinds of +delusions originate in the North, such as Millerism, Mormonism, +Spirit-rappings, and Abolitionism?" To which I replied: "The North +originates everything. All the text-books used in southern schools, all +the books on law, physic, and divinity, are written and published north of +Mason & Dixon's line. The South does not even print Bibles. The magnetic +telegraph, the locomotive, Lucifer matches, and even the cotton-gin, are +all northern inventions. The South, sir, has not sense enough to invent a +decent humbug. These humbugs once originated, the South is always well +represented by believers in them. I have known more men to go from this +county (Shelby county, Tennessee) to the Mormons, than I have known to go +from the whole State of Ohio." + +When I had thus spoken, my inquisitor was nonplussed, and the laugh went +against him. + +When a candidate before the Presbytery of Chickasaw, in Mississippi, for +licensure, one of the members of Presbytery, learning that I was a +"Yankee," asked me the following questions, and received the following +answers: + +"Mr. Aughey, when will the day of judgment take place?" + +"The Millerites have stated that the 30th of June next will be the +judgment-day. As for myself, I have had no revelation on the subject, and +expect none." + +"Do you believe that any one can call the spirits?" + +"I do, sir." + +"What! believe that the spirits can be called?" + +"I do, sir." + +"I will vote, then, against your licensure, if you have fallen into this +heresy of the land of your nativity." + +Another then said: + +"Brother Aughey, please explain yourself. I know you do not believe in +spirit-rapping." + +"I do not, sir, though I believe, as I stated, that any one may call the +spirits; but I do not believe that they will come in answer to the call." + +A lady once remarked to me that she did not believe that a northern man +would ever become fully reconciled to the institution of slavery, and that +his influence and sentiments, whatever might be his profession of +attachment to the peculiar institution, would be against it. The cause of +the general opposition to northern men is their opposition to slavery. +Their testimony is against its abominations and barbarities, and hence the +wish to impair the credibility of the witnesses. + +An illustration of the working of the institution may be found in the +following letter: + + KOSCIUSKO, ATTALA COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, + December 25, 1861. + + MR. WILLIAM JACKMAN: + + DEAR SIR--Your last kind and truly welcome letter came to hand in due + course of mail. I owe you an apology for delaying an answer so long. + My apparent neglect was occasioned by no want of respect for you; but + in consequence of the disturbed state of the country, and difficulty + of communication with the North, I feared my reply would never reach + you. Now, however, by directing "_via_ Norfolk and flag of truce," + letters are sent across the lines to the North. In your letter you + desired me, from this stand-point, to give you my observations of the + workings of the peculiar institution, and an expression of my views as + to its consistency with the eternal principles of rectitude and + justice. In reply, I will give you a plain narrative of facts. + + On my advent to the South, I was at first struck with the fact that + the busy hum of labour had in some measure ceased. What labour I did + observe progressing, was done with little skill, and mainly by + negroes. I called upon the Rev. Dr. R. J. Breckinridge, to whom I had + a letter of introduction, who treated me with the greatest kindness, + inviting me to make his house my home when I visited that section of + country. On leaving his house, he gave me some directions as to the + road I must travel to reach a certain point. "You will pass," said he, + "a blacksmith's shop, where a one-eyed man is at work--my property." + The phrase, "my property," I had never before heard applied to a human + being, and though I had never been taught to regard the relation of + master and slave as a sinful relation, yet it grated harshly upon my + ears to hear a human being, a tradesman, called a chattel; but it + grated much more harshly, a week after this, to hear the groans of two + such chattels, as they underwent a severe flagellation, while chained + to the whipping-post, because they had, by half an hour, overstayed + their time with their families on an adjoining plantation. + + The next peculiar abomination of the peculiar institution which I + observed, was the licentiousness engendered by it. Mr. D. T----, of + Madison county, Kentucky, had a white family of children, and a black, + or rather mulatto family. As his white daughters married, he gave each + a mulatto half-sister, as a waiting-girl, or body-servant. Mr. + K.----, of Winchester, Kentucky, had a mulatto daughter, and he was + also the father of her child, thus re-enacting Lot's sin. Dr. C----, + of Tishomingo county, Mississippi, has a negro concubine, and a white + servant to wait on her. Mr. B.----, of Marshall county, Mississippi, + lived with his white wife till he had grandchildren, some of whom came + to school to me, when he repudiated his white wife, and attached + himself to a very homely old African, who superintends his household, + and rules his other slaves with rigour. Mr. S----, of Tishomingo + county, Mississippi, has a negro concubine, and a large family of + mulatto children. He once brought this woman to church in Rienzi, to + the great indignation of the white ladies, who removed to a + respectable distance from her. + + I preached recently to a large congregation of slaves, the third of + whom were as white as myself. Some of them had red hair and blue eyes. + If there are any marked characteristics of their masters' families, + the mulatto slaves are possessed of these characteristics. I refer to + physical peculiarities, such as large mouths, humped shoulders, and + peculiar expressions of countenance. I asked a gentleman how it + happened that some of his slaves had red hair. He replied that he had + a red-headed overseer for several years. + + I never knew a pious overseer--never! There may be many, but I never + saw one. Overseers, as a class, are worse than slaveholders + themselves. They are cruel, brutal, licentious, dissipated, and + profane. They always carry a loaded whip, a revolver, and a + Bowie-knife. These men have the control of women, whom they often whip + to death. Mr. P----, who resided near Holly Springs, had a negro woman + whipped to death while I was at his house during a session of + Presbytery. Mr. C----, of Waterford, Mississippi, had a woman whipped + to death by his overseer. But such cruel scourgings are of daily + occurrence. Colonel H----, a member of my church, told me yesterday + that he ordered a boy, who he supposed was _feigning_ sickness, to the + whipping-post, but that he had not advanced ten steps toward it, when + he fell dead!--and the servant was free from his master. During our + conversation, a girl passed. "There is a girl," said he, "who does not + look very white in the face, owing to exposure; but when I strip her + to whip her, I find that she has a skin as fair as my wife." Mrs. + F---- recently whipped a boy to death within half a mile of my + residence. A jury of inquest returned a verdict that he came to his + death by cruelty; but nothing more was done. Mrs. M---- and her + daughter, of Holly Springs, abused a girl repeatedly. She showed her + bruises to some of my acquaintances, and they believed them fatal. She + soon after died. Mr. S----, a member of my church, has several maimed + negroes from abuse on the part of the overseer. + + I am residing on the banks of the Yock-a-nookany, which means + "meandering," when translated from the Indian tongue. In this vicinity + there are large plantations, cultivated by hundreds of negroes. The + white population is sparse. Every night the negroes are brought to a + judgment-seat. The overseer presides. If they have not laboured to + suit him, or if their task is unfulfilled, they are chained to a post, + and severely whipped. The victims are invariably stripped; to what + extent, is at the option of the overseer. In Louisiana, women, + preparatory to whipping, are often stripped to a state of perfect + nudity. Old Mr. C----, of Waterford, Mississippi, punished his negroes + _by slitting the soles of their feet with his Bowie-knife_! One man he + put into a cotton-press, and turned the screw till life was extinct. + He stated that he only intended to alarm the man, but carried the joke + too far. I have heard women thus plead, in piteous accents, when + chained to the whipping-post, and stripped: "O, my God, master! don't + whip me! I was sick! indeed I was sick! I had a chill, and the fever + is on me now! I haven't tasted a morsel to-day! You know I works when + I is well! O for God's sake don't whip a poor sick nigger! My poor + chile's sick too! Missis thinks it's a dyin'! O master, for the love + of God, don't cut a poor distressed woman wid your whip! I'll try to + do better, ef you'll only let me off this once!" These piteous + plaints only rouse the ire of their cruel task-masters, who sometimes + knock them down in the midst of their pleadings. I have known an + instance of a woman giving birth to a child at the whipping-post. The + fright and pain brought on premature labour. + + One beautiful Sabbath morning I stood on the levee at Baton Rouge, + Louisiana, and counted twenty-seven sugar-houses in full blast. I + found that the negroes were compelled to labour eighteen hours per + day, and were not permitted to rest on the Sabbath during the rolling + season. The negroes on most plantations have a truck-patch, which they + cultivate on the Sabbath. I have pointed out the sin of thus labouring + on the Sabbath, but they plead necessity; their children, they state, + must suffer from hunger if they did not cultivate their truck-patch, + and their masters would not give them time on any other day. + + Negroes, by law, are prohibited from learning to read. This law was + not strictly enforced in Tennessee and some other States till within + a few years past. I had charge of a Sabbath-school for the instruction + of blacks in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1853. This school was put down by + the strong arm of the law in a short time after my connection with it + ceased. In Mississippi, a man who taught slaves to read or write would + be sent to the penitentiary instanter. The popular plea for this + wickedness is, that if they were taught to read, they would read + abolition documents; and if they were taught to write, they would + write themselves passes, and pass northward to Canada. + + Such advertisements as the following often greet the eye. + + "_Kansas War._--The undersind taks this method of makkin it noan that + he has got a pack of the best nigger hounds in the South. My hounds is + well trand, and I has had much experience a huntin niggers, having + follered it for the last fiften year. I will go anywhar that I'm sent + for, and will ketch niggers at the follerin raits. + + "My raits fur ketchin runaway niggers $10 per hed, ef they's found in + the beat whar thar master lives; $15 if they's found in the county, + and $50 if they's tuck out on the county. + + "N. B.--Pay is due when the nigger is tuck. Planters ort to send fur + me as soon as thar niggers runs away, while thar trak is fresh." + + Every night the woods resound with the deep-mouthed baying of the + bloodhounds. The slaves are said by some to love their masters; but it + requires the terrors of bloodhounds and the fugitive slave law to keep + them in bondage. You in the North are compelled to act the part of the + bloodhounds here, and catch the fugitives for the planters of the + South. Free negroes are sold into bondage for the most trivial + offences. Slaveholders declare that the presence of free persons of + colour exerts a pernicious influence upon their slaves, rendering them + discontented with their condition, and inspiring a desire for freedom. + They therefore are very desirous of getting rid of these persons, + either by banishing them from the State or enslaving them. The + legislature of Mississippi has passed a law for their expulsion, and + other States have followed in the wake. The Governor of Missouri has + vetoed the law for the expulsion of free persons of colour, passed by + the legislature of that State because of its unconstitutionality. + + Were I to recount all the abominations of the peculiar institution, + and the wrongs inflicted upon the African race, that have come under + my observation, they would fill a large volume. Slavery is guilty of + six abominations; yea, seven may justly be charged upon it. It is said + that the negro is lazy, and will not work except by compulsion. I have + known negroes who have purchased their freedom by the payment of a + large sum, and afterward made not only a good living, but a fortune + beside. It is said Judge W---- of South Carolina gave his servants the + use of his plantation, upon condition that they would support his + family; and that in three years he was compelled to take the + management himself, as they did not make a comfortable living for + themselves and the Judge's family. In reply, it might be said that the + negroes had not a fair trial, as no one had any property he could call + his own, and they were thrown into a sort of Fourierite society, + having all things in common. In this state of things, while some would + work, others would be idle. White men do not succeed in such + communities, and for this reason it was no fair test of the industrial + energies of Judge W----'s slaves. + + The question is often asked, is slavery sinful in itself? My + observation has been extensive, embracing eight slave States, and I + have never yet seen any example of slavery that I did not deem sinful. + If slavery is not sinful in itself, I must have always seen it out of + itself. I have observed its workings during eleven years, amongst a + professedly Christian people, and cannot do otherwise than pronounce + it an unmitigated curse. It is a curse to the white man, it is a curse + to the black man. That God will curse it, and blot it out of existence + ere long, is my firm conviction. The elements of its abolition exist; + God speed the time when they will be fully developed, and this mother + of abominations driven from the land of the free! The development of + the eternal principles of justice and rectitude will abolish this + hoary monster of fraud and oppression. Slavery subverts all the rights + of man. It divests him of citizenship, of liberty, of the pursuit of + happiness, of his children, of his wife, of his property, of + intellectual culture, reserving to him only the rights of the horse + and ass, and reducing him to the same chattel condition with them. Not + a single right does the State law grant him above that of the + mule--no, not one. The chastity of the slave has no legal protection. + The Methodist Church South is expunging from the discipline everything + inimical to the peculiar institution, whilst I observe that the Church + North is adding to her testimony and deliverances against the sin of + slaveholding. The Church South refused to abide by the rules of the + Church, and hence the guilt of the schism lies with her, and you are + henceforth free from any guilt in conniving at the sin which the + founder of your church, the illustrious Wesley, regarded as the "sum + of all villany." + + Remember me kindly to Mrs. Jackman and family. Hoping to hear from + you soon, I beg leave to subscribe myself, + + Yours fraternally, + JOHN H. AUGHEY. + + To Mr. William Jackman, + Amsterdam, Jefferson Co., Ohio. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +NOTORIOUS REBELS.--UNION OFFICERS. + + Colonel Jefferson Davis--His Speech at Holly Springs, Mississippi--His + Opposition to Yankee Teachers and Ministers--A bid for the + Presidency--His Ambition--Burr, Arnold, Davis--General + Beauregard--Headquarters at Rienzi--Colonel Elliott's + Raid--Beauregard's Consternation--Personal description--His + illness--Popularity waning--Rev. Dr. Palmer of New Orleans--His + influence--The Cincinnati Letter--His Personal Appearance--His + Denunciations of General Butler--His Radicalism--Rev. Dr. Waddell of + La Grange, Tennessee--His Prejudices against the North--President of + Memphis Synodical College--His Talents prostituted--Union + Officers--General Nelson--General Sherman. + + +COLONEL JEFFERSON DAVIS. + +In 1856 I heard Colonel Jefferson Davis deliver an address at Holly +Springs, Mississippi. The Colonel is about a medium height, of slender +frame, his nose aquiline, his hair dark, his manners polite. He is no +orator. His speech was principally a tirade of abuse against the North, +bitterly inveighing against the emigrant aid societies which had +well-nigh put Kansas upon the list of free States. He advised the people +to employ no more Yankee teachers. He had been educated in the North, and +he regarded it as the greatest misfortune of his life. Soon after Colonel +Davis visited New England, where he eulogized that section in an +extravagant manner. He was pleased with everything he saw; even "Noah +Webster's Yankee spelling-book" received a share of the Colonel's fulsome +flattery. On his return to the South, "a change came o'er the spirit of +his dream," and his bile and bitterness against Yankee-land returned in +all its pristine vigour. The Colonel was making a bid for the Presidency; +but New England was not so easily gulled; his flimsy professions of +friendship were too transparent to hide the hate which lay beneath, and +his aspirations were doomed to disappointment. + +Though Colonel Davis is often called Mississippi's pet, yet he is not +regarded as a truthful man, and his reports and messages are received +with considerable abatement by "the chivalry." His ambition knows no +bounds. He would rather "reign in hell than serve in heaven." + +Had Jefferson Davis been elected President of the United States, he would +have been among the last instead of the first to favour secession. Had he +been slain on the bloody fields of Mexico, his memory would have been +cherished. History will assign him a place among the infamous. Burr, +Arnold, and Davis will be names for ever execrated by true patriots. The +two former died a natural death, though the united voice of their +countrymen would have approved of their execution on the gallows. The fate +of the latter lies still in the womb of futurity, though his loyal +countrymen, without a dissenting voice, declare that he deserves a felon's +doom. An announcement of his death would suffuse no patriot's eye with +tears. What loyalist would weep while he read the news-item--the arch +traitor Jeff. Davis is dead. + + +GENERAL G. T. BEAUREGARD. + +I met General Beauregard under very peculiar circumstances. I had gone to +Rienzi for the purpose of escaping to the Federal lines for protection +from the rigorous and sweeping conscript law. When I arrived, I found the +rebels evacuating Corinth, and their sick and wounded passing down the +Mobile and Ohio railroad to the hospitals below. General Beauregard had +just arrived in Rienzi, and had his headquarters at the house of Mr. +Sutherland. A rumour had spread through Rienzi that General Beauregard had +ordered the women and children to leave the town. Many of them, believing +that the order had been issued, were hastening into the country. In order +to confirm or refute the statement, I called upon General Beauregard, and +asked him whether he had issued such an order. He replied, "I have issued +no such order, sir." Just at that moment a courier arrived with the +information that the Yankees had attacked the advance of their retreating +army at Boonville, that they had destroyed the depot, and taken many +prisoners. The General told the courier that he must be mistaken; that it +was impossible for the Yankees to pass around his army. While he was yet +speaking a citizen arrived from Boonville, confirming the statement of the +courier. Beauregard was still incredulous, replying that they must have +mistaken the Confederates for the Yankees. In a few minutes the explosion +of shells shook the building. The General then thought that it might be +true that the Yankees had passed around the army; but on hearing the +shells, he stated that General Green (of Missouri) was driving them away +with his cannon. The truth was soon ascertained by the arrival of several +couriers. Col. Elliott, of the Federal army, had made a raid upon +Boonville, had fired the depot, and destroyed a large train of cars filled +with ammunition. The explosions of the shells which we heard was +occasioned by the fire reaching the ears in which these shells were +stored. The Colonel also destroyed the railroad to such an extent that it +required several days to repair the track. + +General Beauregard is below the medium height, and has a decidedly French +expression of countenance. His hair is quite gray, though a glance at his +face will convince the observer that it is prematurely so. The General is +regarded as taciturn. His countenance is careworn and haggard. During the +winter of 1861-2, he was attacked with bronchitis and typhoid pneumonia, +and came near dying; and had not, at my interview, by any means recovered +his pristine health and vigour. His prestige as an able commander is +rapidly waning. For some time his military talents were considered of the +first order; now a third-rate position is assigned him. He is still +regarded as a first-class engineer. When General Sterling Price arrived at +Corinth, General Beauregard conducted him around all the fortifications, +explaining their nature and unfolding their strength; but no word of +approval could he elicit from the Missouri General. At length he ventured +to ask what he thought of their capacity for resisting an attack. General +Price replied, "They may prove effective in resisting an attack. These are +the second fortifications I ever saw; the first I captured." He had +reference to Colonel Mulligan's, at Lexington, Missouri. Sumter and +Manassas gave Beauregard fame. Since the latter battle his star has +declined steadily; and if the Federal generals prove themselves competent, +it will soon go out in total darkness, and the world's verdict will be, it +was a misfortune that Beauregard lived. + + +REV. DR. B. M. PALMER. + +Dr. Palmer has done more than any non-combatant in the South to promote +the rebellion. He was accessory both before and after the fact. His +sermons are nearly all abusive of the North. The mudsills of Yankeedom and +the scum of Europe are phrases of frequent use in his public addresses, +and they are meant to include all living north of what is more familiarly +than elegantly termed in the South the "nigger line," although the North +is the land of his parental nativity. + +A few years ago, Dr. Palmer wrote to a friend in Cincinnati respecting a +vacant church, in which he gave as one reason, among others, for desiring +to come North, that he wished to remove his family from the baleful +influences of slavery. That letter still exists, and ought to be +published. + +Dr. Palmer's personal appearance is by no means prepossessing. He is small +of stature, of very dark complexion, dish-faced. His nose is said to have +been broken when a child; at all events, it is a deformity. He is fluent +in speech, has a vivid imagination, and has a great influence over a +promiscuous congregation. + +After the reduction of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and the capture of +New Orleans, Dr. Palmer came to Corinth, where he preached to the rebel +army. His text was invariably General Butler's "women-of-the-town order," +which we fully believe he intentionally misconstrued. The conservation and +extension of slavery is a matter which lies near the Doctor's heart. He +urged secession for the purpose of extending and perpetuating for ever +the peculiar institution. His views, however, must have undergone a +radical change since the writing of the Cincinnati letter, as he then +regarded slavery with little favour. Love of public favour may have much +to do with his recently expressed views, for no true Christian and patriot +can wish to perpetuate and extend an institution founded on the total +subversion of the rights of man. + + +REV. DR. JOHN N. WADDELL. + +Dr. Waddell is a man of considerable talent, but his prejudices are very +strong against the North. He cordially hates a Yankee, and his poor +distressed wife, who was a native of New England, was compelled to return +to her home, where she mourns in virtual widowhood her unfortunate +connection with a man who detests her land and people. Dr. Waddell's +sermons are very abusive. The North is the theme of animadversion in all +the published sermons and addresses I have seen from his prolific pen. He +has prostituted his fine talents, and his writings are full of cursing +and bitterness. As President of La Grange College, Tennessee, he might +wield a great influence for good--an influence which would tend to calm +the storm aroused by demagogues, rather than increase its power. His +memory will rot, for the evil which he has done will live after him. + + +MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM NELSON. + +I met General Nelson frequently at his head-quarters at Iuka Springs, +Mississippi. Though the General was quite brusque in his manners, yet he +always treated me with kindness and marked attention. Once while seated at +the table with him, several guests being present, the following colloquy +ensued. + +"Parson Aughey, I suppose you are well versed in the Scriptures, and in +order to test your knowledge, permit me to ask a question, which doubtless +you are able to answer." + +"Certainly, General, you have permission to ask the question you propose. +I am not so sure, however, about my ability to answer it." + +"The question I desire to propose is this--How many preceded Noah in +leaving the ark?" + +"I am unable to answer, sir." + +"That is strange, as the Bible so plainly and explicitly informs us. We +are told that Noah went _forth_ out of the ark; therefore _three_ must +have preceded him." + +The General's wit "set the table in a roar." As soon as the mirth had +subsided, I addressed the General: + +"It is my turn to ask a question. Do you know, sir, where the witch of +Endor lived?" + +"I did know, but really I have forgotten." + +"Well, sir, she lived at Endor." + +The laugh was now against him, but he joined in it heartily himself. + +Knowing that General Nelson had visited every quarter of the globe, I +asked him whether he had ever seen any of the modern Greeks. + +"I never saw any of the ancient Greeks," was his curt reply. + +General Nelson was regarded as a brave and skilful officer. He has done +good service in his country's cause. At Shiloh his promptness and +efficiency contributed greatly to retrieve the disaster which befell +General Grant on the first day of the battle. His rencontre with General +Davis, which resulted in his own death, is greatly to be regretted, though +his own ungovernable temper and inexcusable conduct caused his tragic end. + +I once visited his headquarters late in the afternoon. On my arrival, he +informed me that I would confer a great favour upon him by guiding a +company of cavalry on an expedition to the south-eastern part of the +county, to which I consented. I rode in front with the officer in command. +When we had reached a point beyond the pickets, my companion informed me +that we would meet no more Federals; if we met any soldiers while outward +bound, we might take it for granted that they were rebels. After riding +about an hour longer, we encountered a company of cavalry, and were +ordered to halt by the officer in command. My companion, stating that they +must be rebels, rode up and gave the countersign. I felt somewhat uneasy +at the head of that company at this time, not knowing the moment that +bullets would be whistling around us. They proved however to be Federals, +returning from an extended scouting expedition. I conducted our company to +the house of a Union man, whom we aroused from his bed; and learning that +we were Federals, he took my place, and I returned to General Nelson. The +General now desired me to go as a spy, to obtain information as to the +number of troops stationed at Norman's Bridge, which spanned Big Bear +Creek. I replied that I had ridden sixty miles without sleep, but that I +would send two Union men of my acquaintance in my stead. This was +satisfactory, and my Union friends returned with accurate information as +to the number of rebel troops stationed at the bridge, and the best points +of attack. The attack was made on the next day after receiving the +information, and the rebels were surprised and totally defeated; but few +escaped death or capture. + + +GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN. + +On the day that General Sherman reached Rienzi, I supped with him at the +house of a friend. At table the following dialogue took place between us. + +"Are you the person from whom Sherman's battery took its name?" + +"I am, sir." + +"Many gentlemen in this county," said I, "and among them my father-in-law, +have pipes made of the fragments of the gun-carriages of Sherman's +battery, which was captured at Manassas by the Confederates." + +"Sherman's battery was not captured at Manassas," replied the General. + +"The honour of capturing Sherman's battery is generally accorded to the +second regiment of Mississippi volunteers, which went from this county and +the adjoining county of Tippah, though several regiments claim it, and +many of my friends declare that they have seen Sherman's battery since its +capture." + +"I assure you, sir, Sherman's battery was not captured--so far from this, +it came out of the battle of Manassas Plains with two pieces captured from +the enemy, having itself lost none." + +At this moment Colonel Fry, who killed Zollikoffer, rode up for orders. +While receiving them, the horses attached to a battery halted in front of +us. "There," said the General, "is every piece of Sherman's battery. I +ought to know that battery, and I assure you there is not a gun missing." + +The pipes, canes, and trinkets supposed to be made of the wood of +Sherman's battery, if collected, would form a vast pile; and were you to +inform the owners of those relics that they were spurious, you would be +politely informed that you might "tell that tale to the marines," as their +sons and their neighbours' sons were the honoured captors of that battery; +a fact, concerning the truth of which they entertained not even the shadow +of a doubt. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +CONDITION OF THE SOUTH. + + Cause of the Rebellion--Prevalence of Union Sentiment in the + South--Why not Developed--Stevenson's Views--Why Incorrect--Cavalry + Raids upon Union Citizens--How the Rebels employ Slaves--Slaves + Whipped and sent out of the Federal Lines--Resisting the Conscript + Law--Kansas Jayhawkers--Guarding Rebel Property--Perfidy of + Secessionists--Plea for Emancipation--The South Exhausted--Failure of + Crops--Southern Merchants Ruined--Bragg Prohibits the Manufacture and + Vending of Intoxicating Liquors--Its Salutary Effect. + + +The following is the substance of addresses delivered by me on October 22d +and 25th, 1862, at Cooper's Institute, New York, and before the Synod of +New York and New Jersey, at its session in Brooklyn. + + I will confine myself to rendering answers to various questions which + have been asked me since my escape to the North. I have viewed the + rebellion from a southern stand-point; have been conversant with its + whole history; have been behind the curtains, and have learned the + motives which impel its instigators in their treasonable designs + against the Government. + + Slavery I believe to have been the sole cause of the rebellion. It is + true that the slaveholders of the South were becoming strongly + anti-republican. Rule or ruin was their determination, and they would + not have listened to any compromise measure after the election of Mr. + Lincoln; but this feeling, this opposition to republicanism, and lust + of power, is the offspring of slavery. In 1856 I heard Jeff. Davis + declare that the people of the North and the South were not + homogeneous, and that therefore he advocated secession. The reason he + assigned for this want of homogeneousness was found in the fact that + the South held slaves; the North did not. + + Men accustomed to exercise arbitrary power over their fellow-men, will + not cease their encroachments upon the rights of all with whom they + are associated, politically or otherwise, and a temporary suspension + of the control of the government is regarded by them as a _casus + belli_. Slavery may therefore be justly regarded as the parent of + secession. Whilst this cause exists, the South will be the hot-bed of + treason. Slavery has produced its legitimate fruit, and treason is its + name. With slavery intact, no compromise, if accepted by the South, + would prevent another outbreak in a few years. + + The question has been asked, is there any Union sentiment in the + South? I reply that there is a strong Union sentiment, even in + Mississippi. This sentiment is not found amongst the slaveholders, + for, as a class, they are firmly united in their hostility to the + Government. The middle and lower classes are not only opposed to + secession, but also to slavery itself. Eleven years' association with + the southern people has enabled me to form a correct opinion, and to + know whereof I affirm. I make this statement without fear of + successful contradiction, that the majority of the white inhabitants + of the South are Union-loving men. The slaveholders have long ruled + both the blacks and the whites in the South. When the rebellion was + determined upon, the slaveholders had the organized force to compel + acquiescence upon the part of those who favoured the Union, yet wished + to remain neutral. Their drafts and conscriptions swept them into the + army, and when once there, they must obey their officers upon pain of + death. To desert and join the Union army, was to abandon their homes + and families, and all their youthful associations. Yet many have done + it, and are now doing good service in their country's cause. + + The rebels punished with death any who declared himself in favour of + the Union. In my presence at Tupelo, they were taken out daily and + shot for the expression of sentiments adverse to the rebellion. If the + Union troops at any time occupied a place, and the people expressed + any favourable sentiments to their cause, upon the evacuation of that + position, those who sided with the Union troops were cruelly treated. + All these causes, and many others which I might mention, have + prevented the full development of the true sentiments of the people. I + could name many localities within the rebel lines where the great + majority of the people bitterly denounce the Southern Confederacy and + all connected with it. I could name many individuals who have declared + to me that they would prefer death to a dishonourable compliance with + the conscript law. I could name localities within the rebel lines + where armed resistance to the conscript law has been made; but the + safety of those loyal citizens forbids it. + + I know that there are some who assert that there is no Union feeling + in the South; but they are mistaken. The author of "Thirteen Months in + the Rebel Army" found but little. His situation was not favourable for + its discovery. He informs us in his work, that after he had been + compelled to _volunteer_, he regarded his oath (an oath much more + honoured in the breach than in the observance,) of such force that he + sought to obtain information, rather than to desert. He passed from + one post of preferment to another, till at length he was on duty under + the eye of Breckinridge himself, who complimented him upon his + alacrity in bearing dispatches; and this was truly great, as he rode + at one time sixty miles in seven hours, and at another, fourteen + miles in less than fifty minutes. He also exhibited a guarded zeal for + the secession cause. Who would have gone to an officer who was + apparently aiding and abetting the rebellion, ably and assiduously, to + communicate his Union sentiments? Any who would thus betray themselves + could not be sure that they would not be shot in twenty-four hours. + Had Mr. Stevenson been with me in Tupelo, and looked upon those + seventy or eighty prisoners who were incarcerated for their adherence + to the Union--had he witnessed the daily execution of some of them who + preferred death to _volunteering_ to defend a cause which they did not + hesitate to denounce at the peril of their lives--had he been with me + while in the midst of a host of Union citizens of Mississippi, who at + the noon of night had assembled in the deep glens and on the high + hills, for the purpose of devising means to resist the hated conscript + law--he would have come to a far different conclusion. I have seen the + cavalry go out to arrest Union men. I was at a Mr. William Herron's, + in South Carroll, Carrol county, Tennessee, and while there, several + companies of cavalry came up from Jackson to destroy the loyal + citizens of that vicinity, and they did destroy some of them and much + property. They passed within two hundred yards of fortifications + hastily thrown up to resist them, and would have been fired on had + they come within range. Before completing their mission, a messenger + came to inform them that Fort Henry was beleagured. They hastened to + the fort just in time to take part in the action. After the surrender + of the fort, they retreated to Fort Donelson, and were all captured at + the reduction of that fort, to the great joy of those Union citizens + whom they had driven from their homes, and whose property they had + destroyed. + + The slaves add greatly to the strength of the rebellion. Slave labour + is extensively employed in the military department. They are the + sappers and miners, the cooks, the teamsters, the artisans; and there + are instances where they are forced to shoulder the musket and go into + the ranks. I have seen and conversed with slave soldiers who have + fought in every battle from Manassas to Shiloh. + + Many strong secession counties send more soldiers to the rebel army + than there are voters in those counties. The slaves who remain at + home, labour to raise provisions for the sustenance of the families of + the soldiers, and a surplus for the army; hence every white man is + available for service in the field. Were this slave labour diverted to + some other channel, the result would follow, that a great proportion + of the rebel soldiers would be forced to return home to care for their + families, or those families must perish. In order to divert this + labour, it would be only necessary to encourage the negroes to leave + their masters. Wherever the Federal army has advanced in the + southwest, the slaves have crowded into their lines by hundreds, and + only desisted upon learning, much to their regret, that they would not + be received, many of them being tied up and whipped, and then sent + southward beyond the limits of the Federal army. Some who had + travelled seventy miles upon the underground railroad, to reach the + Union army, being asked by their fellow-servants upon their return, + how they liked the Yankees, replied that "General Nelson sort o' + hinted that he didn't want us." Upon being urged to be more explicit, + and to state more fully what was the nature of the hint which led them + to infer that General Nelson did not want them, their spokesman + replied: "Well, if we must tell, we must. General Nelson tied us up + and gave us fifty apiece, and sent us off, sw'arin' he'd guv us a + hundred ef we didn't go right straight back home to our masters. He + said this wa'n't no war got up to set the niggers free." + + The Kansas Jayhawkers liberate all the slaves with whom they come in + contact. I passed four regiments of their cavalry last August, on + their way to Rienzi, Mississippi. They had about two thousand slaves + with them, of every age and sex. Those slaves groomed their horses, + drove their wagons, cooked their victuals, and made themselves useful + in a variety of ways, leaving every white man free to go into the + battle when the hour of contest arrived. + + Slavery is a strong prop to the rebellion. Four millions of labourers + are able to furnish supplies for eight millions. Subtract that vast + resource from the rebellion, add it to the support of the Government, + and its stunning effect would be speedily demonstrated in the complete + paralysis of the Southern Confederacy. In order to supply the loss of + the slaves, half the soldiers in the army must return, or famine would + sweep both the army and the families of the soldiers from the face of + the earth. One cause of the long continuance of the war is, that the + Union army has endeavoured to conciliate the South, rather than crush + the rebellion. They have guarded the property of the rebels; they have + returned promptly their fugitive slaves; they have put down servile + insurrection with an iron hand, and in every possible way have shown + clemency instead of severity. But their kindness has been abused, + their clemency regarded as evidence of imbecility, and the humane + policy of the Government totally misconstrued. Captain John Rainey, of + Cambridge, Ohio, while on duty at Corinth, Mississippi, received an + application from a notorious secessionist for a guard to protect his + premises, which was obtained for him from the colonel, three soldiers + being detached for that purpose, who proceeded to the station assigned + them. About four o'clock in the afternoon they saw the owner of the + premises they were guarding, mount his horse and ride off. Supposing + him to be going on some ordinary errand, they took no further notice + of it. About nine o'clock, one of the guard who had strayed into the + orchard, some three hundred yards from the house, heard an unusual + sound, as of cavalry approaching. Concealing himself, he saw, by the + bright moonlight, this secessionist ride up with seven or eight rebel + cavalrymen, who, seizing his two companions, rode off with them as + prisoners. The ingrate who committed this base and perfidious act then + went into his house and retired to rest. As speedily as possible the + third picket returned to his company, and informed them of the + occurrence. Fired with indignation, twenty men volunteered to visit + summary punishment upon the perpetrator of this villany. Hastening to + his house, they aroused him from his slumbers, and in a few minutes + suspended him by the neck between the heavens and the earth. On their + return they reported to their companions what they had done, and, + through fear of punishment, took every precaution to prevent the act + reaching the colonel's ears. It was reported to the colonel, however, + whose reply to his informant was, "Served him right!" This policy of + guarding rebel property by Union troops must be abandoned, or the war + will never terminate. The Union army has been attacked by the rebels + when large numbers of the soldiers were absent as guards to protect + the plantations and all the interests of secessionists. Such gingerly + warfare must end, or the days of the Republic are numbered. Carrying + the war into the enemy's country has thus far proved a mere farce. The + retreating rebels destroyed tenfold more property than the pursuing + Federals. I would not counsel cruelty. I would not advise the + unnecessary destruction of life or property, for all wanton + destruction tends to weaken rather than to strengthen the cause of + those who perpetrate it. Vandalism is everywhere reprehensible. The + proper policy I believe to be this: Let the Union army be supplied + with provisions, so far as practicable, from the territory occupied. + Let the slaves find protection and employment on their arrival within + the Union lines. Despise not their valuable services. Let it be + proclaimed that for every Union citizen of the South who is slain for + his adherence to the old flag, a rebel prisoner shall be executed, and + that the confiscated property of Union men shall be restored, at the + cost of rebel sympathizers in the vicinity. Let these necessary + measures be carried out, and no well-informed person can doubt that + the war will cease before the end of six months. With slavery, the + rebels are powerful; without it, they are powerless. With slavery, + every white man between the ages of eighteen and sixty is available as + a soldier, and vast supplies are procured by servile labour. Abolish + slavery, and the army would be immediately reduced one-half, and + supplies would be diminished to a destructive extent. Slaves armed + and drilled would make effective soldiers. With a perfect knowledge of + the country, with an intense desire to liberate themselves and their + brethren from bondage, with an ardent hatred of their cruel masters + and overseers, (and the majority of them are cruel,) they would render + a willing and powerful aid in crushing the great rebellion. After the + war is ended, give them as much land as their necessities require, + either in New Mexico or Arizona, and they will furnish more sugar, + rice, and cotton, than were extorted from them by compulsory labour in + the house of bondage. + + The desire for freedom on the part of the slaves is universal. It is, + according to my observation and full belief, a rule without exception. + These aspirations are constantly increasing as the rigours of slavery + are increased, and the slaves are as well prepared for freedom as they + would be a hundred years hence. The _Iron Furnace_ of slavery does not + tend to the elevation of its victims. There are better methods of + elevating a race than by enslaving it. The moral elevation of the + slave is no part of the reason why he is held in bondage; but the + convenience and profit of the master is the sole end and aim of the + peculiar institution. All attempts on the part of the slaves to obtain + their liberty are resisted by the slaveholders, by the infliction of + appalling and barbarous cruelties. Thirty-two negroes were executed at + Natchez, Mississippi, recently, because they expressed a determination + "to go to Lincoln." Six were hanged in Hoxubee county, and one burned + in the streets of Macon. The southern papers state that Hon. Mr. Orr, + of South Carolina, attempted to drive his slaves into the interior, to + prevent their escaping to the Yankees, and upon their refusal to go, + he ordered them to be driven at the point of the bayonet, and in the + execution of the order, fifty of them were slain. There are instances + in which the slave is greatly attached to his master's family, but his + love of liberty is greater than that attachment. It often transcends + his love for his own family, which he abandons for its sake, risking + his life on the underground railroad, and enduring the rigours of a + Canadian winter, that he may enjoy his inalienable rights. + + The southwest is already nearly exhausted. The troops which first went + into the service were well supplied with clothing, provisions, and + money; but the conscripts were poorly clad, and received their wages + in Confederate bonds, which have so depreciated, that ten dollars in + gold will purchase one hundred dollars of the bonds. Great suffering + is the consequence, and desertions are of daily occurrence. While I + was in prison at Tupelo, eighty-seven of the Arkansas infantry + deserted in a body. One hundred cavalry were sent to arrest them, but + they defeated the cavalry in a fair fight, and went on their way + rejoicing. Tennesseeans and Kentuckians could not be trusted on picket + duty, their proclivity for desertion being notorious. They suffered no + opportunity to escape them, and often went off in squads. Many of them + being forced into the service, did not consider their involuntary oath + binding. + + The wheat crop of 1862, in the southwest, was almost totally destroyed + by the rust, and the corn crop by the drought. Salt could not be + obtained at any cost, and every marketable commodity had reached a + fabulous price. Southern merchants feel that they are ruined. At the + commencement of the war they had made large purchases in the North, + mainly on credit. The rebel Congress passed a law that all who were + indebted to the North must pay two-thirds of the amount of their + indebtedness to the Southern Confederacy. This the merchants did. They + then sold their goods, taking cotton and Confederate money in pay. The + cotton was destroyed by order of Beauregard, and the Confederate scrip + is worthless, and the Federal generals are enforcing the payment of + Northern claims. This fourfold loss will beggar every southern + merchant subjected to it. + + At the commencement of the war, strong drink was abundant, and it was + freely used by the soldiers. Drunkenness was fearfully prevalent. This + vice increased to such a degree that the army was rapidly becoming + demoralized. A large amount of grain was wasted in the manufacture of + liquor. At this juncture the rebel government wisely prohibited the + manufacture and sale of all that would intoxicate. Soon the wisdom of + this measure was apparent. For a time this contraband article was + smuggled in, yet it was only in limited quantities, and at the present + time a drunken soldier is a _rara avis_ in the army. At the first + promulgation of the law, a cunning countryman perforated a large + number of eggs, withdrew the contents, filled the shells with whiskey, + closed them up, and carrying them to the camp at Rienzi, sold them at + an exorbitant price. Others resorted to filling coffee-pots with + whisky, stopping up the bottom of the spout, filling it with + buttermilk, and if asked by the guards what they had for sale, would + pour out some of the milk in the spout, and by this deception gain an + entrance to the camp, and supply the soldiers with liquor. But all + these tricks were discovered, and since the manufacture, as well as + the sale, was prohibited, the supply on hand became exhausted, and + drunkenness ceased. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +BATTLES OF LEESBURG, BELMONT, AND SHILOH. + + Rebel Cruelty to Prisoners--The Fratricide--Grant Defeated--Saved by + Gunboats--Buell's Advance--Railroad Disaster--The South + Despondent--General Rosecrans--Secession will become Odious even in + the South--Poem. + + +BATTLE OF LEESBURG. + +The battle of Leesburg was fought on the 21st of October, 1861. The +southern accounts of this battle were so contradictory, that I will not +give the various versions. One statement, however, all concur in--that +when the Federal troops retreated to the river, after being overpowered by +superior numbers, and had thrown down their arms, calling for quarter, no +mercy was shown them. Hundreds were bayoneted, or forced into the river +and drowned. The rebels clubbed their guns, and dashed out the brains of +many while kneeling at their feet and imploring mercy. I saw one ruffian +who boasted that he had bayoneted seven Yankee prisoners captured on that +occasion. + + +BATTLE OF BELMONT. + +The battle of Belmont was fought on the 7th of November, 1861. I have +heard repeatedly from southern officers their version of the events which +occurred on that occasion. General McClernand, for the purpose of breaking +up the rebel camp at Belmont, attacked it in force at an early hour, and +completely routed the enemy, pursuing them to a considerable distance. +Returning, he destroyed completely the camp, but delaying too long, large +reinforcements were thrown over the river from Columbus, and the Federals +were compelled to retreat precipitately to their boats, not, however, till +they had fully accomplished the object of their mission. A scene occurred +on this field which exhibits one of the saddest phases of this internecine +strife. The incident was related to me by Mr. Tomlin, a lawyer of Jackson, +Tennessee, not unknown even in the North, who was personally acquainted +with the actors. Colonel Rogers, of an Illinois regiment, led his command +into action early in the contest. A Tennessee regiment opposed him with +fierceness for some time. At length they began to waver and exhibit +symptoms of disorder. At this moment their colonel, who had been unhorsed, +mounted a stump, and by an energetic and fervid address, rallied his men. +Again they began to falter, and again his burning words restored order. +Colonel Rogers believing that the safety of himself and regiment depended +upon the death of the Tennessee colonel, drew a pistol from his holsters, +rode up and deliberately shot him through the brain. The Tennesseeans +seeing their colonel fall, fled precipitately. On the return of the +Illinois troops, Colonel Rogers, impelled by curiosity, dismounted, and +scanning the features of the colonel whom his own hand had slain, +recognised his own brother. As the tide of battle had rolled past for the +moment, he ordered the corpse to be conveyed to a transport, on which it +was brought to Cairo, and thence borne to the stricken parents, who +mourned over and buried the remains of their brave but erring child, who +had met his fate at his brother's unconsciously fratricidal hand. + + +BATTLE OF SHILOH. + +On April 6th, 1862, the sun rose clear; not a cloud was discernible in the +sky; it was truly a lovely Sabbath, even for a southern clime. Early in +the morning I took a walk with my little daughter, a child four years of +age, in whose prattle I was taking great interest. We had gone about one +hundred yards when my child exclaimed, "Pa, we must go back! it's going to +rain; don't you hear the thunder?" The sharp and stunning reports I soon +recognised to be the sound of cannon on the field of battle. The +cannonading continued incessantly during the day. The whole country became +intensely excited, and many citizens hastened to the battlefield, the +majority bent upon plunder. On Monday the battle still raged with +increasing fury. On Sabbath, General Grant had been completely surprised, +and would have lost his whole army but for the gunboats in the river. +These gunboats shelled the pursuing rebels, checking their advance, and +saving the discomfitted Federals. Buell arrived with his division on +Sabbath night, and on Monday the rebels were driven at every point during +the whole day, with great loss. When I heard the rebel officers state that +the gunboats lying in the Tennessee river had checked their pursuit, and +had committed great havoc amongst their troops, at the distance of nearly +three miles, I supposed that the rebel army had continued the pursuit till +they came in sight of the gunners on the boats, who then threw their +shells into their advancing columns, and my mistake was not corrected till +I saw the scene of action. A plateau extended from the river, where the +gunboats lay, to the hills, a distance of about one-quarter of a mile. The +hills rose to a considerable height, and were covered with a large growth, +and on their frowning summits the lofty trees seemed to intercept the +passing clouds. Grant's discomfitted and shattered army had taken refuge +on the plateau. Some had even thrown themselves into the river, and swam +across. Such was the position of affairs when the gunners threw their +shells over those lofty hills, and beyond them a distance of two miles, +into the midst of the rebels, checking their advance, and destroying them +by scores. Couriers constantly passed to and fro to give information of +the position of the enemy. All night long their shelling continued, +causing Beauregard to change his camp thrice. Thus, + + "Bombs bursting in air, + Gave proof through the night + That our flag was still there." + +On Monday morning Buell's division advanced, and the tide was turned. The +rebels were driven from every position, and their loss was fearful; and +had pursuit been continued to Corinth, their whole army must have been +annihilated. General A. S. Johnson fell about three o'clock on the +Sabbath. The tibial artery had been severed--a wound not necessarily +fatal; but he remained in the saddle till he fainted from loss of blood, +and when borne from his horse by Governor Harris and others, survived but +twenty minutes. On Sabbath night Beauregard occupied, for a time, an old +Presbyterian church--a rude log edifice. The church was named Shiloh; +hence both Beauregard and General Grant, in their dispatches, named the +engagement the battle of Shiloh. I was in Rienzi as the wounded passed +down on the cars to the various hospitals below. They passed continually +for a month. On the 18th of April I went down to Macon, in Noxubee county. +A large number of wounded were on the train. A lady from the Female +Seminary in Aberdeen had been placed under my care. When we reached a +point six miles from Crawfordsville, I noticed a young man looking out in +an excited manner, and immediately after he jumped out and rolled down an +embankment. I was much surprised at his conduct, but soon the crashing of +the cars explained the cause. The train had been thrown from the track, +and was rushing down an embankment. Jumping from the cars now became +general. My lady friend arose, declaring that she also would leap from the +car. I caught and held her till the danger was over, and thus prevented +perhaps serious injury to her person, as all who jumped from the train +were more or less injured. On extricating ourselves from the debris of the +cars, an appalling sight met our view. The sick, wounded, dying, and dead, +were scattered promiscuously in every direction. Their groans and piercing +shrieks were heart-rending. The heavy fragments of the broken cars were +thrown upon their mangled limbs, and in many instances this disaster +completed what Shiloh had commenced. As we came down, I passed through the +train amongst the wounded. Some had lost an arm, several an upper lip, as +many an under lip. Through the body of one six balls had passed. They were +wounded in the feet, the hands, the head, and the body; and some who had +not been touched by ball or bullet were paralyzed by their proximity to +the exploding shells. Truly every battle is with confused noise and +garments rolled in blood. I remained some time at the destroyed train, +aiding in extricating those buried beneath the ruins. The extent of the +damage and destruction of life, I never accurately learned. It must, +however, have been great. The catastrophe was occasioned by a stick of +wood falling from the tender before the wheels of the adjacent car, which, +being thrown from the track, precipitated the whole train down the +embankment. + +For weeks after the battle of Shiloh, little was done by Federals or +Confederates. The rebels firmly believed that Corinth could not be taken. +Its evacuation discouraged the people exceedingly. Nothing but disasters +had befallen them since the year commenced. Zollikoffer had been slain, +and Crittenden defeated, at Fishing Creek. Roanoke Island had been +captured. Forts Henry, Donelson, Pulaski, St. Philip, and Jackson had been +reduced. Island "No. 10" was taken, and New Orleans had fallen. The bloody +field of Shiloh had proved disastrous; and now, even Corinth, the boasted +Gibraltar of rebeldom, fortified by the "best engineer on the continent," +and defended by the whole army of the southwest, had been evacuated. What, +under these circumstances, could resist the progress of Halleck to the +Gulf? Many saw the cause of these disasters in the fact that the rebel +generals had made their attacks upon the Union troops upon the Sabbath; +and all history confirms the truth that the army attacking on the Sabbath +is almost invariably defeated. Universal gloom and an all-pervading spirit +of despondency, brooded over the whole southern people. Had the rebel army +been crushed at Corinth, or had Beauregard been vigorously pursued, and +forced to fight or surrender, the war in the southwest would have been +terminated. General Rosecrans informed me that they could have crushed the +rebels at Corinth, and on my asking him why it was not done, he replied: +"It would have been done at the cost of many lives on both sides, and it +is not our desire to sacrifice life unnecessarily. Let Beauregard go down +to the swamps of Mississippi; he can do us no injury. It is not probable +that he will ever return to Corinth to attack us, and they must starve out +in a section which never produced enough to sustain its own population." +But Beauregard did not remain long in the swamps of Mississippi. He took +the flower of his army and hastened on to Richmond, to reinforce General +Lee, who immediately gave battle to McClellan, and drove him from the +Peninsula. Halleck should never have suffered McClellan to be compelled to +fight both Lee's forces and Beauregard's, whilst his own army was merely +protecting rebel property and consuming rations. I think General +Rosecrans, had he been in chief command, would not have thus acted; and +his statement to me was a mere apology for the conduct of his superior, +for his policy has ever been vigorous, and the rebels dread him more than +any living man. The lamented Lyon also inspired a similar wholesome dread. +I saw much of General Rosecrans. He is a genial, pleasant gentleman. He +seems desirous of accomplishing his end by the use of mild means; but if +these will not effect the object, the reverse policy is resorted to. The +rebels dread, yet respect him. He will do much to oblige a friend. I +desired at one time to go with my family beyond the Federal lines. General +Rosecrans went in person to General Pope to obtain a pass; but Pope's +orders were that no passes should be issued for a specified time. General +Rosecrans then asked and obtained permission to send one of his aids with +us, who conducted us beyond the pickets, a distance of five miles. This +act, the General remarked, was in consideration of the kindness I had +shown himself and staff while in Rienzi. The Federal generals committed a +great mistake in desiring to overrun the country without destroying the +rebel armies. A physician who drives a disease from one limb only to +appear in a more aggravated form in another, accomplishes nothing. And +when a general permits a hostile army to change its location as a +strategic movement, he has accomplished nothing, except giving aid and +comfort to the enemy. The rebels estimated their forces at the battle of +Shiloh at eighty thousand. Though considerable accessions had been +received, yet in consequence of sickness and desertion, their number was +about the same at the evacuation of Corinth. They lost about eleven +thousand, slain, wounded, and prisoners, in the battle. + +War has a tendency to engender great bitterness of feeling between the +belligerents. The secessionists hate the northern people, but not with the +intensity of hatred which they exercise toward the Union-loving citizens +of the South. In South Carolina, in the days of nullification, the +nullifiers and Union men were very bitter in their hostility against each +other. After the suppression of nullification by General Jackson, the +cause being removed, the enmity ceased, and in a short time, the odium +attached to nullification became so great, that few would admit that they +had been nullifiers. Let the supremacy of the law and the Constitution be +enforced, and a few years hence, few, even in the South, will be found +willing to admit that they were secessionists. The descendants of the +Tories carefully conceal their genealogy; the descendants of the +secessionists will do the same. Slavery and secession will perish +together; and the classes of the South who have been fearfully injured by +both these heresies, will be fully compensated for their present distress +by the vast blessings which will accrue to themselves and posterity by the +abolition of an institution which has degraded labour, oppressed the poor +white man, opposed progress, retarded the development of the country's +resources, taken away the key of knowledge, caused every species of vice +to flourish, impoverished the people, enriched a favoured class at the +expense of the masses, caused woes unnumbered to a whole race--in short, +has been the prolific parent of fraud, oppression, lust, tyranny, murder, +and every other crime in the dark catalogue. + + "We are living, we are dwelling + In a grand and awful time; + In an age, on ages telling, + To be living is sublime! + + Hark! the waking up of nations, + Gog and Magog to the fray; + Hark! what soundeth--is creation + Groaning for its latter day? + + Will ye play, then? will ye dally + With your music and your wine? + Up! it is Jehovah's rally! + God's own arm hath need of thine. + + Hark! the onset! will ye fold your + Faith-clad arms in lazy lock; + Up! oh, up! thou drowsy soldier, + Worlds are charging to the shock! + + Worlds are charging; heaven beholding; + Thou hast but an hour to fight; + Now the blazoned cross unfolding, + _On!_ right onward _for the right_. + + _On!_ let all the soul within you, + For the truth's sake go abroad; + Strike! let every nerve and sinew + Tell on ages,--tell for God!" + + + + +SEE TO YOUR INTEREST!! + +AMSTERDAM, _Jefferson co._, Ohio, _January 1, 1863_. + +The undersigned tenders his thanks to his customers for their liberal +patronage in the past, and respectfully solicits its continuance. + +He has recently made considerable additions to his stock of + +DRY GOODS AND GROCERIES, + +and he will endeavour to make it the interest of the citizens of Amsterdam +and vicinity to deal with him; nor will he permit his competitors to +surpass him in the cheapness and quality of his goods. + +The _highest price_ will be paid for PRODUCE OF EVERY KIND, and _Cash_ +will not be refused in payment for goods. + +A word to the wise is sufficient. + +DAVID AUGHEY. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Iron Furnace, by John H. 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Aughey—A Project Gutenberg eBook + </title> + + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + + body {margin-left: 12%; margin-right: 12%;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right; font-style: normal;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + + hr {width: 33%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + .huge {font-size: 150%} + .large {font-size: 125%} + + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .poem {margin-left: 15%;} + .note {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;} + .hang {margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;} + .title {text-align: center; font-size: 150%;} + + .right {text-align: right;} + .center {text-align: center;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .smcaplc {text-transform: lowercase; font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + a:link {color:#0000ff; text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#6633cc; text-decoration:none} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Iron Furnace, by John H. Aughey + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Iron Furnace + Slavery and Secession + +Author: John H. Aughey + +Release Date: February 13, 2012 [EBook #38855] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE IRON FURNACE *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt="" /><br /> +<small><i>Engraved by Samuel Sartain, Phil<sup>a</sup>.</i></small></div> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/frontis_sig.jpg" alt="John H. Aughey." /></div> + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">THE IRON FURNACE:</span><br /> +OR,<br /> +<span class="huge">SLAVERY AND SECESSION.</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><small>BY</small><br /> +<span class="large">REV. JOHN H. AUGHEY,</span><br /> +A REFUGEE FROM MISSISSIPPI.</p> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="table"> +<tr><td>Cursed be the men that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, which I<br /> +commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land<br /> +of Egypt, from the <i>Iron Furnace</i>.—Jer. xi. 3, 4. See also, 1 Kings viii. 51.</td></tr></table> +<p> </p> +<p class="center">PHILADELPHIA:<br /> +WILLIAM S. & ALFRED MARTIEN.<br /> +606 CHESTNUT STREET.<br /> +1863.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<p class="center">Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1863,<br /> +<span class="smcap">By WILLIAM S. & ALFRED MARTIEN</span>,<br /> +In the office of the Clerk of the District Court for the<br /> +Eastern District of Pennsylvania.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<p class="center">TO MY PERSONAL FRIENDS<br /> +<br /> +REV. CHARLES C. BEATTY, D.D., LL.D.,<br /> +OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO,<br /> +Moderator of the General Assembly of the (O.S.) Presbyterian<br /> +Church in the United States of America,<br /> +and long Pastor of the Church in which<br /> +my parents were members, and<br /> +our family worshippers;<br /> +<br /> +REV. WILLIAM PRATT BREED,<br /> +Pastor of the West Spruce Street Presbyterian Church, of<br /> +Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;<br /> +<br /> +GEORGE HAY STUART, <span class="smcap">Esq.</span>,<br /> +OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.,<br /> +The Philanthropist, whose virtues are known and<br /> +appreciated in both hemispheres,<br /> +<br /> +THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + +<p>A celebrated author thus writes: “Posterity is under no obligations to a +man who is not a parent, who has never planted a tree, built a house, nor +written a book.” Having fulfilled all these requisites to insure the +remembrance of posterity, it remains to be seen whether the author’s name +shall escape oblivion.</p> + +<p>It may be that a few years will obliterate the name affixed to this +Preface from the memory of man. This thought is the cause of no concern. I +shall have accomplished my purpose if I can in some degree be humbly +instrumental in serving my country and my generation, by promoting the +well-being of my fellow-men, and advancing the declarative glory of +Almighty God.</p> + +<p>This work was written while suffering intensely from maladies induced by +the rigours of the Iron Furnace of Secession, whose sevenfold heat is +reserved for the loyal citizens of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> the South. Let this fact be a +palliation for whatever imperfections the reader may meet with in its +perusal.</p> + +<p>There are many loyal men in the southern States, who to avoid martyrdom, +conceal their opinions. They are to be pitied—not severely censured. All +those southern ministers and professors of religion who were eminent for +piety, opposed secession till the States passed the secession ordinance. +They then advocated reconstruction as long as it comported with their +safety. They then, in the face of danger and death, became quiescent—not +acquiescent, by any means—and they now “bide their time,” in prayerful +trust that God will, in his own good time, subvert rebellion, and +overthrow anarchy, by a restoration of the supremacy of constitutional + +law. By these, and their name is legion, my book will be warmly approved. +My fellow-prisoners in the dungeon at Tupelo, who may have survived its +horrors, and my fellow-sufferers in the Union cause throughout the South, +will read in my narrative a transcript of their own sufferings. The loyal +citizens of the whole country will be interested in learning the views of +one who has been conversant with the rise and progress of secession, from +its incipiency to its culmination in rebellion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> and treason. It will also +doubtless be of general interest to learn something of the workings of the +“peculiar institution,” and the various phases which it assumes in +different sections of the slave States.</p> + +<p>Compelled to leave Dixie in haste, I had no time to collect materials for +my work. I was therefore under the necessity of writing without those aids +which would have secured greater accuracy. I have done the best that I +could under the circumstances; and any errors that may have crept into my +statements of facts, or reports of addresses, will be cheerfully rectified +as soon as ascertained.</p> + +<p>That I might not compromise the safety of my Union friends who rendered me +assistance, and who are still within the rebel lines, I was compelled to +omit their names, and for the same reason to describe rather indefinitely +some localities, especially the portions of Ittawamba, Chickasaw, +Pontotoc, Tippah, and Tishomingo counties, through which I travelled while +escaping to the Federal lines. This I hope to be able to correct in future +editions.</p> + +<p>Narratives require a liberal use of the first personal pronoun, which I +would have gladly avoided, had it been possible without tedious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +circumlocution, as its frequent repetition has the appearance of egotism.</p> + +<p>I return sincere thanks to my fellow-prisoners who imperilled their own +lives to save mine, and also to those Mississippi Unionists who so +generously aided a panting fugitive on his way from chains and death to +life and liberty. My thanks are also due to Rev. William P. Breed, for +assistance in preparing my work for the press.</p> + +<p>I am also under obligations to Rev. Francis J. Collier, of Philadelphia; +to Rev. A. D. Smith, D. D., and Rev. J. R. W. Sloane, of New York, and to +Rev. F. B. Wheeler, of Poughkeepsie, New York.</p> + +<p>May the Triune God bless our country, and preserve its integrity!</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">JOHN HILL AUGHEY.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">February 1, 1863.</span></p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> +<p class="title">CONTENTS.</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="table"> +<tr><td align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">SECESSION.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Speech of Colonel Drane—Submission Denounced—Northern Aggression—No more Slave States—Northern <i>isms</i>—Yankees’ +Servants—Yankee inferiority—Breckinridge, or immediate, complete, and eternal Separation—A Day of Rejoicing—Abraham Lincoln, +President elect—A Union Speech—A Southerner’s Reasons for opposing Secession—Address by a Radical Secessionist—Cursing +and Bitterness—A Prayer—Sermon against Secession—List of Grievances—Causes which led to Secession</td> + <td valign="bottom" align="right"><a href="#Page_13">13—49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">VIGILANCE COMMITTEE AND COURT-MARTIAL.</td></tr> +<tr><td>The election of Delegates to determine the status of Mississippi—The Vigilance Committee—Description of its members—Charges—Phonography—No +formal verdict—Danger of Assassination—Passports—Escape to Rienzi—Union sentiment—The Conscript Law—Summons to attend +Court-Martial—Evacuation of Corinth—Destruction of Cotton—Suffering poor—Relieved by General Halleck</td> + <td valign="bottom" align="right"><a href="#Page_50">50—69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">ARREST, ESCAPE, AND RECAPTURE.</td></tr> +<tr><td>High price of Provisions—Holland Lindsay’s Family—The arrest—Captain Hill—Appearance before Colonel Bradfute +at Fulton—Arrest of Benjamin Clarke—Bradfute’s <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>Insolence—General +Chalmers—The clerical Spy—General Pfeifer—Under guard—Priceville—General Gordon—Bound for Tupelo—The Prisoners entering +the Dungeon—Captain Bruce—Lieutenant Richard Malone—Prison Fare and Treatment—Menial Service—Resolve to escape—Plan +of escape—Federal Prisoners—Co-operation of the Prisoners—Declaration of Independence—The Escape—The +Separation—Concealment—Travel on the Underground Railroad—Pursuit by Cavalry and Bloodhounds—The Arrest—Dan Barnes, +the Mail-robber—Perfidy—Heavily ironed—Return to Tupelo</td> + <td valign="bottom" align="right"><a href="#Page_70">70—112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">LIFE IN A DUNGEON.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Parson Aughey as Chaplain—Description of the Prisoners—Colonel Walter, the Judge Advocate—Charges and Specifications +against Parson Aughey, a Citizen of the Confederate States—Execution of two Tennesseeans—Enlistment of Union Prisoners—Colonel Walter’s second +visit—Day of Execution specified—Farewell Letter to my Wife—Parson Aughey’s Obituary penned by himself—Address to his Soul—The +Soul’s Reply—Farewell Letter to his Parents—The Union Prisoners’ Petition to Hon. W. H. Seward—The two Prisoners and the Oath of +Allegiance—Irish Stories</td> + <td valign="bottom" align="right"><a href="#Page_113">113—142</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">EXECUTION OF UNION PRISONERS.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Resolved to Escape—Mode of Executing Prisoners—Removal of Chain—Addition to our Numbers—Two Prisoners become +Insane—Plan of Escape—Proves a Failure—Fetters Inspected—Additional Fetters—Handcuffs—A Spy in the Disguise of a +Prisoner—Special Police Guard on Duty—A Prisoner’s Discovery—Divine Services—The General Judgment—The Judge—The +Laws—The Witnesses—The <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>Concourse—The Sentence</td> + <td valign="bottom" align="right"><a href="#Page_143">143—167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">SUCCESSFUL ESCAPE.</td></tr> +<tr><td>The Second Plan of Escape—Under the Jail—Egress—Among the Guards—In the Swamp—Travelling on the Underground Railroad—The +Fare—Green Corn eaten Raw—Blackberries and Stagnant Water—The Bloodhounds—Tantalizing Dreams—The Pickets—The Cows—Become +Sick—Fons Beatus—Find Friends—Union Friend No. Two—The night in the Barn—Death of Newman by Scalding—Union Friend No. +Three—Bound for the Union Lines—Rebel Soldiers—Black Ox—Pied Ox—Reach Headquarters in Safety—Emotions on again beholding +the Old Flag—Kindness while Sick—Meeting with his Family—Richard Malone again—The Serenade—Leave Dixie—Northward bound</td> + <td valign="bottom" align="right"><a href="#Page_168">168—211</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">SOUTHERN CLASSES—CRUELTY TO SLAVES.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Sandhillers—Dirt-eating—Dipping—Their Mode of Living—Patois—Rain-book—Wife-trade—Coming in to see the +Cars—Superstition—Marriage of Kinsfolks—Hardshell Sermon—Causes which lead to the Degradation of this Class—Efforts to Reconcile +the Poor Whites to the Peculiar Institution—The Slaveholding Class—The Middle Class—Northern <i>isms</i>—Incident at a Methodist Minister’s +House—Question asked a Candidate for Licensure—Reason of Southern Hatred toward the North—Letter to Mr. Jackman—Barbarities and Cruelties of +Slavery—Mulattoes—Old Cole—Child Born at Whipping-post—Advertisement of a Keeper of Bloodhounds—Getting Rid of Free +Blacks—The Doom of Slavery—Methodist Church South</td> + <td valign="bottom" align="right"><a href="#Page_212">212—248</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">NOTORIOUS REBELS.—UNION OFFICERS.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Colonel Jefferson Davis—His Speech at Holly Springs, Mississippi—His Opposition to Yankee Teachers and Ministers—A bid for the +Presidency—His Ambition—Burr, Arnold, Davis—General Beauregard—Headquarters at Rienzi—Colonel Elliott’s +Raid—Beauregard’s Consternation—Personal description—His illness—Popularity waning.—Rev. Dr. Palmer of New Orleans—His +influence—The Cincinnati Letter—His Personal Appearance—His Denunciations of General Butler—His Radicalism.—Rev. +Dr. Waddell of La Grange, Tennessee—His Prejudices against the North—President of Memphis Synodical College—His Talents prostituted.—Union +Officers—General Nelson—General Sherman</td> + <td valign="bottom" align="right"><a href="#Page_249">249—263</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Cause of the Rebellion—Prevalence of Union Sentiment in the South—Why not Developed—Stevenson’s Views—Why +Incorrect—Cavalry Raids upon Union Citizens—How the Rebels employ Slaves—Slaves Whipped and sent out of the Federal Lines—Resisting +the Conscript Law—Kansas Jayhawkers—Guarding Rebel Property—Perfidy of Secessionists—Plea for Emancipation—The South +Exhausted—Failure of Crops—Southern Merchants Ruined—Bragg Prohibits the Manufacture and Vending of Intoxicating Liquors—Its Salutary Effect</td> + <td valign="bottom" align="right"><a href="#Page_264">264—281</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">BATTLES OF LEESBURG, BELMONT, AND SHILOH.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Rebel Cruelty to Prisoners—The Fratricide—Grant Defeated—Saved by Gunboats—Buell’s Advance—Railroad +Disaster—The South Despondent—General Rosecrans—Secession will become Odious even in the South—Poem</td> + <td valign="bottom" align="right"><a href="#Page_282">282—296</a></td></tr></table> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">THE IRON FURNACE;</span><br /><small>OR</small><br /><span class="huge">SLAVERY AND SECESSION.</span></p> +<p> </p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<p class="title">SECESSION.</p> + +<div class="note"><p class="hang">Speech of Colonel Drane.—Submission Denounced.—Northern +Aggression.—No more Slave States.—Northern <i>isms</i>.—Yankees’ +Servants.—Yankee inferiority.—Breckinridge, or immediate, complete, +and eternal Separation.—A Day of Rejoicing.—Abraham Lincoln +President elect.—A Union Speech.—A Southerner’s Reasons for opposing +Secession.—Address by a Radical Secessionist.—Cursing and +Bitterness.—A Prayer.—Sermon against Secession.—List of +Grievances.—Causes which led to Secession.</p></div> + + +<p>At the breaking out of the present rebellion, I was engaged in the work of +an Evangelist in the counties of Choctaw and Attala in Central +Mississippi. My congregations were large, and my duties onerous. Being +constantly employed in ministerial labours, I had no time to intermeddle +with politics, leaving all such questions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> to statesmen, giving the +complex issues of the day only sufficient attention to enable me to vote +intelligently. Thus was I engaged when the great political campaign of +1860 commenced—a campaign conducted with greater virulence and asperity +than any I have ever witnessed. During my casual detention at a store, +Colonel Drane arrived, according to appointment, to address the people of +Choctaw. He was a member of one of my congregations, and as he had been +long a leading statesman in Mississippi, having for many years presided +over the State Senate, I expected to hear a speech of marked ability, +unfolding the true issues before the people, with all the dignity, +suavity, and earnestness of a gentleman and patriot; but I found his whole +speech to be a tirade of abuse against the North, commingled with the bold +avowal of treasonable sentiments. The Colonel thus addressed the people:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">My Fellow-Citizens</span>—I appear before you to urge anew resistance +against the encroachments and aggressions of the Yankees. If the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +Black Republicans carry their ticket, and Old Abe is elected, our +right to carry our slaves into the territories will be denied us; and +who dare say that he would be a base, craven submissionist, when our +God-given and constitutional right to carry slavery into the common +domain is wickedly taken from the South. The Yankees cheated us out of +Kansas by their infernal Emigrant Aid Societies. They cheated us out +of California, which our blood-treasure purchased, for the South sent +ten men to one that was sent by the North to the Mexican war, and thus +we have no foothold on the Pacific coast; and even now we pay five +dollars for the support of the general Government where the North pays +one. We help to pay bounties to the Yankee fishermen in New England; +indeed <i>we</i> are always paying, paying, paying, and yet the North is +always crying, Give, give, give. The South has made the North rich, +and what thanks do we receive? Our rights are trampled on, our slaves +are spirited by thousands over their underground railroad to Canada, +our citizens are insulted while travelling in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> North, and their +servants are tampered with, and by false representations, and often by +mob violence, forced from them. Douglas, knowing the power of the +Emigrant Aid Societies, proposes squatter sovereignty, with the +positive certainty that the scum of Europe and the mudsills of +Yankeedom can be shipped in in numbers sufficient to control the +destiny of the embryo State. Since the admission of Texas in 1845, +there has not been a single foot of slave territory secured to the +South, while the North has added to their list the extensive States of +California, Minnesota, and Oregon, and Kansas is as good as theirs; +while, if Lincoln is elected, the Wilmot proviso will be extended over +all the common territories, debarring the South for ever from her +right to share the public domain.</p> + +<p>The hypocrites of the North tell us that slaveholding is sinful. Well, +suppose it is. Upon us and our children let the guilt of this sin +rest; we are willing to bear it, and it is none of their business. We +are a more moral people than they are. Who originated <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>Mormonism, +Millerism, Spirit-rappings, Abolitionism, Free-loveism, and all the +other abominable <i>isms</i> which curse the world? The reply is, the +North. Their puritanical fanaticism and hypocrisy is patent to all. +Talk to us of the sin of slavery, when the only difference between us +is that our slaves are black and theirs white. They treat their white +slaves, the Irish and Dutch, in a cruel manner, giving them during +health just enough to purchase coarse clothing, and when they become +sick, they are turned off to starve, as they do by hundreds every +year. A female servant in the North must have a testimonial of good +character before she will be employed; those with whom she is +labouring will not give her this so long as they desire her services; +she therefore cannot leave them, whatever may be her treatment, so +that she is as much compelled to remain with her employer as the slave +with his master.</p> + +<p>Their servants hate them; our’s love us. My niggers would fight for me +and my family. They have been treated well, and they know it. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>And I +don’t treat my slaves any better than my neighbours. If ever there +comes a war between the North and the South, let us do as Abraham +did—arm our trained servants, and go forth with them to the battle. +They hate the Yankees as intensely as we do, and nothing could please +our slaves better than to fight them. Ah, the perfidious Yankees! I +cordially hate a Yankee. We have all suffered much at their hands; +they will not keep faith with us. Have they complied with the +provisions of the Fugitive Slave Law? The thousands and tens of +thousands of slaves aided in their escape to Canada, is a sufficient +answer. We <i>have</i> lost millions, and <i>are</i> losing millions every year, +by the operations of the underground railroad. How deep the perfidy of +a people, thus to violate every article of compromise we have made +with them! The Yankees are an inferior race, descended from the old +Puritan stock, who enacted the Blue Laws. They are desirous of +compelling us to submit to laws more iniquitous than ever were the +Blue Laws. I have travelled in the North, and have seen the depth <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>of +their depravity. Now, my fellow-citizens, what shall we do to resist +Northern aggression? Why simply this: if Lincoln or Douglas are +elected, (as to the Bell-Everett ticket, it stands no sort of chance,) +let us secede. This remedy will be effectual. I am in favour of no +more compromises. Let us have Breckinridge, or immediate, complete, +and eternal separation.</p></div> + +<p>The speaker then retired amid the cheers of his audience.</p> + +<p>Soon after this there came a day of rejoicing to many in Mississippi. The +booming of cannon, the joyous greeting, the soul-stirring music, indicated +that no ordinary intelligence had been received. The lightnings had +brought the tidings that Abraham Lincoln was President elect of the United +States, and the South was wild with excitement. Those who had been long +desirous of a pretext for secession, now boldly advocated their +sentiments, and joyfully hailed the election of Mr. Lincoln as affording +that pretext. The conservative men were filled with gloom. They regarded +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> election of Mr. Lincoln, by the majority of the people of the United +States, in a constitutional way, as affording no cause for secession. +Secession they regarded as fraught with all the evils of Pandora’s box, +and that war, famine, pestilence, and moral and physical desolation would +follow in its train. A call was made by Governor Pettus for a convention +to assemble early in January, at Jackson, to determine what course +Mississippi should pursue, whether her policy should be submission or +secession.</p> + +<p>Candidates, Union and Secession, were nominated for the convention in +every county. The speeches of two, whom I heard, will serve as a specimen +of the arguments used <i>pro</i> and <i>con</i>. Captain Love, of Choctaw, thus +addressed the people.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">My Fellow-Citizens</span>—I appear before you to advocate the Union—the +Union of the States under whose favoring auspices we have long +prospered. No nation so great, so prosperous, so happy, or so much +respected by earth’s thousand kingdoms, as the Great Republic, by +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>which name the United States is known from the rivers to the ends of +the earth. Our flag, the star-spangled banner, is respected on every +sea, and affords protection to the citizens of every State, whether +amid the pyramids of Egypt, the jungles of Asia, or the mighty cities +of Europe. Our Republican Constitution, framed by the wisdom of our +Revolutionary fathers, is as free from imperfection as any document +drawn up by uninspired men. God presided over the councils of that +convention which framed our glorious Constitution. They asked wisdom +from on high, and their prayers were answered. Free speech, a free +press, and freedom to worship God as our conscience dictates, under +our own vine and fig-tree, none daring to molest or make us afraid, +are some of the blessings which our Constitution guarantees; and these +prerogatives, which we enjoy, are features which bless and distinguish +us from the other nations of the earth. Freedom of speech is unknown +amongst them; among them a censorship of the press and a national +church are established.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>Our country, by its physical features, seems fitted for but one +nation. What ceaseless trouble would be caused by having the source of +our rivers in one country and the mouth in another. There are no +natural boundaries to divide us into separate nations. We are all +descended from the same common parentage, we all speak the same +language, and we have really no conflicting interests, the statements +of our opponents to the contrary notwithstanding. Our opponents +advocate separate State secession. Would not Mississippi cut a sorry +figure among the nations of the earth? With no harbour, she would be +dependent on a foreign nation for an outlet. Custom-house duties would +be ruinous, and the republic of Mississippi would find herself +compelled to return to the Union. Mississippi, you remember, +repudiated a large foreign debt some years ago; if she became an +independent nation, her creditors would influence their government to +demand payment, which could not be refused by the weak, defenceless, +navyless, armyless, moneyless, repudiating republic of Mississippi.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +To pay this debt, with the accumulated interest, would ruin the new +republic, and bankruptcy would stare us in the face.</p> + +<p>It is true, Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United States. +My plan is to wait till Mr. Lincoln does something unconstitutional. +Then let the South unanimously seek redress in a constitutional +manner. The conservatives of the North will join us. If no redress is +made, let us present our ultimatum. If this, too, is rejected, I for +one will not advocate submission; and by the coöperation of all the +slave States, we will, in the event of the perpetration of wrong, and +a refusal to redress our grievances, be much abler to secure our +rights, or to defend them at the cannon’s mouth and the point of the +bayonet. The Supreme Court favours the South. In the Dred Scott case, +the Supreme Court decided that the negro was not a citizen, and that +the slave was a chattel, as we regard him. The majority of Congress on +joint ballot is still with the South. Although we have something to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +fear from the views of the President elect and the Chicago platform, +let us wait till some overt act, trespassing upon our rights, is +committed, and all redress denied; then, and not till then, will I +advocate extreme measures.</p> + +<p>Let our opponents remember that secession and civil war are +synonymous. Who ever heard of a government breaking to pieces without +an arduous struggle for its preservation? I admit the right of +revolution, when a people’s rights cannot otherwise be maintained, but +deny the right of secession. We are told that it is a reserved right. +The constitution declares that all rights not specified in it are +reserved to the people of the respective States; but who ever heard of +the right of total destruction of the government being a reserved +right in any constitution? The fallacy is evident at a glance. Nine +millions of people can afford to wait for some overt act. Let us not +follow the precipitate course which the ultra politicians indicate. +Let W. L. Yancey urge his treasonable policy of firing the Southern +heart and precipitating a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> revolution; but let us follow no such +wicked advice. Let us follow the things which make for peace.</p> + +<p>We are often told that the North will not return fugitive slaves. Will +secession remedy this grievance? Will secession give us any more slave +territory? No free government ever makes a treaty for the rendition of +fugitive slaves—thus recognising the rights of the citizens of a +foreign nation to a species of property which it denies to its own +citizens. Even little Mexico will not do it. Mexico and Canada return +no fugitives. In the event of secession, the United States would +return no fugitives, and our peculiar institution would, along our +vast border, become very insecure; we would hold our slaves by a very +slight tenure. Instead of extending the great Southern institution, it +would be contracting daily. Our slaves would be held to service at +their own option, throughout the whole border, and our gulf States +would soon become border States; and the great insecurity of this +species of property would work, before twenty years,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> the extinction +of slavery, and, in consequence, the ruin of the South. Are we +prepared for such a result? Are we prepared for civil war? Are we +prepared for all the evils attendant upon a fratricidal contest—for +bloodshed, famine, and political and moral desolation? I reply, we are +not; therefore let us look before we leap, and avoiding the heresy of +secession—</p> + +<p class="poem">“Rather bear the ills we have,<br /> +Than fly to others that we know not of.”</p></div> + +<p>A secession speaker was introduced, and thus addressed the people:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Ladies and Gentlemen</span>—<span class="smcap">Fellow-Citizens</span>—I am a secessionist out and +out; voted for Jeff Davis for Governor in 1850, when the same issue +was before the people; and I have always felt a grudge against the +<i>free state</i> of Tishomingo for giving H. S. Foote, the Union +candidate, a majority so great as to elect him, and thus retain the +State in this accursed Union ten years longer. Who would be a +craven-hearted, cowardly, villanous <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>submissionist? Lincoln, the +abominable, white-livered abolitionist, is President elect of the +United States; shall he be permitted to take his seat on Southern +soil? No, never! I will volunteer as one of thirty thousand, to +butcher the villain if ever he sets foot on slave territory. Secession +or submission! What patriot would hesitate for a moment which to +choose? No true son of Mississippi would brook the idea of submission +to the rule of the baboon Abe Lincoln—a fifth-rate lawyer, a +broken-down hack of a politician, a fanatic, an abolitionist. I, for +one, would prefer an hour of virtuous liberty to a whole eternity of +bondage under northern, Yankee, wooden-nutmeg rule. The halter is the +only argument that should be used against the submissionists, and I +predict that it will soon, very soon, be in force.</p> + +<p>We have glorious news from Tallahatchie. Seven tory-submissionists +were hanged there in one day, and the so-called Union candidates, +having the wholesome dread of hemp before their eyes, are not +canvassing the county; therefore the heretical dogma of submission,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +under any circumstances, disgraces not their county. Compromise! let +us have no such word in our vocabulary. Compromise with the Yankees, +after the election of Lincoln, is treason against the South; and still +its syren voice is listened to by the demagogue submissionists. We +should never have made any compromise, for in every case we +surrendered rights for the sake of peace. No concession of the scared +Yankees will now prevent secession. They now understand that the South +is in earnest, and in their alarm they are proposing to yield us much; +but the die is cast, the Rubicon is crossed, and our determination +shall ever be, No union with the flat-headed, nigger-stealing, +fanatical Yankees.</p> + +<p>We are now threatened with internecine war. The Yankees are an +inferior race; they are cowardly in the extreme. They are descended +from the Puritan stock, who never bore rule in any nation. We, the +descendants of the Cavaliers, are the Patricians, they the Plebeians. +The Cavaliers have always been the rulers, the Puritans the ruled. The +dastardly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> Yankees will never fight us; but if they, in their +presumption and audacity, venture to attack us, let the war come—I +repeat it—let it come! The conflagration of their burning cities, the +desolation of their country, and the slaughter of their inhabitants, +will strike the nations of the earth dumb with astonishment, and serve +as a warning to future ages, that the slaveholding Cavaliers of the +sunny South are terrible in their vengeance. I am in favour of +immediate, independent, and eternal separation from the vile Union +which has so long oppressed us. After separation, I am in favour of +non-intercourse with the United States so long as time endures. We +will raise the tariff, to the point of prohibition, on all Yankee +manufactures, including wooden-nutmegs, wooden clocks, quack nostrums, +&c. We will drive back to their own inhospitable clime every Yankee +who dares to pollute our shores with his cloven feet. Go he must, and +if necessary, with the bloodhounds on his track. The scum of Europe +and the mudsills of Yankeedom shall never be permitted to advance a +step<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> south of 36° 30′. South of that latitude is ours—westward to +the Pacific. With my heart of hearts I hate a Yankee, and I will make +my children swear eternal hatred to the whole Yankee race. A mongrel +breed—Irish, Dutch, Puritans, Jews, free niggers, &c.—they scarce +deserve the notice of the descendants of the Huguenots, the old +Castilians, and the Cavaliers. Cursed be the day when the South +consented to this iniquitous league—the Federal Union—which has long +dimmed her nascent glory.</p> + +<p>In battle, one southron is equivalent to ten northern hirelings; but I +regard it a waste of time to speak of Yankees—they deserve not our +attention. It matters not to us what they think of secession, and we +would not trespass upon your time and patience, were it not for the +tame, tory submissionists with which our country is cursed. A fearful +retribution is in waiting for the whole crew, if the war which they +predict, should come. Were they then to advocate the same views, I +would not give a fourpence for their lives. We would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> hang them +quicker than old Heath would hang a tory. Our Revolutionary fathers +set us a good example in their dealings with the tories. They sent +them to the shades infernal from the branches of the nearest tree. The +North has sent teachers and preachers amongst us, who have insidiously +infused the leaven of Abolitionism into the minds of their students +and parishioners; and this submissionist policy is a lower development +of the doctrine of Wendell Philips, Gerritt Smith, Horace Greely, and +others of that ilk. We have a genial clime, a soil of uncommon +fertility. We have free institutions, freedom for the white man, +bondage for the black man, as nature and nature’s God designed. We +have fair women and brave men. The lines have truly fallen to us in +pleasant places. We have indeed a goodly heritage. The only evil we +can complain of is our bondage to the Yankees through the Federal +Union. Let us burst these shackles from our limbs, and we will be free +indeed.</p> + +<p>Let all who desire complete and eternal emancipation from Yankee +thraldom, come to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> the polls on the —— day of December, prepared not +to vote the cowardly submissionist ticket, but to vote the secession +ticket; and their children, and their children’s children, will owe +them a debt of gratitude which they can never repay. The day of our +separation and vindication of States’ rights, will be the happiest day +of our lives. Yankee domination will have ceased for ever, and the +haughty southron will spurn them from all association, both +governmental and social. So mote it be!</p></div> + +<p>This address was received with great eclat.</p> + +<p>On the next Sabbath after this meeting, I preached in the Poplar Creek +Presbyterian church, in Choctaw county, from Romans xiii. 1: “Let every +soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: +the powers that be, are ordained of God.”</p> + +<p>Previous to the sermon a prayer was offered, of which the following is the +conclusion:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Almighty God</span>—We would present our country, the United States of +America, before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> thee. When our political horizon is overcast with +clouds and darkness, when the strong-hearted are becoming fearful for +the permanence of our free institutions, and the prosperity, yea, the +very existence of our great Republic, we pray thee, O God, when flesh +and heart fail, when no human arm is able to save us from the fearful +vortex of disunion and revolution, that thou wouldst interpose and +save us. We confess our national sins, for we have, as a nation, +sinned grievously. We have been highly favoured, we have been greatly +prospered, and have taken our place amongst the leading powers of the +earth. A gospel-enlightened nation, our sins are therefore more +heinous in thy sight. They are sins of deep ingratitude and +presumption. We confess that drunkenness has abounded amongst all +classes of our citizens. Rulers and ruled have been alike guilty; and +because of its wide-spreading prevalence, and because our legislators +have enacted no sufficient laws for its suppression, it is a national +sin. Profanity abounds amongst us; Sabbath-breaking is rife; and we +have <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>elevated unworthy men to high positions of honour and trust. We +are not, as a people, free from the crime of tyranny and oppression. +For these great and aggravated offences, we pray thee to give us +repentance and godly sorrow, and then, O God, avert the threatened and +imminent judgments which impend over our beloved country. Teach our +Senators wisdom. Grant them that wisdom which is able to make them +wise unto salvation; and grant also that wisdom which is profitable to +direct, so that they may steer the ship of State safely through the +troubled waters which seem ready to engulf it on every side. Lord, +hear us, and answer in mercy, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. +Amen and Amen!</p></div> + +<p>The following is a synopsis of my sermon:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Israel had been greatly favoured as a nation. No weapon formed against +them prospered, so long as they loved and served the Lord their God. +They were blessed in their basket and their store. They were set on +high above all the nations of the earth. * * * * <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>When all Israel +assembled, ostensibly to make Rehoboam king, they were ripe for +rebellion. Jeroboam and other wicked men had fomented and cherished +the sparks of treason, till, on this occasion, it broke out into the +flame of open rebellion. The severity of Solomon’s rule was the +pretext, but it was only a pretext, for during his reign the nation +prospered, grew rich and powerful. Jeroboam wished a disruption of the +kingdom, that he might bear rule; and although God permitted it as a +punishment for Israel’s idolatry, yet he frowned upon the wicked men +who were instrumental in bringing this great evil upon his chosen +people.</p> + +<p>The loyal division took the name of Judah, though composed of the two +tribes, Judah and Benjamin. The revolted ten tribes took the name of +their leading tribe, Ephraim. Ephraim continued to wax weaker and +weaker. Filled with envy against Judah, they often warred against that +loyal kingdom, until they themselves were greatly reduced. At last, +after various vicissitudes, the ten tribes were carried away, and +scattered and lost. We often hear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> of the lost ten tribes. What became +of them is a mystery. Their secession ended in their being blotted out +of existence, or lost amidst the heathen. God alone knows what did +become of them. They resisted the powers that be—the ordinance of +God—and received to themselves damnation and annihilation.</p> + +<p>As God dealt with Israel, so will he deal with us. If we are exalted +by righteousness, we will prosper; if we, as the ten tribes, resist +the ordinance of God, we will perish. At this time, many are +advocating the course of the ten tribes. Secession is a word of +frequent occurrence. It is openly advocated by many. Nullification and +rebellion, secession and treason, are convertible terms, and no good +citizen will mention them with approval. Secession is resisting the +powers that be, and therefore it is a violation of God’s command. +Where do we obtain the right of secession? Clearly not from the word +of God, which enjoins obedience to all that are in authority, to whom +we must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. +The following scriptural <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>argument for secession is often used, 1 Tim. +vi. 1—5. In these verses Paul was addressing believing servants, and +commanding them to absent themselves from the teaching of those who +taught not the doctrine which is according to godliness. In a former +epistle he had commanded Christians not to keep company with the +incestuous person who had his father’s wife. He directed that they +should not keep company with any man who was called a brother, if he +were a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a +drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat; but he +expressly declares that he does not allude to those who belong to the +above classes that have made no profession of religion. He does not +judge them that are without, for them that are without, God judgeth. +He afterwards exhorts that the church confirm their love toward the +incestuous person as he had repented of his wickedness. This direction +of the Apostle to believers to withdraw from a brother who walked +disorderly, till he had manifested proper repentance; and his +exhortation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> to believing servants to absent themselves from the +teachings of errorists, cannot logically be construed as a scriptural +argument in favour of secession. Were the President of the United +States an unbeliever, a profane swearer, a Sabbath-breaker, or a +drunkard, this fact would not, <i>per se</i>, give us the right to secede +or rebel against the government.</p> + +<p>There is no provision made in the Constitution of the United States +for secession. The wisest statesmen, who made politics their study, +regarded secession as a political heresy, dangerous in its tendencies, +and destructive of all government in its practical application. +Mississippi, purchased from France with United States gold, fostered +by the nurturing care, and made prosperous by the wise administration +of the general government, proposes to secede. Her political status +would then be anomalous. Would her territory revert to France? Does +she propose to refund the purchase-money? Would she become a territory +under the jurisdiction of the United States Congress?</p> + +<p>Henry Clay, the great statesman, Daniel <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>Webster, the expounder of the +Constitution, General Jackson, George Washington, and a mighty host, +whose names would fill a volume, regarded secession as treason. One of +our smallest States, which swarmed with tories in the Revolution, +whose descendants still live, invented the doctrine of nullification, +the first treasonable step, which soon culminated in the advocacy of +secession. Why should we secede, and thus destroy the best, the +freest, and most prosperous government on the face of the earth? the +government which our patriot fathers fought and bled to secure. What +has Mississippi lost by the Union? I have resided seven years in this +State, and have an extensive personal acquaintance, and yet I know not +a single individual who has lost a slave through northern influence. I +have, it is true, known of some ten slaves who have run away, and have +not been found. They may have been aided in their escape to Canada by +northern and southern citizens, for there are many in the South who +have given aid and comfort to the fugitive; but the probability is +that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> perished in the swamps, or were destroyed by the +bloodhounds.</p> + +<p>The complaint is made that the North regards slavery as a moral, +social, and political evil, and that many of them denounce, in no +measured terms, both slavery and slaveholders. To be thus denounced is +regarded as a great grievance. Secession would not remedy this evil. +In order to cure it effectually, we must seize and gag all who thus +denounce our peculiar institution. We must also muzzle their press. As +this is impracticable, it would be well to come to this +conclusion:—If we are verily guilty of the evils charged upon us, let +us set about rectifying those evils; if not, the denunciations of +slanderers should not affect us so deeply. If our northern brethren +are honest in their convictions of the sin of slavery, as no doubt +many of them are, let us listen to their arguments without the dire +hostility so frequently manifested. They take the position that +slavery is opposed to the inalienable rights of the human race; that +it originated in piracy and robbery; that manifold cruelties and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>barbarities are inflicted upon the defenceless slaves; that they are +debarred from intellectual culture by State laws, which send to the +penitentiary those who are guilty of instructing them; that they are +put upon the block and sold; parent and child, husband and wife being +separated, so that they never again see each other’s face in the +flesh; that the law of chastity cannot be observed, as there are no +laws punishing rape on the person of a female slave; that when they +escape from the threatened cat-o’-nine-tails, or overseer’s whip, they +are hunted down by bloodhounds, and bloodier men; that often they are +half-starved and half-clad, and are furnished with mere hovels to live +in; that they are often murdered by cruel overseers, who whip them to +death, or overtask them, until disease is induced, which results in +death; that masters practically ignore the marriage relation among +slaves, inasmuch as they frequently separate husband and wife, by sale +or removal; that they discourage the formation of that relation, +preferring that the offspring of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> their female slaves should be +illegitimate, from the mistaken notion that it would be more numerous. +They charge, also, that slavery induces in the masters, pride, +arrogance, tyranny, laziness, profligacy, and every form of vice.</p> + +<p>The South takes the position, that if slavery is sinful, the North is +not responsible for that sin; that it is a State institution, and that +to interfere with slavery in the States in any way, even by censure, +is a violation of the rights of the States. The language of our +politicians is, Upon us and our children rest the evil! We are willing +to take the responsibility, and to risk the penalty! You will find +evil and misery enough in the North to excite your philanthropy, and +employ your beneficence. You have purchased our cotton; you have used +our sugar; you have eaten our rice; you have smoked and chewed our +tobacco—all of which are the products of slave-labour. You have grown +rich by traffic in these articles; you have monopolized the carrying +trade, and borne our slave-produced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> products to your shores. Your +northern ships, manned by northern men, brought from Africa the +greater part of the slaves which came to our continent, and they are +still smuggling them in. When, finding slavery unprofitable, the +northern States passed laws for gradual emancipation, but few obtained +their freedom, the majority of them being shipped South and sold, so +that but few, comparatively, were manumitted. If the slave trade and +slavery are great sins, the North is <i>particeps criminis</i>, and has +been from the beginning.</p> + +<p>These bitter accusations are hurled back and forth through the +newspapers; and in Congress, crimination and recrimination occur every +day of the session. Instead of endeavouring to calm the troubled +waters, politicians are striving to render them turbid and boisterous. +Sectional bitterness and animosity prevail to a fearful extent; but +secession is not the proper remedy. To cure one evil by perpetrating a +greater, renders a double cure necessary. In order to cure a disease, +the cause should be known, that we may treat it intelligently, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +apply a proper remedy. Having observed, during the last eleven years, +that sectional strife and bitterness were increasing with fearful +rapidity, I have endeavoured to stem the torrent, so far as it was +possible for individual effort to do so. I deem it the imperative duty +of all patriots, of all Christians, to throw oil upon the troubled +waters, and thus save the ship of State from wreck among the +vertiginous billows.</p> + +<p>Most of our politicians are demagogues. They care not for the people, +so that they accomplish their own selfish and ambitious schemes. Give +them power, give them money, and they are satisfied. Deprive them of +these, and they are ready to sacrifice the best interests of the +nation to secure them. They excite sectional animosity and party +strife, and are willing to kindle the flames of civil war to +accomplish their unhallowed purposes. They tell us that there is a +conflict of interest between the free and slave States, and endeavour +to precipitate a revolution, that they may be leaders, and obtain +positions of trust and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> profit in the new government which they hope +to establish. The people would be dupes indeed to abet these wicked +demagogues in their nefarious designs. Let us not break God’s command, +by resisting the ordinance of God—the powers that be. I am not +discussing the right of revolution, which I deem a sacred right. When +human rights are invaded, when life is endangered, when liberty is +taken away, when we are not left free to pursue our own happiness in +our own chosen way—so far as we do not trespass upon the rights of +others—we have a right, and it becomes our imperative duty to resist +to the bitter end, the tyranny which would deprive us and our children +of our inalienable rights. Our lives are secure; we have freedom to +worship God. Our liberty is sacred; we may pursue happiness to our +hearts’ content. We do not even charge upon the general Government +that it has infringed these rights. Whose life has been endangered, or +who has lost his liberty by the action of the Government? If that man +lives, in all this fair domain of ours, he has the right to complain.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +But neither you nor I have ever heard of or seen the individual who +has thus suffered. We have therefore clearly no right of revolution.</p> + +<p>Treason is no light offence. God, who rules the nations, and who has +established governments, will punish severely those who attempt to +overthrow them. Damnation is stated to be the punishment which those +who resist the powers that be, will suffer. Who wishes to endure it? I +hope none of my charge will incur this penalty by the perpetration of +treason. You yourselves can bear me witness that I have not heretofore +introduced political issues into the pulpit, but at this time I could +not acquit my conscience were I not to warn you against the great sin +some of you, I fear, are ready to commit.</p> + +<p>Were I to discuss the policy of a high or low tariff, or descant upon +the various merits attached to one or another form of banking, I +should be justly obnoxious to censure. Politics and religion, however, +are not always separate. When the political issue is made, shall we, +or shall we not, grant license to sell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> intoxicating liquors as a +beverage? the minister’s duty is plain; he must urge his people to use +their influence against granting any such license. The minister must +enforce every moral and religious obligation, and point out the path +of truth and duty, even though the principles he advocates are by +statesmen introduced into the arena of political strife, and made +issues by the great parties of the day. I see the sword coming, and +would be derelict in duty not to give you faithful warning. I must +reveal the whole counsel of God. I have a message from God unto you, +which I must deliver, whether you will hear, or whether you will +forbear. If the sword come, and you perish, I shall then be guiltless +of your blood. As to the great question at issue, my honest conviction +is (and I think I have the Spirit of God,) that you should with your +whole heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, oppose secession. You +should talk against it, you should write against it, you should vote +against it, and, if need be, you should fight against it.</p> + +<p>I have now declared what I believe to be your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> high duty in this +emergency. Do not destroy the government which has so long protected +you, and which has never in a single instance oppressed you. Pull not +down the fair fabric which our patriot fathers reared at vast expense +of blood and treasure. Do not, like the blind Samson, pull down the +pillars of our glorious edifice, and cause death, desolation, and +ruin. Perish the hand that would thus destroy the source of all our +political prosperity and happiness. Let the parricide who attempts it +receive the just retribution which a loyal people demand, even his +execution on a gallows, high as Haman’s. Let us also set about +rectifying the causes which threaten the overthrow of our government. +As we are proud, let us pray for the grace of humility. As a State, +and as individuals, we too lightly regard its most solemn obligations; +let us, therefore, pray for the grace of repentance and godly sorrow, +and hereafter in this respect sin no more. As many transgressions have +been committed by us, let the time past of our lives suffice us to +have wrought the will of the flesh,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> and now let us break off our sins +by righteousness, and our transgressions by turning unto the Lord, and +he will avert his threatened judgments, and save us from dissolution, +anarchy, and desolation.</p> + +<p>If our souls are filled with hatred against the people of any section +of our common country, let us ask from the Great Giver the grace of +charity, which suffereth long and is kind, which envieth not, which +vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself +unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no +evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth +all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all +things, and which never faileth; then shall we be in a suitable frame +for an amicable adjustment of every difficulty; oil will soon be +thrown upon the troubled waters, and peace, harmony, and prosperity +would ever attend us; and our children, and our children’s children +will rejoice in the possession of a beneficent and stable government, +securing to them all the natural and inalienable rights of man.</p></div> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<p class="title">VIGILANCE COMMITTEE AND COURT-MARTIAL.</p> + +<div class="note"><p class="hang">The election of Delegates to determine the status of Mississippi—The +Vigilance Committee—Description of its +members—Charges—Phonography—No formal verdict—Danger of +Assassination—Passports—Escape to Rienzi—Union sentiment—The +Conscript Law—Summons to attend Court-Martial—Evacuation of +Corinth—Destruction of Cotton—Suffering poor—Relieved by General +Halleck.</p></div> + +<p>Soon after this sermon was preached, the election was held. Approaching +the polls, I asked for a Union ticket, and was informed that none had been +printed, and that it would be advisable to vote the secession ticket. I +thought otherwise, and going to a desk, wrote out a Union ticket, and +voted it amidst the frowns and suppressed murmurs of the judges and +bystanders, and, as the result proved, I had the honour of depositing the +only vote in favour of the Union which was polled in that precinct. I knew +of many who were in favour of the Union, who were intimidated by threats, +and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> by the odium attending it from voting at all. A majority of secession +candidates were elected. The convention assembled, and on the 9th of +January, 1861, Mississippi had the unenviable reputation of being the +first to follow her twin sister, South Carolina, into the maelstrom of +secession and treason. Being the only States in which the slaves were more +numerous than the whites, it became them to lead the van in the +slave-holders’ rebellion. Before the 4th of March, Florida, Alabama, +Georgia, Louisiana and Texas had followed in the wake, and were engulfed +in the whirlpool of secession.</p> + +<p>It was now dangerous to utter a word in favour of the Union. Many +suspected of Union sentiments were lynched. An old gentleman in Winston +county was arrested for an act committed twenty years before, which was +construed as a proof of his abolition proclivities. The old gentleman had +several daughters, and his mother-in-law had given him a negro girl. +Observing that his daughters were becoming lazy, and were imposing all the +labour upon the slave, he sent her back to the donor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> with a statement of +the cause for returning her. This was now the ground of his arrest, but +escaping from their clutches, a precipitate flight alone saved his life.</p> + +<p>Self-constituted vigilance committees sprang up all over the country, and +a reign of terror began; all who had been Union men, and who had not given +in their adhesion to the new order of things by some public proclamation, +were supposed to be disaffected. The so-called Confederate States, the new +power, organized for the avowed purpose of extending and perpetuating +African slavery, was now in full blast. These <i>soi-disant</i> vigilance +committees professed to carry out the will of Jeff. Davis. All who were +considered disaffected were regarded as being tinctured with abolitionism. +My opposition to the disruption of the Union being notorious, I was +summoned to appear before one of these august tribunals to answer the +charge of being an abolitionist. My wife was very much alarmed, knowing +that were I found guilty of the charge, there was no hope for mercy. +Flight was impossible, and I deemed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> it the safest plan to appear before +the committee. I found it to consist of twelve persons, five of whom I +knew, viz., Parson Locke, Armstrong, Cartledge, Simpson, and Wilbanks. +Parson Locke, the chief speaker, or rather the inquisitor-general, was a +Methodist minister, though he had fallen into disrepute among his +brethren, and was engaged in a tedious strife with the church which he +left in Holmes county. The parson was a real Nimrod. He boasted that in +five months he had killed forty-eight raccoons, two hundred squirrels, and +ten deer; he had followed the bloodhounds, and assisted in the capture of +twelve runaway negroes. W. H. Simpson was a ruling elder in my church. +Wilbanks was a clever sort of old gentleman, who had little to say in the +matter. Armstrong was a monocular Hard-shell-Baptist. Cartledge was an +illiterate, conceited individual. The rest were a motley crew, not one of +whom, I feel confident, knew a letter in the alphabet. The committee +assembled in an old carriage-shop. Parson Locke acted, as chairman, and +conducted the trial, as follows.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>“Parson Aughey, you have been reported to us as holding abolition +sentiments, and as being disloyal to the Confederate States.”</p> + +<p>“Who reported me, and where are your witnesses?”</p> + +<p>“Any one has a right to report, and it is optional whether he confronts +the accused or not. The proceedings of vigilance committees are somewhat +informal.”</p> + +<p>“Proceed, then, with the trial, in your own way.”</p> + +<p>“We propose to ask you a few questions, and in your answers you may defend +yourself, or admit your guilt. In the first place, did you ever say that +you did not believe that God ordained the institution of slavery?”</p> + +<p>“I believe that God did not ordain the institution of slavery.”</p> + +<p>“Did not God command the Israelites to buy slaves from the Canaanitish +nations, and to hold them as their property for ever?”</p> + +<p>“The Canaanites had filled their cup of iniquity to overflowing, and God +commanded the Israelites to exterminate them; this, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> violation of God’s +command, they failed to do. God afterwards permitted the Hebrews to reduce +them to a state of servitude; but the punishment visited upon those seven +wicked nations by the command of God, does not justify war or the +slave-trade.”</p> + +<p>“Did you say that you were opposed to the slavery which existed in the +time of Christ?”</p> + +<p>“I did, because the system of slavery prevailing in Christ’s day was cruel +in the extreme; it conferred the power of life and death upon the master, +and was attended with innumerable evils. The slave had the same complexion +as his master; and by changing his servile garb for the citizen dress, he +could not be recognised as a slave. You yourself profess to be opposed to +white slavery.”</p> + +<p>“Did you state that you believed Paul, when he sent Onesimus back to +Philemon, had no idea that he would be regarded as a slave, and treated as +such after his return?”</p> + +<p>“I did. My proof is in Philemon, verses 15 and 16, where the apostle asks +that Onesimus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> be received, not as a servant, but as a brother beloved?”</p> + +<p>“Did you tell Mr. Creath that you knew some negroes who were better, in +every respect, than some white men?”</p> + +<p>“I said that I knew some negroes who were better classical scholars than +any white men I had as yet met with in Choctaw county, and that I had +known some who were pre-eminent for virtue and holiness. As to natural +rights, I made no comparison; nor did I say anything about superiority or +inferiority of race; I also stated my belief in the unity of the races.”</p> + +<p>“Have you any abolition works in your library, and a poem in your +scrap-book, entitled ‘The Fugitive Slave,’ with this couplet as a refrain,</p> + +<p class="poem">‘The hounds are baying on my track;<br /> +Christian, will you send me back?’”</p> + +<p>“I have not Mrs. Stowe’s nor Helper’s work; they are contraband in this +region, and I could not get them if I wished. I have many works in my +library containing sentiments adverse to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> the institution of slavery. All +the works in common use amongst us, on law, physic, and divinity, all the +text-books in our schools—in a word, all the works on every subject read +and studied by us, were, almost without exception, written by men opposed +to the peculiar institution. I am not alone in this matter.”</p> + +<p>“Parson, I saw Cowper’s works in your library, and Cowper says:</p> + +<p class="poem">‘I would not have a slave to fan me when I sleep,<br /> +And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth<br /> +That sinews bought and sold have ever earned.’”</p> + +<p>“You have Wesley’s writings, and Wesley says that ‘Human slavery is the +sum of all villany.’ You have a work which has this couplet:</p> + +<p class="poem">‘Two deep, dark stains, mar all our country’s bliss:<br /> +Foul slavery one, and one, loathed drunkenness.’</p> + +<p>You have the work of an English writer of high repute, who says, ‘Forty +years ago, some in England doubted whether slavery were a sin, and +regarded adultery as a venial offence; but behold the progress of truth! +Who now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> doubts that he who enslaves his fellow-man is guilty of a fearful +crime, and that he who violates the seventh commandment is a great sinner +in the sight of God?’”</p> + +<p>“You are known to be an adept in Phonography, and you are reported to be a +correspondent of an abolition Phonographic journal.”</p> + +<p>“I understand the science of Phonography, and I am a correspondent of a +Phonographic journal, but the journal eschews politics.”</p> + +<p>Another member of the committee then interrogated me.</p> + +<p>“Parson Aughey, what is Funnyography?”</p> + +<p>“Phonography, sir, is a system of writing by means of a philosophic +alphabet, composed of the simplest geometrical signs, in which one mark is +used to represent one and invariably the same sound.”</p> + +<p>“Kin you talk Funnyography? and where does them folks live what talks it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, I converse fluently in Phonography, and those who speak the +language live in Columbia.”</p> + +<p>“In the Destrict?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>“No, sir, in the poetical Columbia.”</p> + +<p>I was next interrogated by another member of the committee.</p> + +<p>“Parson Aughey, is Phonography a Abolition fixin?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir; Phonography, abstractly considered, has no political complexion; +it may be used to promote either side of any question, sacred or profane, +mental, moral, physical, or political.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you ought to write and talk plain English, what common folks can +understand, or we’ll have to say of you, what Agrippa said of Paul, ‘Much +learning hath made thee mad.’ Suppose you was to preach in Phonography, +who’d understand it?—who’d know what was piped or harped? I’ll bet high +some Yankee invented it to spread his abolition notions underhandedly. I, +for one, would be in favour of makin’ the parson promise to write and talk +no more in Phonography. I’ll bet Phonography is agin slavery, tho’ I never +hearn tell of it before. I’m agin all secret societies. I’m agin the +Odd-fellers, Free-masons,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> Sons of Temperance, Good Templars and +Phonography. I want to know what’s writ and what’s talked. You can’t throw +dust in my eyes. Phonography, from what I’ve found out about it to-day, is +agin the Confederate States, and we ought to be agin it.”</p> + +<p>Parson Locke then resumed:</p> + +<p>“I must stop this digression. Parson Aughey, are you in favour of the +South?”</p> + +<p>“I am in favour of the South, and have always endeavoured to promote the +best interests of the South. However, I never deemed it for the best +interests of the South to secede. I talked against secession, and voted +against secession, because I thought that the best interests of the South +would be put in jeopardy by the secession of the Southern States. I was +honest in my convictions, and acted accordingly. Could the sacrifice of my +life have stayed the swelling tide of secession, it would gladly have been +made.”</p> + +<p>“It is said that you have never prayed for the Southern Confederacy.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>“I have prayed for the whole world, though it is true that I have never +named the Confederate States in prayer.”</p> + +<p>“You may retire.”</p> + +<p>After I had retired, the committee held a long consultation. My answers +were not satisfactory. I never learned all that transpired. They brought +in no formal verdict. The majority considered me a dangerous man, but +feared to take my life, as they were, with one exception, adherents of +other denominations, and they knew that my people were devotedly attached +to me before the secession movement. Some of the secessionists swore that +they would go to my house and murder me, when they learned that the +committee had not hanged me. My friends provided me secretly with arms, +and I determined to defend myself to the last. I slept with a +double-barrelled shot-gun at my head, and was prepared to defend myself +against a dozen at least.</p> + +<p>Learning that I was not acceptable to many of the members of my church, +whilst my life<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> was in continual jeopardy, and my family in a state of +constant alarm, I abandoned my field of labour, and sought for safety in a +more congenial clime. I intended to go North. Jeff. Davis and his Congress +had granted permission to all who so desired, to leave the South. Several +Union men of my acquaintance applied for passports, but were refused. The +proclamation to grant permits was an act of perfidy; all those, so far as +I am informed, who made application for them, were refused. The design in +thus acting was to get Union men to declare themselves as such, and +afterwards to punish them for their sentiments by forcing them into the +army, confining them in prison, shooting them, or lynching them by mob +violence. Finding that were I to demand a passport to go north, I would be +placed on the proscribed list, and my life endangered still more, I +declared my intention of going back to Tishomingo county, in which I owned +property, and which was the home of many of my relatives. I knew that I +would be safer there, for this county had elected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> Union delegates by a +majority of over fourteen hundred, and a strong Union sentiment had always +prevailed.</p> + +<p>On my arrival in Tishomingo, I found that the great heart of the county +still beat true to the music of the Union. Being thrown out of employment +I deemed it my duty, in every possible way, to sustain the Union cause and +the enforcement of the laws. It was impossible to go north. Union +sentiments could be expressed with safety in many localities. Corinth, +Iuka, and Rienzi had, from the commencement of the war, been camps of +instruction for the training of Confederate soldiers. These three towns in +the county being thus occupied, Union men found it necessary to be more +cautious, as the cavalry frequently made raids through the county, +arresting and maltreating those suspected of disaffection. After the +reduction of Forts Henry and Donelson, and the surrender of Nashville, the +Confederates made the Memphis and Charleston railroad the base of their +operations, their armies extending from Memphis to Chattanooga. Soon, +however, they were all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> concentrated at Corinth, a town in Tishomingo +county, at the junction of the Memphis and Charleston railroad with the +Mobile and Ohio. After the battle of Shiloh, which was fought on the 6th +and 7th of April, the Federal troops held their advance at Farmington, +four miles from Corinth, while the Confederates occupied Corinth, their +rear guard holding Rienzi, twelve miles south, on the Mobile and Ohio +railroad.</p> + +<p>Thus there were two vast armies encamped in Tishomingo county. Being +within the Confederate lines, I, in common with many others, found it +difficult to evade the conscript law. Knowing that in a multitude of +counsellors there is wisdom, we held secret meetings, in order to devise +the best method of resisting the law. We met at night, and had our +countersigns to prevent detection. Often our wives, sisters, and daughters +met with us. Our meeting-place was some ravine, or secluded glen, as far +as possible from the haunts of the secessionists; all were armed; even the +ladies had revolvers, and could use them too. The crime of treason we were +resolved not to commit. Our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> counsels were somewhat divided, some +advocating, as a matter of policy, the propriety of attending the militia +musters, others opposing it for conscience’ sake, and for the purpose of +avoiding every appearance of evil. Many who would not muster as +conscripts, resolved to escape to the Federal lines; and making the +attempt two or three at a time, succeeded in crossing the Tennessee river, +and reaching the Union army, enlisted under the old flag, and have since +done good service as patriot warriors. Some who were willing to muster as +conscripts, were impressed into the Confederate service, and I know not +whether they ever found an opportunity to desert. Others, myself among the +number, were saved by the timely arrival of the Federal troops, and the +occupation of the county by them, after Beauregard’s evacuation of +Corinth. I had received three citations to attend muster, but disregarding +them, I was summoned to attend a court-martial on the first day of June, +at the house of Mr. Jim Mock. The following is a copy of the citation.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +Ma the 22d. 1862</p> + +<p><i>Parson Awhay</i>, You havent tended nun of our mustters as a konskrip. +Now you is her bi sumenzd to attend a kort marshal on Jun the fust at +Jim Mock.</p></div> + +<p>When I received the summons, I resolved to attempt reaching the Union +lines at Farmington. Two of my friends, who had received a similar +summons, expected to accompany me. On the 29th of May, I left for Rienzi, +where my two friends were to meet me. I had not been many hours in Rienzi +when it became evident that the Confederates were evacuating Corinth. On +the 1st of June, (the day the court-martial was to convene,) I had the +pleasure of once more beholding the star-spangled banner as it was borne +in front of General Granger’s command, which led the van of the pursuing +army. Had I remained and attended the court-martial, I would have been +forced into the army. Were I then to declare that I would not take up arms +against the United States, I would have been shot, as many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> have been, for +their refusal thus to act. General Rosecrans, on his arrival, made his +head-quarters at my brother’s house, where I had the pleasure of forming +his acquaintance, together with that of Generals Smith, Granger, and Pope. +As this county was now occupied by the Federal army, I returned to my +father-in-law’s, within five miles of which place the court-martial had +been ordered to convene, considering myself comparatively safe. I learned +that the court-martial never met, as Colonel Elliott, in his successful +raid upon Boonville, had passed Jim Mock’s, scaring him to such a degree, +that he did not venture to sleep in his house for two weeks. The Union +cavalry scoured the country in all directions, daily, and we were +rejoicing at the prospect of continuous safety, and freedom from outrage.</p> + +<p>The Rebels, during their retreat, had burned all the cotton which was +accessible to their cavalry, on their route. At night, the flames of the +burning cotton lighted up the horizon for miles around. These baleful +pyres, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> their lurid glare, bore sad testimony to the horrors of war. +In this wanton destruction of the great southern staple, many poor +families lost their whole staff of bread, and starvation stared them in +the face. Many would have perished, had it not been for the liberal +contributions of the North; for, learning the sufferings of the poor of +the South, whose whole labour had been destroyed by pretended friends, +they sent provisions and money, and thus many who were left in utter +destitution, were saved by this timely succor. I have heard the rejoicings +of the poor, who, abandoned by their supposed friends, were saved, with +their children, from death, by the beneficence of those whom they had been +taught to regard as enemies the most bitter, implacable, unmerciful, and +persistent. Their prayer may well be, Save us from our friends, whose +tender mercies are cruel! I have never known a man to burn his own cotton, +but I have heard their bitter anathemas hurled against those who thus +robbed them, and their denunciations were loud and deep against the +government which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> authorized such cruelty. It is true that those who thus +lose their cotton, if secessionists, receive a “promise to pay,” which all +regard as not worth the paper on which it is written. Ere pay-day, those +who are dependent on their cotton for the necessaries of life, would have +passed the bourne whence no traveller returns. ’Tis like the Confederate +bonds—at first they were made payable two years after date, and printed +upon paper which would be worn out entirely in six months, and would have +become illegible in half that time. The succeeding issues were made +payable six months after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the +United States and the Confederate States. Though not a prophet, nor a +prophet’s son, I venture the prediction that those bonds will never be +due. The war of elements, the wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds, +announcing the end of all things, will be heard sooner.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<p class="title">ARREST, ESCAPE, AND RECAPTURE.</p> + +<div class="note"><p class="hang">High price of Provisions—Holland Lindsay’s Family—The +arrest—Captain Hill—Appearance before Colonel Bradfute at +Fulton—Arrest of Benjamin Clarke—Bradfute’s Insolence—General +Chalmers—The clerical Spy—General Pfeifer—Under +guard—Priceville—General Gordon—Bound for Tupelo—The Prisoners +entering the Dungeon—Captain Bruce—Lieutenant Richard Malone—Prison +Fare and Treatment—Menial Service—Resolve to escape—Plan of +escape—Federal Prisoners—Co-operation of the Prisoners—Declaration +of Independence—The Escape—The Separation—Concealment—Travel on +the Underground Railroad—Pursuit by Cavalry and Bloodhounds—The +Arrest—Dan Barnes, the Mail-robber—Perfidy—Heavily ironed—Return +to Tupelo.</p></div> + +<p>At this time—May and June, 1862—all marketable commodities were +commanding fabulous prices; as a lady declared, it would soon be +necessary, on going to a store, to carry two baskets, one to hold the +money, and the other the goods purchased. Flour was thirty dollars per +barrel, bacon forty cents per pound, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> coffee one dollar per pound. +Salt was nominally one hundred dollars per sack of one hundred pounds, or +one dollar per pound, but there was none to be obtained even at that +price. Ladies were compelled to dispense with salt in their culinary +operations; even the butter was unsalted. Cotton-cards, an article used in +every house at the South, the ordinary price of which is fifty cents per +pair, were selling at twenty-five dollars per pair, and wool-cards at +fifteen dollars per pair, the usual price being thirty-eight cents. All +the cotton used in the manufacture of home-made cloth, is carded into +rolls upon these cotton-cards, which are brought from the North, there +being not a single manufactory of them in the South. When the supply on +hand becomes exhausted, the southern home manufacture of cloth must cease, +no one as yet having been able to suggest a substitute for the +cotton-card. There are only three factories in Mississippi, which must +cease running as soon as their machinery wears out, as the most important +parts of the machinery in those factories are supplied from the North. The +people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> are fully aware of these difficulties, but they can devise no +remedy, hence the high price of all articles used in the manufacture of +all kinds of cloths. All manufactured goods were commanding fabulous +prices. On the occupation of the county by Federal troops, goods could be +obtained at reasonable prices, but our money was all gone, except +Confederate bonds, which were worthless. Planters who were beyond the +lines of the retreating army had cotton, but many of them feared to sell +it, as the Rebels professed to regard it treason to trade with the +invaders, and threatened to execute the penalty in every case. As there +was no penalty attached to the selling of cotton by one citizen of +Mississippi to another, some of my friends offered to sell me their cotton +for a reasonable price.</p> + +<p>I was solicited also to act as their agent in the purchase of commodities. +I agreed to this risk, because of the urgent need of my friends, many of +whom were suffering greatly for the indispensable necessaries of life. I +thought it was better that one should suffer, than that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> whole people +should perish. By this arrangement my Union friends would escape the +punishment meted out to those who were found guilty of trading with the +Yankees; if discovered, I alone would be amenable to their unjust and +cruel law, and they would thus save their cotton, which was liable to be +destroyed at any moment by a dash of rebel cavalry. I now hired a large +number of wagons to haul cotton into Eastport and Iuka, that I might ship +it to the loyal States. On the 2d of June the wagons were to rendezvous at +a certain point; there were a sufficient number to haul one hundred bales +per trip. I hoped to keep them running for some time.</p> + +<p>On the first of June I rode to Mr. Holland Lindsay’s on business. I had +learned that he was a rabid secessionist, but supposed that no rebel +cavalry had come so far north as his house since the evacuation of +Corinth. Mr. Lindsay had gone to a neighbour’s. His wife was weaving; she +was a coarse, masculine woman, and withal possessed of strong prejudice +against all whom she did not like, but especially the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> Yankees. I sat down +to await the arrival of her husband, and it was not long before Mrs. +Lindsay broached the exciting topic of the day, the war. She thus vented +her spleen against the Yankees.</p> + +<p>“There was some Yankee calvary passed here last week—they asked me if +there wos ony rebels scoutin round here lately. I jest told em it want +none of ther bizness. Them nasty, good for nothin scamps callen our men +rebels. Them nigger-stealin, triflin scoundrels. They runs off our +niggers, and wont let us take em to Mexico and the other territories.”</p> + +<p>I ventured to remark, “The Yankees are mean, indeed, not to let <i>us</i> take +<i>our</i> negroes to the Territories, and not to help catch them for <i>us</i> when +they run off.”</p> + +<p>The emphatic <i>us</i> and <i>our</i> nettled her, as none of the Lindsays ever +owned a negro, being classed by the southern nabobs as among the <i>poor +white trash</i>; nor did I ever own a slave. Her husband, however, had once +been sent to the Legislature, which led the family to ape the manners, and +studiously copy the ultraism of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> the classes above them. Mrs. Lindsay +became morose. I concluded to ride over and see her husband.</p> + +<p>On my way I met a member of Hill’s cavalry. He halted me, inquired my name +and business, which I gave. He said that, years ago, he had heard me +preach, and that he was well acquainted with my brothers-in-law, who were +officers in the Rebel army. He informed me that his uncle, Mr. Lindsay, +had gone across the field home, and that he himself was on his way there. +I returned with him, but fearing arrest, my business was hastily attended +to, and I at once started for my horse. By this time one or two other +cavalry-men rode up. I heard Mrs. Lindsay informing her nephew that I was +a Union man, and advising my arrest. When I had reached my horse, Mr. +Davis, Lindsay’s nephew arrested me, and sent my horse to the stable. +After supper, my horse was brought, and I was taken to camp. Four men were +detached to guard me during the night. They ordered me to lie down on the +ground and sleep. As it had rained during the day, and I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> had no blanket, +I insisted upon going to a Mr. Spigener’s, about fifty yards distant, to +secure a bed. After some discussion they consented, the guards remaining +in the room, and guarding me by turns during the night. The next morning I +sought Captain Hill, and asked permission to return home, when the +following colloquy ensued.</p> + +<p>“Are you a Union man?”</p> + +<p>“I voted the Union ticket, sir.”</p> + +<p>“That is not a fair answer. I voted the Union ticket myself, and am now +warring against the Union.”</p> + +<p>“I have seen no good reason for changing my sentiments.”</p> + +<p>“You confess, then, that you are a Union man?”</p> + +<p>“I do; I regard the union of these States as of paramount importance to +the welfare of the people inhabiting them.”</p> + +<p>“You must go to head-quarters, where you will be dealt with as we are +accustomed to deal with all the abettors of an Abolition government.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>A heavy guard was then detached to take charge of me, and the company set +off for Fulton, the county seat of Ittawamba county, Mississippi, distant +thirty miles. After going about ten miles, we halted, and two men were +detached to go forward with the prisoners, a Mr. Benjamin Clarke and +myself. Our guards were Dr. Crossland, of Burnsville, Tishomingo county, +Mississippi, and Ferdinand Woodruff. They were under the influence of +liquor, and talked incessantly, cursing and insulting us, on every +occasion, by abusive language. They detailed to each other a history of +their licentious amours. We halted for dinner at one o’clock, and being +out of money, they asked me to pay their bill, which I did, they promising +to refund the amount when they reached Fulton. This they forgot to do.</p> + +<p>On our arrival at Fulton, we were taken into the office of the commander +of the post, Colonel Bradfute. My fellow-prisoner was examined first. +Woodruff stated that they had played off on Mr. Clarke—calling on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> him, +as he was plowing in the field, stating that they were Federal soldiers. +They asked Clarke what were his political views. He replied that he always +had been a Union man—had voted the Union ticket, and would do it again, +if another election were held; that he hated the secession principles, and +would enlist in the Federal army as soon as he got his crop in such a +condition that his family could attend to it. On hearing this statement, +Bradfute became very angry, swearing that Clarke ought to be taken out and +shot then, but that a few days’ respite would make but little difference. +Said he, addressing the guards, had you hung Clarke, you would have saved +us some trouble, and have done your country good service. The Colonel, +turning round, glared upon me with eyes inflamed with passion and liquor, +and thus addressed me:</p> + +<p>“Are you a Union man too?”</p> + +<p>“I am, sir. I have never denied it.”</p> + +<p>“Where do you reside?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>“I consider Rienzi my home, but have been staying for some time at my +father-in-law’s, in the south-eastern part of Tishomingo county.”</p> + +<p>“What is your father-in-law’s name?”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Alexander Paden.”</p> + +<p>“I know the old gentleman and his three sons. They are all in the +Confederate service. They are brave men, and have done some hard fighting +in our cause. How happens it that you look at matters in a different light +from your relatives?”</p> + +<p>“I am not guided in my opinions by the views of my friends.”</p> + +<p>“What is your profession?”</p> + +<p>“I am a minister of the gospel.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose, then, that you go to the Bible for your politics, and that you +are a sort of higher-law man.”</p> + +<p>“My Bible teaches, ‘Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, for +there is no power but of God; the powers that be, are ordained of God. +Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; +and they that resist shall receive to themselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> damnation.’ I have seen +no reason for resistance to the government under which we have, as a +nation, so long prospered.”</p> + +<p>“I command you to hush, sir; you shan’t preach treason to me, and if you +get your deserts you will be hung immediately. Have you ever been within +the Federal lines?”</p> + +<p>“I have, sir.”</p> + +<p>“At what points?”</p> + +<p>“At Rienzi and Iuka.”</p> + +<p>“When were you at Iuka?”</p> + +<p>“On last Saturday.”</p> + +<p>“Had the Federals a large force at that place, and who was in command?”</p> + +<p>“They have a large force, and Generals Thomas and Steadman are in +command.”</p> + +<p>“That is contrary to the reports of our scouts, who say that there are but +two regiments in the town. I fear you are purposely trying to mislead us.”</p> + +<p>“General Steadman has but two regiments in the town, but General Thomas is +within striking distance with a large force.”</p> + +<p>“What was your business in Iuka?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>“I went there to pay a debt of fifty dollars which a widow owed, as she +wished it to be paid in Confederate money before it became worthless.”</p> + +<p>“Have you a Federal pass?”</p> + +<p>“I have none with me, but I have one at home.”</p> + +<p>“How does it read?”</p> + +<p>“It was given by General Nelson, and reads thus: ‘The bearer, Rev. John H. +Aughey, has permission to pass backward and forward through the lines of +this division at will.’”</p> + +<p>“Where were you born?”</p> + +<p>“I was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, New York.”</p> + +<p>“Yankee born,” said the Colonel, with a sneer; “you deserve death at the +rope’s-end, and if I had the power I would hang all Yankees who are among +us, for they are all tories, whatever may be their pretensions.”</p> + +<p>“My being born north of the nigger-line, Colonel, if a crime worthy of +death, was certainly not my fault, but the fault of my parents. They did +not so much as consult me in regard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> to any preference I might have +concerning the place of my nativity.”</p> + +<p>Woodruff, one of my guards, now informed the Colonel that I was a spy, +and, while the Confederates were at Corinth, had, to his certain +knowledge, been three times at Nashville, carrying information. I told +Woodruff that his statement was false, and that he knew it; that I had +never been at Nashville in my life. General Chalmers, who was present, and +Colonel Bradfute, at the conclusion of the examination, spent fifteen or +twenty minutes in bitterly cursing all Yankees, tories, and traitors, as +they termed us. All the conversation of the rebel officers was interlarded +with the most horrid profanity. General Chalmers, in speaking, invariably +called me the clerical spy. We were placed under guard, and sent to +Brooksville, ten miles distant, the head-quarters of General Pfeifer. +Immediately after our arrival, we were soundly berated by General Pfeifer, +and then sent out to the camp, half a mile from the town, where we were +placed under guard for the night, in a small plot of ground surrounded by +a chain.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> We had no supper, and no blankets to sleep on. Our bed was the +cold ground, our covering the blue canopy of heaven. The next morning we +were started, without breakfast, under a heavy guard, numbering fourteen +cavalry, to Priceville, six miles west of Brooksville. Priceville was +named in honour of General Sterling Price, or rather the little village +where he encamped had its name changed in his honour. When we reached +Priceville we were taken to the head-quarters of General Jordan, and +immediately brought into his presence. After reading the letter handed to +him by one of the guard, he said, looking sternly at me,</p> + +<p>“You are charged with sedition.”</p> + +<p>I asked him what sedition meant, to which he replied:</p> + +<p>“It means enough to hang you, you villanous tory!”</p> + +<p>He also asked me where I was born. My reply was, in the State of New York, +near Utica, in Oneida county.</p> + +<p>“Then you doubly deserve death,” said he.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>“As to the guilt of my nativity,” said I, “it is not my fault, for I could +not have helped it if I had tried. But I glory in my native State. She has +never done anything to disgrace her. She never repudiated her just debts, +nor committed any other disgraceful act.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you ought to have staid there, or have gone back when Mississippi +seceded.”</p> + +<p>“Give me an opportunity, and I will go instanter.”</p> + +<p>“The first <i>going</i> you will do, will be to go to hell, where, if the devil +had his due, you would have been long ago; and before you leave us, we +will give you a free ticket to the shades infernal.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you for your kind offer to give me a free pass to the infernal +regions. I did not know before that you were the devil’s ticket-agent. You +have me in your power, and may destroy my life; but when you have done +that, there is no more that you can do.”</p> + +<p>Very little was said to my fellow-prisoner, Clarke. A few curses for a +traitor, tory, &c., was about all. We were now placed under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> guard, and +conducted to Tupelo, and after visiting the provost-marshal’s office and +the office of the commander of the post, whose names were Peden and Clare, +we were committed to the Central Military Prison. As we entered, Captain +Bruce and Lieutenant Malone (two gentlemen who had been elected to those +offices by their fellow-prisoners) received us with a cordial greeting. +Captain Bruce thus addressed us:</p> + +<p>“Welcome, gentlemen, thrice welcome. I am rejoiced to see you at my hotel. +We are now doing a land-office business, as the large number of my +boarders, whom you see, will testify. We have numerous arrivals daily, +whilst the departures are very few, giving evidence that all are satisfied +with their treatment. The bill of fare is not very extensive. In these war +times we must not expect the luxuries of life, but be content with the +necessaries. It is true, we cannot furnish you with coffee, or molasses, +or sugar, or salt, or beef, or vegetables; but we have something more +substantial—we have flour, rather dark in colour, to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> sure, but people +must not be squeamish. The boarders are required to do their own cooking, +as they could otherwise have but little exercise; we consider it a +sanitary measure, exercise being indispensable to health. We furnish the +boarders, also, with meat—none of your lean meat, either, but fat +middling, with a streak of lean in it. The Bible promises the righteous +that their bread shall be given, and their water sure; but we go beyond +the promise, and give not only bread (or rather the flour to make it) and +water, but also fat, strong meat. What room will you be pleased to have?”</p> + +<p>I replied, that as they seemed to be crowded, I would choose number 199.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the Captain, “it shall be prepared. Lieutenant Malone, have +room number 199 fitted up for the reception of these gentlemen.”</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Malone replied, that the room designated would be fitted up in +style for our reception. He asked us if we had dined.</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Clarke; “we have not tasted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> food since yesterday at noon, +when the Parson paid for his own dinner and the dinner of the guards. We +asked for something to eat, but were as often refused, and now we are in a +starving condition.”</p> + +<p>“I pity you,” said Malone, laying aside his facetious style; “you shall +have something to eat as soon as it can be cooked.”</p> + +<p>He then went to some of the prisoners, and set them to cooking, and we +were soon furnished with the best repast the poor fellows could supply.</p> + +<p>We entered the prison July 3d, 1862, at two o’clock, P. M. Our prison was +a grocery-house, its dimensions about twenty-five by fifty feet. When we +were incarcerated, there were about seventy prisoners in the building, +whites, mulattoes and negroes. The prison was filthy in the extreme, and +filled with vermin; even our food was infested with them. No brooms were +furnished us, and we could not sweep the floor. No beds were furnished, +and we were compelled to lie upon the floor, with no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> covering, and +nothing but the hard planks beneath us.</p> + +<p>Several times a day officers would come in and order a specified number of +men to go and work, under a strong guard. We were made to clean the +streets, roll barrels, and clean the hospital; but our own prison we were +not permitted to clean. Every kind of drudgery, and the most menial +services, were imposed upon us.</p> + +<p>The crimes charged upon the prisoners were desertion, trading with the +Yankees, adhesion to the United States government or Unionism, acting as +spies, refusing Confederate bonds, and piloting the Yankees. The crime of +the negroes and mulattoes was endeavouring to escape on the underground +railroad from Dixie land and the Iron Furnace. These remained till their +masters were informed of their arrest, and came for and released them. On +the evening preceding our imprisonment, two prisoners had been led out and +shot, and I soon learned that this was no unusual occurrence. Nearly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +every day witnessed the execution of one or more of us. Those who were +doomed to die were heavily ironed. In some cases, however, those who were +not in fetters were taken out and shot or hanged, often with no previous +warning; though sometimes a few hours warning was given.</p> + +<p>Our privations were so great from a want of proper food and water—for the +scanty amount of water furnished us was tepid and foul—and from a lack of +beds, cots, couches, or something better than a filthy floor whereon to +sleep, that I resolved to attempt an escape at the risk of my life. I felt +confident that I could not long survive such cruel treatment. As soon as +my arrest was known to the thirty-second Mississippi regiment, encamped in +the suburbs of Tupelo, the colonel, major, adjutant, and one of the +captains called upon me. This regiment was raised in Tishomingo county, +one of the companies, the Zollicoffer Avengers, being from Rienzi, where I +had been for years proprietor and Principal of the Rienzi Female Seminary. +The daughters of many of the officers of this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> regiment had been educated +at this Seminary during my superintendence. Some of these officers had +expressed themselves under great obligations to me, for the thorough, +moral, mental, and physical training of their children while under my +care. As proof of this, I have their own statements, as published in the +public journals of the day. Owing me a debt of gratitude, as they +professed, could I expect less than the manifestation of deep sympathy for +me in my sad condition—confined in a gloomy dungeon, deprived of the +comforts, yea, even the necessaries of life, menaced and insulted by the +officers in whose power I was? Whatever may have been my hopes, they were +doomed to be blasted. These summer friends, so obsequious in my +prosperity, conversed for a while on indifferent topics, never alluding to +my condition, and as I did not obtrude it upon their attention, they left, +promising to call again. I said, “Do so, gentlemen; you will always find +me <i>at home</i>.” Adjutant Irion, as he passed out, asked Lieutenant Malone +what the charge was against me. Malone replied that I was charged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> with +being a Union man. The adjutant said, in a bitter and sarcastic tone, that +I should never have been brought to Tupelo, but on my arrest should have +been sent to hell from the lowest limb of the nearest tree.</p> + +<p>Having determined to escape at all hazards, I sought out an accomplice, a +<i>compagnon de voyage</i>; that person was Richard Malone; his piercing eye, +his intellectual physiognomy, led me to believe that if he consented to +make the attempt with me, our chances for escape would be good. I drew +Malone to one side, and covertly introduced the matter. He soon got my +idea, and drawing from his pocket a paper, showed me the route mapped out +which he intended to pursue, as he had for some days determined to escape, +or die in the attempt. He was charged with being a spy, and there was +little doubt that they would establish his guilt by false testimony. We +went out now under every possible pretext. We no longer shunned the guard +who came to obtain prisoners to do servile labour. Our object being to +reconnoitre, in order to learn where guards were stationed, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> to +determine the best method of escape through the town after leaving the +prison. During the day we made these observations: that there were two +guards stationed at the back door, who were very verdant; that they would, +after relief, come on duty again at midnight; that there was a building on +the south side of the prison, extending beyond the prison and beyond the +guards; that the moon would set about eleven o’clock, P. M.; that there +were no guards stationed on the south side of the prison during the day; +that one of the planks in the floor could be easily removed; and that +there were several holes, when we were once under the floor, by which +egress might be made either on the north or south side; that the coast was +probably clearest in the direction of a corn-field some two hundred yards +distant in a northwest direction.</p> + +<p>At four o’clock P. M., our plan was fully matured. At midnight, (the moon +being down, and the verdant guards on duty) we would raise the plank, get +under the floor, and myself in the advance, make our exit through one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +the holes on the south side of the jail, then crawl to the building, some +fifteen feet distant, and continue crawling till we passed the guards; +then rise and make our way as cautiously as possible, to a point in the +corn-field, a short distance in the rear of a garment which was hanging +upon the fence. The one who first arrived must await the other. A signal +was agreed upon, to prevent mistake. If the guards ordered us to halt, we +had resolved to risk their fire, our watchword being, Liberty or death!</p> + +<p>About this time the prisoners chose me their chaplain by acclamation. +During the day, we made known our intention of escaping to several +fellow-prisoners, who promised us all the assistance in their power. All +the prisoners who knew of the matter, earnestly desired our escape, and +co-operated with us in effecting it. Clarke and Robinson begged us to take +them along, averring there was no doubt that they would be shot. Malone +told them that no more than two could go<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> together; that if they wished to +escape, they could make the attempt half an hour after us, which they +agreed to. Clarke, however, came to me, and desired me to take him along, +as he would rather go with us than with Robinson. He had a wife and five +small children dependent on him for support, and if he perished, they must +perish too. I consulted Malone, but he would not agree to have Clarke go +with us. Three would be too many for safety, and he doubted whether Clarke +had sufficient nerve to face the glittering bayonet, or tact enough to +pass through the camps without detection. He might commit some blunder +which would endanger our safety. I informed Clarke that the arrangement +made, in which he and Robinson were to go together, must be adhered to. He +begged me, by all that was sacred, to take him along. But Malone was +inexorable, and I thought it best to acquiesce in his judgment.</p> + +<p>Night drew on apace. Thick darkness gathered around us, and murky clouds +covered the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> sky, as we sat down with the Federal prisoners to our scanty +allowance. While partaking of our rude fare, Malone thus spoke:</p> + +<p>“This day is the 4th of July, 1862, the anniversary of our patriot +fathers’ declaration of independence of British tyranny and oppression. +They had much to complain of. They suffered grievous wrongs and cruel +bondage. But eighty-six years ago to-day they declared themselves to be a +free and independent people, who would rather die than be again enslaved. +Of what worth was their declaration if they had remained inactive? +Supineness would not have saved them. But trusting in our God, who gives +success to the righteous cause, they imperilled their lives, they hazarded +their fortunes, and with untiring energy and sleepless vigilance they +contested to the bitter end against all efforts to deprive them of their +inalienable rights. Success crowned their efforts, and they rid themselves +of tyrants’ chains. We (I allude to my friend, Parson Aughey, and myself,) +degenerate sons of these noble sires, have suffered wrong, nay, gross +outrage. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>Citizens of the sunny South, guilty of no offence whatever, not +even of constructive crime, we are immured in a loathsome dungeon, +deprived of the comforts of life, separated from our families, and +suffered to have no communication with them; dragging out a miserable +existence, which an ignominious death on the scaffold must soon end. We, +therefore, John H. Aughey and Richard Malone, in view of these accumulated +wrongs and outrages, solemnly swear before High Heaven, and in presence of +these witnesses, that we will be free, or perish in the attempt. Appealing +to the God of liberty, of truth, and of righteousness, for the rectitude +of our motives and the justness of our cause, we commit ourselves into his +hands, and implore his protection amid the dangers through which we are +about to pass, and humbly pray that he will give us success, and restore +us speedily to our families and friends, and to the enjoyment of our +inalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”</p> + +<p>Grasping the Lieutenant by the hand, I consented to this Declaration of +Independence of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> rebel thraldom. We gave our respective addresses to our +friends, who promised, that if they were ever liberated, and we were +killed by the guards, they would write to our families, informing them of +the manner of our death.</p> + +<p>About ten o’clock, Malone raised the plank, and I went under to +reconnoitre. I remained under the floor about ten minutes, having learned +that there were no guards patroling the south side of the house, as we +feared might be the case after night. We had learned, from observation, +that there were none during the day. Just at the noon of night, we heard +the relief called. Malone and I endeavoured to find the prisoners who were +to raise the plank, but not being able readily to do so, we raised the +plank ourselves, and both got under without difficulty. Malone getting +under first, was, contrary to agreement, compelled to take the lead. As he +was passing out, he made considerable noise. To warn him of the danger, I +patted him on the back. Reaching back, he gave my hand a warm pressure, to +assure me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> that all was right, and passed out. I followed, and reached the +designated point in the corn-field in about half an hour, having to use +the utmost precaution, and in some cases to pass the guards by crawling in +a serpentine manner. When I arrived, I gave the preconcerted signal, but +Malone was nowhere to be seen. I waited for him two hours at least, when I +was compelled to seek my safety alone.</p> + +<p>Not being able to meet with my friend, I regarded as a great misfortune, +because, after reaching a point ten miles north of Tupelo, he would be +familiar with the country. I had frequently passed through the town on the +railroad, but knew nothing of the country through which I must travel. +Somewhat depressed in spirits at the loss of my <i>compagnon de voyage</i>, I +resolved to reach my family by the safest and most practicable route. +Still in the midst of camps, I had considerable difficulty in making my +way out of them. When I thought that this had been effected, I found that +day was brightening in the east. Looking around for some place to hide, I +soon found a dense,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> though small thicket, in which I secreted myself as +covertly as possible. Having slept but little since my arrest, I +endeavoured to compose myself to slumber, and partially succeded; but soon +the noise and confusion of soldiers passing and re-passing near, awoke and +alarmed me. I soon learned that I was near a camp, and that the soldiers +had found a suitable place for bathing in a creek which ran within thirty +yards of my place of concealment. There were two paths by which they +reached the creek. On one, they passed within fifteen feet of me; on the +other, within six or seven. About nine o’clock, I heard the booming of +cannon all around me, proceeding from the different camps. The soldiers +who passed me stated, in their conversation, that the cannon were firing +in honour of a great victory obtained over General McClellan, in Virginia. +According to their statement, his whole army, after a succession of +losses, during eight days’ fighting, had been completely annihilated, and +that Stonewall Jackson would be in Washington city before the close of the +week.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>The day passed slowly away. At one time two soldiers came within a few +feet of me in search of blackberries, but passed out without detecting me. +At another time two soldiers sat down to converse, so near that their +lowest tones were distinctly audible. One informed the other that he had +been in town in the morning, and had learned that the <i>Clerical Spy</i>, +Parson Aughey, and a fellow by the name of Malone, had broke jail, but +that they would soon be brought in, as a company of cavalry had been put +on their track, with a pack of bloodhounds. Soon after this, one of them +arose and struck a bush several times, which seemed to be but a very short +distance above my head. I thought that he had discovered me, and was about +to rise and run, when I heard him say to his companion, that he had +attempted to kill a very large snake, which had escaped to the bushes. I +began to feel somewhat uncomfortably situated when I learned that I was in +close proximity to a large snake, though I would have preferred meeting +with an anaconda, boa-constrictor, rattlesnake, or even the deadly cobra<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +di capello, rather than with those vile secessionists thirsting for +innocent blood.</p> + +<p>I thought this 5th of July was the longest day I had ever known. The sun +was so long in reaching the zenith, and so slow in passing down the steep +ecliptic way to the occident. The twilight, too, seemed of endless +duration. But as all long days have had an end, so had this. The stars +came glittering one by one. I soon recognised that old staunch and +immovable friend of all travellers on the underground railroad, the +polar-star.</p> + +<p>Rising from my lair, I was soon homeward bound, guided by the north-star +and an oriental constellation. Plunging into a dense wood I found my rapid +advance impeded by the undergrowth, and great difficulty in following my +guiding stars, as the boughs of the great oaks rendered them invisible, or +dimly seen. Fatigued, hungry, and sleepy, I at length lay down at the foot +of a large swamp-oak tree, intending to take a nap, and then rise and +pursue my journey. When I awoke the sun was just rising. I arose filled +with regret for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> time I had lost. Though somewhat refreshed by my +sound sleep, yet I was very hungry and almost famished with thirst.</p> + +<p>After travelling about half a mile I came to a small log-house on a +road-side. Feeling sick and faint, I resolved to go to the house to obtain +water, and, if I liked the appearance of the inmates, to reveal my +condition and ask for aid. Upon reaching the house I met the proprietor, +but did not like his physiognomy. He looked the villain; a sinister +expression, a countenance revealing no intellectuality, except a sort of +low cunning, bore testimony that it would be foolish to repose confidence +in the possessor of such villanous looks. I asked for water, intending to +drink and leave. He pointed to the bucket; I drank and bade him good +morning, and turned to leave. I had proceeded but a few steps, when I was +ordered, in a stentorian tone, to halt. On looking round, I saw a soldier +within a few steps, presenting a double-barrelled gun; another soldier was +standing near, heavily armed. I asked by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> what authority he halted me. To +which he replied:</p> + +<p>“I know you, sir; I have heard you preach frequently. You are Parson +Aughey, and you were arrested and confined in prison at Tupelo. I was in +Lowrey’s regiment yesterday, and learned that you had broken jail; and +now, sir, you must return. My name is Dan Barnes. You may have heard of +me.”</p> + +<p>I had indeed heard of him. He had been guilty of robbing the United States +mail, had fled to Napoleon or Helena, Arkansas, where he was arrested, +brought back, and incarcerated in jail at Pontotoc, and confined there for +nearly a year. As the evidence against him was positive, he would have +been sent to the penitentiary; but, fortunately for him, at this juncture +Mississippi seceded. There being then no United States officers to execute +the laws, he was liberated, and soon after joined the army.</p> + +<p>After breakfast, which I paid for, Barnes called me to one side, and told +me that he felt sorry for me, and would afford me an opportunity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> of +escaping, if I would pay him a reasonable sum. He had been in a tight +place himself, and would have been glad had some friend been near to aid +him. He named two hundred and forty dollars as the <i>reasonable sum</i> for +permitting me to escape. After getting my money, their horses were +saddled, and telling me he was playing-off on me, said I must go to +General Jordan’s head-quarters at Priceville, to which place he and Huff, +the proprietor of the log cabin, conducted me.</p> + +<p>On my arrival, General Jordan ordered me to be put in irons, and placed +under guard. I was taken to a blacksmith’s shop in the town, the General +accompanying the guard, and heavy iron bands were put around my ankles, +and connected by a chain. The bands were put on hot, and my boots were +burnt in the operation. The blacksmith seemed averse to the order, and +only obeyed it upon compulsion. The General stood by, and saw that it was +well done. “Iron him securely—securely, sir,” was his oft repeated order. +The ironing caused me much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> pain. My ankles were long discoloured from +the effects of it.</p> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img01.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center">“I was taken to a blacksmith’s shop, and heavy iron bands put around my ankles.” Page 104.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>After my manacles were put on, I was taken back to Tupelo by Barnes and +another guard. On my arrival, the commander of the post and the Provost +Marshal were filled with joy. Barnes gave them the history of the arrest, +stating that I had attempted to bribe him; that he listened to my +proposition with indignation, and when he had got the money, performed +what he regarded his duty. The commander replied that all the property of +traitors was theirs, and that he did right in deceiving me, after +accepting the bribe. He also recommended Barnes for promotion for his +heroic and patriotic act in arresting me. (Perhaps it secured for him a +captaincy.) The following colloquy now took place between the commander of +the post, the Provost Marshal, and myself:</p> + +<p>“Why did you attempt to leave us?”</p> + +<p>“Because, sir, your prison was so filthy, and your fare so meagre and +unwholesome, that I could not endure it long, and live.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>“Parson, you know the Bible says, the wicked flee when no man pursueth, +but the righteous are as bold as a lion. You must have been guilty of +crime, or you would not have tried to escape.”</p> + +<p>“I may have been guilty of the offence charged against me, and yet +innocent of real <i>guilt</i>.”</p> + +<p>“You shall never be taken back to the prison you left, rest assured of +that. Did any of the prisoners know of or aid you in your escape?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir; none of them knew anything about it.”</p> + +<p>“Are you telling the truth?”</p> + +<p>“I am.”</p> + +<p>“Where is Malone?”</p> + +<p>“I never saw him after I left the building.”</p> + +<p>“He cannot escape; the cavalry are after him, and he will be brought in +soon, dead or alive.”</p> + +<p>“Why did you attempt to bribe Barnes?”</p> + +<p>“It was his own offer. I knew that his cupidity was great, and thought it +no harm to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> accept his offer. If Barnes had his deserts, he would now be +hard at work in the penitentiary.”</p> + +<p>“Did the jury that tried him, acquit him?”</p> + +<p>“No. The secession of Mississippi saved him. I refer you to Colonel Tison, +who is in Tupelo, for the particulars. He being marshal of North +Mississippi, arrested Barnes, and knows all about it. He found on his +person the evidence of his guilt, the money and checks stolen when he +robbed the mail.”</p> + +<p>“Parson, you will not be immediately executed, but you will, without +doubt, hang in a week or two, so that, if you have any word to send your +family, you have permission to do so.”</p> + +<p>“May I write a letter to my wife?”</p> + +<p>“You may, and I will see that it is forwarded to her.”</p> + +<p>I sat down and wrote a letter, a very common-place letter, to my wife, +inserting, occasionally, a word in phonography, which, taken in +connection, read thus: “If possible, inform General Rosecrans or Nelson of +my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> arrest.” While inspecting the letter, Lieutenant Peden noticed the +phonography, and asked me to read it. I read it thus: “My dear wife, I +hope to be at home soon. Do not grieve.” This letter they never sent. It +was merely an act of duplicity on their part, to obtain some concession, +which might be used against me. The guard, receiving orders, now conducted +me to a hotel, and placed me in a small room, two guards remaining inside, +and two at the door outside, with orders to shoot me if I made the least +attempt at escape. I remained in this room only a few hours, after which I +was taken to my old prison. As I entered, my old friends, the prisoners, +crowded around me, and Captain Bruce addressed me in his facetious manner. +In prison, his wit had beguiled many a tedious hour. His humour was the +pure Attic salt.</p> + +<p>“Parson Aughey, you are welcome back to my house, though you have played +us rather a scurvy trick in leaving without giving me the least inkling of +the matter, or settling your bill.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>I replied: “Captain, it was hardly right; but I did not like your fare, +and your beds were filled with vermin.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you do not seem to have fared better since you left, for you have +returned.”</p> + +<p>“Captain, my return is the result of coercion. Some who oppose this +principle when applied to themselves, have no scruples in enforcing it +upon others.</p> + +<p class="poem">“No rogue e’er felt the halter draw,<br /> +With good opinion of the law;”</p> + +<p>is an old saw, and the truth of proverbs is seldom affected by time. I am +your guest upon compulsion; but remember, I will leave you the first +opportunity.”</p> + +<p>Upon hearing this, an officer present swore that when I again left that +building, it would be to cross the railroad, (the place of execution.)</p> + +<p>The prisoners gathered around me, and I related to them my adventures. +They then informed me of what had transpired during my absence. Clarke was +taken out of prison to guide a cavalry company in search of me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> Clarke +informed me that they scoured the country, and then went to my +father-in-law’s; and after searching the premises, returned, believing +that I had gone due north towards Rienzi, in which direction another +company had been despatched. On their return, Clarke was remanded to jail. +At roll-call—seven o’clock, A. M., we were missed. The cavalry were +immediately sent in pursuit. All the guards on duty during the night were +put under arrest. Our method of escape was soon discovered, and the guards +were released, as they were not at fault. A large number of spikes were +hammered in the floor, the guards were doubled, and greater vigilance +enjoined. The prisoners were questioned, strictly and individually, to +learn whether any of them knew of our intention to escape, or had rendered +us any assistance. They all positively denied any knowledge of the matter. +They asked me whether I had given the officers any information about their +knowledge of our designs, and coöperation in effecting them. I replied +that I had positively denied that any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> except Malone and myself were privy +to our plans.</p> + +<p>I may state here that it is difficult to justify a falsehood. We ought to +utter truth always, without exaggeration or prevarication, leaving +consequences with God. We should do right without regard to results, for +with consequences we have no business; but in this case the temptation to +utter an untruth was great. These wicked men, thirsting for my blood, had +no right to make me criminate myself or my coadjutors. It would have been +wrong for me to give them the information they desired. Truth is too +precious for a secessionist, thirsting for innocent blood. Had I refused +to answer, they would have suspected that some of my fellow-prisoners +aided us, and would have either forced me to tell who they were, or would +have hanged me instantly for my refusal. If I had given information, and +criminated those who had befriended us, they would have been severely +punished, and I have been guilty of the basest ingratitude; I would have +been shunned by the prisoners, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> regarded as one of the meanest of men, +one of the veriest wretches in existence; I could never again ask nor +expect aid in a similar attempt to save myself from a violent death.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<p class="title">LIFE IN A DUNGEON.</p> + +<div class="note"><p class="hang">Parson Aughey as Chaplain—Description of the Prisoners—Colonel +Walter, the Judge Advocate—Charges and Specifications against Parson +Aughey—A Citizen of the Confederate States—Execution of two +Tennesseeans—Enlistment of Union Prisoners—Colonel Walter’s second +visit—Day of Execution specified—Farewell Letter to my Wife—Parson +Aughey’s Obituary penned by himself—Address to his Soul—The Soul’s +Reply—Farewell Letter to his Parents—The Union Prisoners’ Petition +to Hon. W. H. Seward—The two Prisoners and the Oath of +Allegiance—Irish Stories.</p></div> + +<p>I was remanded to jail on Sabbath, the 6th of July, 1862. On the day of my +escape I had been elected chaplain. Captain Bruce asked permission for me +to hold divine service, to which no special objection was made. I +conducted the services as I would have done were I in my own pulpit. The +best order was maintained by the prisoners, and a deep seriousness +prevailed. The songs of Zion resounded through the prison-house, and a +great <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>concourse of soldiers assembled outside the guards in front of the +door, causing considerable interruption by their noise and insulting +language. Several officers, also, saw fit to come in and interrupt the +services by conversing in a loud tone, and asking me how I liked my +jewelry, referring to my fetters. The prisoners protested against their +rude and ungentlemanly conduct, but with little effect. They sent a +remonstrance to the commander of the post, but he treated it with silent +contempt.</p> + +<p>As the prisoners insisted upon it, I persisted in preaching, +notwithstanding the persecutions endured, as long as I remained with them. +We were a motley assemblage. Some were dressed in cloth of finest texture; +others were clad in filthy rags. There were present the learned and the +illiterate, the rowdy and the minister of the gospel, the holy and the +profane, the saint and the sinner. All the Southern States, and every +prominent religious denomination were represented. The youth in his +nonage, and the gray-haired and very aged man were there. The superior and +the subordinate were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> with us. The descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, +were here on the same common level, for in our prison were Afric’s +dark-browed sons, the descendants of Pocahontas, and the pure Circassian. +Death is said to be <span class="smcaplc">THE</span> great leveller; the dungeon at Tupelo was <i>a</i> +great leveller. A fellow-feeling made us wondrous kind; none shared his +morsel alone, and a deep and abiding sympathy for each other’s woes +pervaded every bosom. When our fellow-prisoners were called to die, and +were led through us with pallid brows, and agony depicted on their +countenances, our expressions of sorrow and commiseration were not loud +(through fear) but deep.</p> + +<p>On Monday morning an officer entered; my name was called, and I arose from +the floor on which I had been reclining. I recognised him as my old +friend, Colonel H. W. Walter, of Holly Springs, Mississippi. After the +ordinary salutations, he informed me that he was Judge Advocate, and that +my trial would take place in a few days, and inquired whether I wished to +summon any witnesses. I gave him the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> names and residences of several +witnesses, but he refused to send for them, upon the plea that they were +too near the Federal lines, and their cavalry might be in danger of +capture were they to proceed thither. I told him that the cavalry which +went in pursuit of me had visited that locality. He then wished to know +what I desired to prove by those witnesses. I replied that I wished to +prove that the specifications in the charge of being a spy were false.</p> + +<p>“Your own admissions are sufficient to cause you to lose your life,” said +the Colonel, “and I will not send for those witnesses.”</p> + +<p>I replied: “I know that I must die, and you need not go through the +formality of a trial. If condemned as a spy, I must be hanged. I only +wished the witnesses to prove that Woodruff is a man of no moral worth, +that his testimony is false; that Barnes is a mail-robber, and that his +testimony, therefore, should be rejected. Proving these facts, the other +charges which I admit, will cause me to be shot. I hope I am prepared to +die, but do not wish to die a dog’s death. Promise me that I shall be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +shot, and not hanged, and I will cavil no more.”</p> + +<p>“Parson Aughey, your chances for living are very slender. The proof +against you on both charges will be established; the testimony as to your +guilt is positive, and spies are always hanged.”</p> + +<p>He then stated the charges and specifications against me as follows:</p> + +<p>First charge—<i>Treason</i>.</p> + +<p>Specification 1st. That said Aughey stated to a member of Hill’s cavalry, +that if McClellan were defeated, the North could raise a much larger army +in a very short time; that the North would eventually conquer the South, +and that he was a Union man—this for the purpose of giving aid and +comfort to the enemy.</p> + +<p>Specification 2d. That when said Aughey was requested to take the oath of +allegiance to the Confederate States, he refused, giving as a reason, that +England, France, and himself, had not yet recognised the Southern +Confederacy, stating, also, that he had voluntarily taken the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> oath of +allegiance to the United States Government, which he regarded as +binding—this in North Mississippi.</p> + +<p>Specification 3d. That said Aughey was acting as a Federal agent in the +purchase of cotton, and had received from the United States Government a +large amount of gold, to pay for the cotton purchased.</p> + +<p>Second charge—<i>Acting as a spy</i>.</p> + +<p>Specification 1st. That said Aughey, while a citizen of the Confederate +States, repeatedly came into our lines for the purpose of obtaining +information for the benefit of the enemy, and that he passed through the +lines of the enemy at pleasure, holding an unlimited pass from General +Nelson, granting that privilege—this in the vicinity of Corinth, +Mississippi.</p> + +<p>Witnesses, —— Wallace, Dan Barnes, Ferdinand Woodruff, —— Williams, +David Huff.</p> + +<p>I demanded a copy of the charges, which Colonel Walter promised to +furnish.</p> + +<p>About three o’clock in the afternoon, I went to a couple of prisoners who +were heavily ironed; they were handcuffed, had a chain on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> their legs +similar to mine, and were chained together to a post, or to some fixture +at the side of the jail. I inquired for what offence they were +incarcerated.</p> + +<p>The prisoner whom I addressed was a tall gentleman, with a very +intellectual countenance, and of prepossessing manners. He was somewhat +pale, and wore a sad countenance. He replied:</p> + +<p>“We are charged with desertion.”</p> + +<p>“Did you desert?”</p> + +<p>“I enlisted in the Confederate service for twelve months. At the +expiration of my term of service, I asked permission to return home, +stating that my family were suffering for the necessaries of life; that +they lived in Tennessee, which is occupied by Federal troops. Confederate +bonds are there not worth the paper on which they are printed; provisions +are scarce, and my family have not the means of purchasing. I wish to +relieve their wants, and as my term of service has expired, I wish a +discharge. This they refused, stating that the Confederate Congress had +passed a law requiring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> all troops who had enlisted for any term, however +short, to be held to service during the war, and all who left before that +time would be considered guilty of desertion, and if arrested, would be +shot. I attempted to return to my family, regarding the law a tyrannical +enactment. I was arrested and committed to this prison.”</p> + +<p>“What will be your fate?”</p> + +<p>“I know not, but fear the worst.”</p> + +<p>I learned that the other prisoner had about the same statement to make, +and was also in dread of capital punishment. I left them and walked to the +opposite side of the prison, when I observed a file of soldiers drawn up +in front of the building. Two officers entered, and walking up to the two +prisoners whom I had just left, unfastened their chains, and ordered them +to follow. One of the prisoners asked whether he should bring his blanket. +“No,” replied the officer, in a jocular tone; “you have no more need for a +blanket in this world.”</p> + +<p>On reaching the door, the soldiers separated, received the prisoners in +their midst, closed up,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> and marching them across the railroad, shot them. +As the officers passed Captain Bruce, he asked where the prisoners were +going. They replied, “Going to be shot!” and showed him the warrant for +their execution, having written across it, in red letters, “<i>Condemned to +death!</i>”</p> + +<p>Thus was perpetrated an act of cruel tyranny, which cries loudly to Heaven +for vengeance. Two families, helpless and destitute, were thus each +deprived of its head, on whom they were dependent for support, and +abandoned to the cold charity of a selfish world. The wages they earned by +a year’s faithful service in behalf of the wicked, cruel, and vindictive +Confederate States, was an ignominious death and a dishonoured grave. Will +not God visit for this? The widow and the fatherless cry to Heaven for +vengeance, and their cries have entered into the ears of the Lord of +Sabaoth.</p> + +<p>On Tuesday morning, six young men, who had been arrested for their Union +sentiments, resolved to escape. Their plan was to enlist in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> the +Confederate service, then to desert on the first opportunity, and make +their way to the Federal lines. They consulted me as to the propriety of +taking the oath of allegiance under these circumstances. Such a step would +give them another chance for life; but were they to profess adherence to +their Union principles, they had no hope of living many days. If permitted +to enlist, they thought there was little doubt of their escape in a few +days; and should a battle take place, no Federal soldiers would be injured +by them, and an opportunity to desert might occur during the engagement. I +drew up a paper for them, requesting permission to enlist in a company +which they specified. Their petition was granted by the authorities, and +they were removed from prison to the camp. I feel confident that ere this, +they are safe in the Federal lines, for they knew the whole country, so as +to be able to travel by night or by day, with little danger of detection. +They had all been arrested at their homes by the Rebel cavalry. They were +bitter in sentiment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> against the military usurpation, self-styled the +Confederate States of America.</p> + +<p>This (Tuesday) evening, Colonel Walter called again, to give me a copy of +the charges against me. He informed me that my trial had been deferred +till Monday, the 15th inst. He also informed me in advance, that I must +die, and that, doubtless, on the day after the trial. I asked and obtained +permission to send for the Rev. Dr. Lyon, of Columbus, Mississippi, to be +present at my execution. Dr. Lyon and I were co-presbyters, both being +members of the Tombeckbee Presbytery. Colonel Walter was a renegade +Yankee. Coming from Michigan to Mississippi, he married the daughter of a +wealthy slave-holder. Obtaining through her the control of a large number +of slaves, he became a very ultra advocate of the peculiar institution, +and a rabid secessionist.</p> + +<p>Soon after Colonel Walter left, Colonel Ware came in, and asked me if I +had been President of a Female College in Rienzi. I replied in the +affirmative. ’Tis strange, said he, that one who has been so favoured, and +one who has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> accumulated property in the South, should prove a traitor to +the land of his adoption, and side with his enemies. I replied that I had +given a fair equivalent for every dollar I had obtained from the citizens +of the South; that for eleven years I had laboured faithfully as a teacher +and minister of the gospel to promote the educational and spiritual +interests of the Southern people; and that now I was receiving my reward +in being chained, starved, and insulted; and that they intended soon to +pay the last instalment by putting me to death ignominiously on the +scaffold; I also denied being an enemy to the South. I regarded those who +imperilled all her best interests, and plunged her into a protracted and +desolating war, as the real enemies of the South. If my advice had been +followed, the South and the whole country would now be enjoying its wonted +peace and prosperity. He only replied with cursing and vituperation.</p> + +<p>Believing my end to be near, I sat down upon the floor of my dungeon, and +penned the following letter to my wife.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Tupelo Military Dungeon</span>, July 10th, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Dear Mary</span>—The Confederate authorities announce to me that I have +only a few more days to live. When you receive this letter, the hand +that penned it will be cold in death. My soul will have passed the +solemn test before the bar of God; I have a good hope through grace +that I will be then rejoicing amid the sacramental host of God’s +elect, singing the new song of redeeming love in the presence of Him +who is the Chief among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely. +Mary, meet me in heaven, where sorrow, and crying, and sin are not +known, and where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at +rest. I will request your brother Ramsey, and cousin, Captain +Tankersley, to convey my body to you. Bury me in the graveyard at +Bethany. Plant an evergreen—a cedar—at my head, and one at my feet, +and there let me repose in peace, till the Archangel’s trump shall +sound, calling the dead to the judgment of the great day, and +vouchsafing to saints the long wished-for “redemption of the body.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>As to my property, it has all been confiscated; and after years of +incessant toil, I leave you penniless and dependent; but trust in God. +To his protecting care I commit you and our dear little Kate, who has +promised that he will be the widow’s husband, and the father of the +fatherless. Rest assured, the Lord will provide. Only trust in him, +and love him with your whole heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. +“I know that it shall be well with those that love God.” Be not +faithless, but believing, and though clouds and thick darkness +surround you at present, a more auspicious day will dawn, and God will +bring you safely to your journey’s end, and our reunion in heaven will +be sweet.</p> + +<p>Our dear little daughter, Kate, bring up in the nurture and admonition +of the Lord. Teach her to walk in wisdom’s ways, for her ways are ways +of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Her mind may be compared +to wax, in its susceptibility for receiving impressions, and to +marble, for its power of retaining those impressions. O that she may +be satisfied early<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> with the mercy of God, that she may rejoice and be +glad all her days! Teach her to remember her Creator in the days of +her youth, before the evil days come, in which she shall say, I have +no pleasure in thee. Make the Bible her constant study, and let its +words be as household words to her. Inspire her mind with a reverence +for <i>the Book</i> which is able to make wise unto salvation. See to it +that the words of Christ dwell richly in her soul, that she may be +filled with wisdom, and knowledge, and spiritual understanding. Pray +for the Holy Spirit to bless your labours and instructions, without +which all your efforts would be in vain, and pray that the Third +Person of the adorable Trinity may take up his abode in her heart, and +dwell with her for ever.</p> + +<p>As my duties in regard to instructing our child, will devolve solely +on you, take for your guidance, in this respect, Deut. vi. 5-9. Let +your example be such as you would wish her to follow. Children are +much more inclined to follow example than precept. Exercise care in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +this respect, for, “as is the mother, so is her daughter.”</p> + +<p>I regret my family will, from the force of circumstances, be compelled +to remain in a land where my death will be considered disgraceful, but +it cannot be avoided. The time may come when, even in Mississippi, I +may be regarded as a patriot martyr. My conscience is void of offence, +as regards the guilt attached to the charges made against me. I am +charged with treason against the Confederate States. The charge and +the specifications are true, except that I was not a Federal agent in +the purchase of cotton. That was a private arrangement altogether. I +am also charged with acting as a spy. The specifications under this +charge are false. I think that this accusation was made to prevent +retaliation by the Federal generals; and in the Rebel army they are +not at a loss to prove any charge, however false. Ferdinand Woodruff +is their tool to prove me a spy, and he will do it, though he knows +his testimony to be as false as that of the suborned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> witnesses who +bore testimony against the Saviour.</p> + +<p>How long shall the wicked triumph? How long will God forbear to +execute that vengeance which is his, and which he will repay sooner or +later! I feel confident that the right cause will prevail, and though +I will not live to see it, for my days are numbered, yet I firmly +believe that the rebel power will be destroyed utterly.</p> + +<p class="poem">“Truth, crushed to earth, will rise again;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The eternal years of God are hers;</span><br /> +But error, wounded, writhes in pain,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And dies amid her worshippers.”</span></p> + +<p>I write this letter amid the din and confusion incident to a large +number of men crowded into a narrow compass, and free from all +restraint. This letter will be transmitted to you by friends. The +names of those friends you will know hereafter. They will present your +case to General Rosecrans or Nelson, who may obtain a pension for you. +My services heretofore in the Union cause are known to them, and I +think they will see that you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> do not suffer; all my real estate will +be restored to you if the Union cause triumphs, and I think there is +no doubt as to its success. Give my love to all my friends. Remember +that I have prayed for you unceasingly during my imprisonment, and my +last utterances on earth will be prayers for your welfare.</p> + +<p>Farewell. God bless you, and preserve you and our dear little Kate.</p> + +<p>Your affectionate husband,</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;"><span class="smcap">John H. Aughey.</span></span></p></div> + +<p>I next wrote my obituary, which I placed in the hands of a Union soldier +who expected soon to be exchanged. By him it was to be sent to the editors +of <i>The Presbyterian</i>, published in Philadelphia, with a request that it +should appear in their columns.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">OBITUARY.</p> + +<p>Died, in Tupelo, Ittawamba county, Mississippi, July —, 1862, the +Rev. John H. Aughey. The subject of the above notice was executed on +the gallows, by authority of the Confederate States, on the charges of +treason and acting as a spy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>John H. Aughey was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, New York, May +8th, 1828; removed with his parents to Steubenville, Ohio, in 1837; is +an alumnus of Franklin College, New Athens, Harrison county, Ohio; +studied theology in Memphis, Tennessee, under the Rev. John H. Gray, +D. D., President of Memphis Synodical College—also under the care of +the Rev. S. I. Reid of Holly Springs, Mississippi; was licensed to +preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Chickasaw, October 4th, 1856; +was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry by the Presbytery +of Tombeckbee, at its session in Winston county, Mississippi, in +April, 1861. God blessed his labours by giving him many seals to his +ministry. After labouring eleven years in the South as a teacher and +minister of the gospel, having never injured a citizen of the South +either in person or property, he suffered a felon’s death for +attachment to the Federal Union, because he would not turn traitor to +the government which had never in a single instance oppressed, but had +always afforded him protection. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> rests in peace, and in the hope of +a blessed immortality.</p> + +<p class="poem">“Leaves have their time to fall,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And flowers to wither in the north wind’s breath,</span><br /> +And stars to set; but all—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death!”</span></p> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">ADDRESS TO MY SOUL.</p> + +<p>O my soul! thou art about to appear in the presence of thy Creator, who is +infinite, eternal, unchangeable in his being, power, wisdom, holiness, +justice, goodness, and truth. He cannot look upon sin. He is a +sin-avenging God, and thou art stained with sin. Thy transgressions are as +numerous as the stars of heaven, and the sand that is upon the sea-shore. +Thou art totally debased by sin, and thy iniquities abound. Thou art +guilty of sins of omission and of commission. Justice would consign thee +to everlasting burnings, to dwell with devouring fire, even to everlasting +destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power. +Guilty, helpless, wretched as thou art, what is thy plea why sentence of +eternal death should not be pronounced against thee?</p> + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">THE SOUL’S REPLY.</p> + +<p>I plead the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses from +<i>all</i> sin, even from sins of the deepest dye. I plead the sufferings of +Him who bore my sins in his own body, on the tree, and wrought out a +perfect righteousness, which I may obtain by simple faith. No money, no +price is demanded. This I could not pay, for all my righteousness is as +filthy rags, and I must perish, were any part of the price demanded. +Nothing in my hand I bring. My salvation must be <i>all</i> of grace, or to me +it would be hopeless. I trust that Christ will clothe me in the spotless +robes of his own righteousness, and present me faultless before his +Father. With this trust, I go to the judgment-seat, assured that the soul +which trusts in Christ shall never be put to shame. God is faithful who +has promised.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"><span style="padding-right: 2em;"><span class="smcap">Military Dungeon</span>, Tupelo,</span><br /> +Ittawamba Co., Miss., July 11th, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Parents</span>—“Life is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing to behold the +sun.” “All that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> a man hath, will he give for his life.” “Having +promise of the life that now is.” “The life is more than meat.” “They +hunt for the <i>precious</i> life.” The above quotations from the Word of +Life, show the high estimate that is placed upon life. My life is not +“<i>precious</i>” in the eyes of the Secessionists, for their authorities +declare that “my chances for living long are extremely slender.” “Yet +a few days, and me the all-beholding sun shall see no more in all his +course.” Mourn not for me, my dear parents, as those who have no hope. +“For me to live, is Christ; but to die, is gain.” I fear not those +who, when they have killed the body, have no more that they can do. +But I fear Him whose fear casteth out every other fear. When these +lines are read by you, their author will be an inhabitant of the +Celestial City, the New Jerusalem, and will be reposing in Abraham’s +bosom, in the midst of the Paradise of God. Next to God, my thanks are +due to you, for guiding my infant feet in the paths of wisdom and +virtue. In riper years, by precept, I have been warned and instructed. +By example I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> have been led, until my habits were fixed, and then, +accompanied by your parental blessing, I sought a distant home, to +engage in the arduous duties of life. Whatever success I have met +with, whatever influence for good I may have exerted, are all due to +your pious training. I owe you a debt of gratitude which I can never +repay. Though I cannot, God will grant you a reward lasting as +eternity. It will add to that exceeding and eternal weight of glory +which will be conferred on you in that day when the heavens shall be +dissolved, and the elements melt with fervent heat. I die for my +loyalty to the Federal Government. I know that you would not have me +turn traitor to save my life. Life is precious, but death, even death +on the scaffold, is preferable to dishonour. Remember me kindly to all +my friends. Tell sisters Sallie, Mary, and Emma, to meet me in heaven. +I know that <i>my</i> Redeemer liveth. Dying is but going home. I have +taught many how to live, and now I am called to teach them how to die. +May God grant that as my day is, so may my strength be, and that, in +my last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> moments, I may not bring dishonour upon my Master’s cause, +but may glorify him in the fires!</p> + +<p>My dear parents, farewell till we meet beyond the river.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Your affectionate son,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">John H. Aughey</span>.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">To David and Elizabeth Aughey</span>,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Amsterdam, Jefferson Co., Ohio.</span></p></div> + +<p>The following letter was written to the Hon. William H. Seward in behalf +of the Union men in prison and within the rebel lines.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"><span style="padding-right: 1.5em;"><span class="smcap">Central Military Prison</span>, Tupelo,</span><br /> +Ittawamba Co., Mississippi, July 11th, 1862.</p> + +<p>Hon. William H. Seward:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>—A large number of citizens of Mississippi, holding Union +sentiments, and who recognise no such military usurpation as the +so-called Confederate States of America, are confined in a filthy +prison, swarming with vermin, and are famishing from hunger—a +sufficient quantity of food not being furnished us. We are separated +from our families, and suffered to hold no communication with them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +We are compelled, under a strong guard, to perform the most menial +services, and are insulted on every occasion by the officers and +guards of the prison. The nights are very cool; we are furnished with +no bedding, and are compelled to lie down on the floor of our dungeon, +where sleep seldom visits us, until exhausted nature can hold out no +longer; then our slumbers are broken, restless, and of short duration. +Our property is confiscated, and our families left destitute of the +necessaries of life; all that they have, yea, all their living, being +seized upon by the Confederates, and converted to their own use. Heavy +fetters are placed upon our limbs, and daily some of us are led to the +scaffold, or to death by shooting. Many of us are forced into the +army, instant death being the penalty in case of refusal; thus +constraining us to bear arms against our country, to become the +executioners of our friends and brethren, or to fall ourselves by +their hands.</p> + +<p>These evils are intolerable, and we ask protection, through you, from +the United States Government. The Federal Government may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> not be able +to release us, but we ask the protection which the Federal prisoner +receives. Were his life taken, swift retribution would be visited upon +the rebels by a just retaliation—a rebel prisoner would suffer death +for every Federal prisoner whom they destroyed. Let this rule hold +good in the case of Union men who are citizens of the South. The loyal +Mississippian deserves protection as much as the loyal native of +Massachusetts. We ask, also, that our confiscated property be restored +to us, or, in case of our death, to our families. If it be destroyed, +let reparation be demanded from the rebels, or the property of known +and avowed secessionists sequestered to that use.</p> + +<p>Before this letter reaches its destination, the majority of us will +have ceased to be. The writer has been informed by the officers that +“his chances for living long are very slender;” that he has confessed +enough to cause him to lose his life, and the Judge Advocate has +specified Tuesday, the 15th inst., as the day of his execution. We +have, therefore, little hope that we, individually, can receive any +benefit from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> this petition, though you regard it favourably, and +consent to its suggestions; but our families, who have been so cruelly +robbed of all their substance, may, in after time, receive +remuneration for their great losses. And if citizens of avowed +secession proclivities, who are within the Federal lines, are arrested +and held as hostages for the safety of Union men who are and may be +hereafter incarcerated in the prison in Tupelo and elsewhere, the +rebels will not dare put another Union man to death.</p> + +<p>Hoping that you will deem it proper to take the matters presented in +our petition under advisement, we remain, with high considerations of +respect and esteem, your oppressed and imprisoned fellow-citizens,</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">John H. Aughey</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">Benjamin Clarke</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;"><span class="smcap">John Robinson</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">and thirty-seven others.</span></p></div> + +<p>Two young men informed me to-day that they had been forced into the rebel +service. They had been taken prisoners at Corinth by General Pope, and had +taken the oath of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>allegiance to the Federal Government, to which their +hearts had always been loyal. Recently they had been arrested, and on +refusing to rejoin their regiment, were immured in this dungeon. From the +threats of the officers, they expected to be shot at any moment. They had +used every means to banish the thoughts of death—had forced themselves to +engage in pleasantry and mirth to drive away the sadness and gloom which +oppressed them when alone, and recalled the pleasures of their happy +homes—homes which they would never see again. I counselled them to +prepare to meet their God in peace; to wisely improve the short time +granted them to make their calling and election sure. They replied that +they hoped all would be well. They had long since confessed Christ before +men, and hoped for salvation through his merits. Still, they could not +help feeling sad in the near prospect of death. They left me to mingle +with a group of prisoners, who were endeavouring to dissipate the tedium, +and vary the monotonous routine of prison life, by “telling stories.” +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>Captain Bruce led off by telling the following Irish story:</p> + +<p>“Once upon a time, an Irishman, who rejoiced in the possession of a fine +mare and a colt, wished to cross the Mississippi river at Baton Rouge with +them. By some mishap, they were all precipitated from the ferry-boat into +the water. The Irishman, being unable to swim, grasped the colt’s tail, +hoping thus to be carried to the shore. Some of the passengers called out +to him: ‘Halloo, Pat, why don’t you take hold of the mare’s tail; she is +much stronger, and much more able to carry you safely to the shore.’ ‘O, +be jabers!’ says Pat, ‘this is no time for swapping horses.’” This tale +was received with applause.</p> + +<p>Baltimore Bill, a real Plug-ugly, told his story next, as follows: “Two +Irishmen, immediately after their arrival in America, found a gun. After +long inspection, they concluded it was some kind of musical instrument, +and wishing to hear the music, it was agreed that Jimmie should blow at +the muzzle, while Pat worked with the ‘fixins’ at the breech. At it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> they +went. Soon the gun went off, and Jimmie fell down, shot dead. ‘Och!’ says +Pat, ‘are you charmed at the first note?’” This story was received with +loud bursts of laughter. An officer then entered, and ordered us to be +quiet, forbidding us to narrate any more tales.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<p class="title">EXECUTION OF UNION PRISONERS.</p> + +<div class="note"><p class="hang">Resolved to Escape—Mode of Executing Prisoners—Removal of +Chain—Addition to our Numbers—Two Prisoners become Insane—Plan of +Escape—Proves a Failure—Fetters Inspected—Additional +Fetters—Handcuffs—A Spy in the Disguise of a Prisoner—Special +Police Guard on Duty—A Prisoner’s Discovery—Divine Services—The +General Judgment—The Judge—The Laws—The Witnesses—The +Concourse—The Sentence.</p></div> + +<p>On Friday morning, the twelfth of July, as I lay restless and sore, +endeavouring to find some position which would be sufficiently easy to +permit me to enjoy, even for a few moments, the benefit of “Tired nature’s +sweet restorer, balmy sleep,” the thought occurred that it would be well +to attempt an escape, though it should result in death from the fire of +the guards, which would be far preferable to death by strangling at the +rope’s end, and in the presence of a large concourse of rebel enemies. +Their method of shooting was, to dig a hole,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> and make the victim sit with +his legs hanging in it. The soldiers would fire three balls through the +brain, and three through the heart; then the mangled and bleeding body +fell into the grave, and was immediately covered with earth. At first, +coffins were used, but of late, these had been dispensed with, owing to +the increased expense, and the increasing number of executions.</p> + +<p>I had not long meditated upon this subject, when I arose, fully resolved +on death or liberty. My intentions were communicated to several prisoners, +who promised me all the aid in their power. My fetters were examined, and +it was concluded, that with proper instruments my bands could be divested +of the iron which secured the chain-rings. A long-handled iron spoon, a +knife, and an old file, were obtained, and two were detached at a time to +work on my fetters. We went to one side of the building, and a sufficient +number of prisoners stood in front of us, to prevent the guard from +noticing our proceedings. Our locations were changed frequently, to +prevent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> detection; and when an officer entered, labour was suspended till +his exit.</p> + +<p>We called General Bragg, Robespierre; General Jordan, Marat; and General +Hardee, Danton. Several prisoners were led out and shot to-day. The +majority of them were Union men. Six Union men were committed to jail +to-day. The horrors of our situation were sufficient to render two of +these victims insane. A reign of terror had been inaugurated, only +equalled, in its appalling enormity, by the memorable French Revolution. +Spies and informers, in the pay of the Rebel government, prowl through the +country, using every artifice and strategy to lead Union men to criminate +themselves, after which they are dragged to prison and to death. The +cavalry dash through the country, burning cotton, carrying off the +property of loyal citizens, and committing depredations of every kind.</p> + +<p>Several prisoners resolved to attempt an escape with me. Our plan was, to +bring in the axe with which we split wood for cooking, and raise a plank +in the floor, a sufficient<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> number to stand around those who lifted it, to +prevent observation, and then make our way out among the guards, who were +off duty on the north side of the building. At this time there were three +guards in front of each door, and two on the south side of the building. +On the north side of the building, there were no guards on duty, for, if +the other three sides were securely guarded, the prisoners could not +escape on the north side. There were, however, several hundred guards, +who, when off duty, slept on this side of the prison. When their turn +came, they went on duty; and those who were relieved, came there to sleep. +They were coming and going all the time, and during the whole night, they +kept up an incessant noise.</p> + +<p>After the unremitting labour of my friends during the day, I found that I +could slip my chain off and on at pleasure. The sun was now setting, but +the axe had not been brought in. At this time a guard was stationed in +each door; the favourable moment had passed; none dared to bring the axe +past<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> the guard. While deliberating on the best course to pursue—as +raising a plank had proved a failure for the present—General Jordan and +Colonel Clare entered. I was standing with others in the middle of the +floor. General Jordan came directly to me; either accidentally or +intentionally, he held up a light to my face. “Ah! you are here yet,” said +he. I gave an affirmative nod. “Well,” said he to Colonel Clare, “I must +examine this fellow’s irons.” Putting his hand down, and ascertaining that +they had been tampered with, he endeavoured, ineffectually, to pull the +bands off; he did not notice that I could slip the chain-rings off. “These +irons,” said he, “are very insecure; who helped you to put them in this +condition?” I made no reply. After waiting until he found I intended none, +he continued: “Colonel Clare, have these irons secured in the morning; +also put handcuffs on him, and chain him, so as to confine him to one +locality; the gallows shall not be cheated of their due.” Having given +these orders, they passed out. As soon as they were gone, the prisoners +who had aided<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> me crowded around, stating that they believed there was a +spy in the house, in the guise of a prisoner, and declaring that I must +escape that night, or it would be too late. All realized that on to-morrow +there would be no hope.</p> + +<p>There were eleven guards on duty—three in front of each door, one in each +door, two on the south side of the building, and at night one passing back +and forth through the centre of the prison, which was lighted during the +whole night. There was also a special police guard on duty that night, as +five Federal prisoners, who remained in our prison until some formalities +were gone through with, would be sent in the morning to the prison at +Columbus, Mississippi, and it was feared they might attempt to escape ere +they were sent further south.</p> + +<p>At this juncture, a young man ran up and informed me that he had made a +discovery which might result in my escape; I must go alone, however, and +though they would aid me, they would run great risk in doing so.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> Only +four could assist, and he would volunteer to be one of them. Several +others immediately volunteered, of whom three were selected by M——, and +the plan then communicated. At this moment, Captain Bruce announced that +the hour for divine worship had arrived. I asked my friends whether I +should plead indisposition, and dispense with the services for that time. +They replied that it might lead to suspicion, and advised me to give them +a short sermon. I went to my usual place of standing, clanking my chains +as heretofore. I give a synopsis of the sermon.</p> + +<p>The text was 2 Cor. v. 10: “We must all appear before the judgment-seat of +Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according +to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”</p> + +<p>The doctrine of a general judgment was revealed to mankind at a very early +period of the world’s history. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, +saying, “Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to +execute judgment upon all, and to convince all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> that are ungodly among +them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of +all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” +Job declares: “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at +the latter day upon the earth.” Daniel also speaks of a general judgment: +“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did +sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the +pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning +fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand +thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood +before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” The New +Testament is also explicit in its declarations that God hath appointed a +day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he +hath ordained. The text declares that we must all appear before the +judgment-seat of Christ.</p> + +<p>The scenes which will usher in the judgment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> of the great day will be of +the most magnificent character. “The heavens shall pass away with a great +noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and +the works that are therein, shall be burned up.” This does not indicate +annihilation. God will never annihilate any of his creatures, animate or +inanimate.</p> + +<p>The inquiry is often made, what becomes of the soul after death, and where +does it await the general judgment? A sect called the Soul-sleepers, take +the position that the soul, after death, goes into a torpid state, like +bears in winter, and thus remains till the sounding of the Archangel’s +trump. There is no Scripture to sustain this view, and it is only assumed, +to avoid the objection that God would not judge a soul, and send it to +reward or punishment, and then bring it back, to be again judged. That the +soul, at death, passes immediately into glory or torment, is proved by +many scriptures. Paul “desired to depart, and be with Christ, which was +far better,” than remaining on earth. He declares that to be present with +the body, is to be absent from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> the Lord. The dying Stephen calls upon the +Lord Jesus to receive his spirit. These holy men would not thus have +spoken, if they supposed that ages must elapse ere they entered heaven. +God is not the God of the dead or torpid, but of the living. Moses and +Elias appeared on the mount of transfiguration in a state far from +torpidity. The dying thief received the promise, “This day shalt thou be +with me in paradise.” No mention is made of Purgatory or torpidity. The +objector urges that paradise is not heaven. We are told that the river of +life flows from the throne of God, that the tree of life grows on both +sides of the river, and that the tree of life grows in the midst of the +paradise of God. The paradise of God is where he is seated on his throne, +which is heaven. Paradise is where Christ is. The thief would be with +Christ in paradise. He who regards the Lord Jesus as the Chief among ten +thousand, the One altogether lovely, will deem his presence heaven indeed. +As to the wicked, it is said of the rich man, that in hell he lifted up +his eyes, being in torment. If,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> after being judged, the souls of +believers, do pass immediately into glory, and the wicked into torment, +what use is there of another or general judgment. I reply, We are +responsible not only for our acts, but for the influence which those acts +exert through all time. Gibbon, Hume, Rosseau, Paine, and other infidel +writers, wrote works which, during the life of the authors, did great +evil. If those wicked men passed away from earth impenitent, they are now +suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. But the influence for evil, of +those wicked works, did not cease with the death of their authors. +Thousands of young men every year are led into pernicious and hurtful +errors by their perusal. At the general judgment, the accumulated guilt, +for the baleful influence exerted through their writings in all time, will +sink them deeper in the flames of perdition. The sainted Alexander, and +other pious men who are now in heaven, wrote many works whose influence +for good was great while their authors lived; and since their death they +are, and will continue to be, instrumental in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> hand of God in turning +many to righteousness. All the good accomplished by their writings, +through all time, will, at the judgment, add to their exceeding and +eternal weight of glory.</p> + +<p>In this life, we often see the righteous man contending with life’s +unnumbered woes; all the dealings of Providence seem to be adverse. While +the wicked are in great power, they flourish in life, like the green +bay-tree, and have no bands in their death. These things are strange and +mysterious. We understand them not now; but we shall learn, in that great +day, when all mysteries are made plain, that God’s dealings were just, +both with the righteous and the wicked.</p> + +<p>The text declares that <i>we</i> must all appear before the judgment-seat of +Christ. This <i>we</i> includes all who are now within the sound of my voice, +and not only us, but all who live upon the face of the earth; and the +Archangel’s trump will wake the pale nations of the dead, and summon them +to judgment. The dark domain of hell will be vacated, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> angels that +kept not their first estate, and are now reserved in chains of darkness, +will appear in the presence of the Judge. Heaven’s holy inhabitants will +be present. Thus heaven, earth, and hell, will be represented in that +august assemblage. The scene will bear some resemblance to that which +takes place in our earthly courts. The Lord Jesus Christ will be the +Judge, and the angels and saints will be the jurors, who will consent to +and approve of the acts of the Judge. The angels will be the officers who +will summon, from the prison-house of hell, the devils, to the trial, and +also those wicked men who will call upon the rocks and mountains to fall +upon them, and hide them from the face of the Lamb. Nor, as is so often +the case with earthly officers, will any be able to elude the vigilance of +these. They will be clothed with ample power to compel the attendance of +all; none will escape. We <i>must all</i> appear before the judgment-seat. As +in earthly courts, law is the basis of judgment, so we shall be judged +according to law in that day. The heathen will be judged by the law of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +nature—the law written in their hearts, and on their consciences. The +light of nature teaches the being, wisdom, power, and goodness of God. For +a violation of this law, they will be beaten with few stripes. The Jews +will be judged by both the law of nature, which they have, in common with +the heathen and the Mosaic law. But we who live in the nineteenth century, +in the full blaze of gospel light, will be judged not only by the light of +nature and the Mosaic law, which we possess in common with the heathen and +the Jew, but also by the glorious gospel of the Son of God, which brought +life and immortality to light; and if condemned, how fearful our doom, who +are so highly favoured! In earthly courts, we are judged for our overt +acts alone; but in the court of heaven, the commandment is exceeding +broad; it reaches every thought. Our words, too, are taken into account. +We must give an account for every idle word. By our words, we shall be +justified, and by our words we shall be condemned. Our thoughts, our +words, our deeds, will all be taken into account.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>As in our courts there are witnesses, so also there will be at the bar of +God. Our pious relatives and friends will bear this testimony, that they +have prayed with us and for us; that they had a deep concern for our +souls, and that we who are found on the left hand of the Judge, refused +all their counsel, and despised their admonitions. Ministers of the gospel +will testify that they came as ambassadors from the King of kings, and +beseeching you, in Christ’s stead, to be reconciled to God, pointing to +the coming wrath, and warning you from that wrath to flee; and yet their +labour of love ye despised, and scorned the message from on high. The +Bible will be a witness against you. Its teachings are able to make wise +unto salvation. It is the chart which is given to guide us through this +wilderness-world, to fairer worlds on high. It tells of the Lamb of God, +who taketh away the sin of the world. It is truth without any mixture of +error, and yet you have despised this necessary revelation, and chosen to +perish, with the Word of Life open before you. God, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> Father, will be a +swift witness against you. In the greatness of his love for you, in the +counsels of eternity, he devised the plan of salvation, and sent his only +begotten Son to suffer and die, that you might live, and yet you have +despised that love, and rejected that Saviour. God, the Son, will bear +this testimony, that he came from the shining abodes of glory, where +seraphim and cherubim fell prostrate at his feet, in humble adoration, and +emptying himself of his glory, bore all the ills of life—the persecutions +of wicked men, and the accursed death of the cross, that salvation might +be yours, and yet ye refused it, and trod the blood of the Son of God +under foot, and put him to an open shame. The Holy Spirit, the Third +Person of the adorable Trinity, will bear witness that he often knocked at +the door of your hearts for admittance; that he wooed you to embrace his +love, offering to abide with you for ever, and yet you rejected the offer, +and did despite to the Spirit of grace, till, in sorrow, he took his +everlasting flight.</p> + +<p>The devil is now going about as a roaring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> lion, seeking whom he may +devour, and sometimes transforming himself into an angel of light. He is +tempting you to sin, by presenting before your minds the superior charms +of the riches and pleasures of earth, to things that are unseen and +eternal. He has no power to compel you to sin. His evil suggestions are +whispered in your oft too willing ears, and then it remains with you to +accept or reject. He has no power of compulsion. Your sin must be an act +of your own will, or it is not sin. When you consent to the wiles of this +arch enemy, and sin against God, remember that with eager desire and base +ingratitude he will fiercely accuse in the great day of God Almighty, and +urge these very sins of his suggestion as a reason why he should have you +to torment you for ever in the bottomless pit.</p> + +<p>That internal monitor, that light which enlightens every man that cometh +into the world—the moral sense, or conscience—will be a swift witness +against you. By it you have been enlightened and warned; and in the case +of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> many who have denied a future state of punishment, the goadings of +remorse have convinced them that there is a hell, the kindlings of whose +fires they have felt in their own bosoms. Conscience will compel you to +confess that your doom is just, though for ever debarred from the joys and +happiness of heaven. O! my fellow-prisoners and travellers to the bar of +God, listen to her warning voice to-day, before it be too late, and you +are compelled mournfully to exclaim, “The harvest is past, the summer is +ended, and I am not saved!” The conscience of the sinner will be compelled +to admit the truth of the testimony. In earthly courts, oftentimes +witnesses are suborned, and their testimony false. Not so at the grand +assize. Not a scrap of false testimony will be admitted. The evidence will +be in truth, and the judgment in righteousness.</p> + +<p>After all these scenes have occurred, the Judge will render a verdict, and +pronounce the sentence, which will be irreversible and eternal. With +regard to the righteous, though they have been guilty of many sins, both +of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>omission and commission, and have no merits of their own to plead, and +consider themselves justly obnoxious to eternal banishment, their +Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom, while in the flesh, they +exercised a true and living faith, will now present them, clad in the +white robes of his perfect righteousness, faultless before his Father, and +they will now hear the welcome plaudit, “Come ye blessed, inherit the +kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” But those on +the left hand, who all their life rejected the mercy offered—the great +salvation proffered without money and without price—will now hear the +dread sentence, “Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for +the devil and his angels!”</p> + +<p>O my dear, impenitent fellow-prisoners! how can ye take up your abode, +your eternal abode, in everlasting burnings? How can ye dwell with +devouring fire? How can ye endure everlasting destruction from the +presence of the Lord and the glory of his power, shut up for ever in the +fearful pit out of which there is no egress except for the vision of the +damned,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> and the smoke of its torment? Be wise to-day, ’tis madness to +defer. Procrastination is the thief of time. Delay is fraught with awful +danger. Trust not in promises of future amendment. The way to hell is +paved with good resolutions, which are never kept. The future convenient +season never arrives. Like Felix, we may tremble when the minister reasons +of a judgment to come; and like Agrippa, we may be almost persuaded to be +a Christian, and yet come short of the glory of God through +procrastination. Procrastination has populated hell. All the doomed and +damned from Christian lands are victims of this pernicious and destructive +wile of the devil. It is foolish to procrastinate. Though the Bible teems +with rich and glorious promises of a hundred-fold blessings in this life, +and eternal glory in the world to come, to those who break off their sins +by righteousness, and their transgressions by turning unto the Lord, yet +all these promises are limited to the present tense. There is not a single +blessing promised the future penitent. He procrastinates at the risk of +losing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> all. Behold, <i>now</i> is the accepted time, and now is the day of +salvation. <i>To-day</i> if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. +“Ho, every one that thirsteth, <i>come</i> ye to the waters; and he that hath +no money, <i>come</i> ye, <i>buy</i> and <i>eat</i>; yea, <i>come buy</i> wine and milk +without money and without price.” “Seek ye <i>first</i> the kingdom of God and +his righteousness.” “And the Spirit and the Bride say, <i>come</i>; let him +that heareth say, <i>come</i>; and let him that is athirst <i>come</i>: and +whosoever will, let him <i>take</i> the water of life freely.”</p> + +<p>Choose ye <i>this day</i> whom ye will serve. There is no warrant for deferring +till to-morrow the momentous and eternal interests of the immortal soul. +The shortness and uncertainty of life furnish a strong reason why we +should not procrastinate. In the Bible, life is compared to everything +that is swift, transient, and fleeting in its nature. It is compared to +the swoop of the eagle hasting to the prey; to the swift post, to the +bubble on the river. Life is compared in its duration to a year, a day, +and to nothing, yea, less than nothing, and vanity.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> All these comparisons +indicate that it is very brief and evanescent. We have no lease of life; +we hold it by a very slight tenure; and this is especially true of us in +our present condition. Confined in prison, some of us led to death every +day without a moment’s warning, every evening I address some who, before +the next evening, are in eternity. Myself in chains, my life declared +forfeited, ought we not all to be deeply impressed with the necessity of +immediate preparation to meet our God? I feel that I am preaching as a +dying man to dying men, and I beseech you in Christ’s stead, be ye +reconciled to God. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and ye shall be +saved. Trust in him for salvation, for he is faithful who has promised. +God has never said to any, seek ye my face in vain. By the love and mercy +of God, by the terrors of the judgment, by the sympathy and compassion of +Jesus, I entreat you, my fellow-prisoners, to seek an interest, a present +interest, in the great salvation!</p> + +<p>I close for the present. We shall never all engage in divine service +together again on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> earth. We separate—some to go to a distant prison, and +some to death. May God grant that when we are done with earthly scenes, we +may all meet in the realms of bliss, where there is in God’s presence +fulness of joy, and at his right hand pleasures for evermore! And may the +love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion of the +Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us, and all the Israel of God, now, +henceforth, and for ever, Amen!</p> + +<p>The following hymn was then sung:</p> + +<p class="poem">In the sun, and moon, and stars,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Signs and wonders there shall be;</span><br /> +Earth shall quake with inward wars,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nations with perplexity.</span><br /> +<br /> +Soon shall ocean’s hoary deep,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tossed with stronger tempests, rise;</span><br /> +Wilder storms the mountains sweep,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Louder thunders rock the skies.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dread alarms shall shake the proud,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pale amazement, restless fear;</span><br /> +And, amid the thunder-cloud,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shall the Judge of men appear.</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span><br /> +But though from his awful face,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Heaven shall fade, and earth shall fly,</span><br /> +Fear not ye, his chosen race,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Your redemption draweth nigh.</span></p> + +<p>I preached longer than I had intended, having become so fully engrossed +with the subject as to forget my chains and my frustrated plans. My +fellow-prisoners were listening apparently with interest; great solemnity +prevailed, and penitential tears were flowing. It was evident that the +Spirit of the living God was in our midst; and though danger and death +were before our eyes, the consolations of the glorious gospel of the +blessed God caused our peace to flow like a river. The precious seed was +sown in tears. May we not entertain a good hope that he who cast the seed +into this soil, prepared by affliction, shall come again with rejoicing, +bringing his sheaves with him. By my side stood two in chains, who +appeared deeply moved. During the day I had conversed with them about +their souls. They expressed regret that they had not heretofore given this +matter the attention its importance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> demanded. Since their imprisonment, +however, they had been led to feel that they were great sinners, and had, +as they hoped, put their trust in Christ alone for salvation. I have since +learned that on the morrow they were shot.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<p class="title">SUCCESSFUL ESCAPE.</p> + +<div class="note"><p class="hang">The Second Plan of Escape—Under the Jail—Egress—Among the +Guards—In the Swamp—Travelling on the Underground Railroad—The +Fare—Green Corn eaten Raw—Blackberries and Stagnant Water—The +Bloodhounds—Tantalizing Dreams—The Pickets—The Cows—Become +Sick—Fons Beatus—Find Friends—Union Friend No. Two—The night in +the Barn—Death of Newman by Scalding—Union Friend No. Three—Bound +for the Union Lines—Rebel Soldiers—Black Ox—Pied Ox—Reach +Headquarters in Safety—Emotions on again beholding the Old +Flag—Kindness while Sick—Meeting with his Family—Richard Malone +again—The Serenade—Leave Dixie—Northward bound.</p></div> + +<p>After the sermon was concluded, the preparations for my escape were +commenced. The building used for our prison was built with the front +toward the east. The doors were at the eastern and western extremities, +which were the gable ends, one door being in each end. There were also two +windows at each end, the door being between them. The doors and +window-sashes had been removed, to allow the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> guards stationed in front an +unobstructed view of the interior. At night the apartment was lighted, and +a guard patrolled the floor; it was, therefore, nearly impossible for a +person to escape the observation of the guards, either within or without +the jail. In the North, the houses are usually built with a cellar +underneath; at the South, such a thing is very rare, the houses being +built upon the ground, or upon piles. Our prison was built upon piles, the +floor being elevated about eighteen inches above the ground. The boards +were nailed upon the building perpendicularly, and in some cases did not +quite reach to the ground. Small openings were thus left between the floor +and the ground, through which a person could crawl underneath the +building. Around each door was an enclosure, formed by stakes surmounted +with poles, in the shape of a parallelogram, whose dimensions were about +ten by sixteen feet. In each of these enclosures four guards were +stationed, one of them being seated in the doorway. The rear enclosure was +used for cooking purposes; and into both<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> enclosures we were permitted to +go at pleasure during all hours of the day, and as late at night as ten +o’clock. Only three prisoners were allowed to be in an enclosure at one +time.</p> + +<p>M—— had discovered a hole by the side of the steps within the front +enclosure, by which I could get under the building. I felt unwilling to +make such an attempt, as the aperture was in the immediate vicinity of the +guards. M—— stated that four others would aid me, though at considerable +risk on their part. “I’ll take the risk,” was the individual response of +all present. M—— selected three, who with himself assumed the perilous +task, in which discovery would have cost them their lives. M——, who had +devised the plan of escape, now instructed us in the respective parts we +were to perform. All promised implicit obedience. At half-past nine, three +prisoners and myself were to go into the enclosure. They would stand up +and converse with the guards, whilst I sat upon the ground by the hole, to +wait for an opportunity to crawl under the building unobserved. This +opportunity we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> expected to occur at ten o’clock, when the relief-guard +came on duty. The duty of one prisoner was to remain inside and engage the +attention of the guard who sat in the doorway, while the other three would +go into the enclosure, and entertain the other guards, according to the +previously devised plan. At half-past nine o’clock, we placed ourselves in +the designated positions. I readily removed my chain, coiled it up, and +laid it by the side of a little stump. The moon shone with great +brilliancy, revealing the tents which surrounded us on every side. +Officers and soldiers passed hurriedly to and fro. We were in the midst of +the noise and confusion of a great encampment, as there were in and around +Tupelo some fifteen thousand soldiers. Mingled sounds of mirth and +contention proceeded from the surrounding tents. My prisoner friends were +engaged in a fierce argument with the guards as to the comparative merits +of Tennessee and Mississippi troops. This was done to divert their +attention, and I observed with pleasure that they were meeting with +success. I reflected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> that a few more moments would decide my fate. If +detected, my life must end ignominiously and on the gallows. In the +morning, my anklets would be securely welded. I would also be handcuffed +and chained to a post. Then all hope must end, and soon my corpse would be +borne into the presence of her whose tears were flowing, and who refused +to be comforted because of my ominous absence.</p> + +<p>The order for the relief-guard now came loud and clear. I heard their +hurried tramp, and saw their glittering bayonets in the bright moonlight. +The set time, the appointed moment, big with my fate, had arrived. I +offered an ejaculatory prayer to Him who sits upon the throne of heaven +for protection at this critical moment. The guard stood within ten feet of +me, with their eyes constantly upon me. Just as they were turning to +receive the advancing relief-guard, I crawled backward under the building, +and disappeared from their view. The relief-guard went on duty, and those +relieved retired. The prisoners were ordered into the house, and as the +new guards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> did not know that four were in the enclosure, I was not +missed.</p> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img02.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p class="center">“Just as they were turning to receive the relief-guard, I crawled backward under the building,<br />and disappeared from view.” Page 172.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>I was now under the prison, but there were guards on every side, and the +jail was in the midst of a camp, so that I was still in great danger of +detection. I saw, through the crevices in the floor, the guard who +patrolled the prison. I heard the murmurings and mutterings of the +prisoners, as he occasionally trod upon them in his carelessness. I could +hear, though not distinctly, the conversation of the prisoners. One of my +assistants was detailing to his companions their success in getting me off +unnoticed. The prisoners slept but little that night, owing to their +anxiety for my safety, and I frequently heard my name mentioned, and hopes +for my safety expressed. I occasionally fell into uneasy slumbers, but the +fleas and other vermin were so annoying, that my sleep refreshed me but +little. I could distinctly hear the new guard conversing, and among other +topics, one remarked that he had forgotten the countersign; the other +replied that it was <i>Braxton</i>. Well, said the former, I thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> it was +Bragg, or Braxton, or something like that. Knowing the countersign +emboldened me, as I could, if halted, give it, and pass on. I soon crawled +to the north side of the prison, and found that there were three apertures +sufficiently large to admit of my egress. Upon reaching the first one, I +found a number of guards, some sitting and some lying so close to it, that +I dared not make the attempt at that point.</p> + +<p>Crawling to the second, I remained till there was comparative quiet; but +at the instant I was about to pass out, a soldier, who was lying with his +face toward me, commenced to cough, and continued to do so, at intervals, +for more than an hour. Finding it unadvisable to run the risk of detection +at this point, I made my way, with considerable difficulty, to the third +and last aperture, near the rear of the building, and not very distant +from the rear-guards. I remained at this aperture till I heard one guard +say to another that it was three o’clock, and that they must soon go on +duty. I felt confident that then was my time, or never, as morning would +find me under the house, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> I would be re-arrested in that situation. +Committing myself into the hands of God, and asking him to keep me from +detection, and grant me a safe escape, I arose from under the building, +passed by two sleeping guards, who were lying within three or four feet of +the prison. As it was my first essay at walking without chains, I reeled, +as if under the influence of strong drink, striking my foot against the +head of one of those sleeping guards, who, awaking, turned over, and +uttering some exclamation of disapprobation, took no further notice of me, +doubtless mistaking me for one of his companions. After proceeding a few +steps, I sat down upon the ground among some of the guards. I took out my +knife, and whistling, to appear as unconcerned as possible, commenced +whittling a stump, around which they were collected—some sitting, some +standing, and others reclining. I readily passed for one of them, as I was +wearing a colored shirt, which resembled that worn by the guards. I soon, +however, arose, and wound my way among the various groups, endeavouring +to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> reach the corn-field, to which I had made my first escape. After +passing the guards off duty, a sentinel arose a short distance in front of +me, evidently with the intention of halting me, if I advanced farther. +Stopping a few minutes, to avoid suspicion, I changed my direction, +bearing southwest, and after a time, got into the woods. Kneeling down, I +returned God thanks for thus crowning my efforts with success, and prayed +for his continuous protection, and that he would choose out my path, that +I might escape detection, and rejoin my family and friends in safety.</p> + +<p>I now pursued my journey rapidly in a southwest direction, choosing that +which led directly from my home, for two reasons. The cavalry and +bloodhounds would not be so likely to follow in that direction, and after +listening, while in prison, to the drum-beat morning and evening, in the +various surrounding camps, I noticed that it had ceased in the southwest +for several mornings; hence I supposed that the camp in that direction had +been broken up, and that, in taking that route,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> I could more readily get +beyond the rebel pickets, and then I could change my course, and bear +northward, and reach the Federal lines at some point on the Memphis and +Charleston railroad. I hastened on till the sun arose, having passed +through woods and corn-fields, studiously avoiding all roads, when, as I +was rapidly travelling along a narrow path, I met a negro. The suddenness +of our meeting alarmed both. I, in a peremptory tone, addressed him, in +quick succession, the following interrogatories:</p> + +<p>“Where are you going? To whom do you belong? Where have you been? Have you +a pass?”</p> + +<p>“I belong,” said the boy, trembling, “to Mr. ——. I have been to wife’s +house; am gwine back home, but I haint got nary pass.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose it is all right with you?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, master! it’s all right wid me.”</p> + +<p>Concluding that it was not all right “wid” myself, I hurried on, soon +leaving the path, and turning into a dense woods. Travelling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> on till +about one P. M., I came to an open country, so extensive that I could not +go round it, neither could I, in daylight, travel through it with safety. +I sought out a place to hide, and finding a ditch which bisected a +corn-field, I concealed myself in that. During the day, negroes and whites +passed near, without discovering me. Becoming hungry, I ate a small piece +of the bread which one of my fellow-prisoners had given me, but it made me +quite sick. On my former escape, I had, just before leaving the house, +traded pants with a fellow-prisoner, without his knowledge or consent. On +my return, he refused to trade back. My reason for trading was, to get a +dark pair, as mine were so light-coloured, I feared the guards would +discover me more readily. Their owner had been accustomed to use tobacco, +and the bread had become tinctured with it. Tobacco being very offensive +to me, its presence on my bread caused me to lose it.</p> + +<p>The day passed away, and the night came. The stars came out in silent +glory, one by one. Fixing my eye upon the pole-star, the underground<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +railroad travellers’ guide, I set out, bearing a little to the west of +north. I soon reached the thick woods, and found it very difficult to make +rapid progress, in consequence of the dense under-growth and obscure +light. The bushes would strike me in the eyes, and often the top of a +fallen tree would cause me to make quite a circuit. Soon, however, the +moon arose in her brightness—the old silver moon. But her light I found +to be far less brilliant than that of the sun, and her rays were much +obscured by the dense foliage overhead; hence my progress was necessarily +slow, laboured, and toilsome. I slept but little during the day, in +consequence of the proximity of those who might be bitter foes, and also +the unpleasant position I occupied, as the ditch in which I had concealed +myself was muddy, and proved an uncomfortable bed. I therefore became +weary, my limbs stiff from travel and from the pressure of the heavy iron +bands. Sleep overpowered me, and I laid down in the leaves, and slept till +the cold awoke me, which, judging from the moon’s descent,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> must have been +an hour and a half. The nights in Mississippi are invariably cool, however +hot the days may be. Arising from my uneasy slumber, I pressed on. My +thirst, which for some time had been increasing, now became absolutely +unendurable. I knew not where to obtain water, not daring to go near a +well, through fear of being arrested. At length I heard some suckling pigs +and their dam, at a short distance from me, in the woods. There seemed to +be no alternative. I must either perish, or obtain some fluid to slake my +raging thirst; so I resolved to catch a little pig, cut its throat, and +drink the blood. I searched for my knife, but I had lost it. I was, +therefore, reluctantly compelled to abandon my design on the suckling’s +life. As I went forward, the sow and her brood started up alarmed, and in +their flight, plunged into water. I immediately followed, and found a +mud-hole. Removing the green scum, I drank deep of the stagnant pool. My +thirst was only partially quenched by this draught, and soon returned. As +day dawned, I found some sassafras leaves, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> I chewed, to allay the +pangs of hunger; but they formed a paste which I could not swallow.</p> + +<p>I soon after came to an old field, where I obtained an abundant supply of +blackberries, which not only served to check the gnawings of hunger, but +also to allay my intolerable thirst. I reflected that this day was the +holy Sabbath, but it brought neither rest to my weary frame, nor composure +to my agitated and excited mind. Like Salathiel, the Wandering Jew, the +word <i>March!</i> was ringing in my ears. Onward! was my motto; Liberty or +death! my watchword. About ten o’clock I came to an open country, and +sought out a ditch, in which to conceal myself. Here I fell into a +troubled sleep. I saw, in dreams, tables groaning under the weight of the +most delicious viands, and brooks of crystal waters, bubbling and +sparkling as they rushed onward in their meandering course; but when I +attempted to grasp them, they served me as they did Tantalus, of olden +time, by vanishing into thin air, or receding beyond my reach. While lying +here, I was now and then aroused by the trampling of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> horses grazing in +the field, which I feared might be bringing on my pursuers. And once the +voices of men, mingled with the sounds of horses’ feet upon a little +bridge, some twenty feet distant, induced me to look out from my +hiding-place, and lo! two cavalry-men—perhaps hunting for my life!—rode +along.</p> + +<p>When the sun had reached the zenith, I was again startled by voices, which +approached nearer and nearer my place of concealment, till at length the +cause was discovered. Several children, both black and white, had come +from a farm-house, about a quarter of a mile distant, to gather +blackberries along the margin of the ditch. They soon discovered me, and +seemed somewhat startled and alarmed at my appearance. I soon saw them +gazing down upon me, in my moist bed, with evident amazement and alarm. +Pallid, haggard, unshaven, and covered with mud, I must have presented a +frightful picture.</p> + +<p>As soon as the children passed me, fearing the report they would carry +home, I arose from my lair, and hurried on, though I had to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> pass in sight +of several houses. After travelling three or four miles through an open +champaign country, I came to a dense woods, bordering a stream which had +ceased running, in consequence of the great drought that had, for a long +time, prevailed throughout this section of Mississippi. The creek had been +a large one, and in the deep holes, some water still remained, though +warm, and covered with a heavy scum, and mingled with the spawn of frogs. +I drank it, however, from sheer necessity, tepid and unhealthy as it was. +It did not allay my thirst, but created a nausea, which was very +unpleasant.</p> + +<p>About four o’clock P. M., I was startled by the baying of bloodhounds +behind me, and apparently on my track. Before escaping from jail, I had +been advised by the prisoners to obtain some onions, as these, rubbed on +the soles of my boots, would destroy the scent. They could only be +procured, however, by a visit to some garden-patch, and I feared to go so +near a house. I had left no clothes in prison from which the hounds could +obtain the scent in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> order to find my track, and my starting in a +southwest direction was an additional precaution against bloodhounds. +Their baying soon became alarmingly distinct. Having heard them almost +every night for years, as they hunted down the fugitive slave, I could not +mistake the fearful import of their howling. I could devise no plan for +breaking the trail. Dan Boone, when pursued by Indians, succeeded in +baffling the hounds by catching at some overhanging branches, and swinging +himself forward. Negroes often destroy the scent by carrying matches, and +setting the leaves on fire. One negro of whom I heard, ran along the brink +of a precipice, and dug a recess back from the narrow path. Crawling into +it, he remained till the hounds reached that point, when he thrust them +from the path. They fell and were dashed to pieces on the jagged rocks +below.</p> + +<p>None of these plans were practicable to me, and I supposed death imminent, +either from being torn to pieces by the hounds, or by being shot by the +cavalry, who were following them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> Climbing a tree, I resolved to await +the arrival of the cavalry, and having determined to die rather than be +taken back again to Tupelo, I would refuse to obey any summons to descend. +O, how I wished for my navy repeater, that I might sell my life as dearly +as possible! that I might make some secessionist bite the dust ere I was +slain! I often thought of the couplet in the old song—</p> + +<p class="poem">“The hounds are baying on my track,<br /> +Christian, will you send me back?”</p> + +<p>A feeling of strong sympathy arose in my bosom for the poor African, who, +in his endeavour to escape from the Iron Furnace of Southern slavery, +often encountered the bloodhounds, and was torn to pieces by them. “A +fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind.”</p> + +<p>I had remained but a short time in the tree, when I ascertained that the +hounds were bearing eastward, and they soon passed at a distance. They +were on the track of some other poor fugitive, and I rejoiced again in the +hope of safety. Coming to a corn-field, I plucked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> two ears of corn, and +ate them raw, having no matches wherewith to kindle a fire, which, indeed, +would have increased my peril, as the smoke might advertise my presence to +bitter and unrelenting foes.</p> + +<p>Toward night I lay down in the woods, and fell asleep. Visions of +abundance, both to eat and drink, haunted me, and every unusual sound +would startle me. A fly peculiar to the South, whose buzz sounded like the +voice of an old man, often awoke me with the fear that my enemies were +near. As soon as Ursa Minor appeared, I took up my line of march. The +night was very dark, and I became somewhat bewildered. At length I reached +a crossroads, and as I was emerging from the wood, I saw two pickets a few +yards from me. Stooping down, I crawled on my hands and knees back into +the woods. As I retired, I heard one picket say to the other, “Who is +that?”</p> + +<p>He replied, “It is the lieutenant of the guard.”</p> + +<p>“What does he want?” said the first.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>“He is slipping round to see if we are asleep.”</p> + +<p>After I got a safe distance in the bushes, I lay down and slept till the +moon arose. To the surprise of my bewildered brain, it seemed to rise in +the west. Taking my course, I hastened on, sometimes through woods, +sometimes through cornfields, and sometimes through swamps. Coming to a +large pasture, in which a number of cows were grazing, I tried to obtain +some milk, but none of them would allow me to approach near enough to +effect my purpose. My face was not of the right colour, and my costume +belonged to a sex that never milked them. I travelled until day-break, +when I concealed myself in a thicket of cane, and had scarcely fallen +asleep when I heard the sound of the reveille, in a camp close at hand. +Arising, I hurriedly beat a retreat, and travelled several hours before I +dared take any rest. I at length lay down amid the branches of a fallen +tree, and slept. Visions of home and friends flitted before me. Voices +sweet and kind greeted me on all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> sides. The bitter taunts of cruel +officers no longer assailed my ears. The loved ones at home were present, +and the joys of the past were renewed. But, alas! the falling of a limb +dissipated all my fancied pleasures. The reality returned, and I was still +a fugitive escaping for life, and in the midst of a hostile country.</p> + +<p>To-day my mock trial would have taken place, and I fancied the +disappointment of Woodruff, who had stated that to his knowledge I was a +spy, and to-day would have sworn it. And Barnes, the mail-robber, +recommended for promotion because of his heroism in re-arresting me, how +sad he must feel, that the bird had flown, and that he would not have the +pleasure of witnessing my execution. I thanked God and took courage. +Though faint and weary, I was still hopeful and trusting, often repeating,</p> + +<p class="poem">“’Tis God has led me safe thus far,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And he will bring me home.”</span></p> + +<p>On this (Monday) night, I travelled steadily, crossing swamps, +corn-fields, woods, and pastures. I came to only one cotton-field during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +the night. I passed through several wheat-fields, where the wheat had been +harvested; I pulled a handful from a shock, and rubbed out some of the +grain, but it was so bitter I could not eat it. I suspected every bush a +secessionist, though I felt much more secure at night than in daylight. I +avoided roads as much as possible, travelling on none except to cross +them, which was done with great rapidity. The rising sun still found me +pressing onward, and thirst and hunger were now consuming me. To satisfy +hunger, I had recourse to the corn-field; but I could find no water. I +would gladly have drank any kind of beverage, however filthy, so that my +thirst might be allayed. About nine o’clock, when I had almost despaired +of getting water at all, I came to a copious fountain in a gorge of the +hills, and from its appearance, I seemed to be the discoverer. Around it +there was no trace of human foot, nor hoof of cattle. On beholding it, I +wept with joy. I remained by it about four hours, quaffing its cool and +crystal waters, the first running water I had tasted since leaving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +prison. I also bathed my body and washed my clothes, drying them in the +sun, and endeavoured to rid them of vermin, in which I only partially +succeeded. I named this fountain <i>Fons Beatus</i>, and left it with sincere +sorrow.</p> + +<p>Three o’clock, P. M., arrived, and I felt bewildered. I knew not where I +was. I might be near friends, I might be near bloodthirsty foes. I could +scarcely walk. My iron bands had become very irksome. I felt that I was +becoming childish. I could tell all my bones. I tried to pray, but could +only utter, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Still I felt thankful +that it was so well with me as it was.</p> + +<p>At that very hour, had I not escaped, I should have been either on the +scaffold at Tupelo, or suspended between heaven and earth, surrounded by +an insulting and jeering army. This reflection made me thankful to God, +even though I should die in the swamps. The sky became overcast, and I +found it impossible to distinguish north from south. I therefore concealed +myself and slept. It was night when I awoke, and the clouds still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> covered +the sky threateningly, concealing my guiding star, and rendering it +impossible for me to proceed. Thus, when I wished most to go forward, my +progress was arrested, and my distressing suspense prolonged. During the +whole night I was asleep and awake alternately, but could not at any time +discern either moon or stars. Once, while sleeping behind a fallen tree by +the roadside, a horseman passed by. His dog, a large and ferocious-looking +animal, came running along by the side of the tree where I was lying. When +he reached me, I raised up suddenly and brandishing a club menacingly, the +alarmed and howling dog incontinently and ingloriously fled, leaving me +master of the field.</p> + +<p>On Wednesday morning the sun was still obscured until nine o’clock. I was +then sick. There was a ringing in my ears, and I was affected with +vertigo, a dimness of vision and faintness, which rendered me absolutely +unfit for travel. It required an hour to walk a quarter of a mile. I found +a good supply of blackberries, which very much refreshed me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> Before me +was a hill, the top of which I reached after two hours’ laborious ascent. +I despaired of getting much further. I thought I must perish in the Iron +Furnace of secession, which was heated very hot for me. Feeling confident +that I must be near Tippah county, and knowing that there were many Union +men in that county, I resolved to call at the first house on my route. If +I remained where I was, I must perish, as I could go no further, and if I +met with a Union family, I should be saved; if with “a secesh,” I might +possibly impose upon their credulity, and get refreshment without being +arrested. They might, however, cause my arrest. It was a dilemma such as I +hope never to be placed in again. About an hour before sunset I came to a +house, and remained near it for some time. At length I saw a negro girl +come to the door. Knowing that where there were negroes, in nine cases out +of ten there were secessionists near, I left the house as quickly as my +enfeebled condition would permit. Going to another house, I remained near +it till I was satisfied there were no negroes held by that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> family. I then +went boldly up, knocked, gained admittance, and asked for some water, +which was given me. The lady of the house, scrutinizing me closely, asked +me if I were from Tupelo. I replied in the affirmative. She then inquired +my name. I gave her my Christian name, John Hill, suppressing the surname. +Her husband was sitting near, a man of Herculean frame; and as the wife’s +inquisitiveness was beginning to alarm me, I turned to him and said: “My +friend, you are a man of great physical powers, and at this time you ought +to be in the army. The Yankees are overrunning all our country, and the +service of every man is needed.” His wife replied that he was not in the +army, nor would he go into it, unless he was forced to go. They had been +told that the cavalry would be after him in a few days, to take him as a +conscript; but she considered the conscript law, base and tyrannical. +Overjoyed at the utterance of such sentiments as these, I then revealed my +true character. I told them that I had recently made my escape from +Tupelo, where I was doomed to execution on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> the gallows, and that I was +now flying from prison and from death. I then exhibited the iron bands +upon my ankles. Both promised all the aid in their power. The lady at once +proposed to prepare supper, but I was too near the point of starvation to +await the slow process of cooking. She therefore turned down the +tablecloth, which covered the fragments remaining from dinner, and +disclosed some corn bread and Irish potatoes. Though I never liked corn +bread, I must confess I thought that was the sweetest morsel I had ever +tasted.</p> + +<p>After eating a little, however, I became very sick, and was compelled to +desist. It was so long since I had partaken of any substantial food, that +my stomach now could not bear it. The lady soon prepared supper, +consisting of broiled chicken, and other delicacies. The fowl was quite +small, and I ate nearly the whole of it, much to the chagrin of a little +daughter of mine host, whom I heard complaining to her mother, afterward, +in an adjoining room, saying, “Ma, all I got of that chicken was a little +piece of the wing,” and “aint that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> gentleman a hoss to eat?” with other +remarks by no means complimentary to my voracious appetite.</p> + +<p>After supper, mine host endeavoured to remove the heavy iron bands by +which my ankles were clasped. This was accomplished after considerable +labour. I asked him to retain the bands till called for, which he promised +to do. The good lady furnished me with water and a suit of her husband’s +clothes. After performing a thorough ablution, I donned the suit, and felt +completely metamorphosed, and was thoroughly disguised, as my new suit had +been made for a man of vastly larger physical proportions. I spent the +night with my new friends, during which a heavy thunder-storm passed over. +Had I been out in the drenching rain in my wretched condition, I must +surely have perished. In the morning my host informed me of a Union man +who knew the country in the direction of Rienzi, the point which I now +determined to reach. This gentleman lived half a mile distant, and my host +accompanied me to a thicket<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> near his house, where I concealed myself till +he brought Mr. —— to me. Said my friend No. 2, “I am not familiar with +the route to Rienzi, but will go with you to friend No. 3, who I am +positive is well acquainted with the road. He can take you through the +woods, so as to avoid the Confederate cavalry. As I undertake this at the +risk of my life, we must wait till night. I would gladly have you come to +my house, but I fear that it might transpire through my children that I +had helped you to escape. I have a large family, and most of ’em is gals, +and you know gals will talk. You can stay in my barn till I come for you. +I will carry you provisions during the day, and to-night we will go to my +friend’s.”</p> + +<p>About three o’clock in the morning, he came with two horses, one of which +he mounted, and I the other. The horse I rode was a blooded animal, and to +use my friend’s expression, could run like a streak of lightning. I +provided myself with a good whip, resolving, in case of danger, to put my +horse to his utmost speed. A short time after daylight, we reached friend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +No. 3, who promised to conduct me to Rienzi. While at his house, I learned +that a Unionist, Mr. N——, had been killed under circumstances of the +greatest cruelty. His sentiments had become known to the rebels. He was +arrested by their cavalry, and refusing to take the oath, they resolved to +put him to death on the spot. He had a large family of small children, +who, together with his wife, begged that his life might be spared. He +himself had no favours to ask of the secessionists. Among his foes, the +only point of dispute was, as to the mode of his death. Some favoured +shooting, some hanging; but the prevailing majority were in favour of +scalding him to death. And there, in the presence of his weeping and +helpless family, these fiends in human form <i>deliberately heated water, +with which they scalded to death their chained and defenceless victim</i>. +Thus perished a patriot of whom the State was not worthy. The corpse was +then suspended from a tree, with a label on the breast, stating that +whoever cut him down and buried him, should suffer the same fate. My +companions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> cut down the corpse by night, and buried it in the forest. May +God reward them!</p> + +<p>My friend No. 3 thought that it would be best to travel in daylight. He +could follow by-paths, and avoid the rebel cavalry. We started about eight +o’clock on Friday morning, and met with no incident worth narrating until +we reached a mill; here we fell in with some six or seven rebel soldiers, +who had been out on sick furlough, and were returning. They scanned us +closely, and inquired whence we came, and whither bound. My friend +specified a neighbourhood from which he affirmed we came, and stated that +we were hunting stray oxen, asking whether they had seen a black ox and a +pied ox in their travels. They replied in the negative; and in turn asked +him who I was. He replied that I was his wife’s brother, who had come from +Alabama about three months ago. They said I looked like “death on a pale +hoss,” and wished to know what was the matter with me—if I were +consumptive. My friend replied that I had had the chills for several +months; and as there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> no quinine in the country, it was impossible to +stop them.</p> + +<p>During this inquisition, I was ready at any moment to put spur to my +horse, and run a race for life, had any attempt been made to arrest me, or +if I had been recognised by any of the soldiers. We were, however, +permitted to pass on, not without some suspicious glances. We at length +reached a point ten miles from Rienzi. My guide now insisted on returning. +It would be morning ere he reached home, and if met by cavalry, he must +invent some plausible excuse for having a led horse. Nor did he dare +return by the same route. Knowing the country, I permitted him to return. +I then set out on foot, and at length reached the Federal pickets, three +miles from Rienzi, where a horse was furnished me; and about ten o’clock I +reached the head-quarters of Colonel Misner in Rienzi. When I gazed upon +the star-spangled banner, beneath whose ample folds there was safety and +protection—when I saw around me the Union hosts—I shed tears of joy, and +from the depths of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> heart returned thanks to Almighty God, who had +given me my life at my request, preserving me, amid dangers seen and +unseen, till I now was safe amid hosts of friends.</p> + +<p>Colonel Misner requested me to report all that would be of service to +General Rosecrans, which I did, he copying my report as I gave it. I +reported, so far as I was informed, the probable number of troops in and +around Tupelo, the topography of the country, the probable designs of the +rebels, the number of troops sent to Richmond under Beauregard, &c. The +Colonel requested me to go with him to head-quarters in the morning; but +at the hour specified I was sick, and my physician, Dr. Holley, of the +Thirty-sixth Illinois, thought it would not be advisable for me to go, +even in an ambulance. My report, however, was carried up to General +Rosecrans.</p> + +<p>Through proper treatment I recovered in a few days, so as to be able to go +into Jacinto, the nearest point in the Federal lines to my family. I +called on General Jefferson C. Davis, who was in command of that post. The +General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> had heard of my arrest, and expressed gratification at my safe +return. I informed him of my desire to get my family within the lines. The +General immediately proffered me all the cavalry at his command, and +ordered them to prepare for the expedition. I thankfully accepted his kind +offer, but after reflection concluded to send a messenger first, with a +letter to my wife; if he were not intercepted, I knew that she would come +in as soon as possible. The order to the cavalry was countermanded until +this plan would be tried. The messenger was not intercepted, and on the +next day I had the pleasure of beholding my wife and child, whose faces, a +short time before, I had given up all hope of ever beholding on earth.</p> + +<p>While here, I called on my friend, Lieutenant Richard Malone, who resides +in Jacinto. On inquiring at his house for him, he heard my voice, and ran +out to the gate to meet me. Grasping my hand, he could not for some time +control his emotions so as to speak.</p> + +<p>Malone gave me his history since we had parted at the outer wall of the +prison. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> reached the corn-field at the point designated, and anxiously +awaited my arrival until near daylight, when he was compelled to seek +safety in flight. We had agreed to meet in the corn-field at a place where +there was a garment suspended upon the fence. We think there must have +been two garments suspended at different points, and hence our mistake. We +could not signal loud in consequence of the nearness of the pickets, and +therefore did not meet. Soon after daylight, Malone found himself in the +midst of a cavalry company which had encamped there during the night; they +were making preparations for departure, and the majority of them were +gathering blackberries. Joining them, he passed as a citizen, and when he +reached the rear of the company, he gathered some sticks in his arms, and +started towards a small cabin at a short distance, as if it were his +residence. Before reaching it, he made a detour to the right, and passed +into the dense woods. On the next day, about ten o’clock, A. M., he +reached an open champaign country, through which it would have been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +dangerous to travel. To the west, about three hundred yards distant, was a +dense woods, which he hoped to reach without detection. While travelling +down a road for this purpose, four cavalrymen who were in pursuit dashed +towards him, and ordered him to return with them to Tupelo. Malone +replied, that as it was useless to resist, he must submit. He asked for +some water; they had none in their canteens, but went to a house in the +distance to obtain some. Malone was ordered to march before them, which he +was compelled to do, though famishing from hunger and thirst. On reaching +the house, they all went to the well and drew a bucket of water. There +being no dipper, Malone remarked that he would go into the house and get +one. One of the guards followed, and stationed himself at the door with +his gun. Malone went into the house, and immediately passed out at the +back door. The garden gate being open, he passed into the garden, when he +commenced running. Two women in the house noticed his running, and +clapping their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> hands exclaimed, “Your Yankee’s gone! Your Yankee’s gone!” +The guards immediately followed, ordering him to halt, and firing at him +with their revolvers. Malone quickly reached a corn-field, and soon after +a swamp, whence he made good his escape, and after various vicissitudes +reached his family in Jacinto, where I now found him.</p> + +<p>I returned to Rienzi with my family, resolved to leave for the North. My +wife, before leaving her father’s, learned, through a letter sent by a +rebel officer to his wife, that all the guards who were on duty during the +night I escaped from prison, were placed under close arrest, and were +still in the dungeon at the time of his writing. There were eleven guards +on each relief, and three reliefs during the night; there were, therefore, +thirty-three guards placed under arrest because of my escape.</p> + +<p>On the night previous to our departure from Rienzi, we were honoured with +a serenade, through the politeness of General Granger, of the cavalry, and +Colonel Bryner, of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>Forty-seventh Illinois Regiment. Being called on +for a speech, I thus responded:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Gentlemen</span>—I return you sincere thanks for the honour intended myself +and family. In the language of the last tune played by your band, I +truly feel at “home again,” and it fills my soul with joy to meet my +friends once more. What a vast difference a few miles makes! Tupelo is +about forty miles south of Rienzi, on an air-line. There I was +regarded as a base ingrate, as a despicable traitor, as an enemy to +the country, chained as a felon, doomed to die, and before the +execution of the sentence, subjected to every species of insult and +contumely. Here I meet with the kindest expressions of sympathy from +officers of all ranks, from the subaltern to the general, and there is +not a private soldier who has heard my tale of woe, who does not +manifest a kindly sympathy.</p> + +<p>I hope that you will soon pass south of Tupelo; but in your march to +the Gulf, may you fare better than I did in my journey to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> this place. +Green corn eaten raw, berries, and stagnant water, would soon cause +you to present the emaciated appearance that I do. On your route, call +upon the secession sympathizers, and compel them to furnish you with +better and more substantial food. My horse I left at Tupelo. He is a +valuable animal. The rebel General Hardee, in the true spirit of +secession, appropriated—that is, stole—him. However, I did not call +to demand him when I left. Being in haste, I did not choose to spare +the time, and leaving in the night, I did not wish to disturb the +slumbers of the Tupelonians. He is a bright bay. If you meet with him, +you may have him for nothing. I would much prefer that he serve the +Federal army.</p> + +<p>If you take General Jordan prisoner, send me word, and I will furnish +you with the iron bands that he put on me, by which you may secure him +till he meets the just award of his crimes, which would be death, for +destroying the lives of so many Union men.</p> + +<p>I hope that you may soon plant the stars and stripes on the shores of +the Gulf of Mexico, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> play the “Star-spangled Banner” within +hearing of its vertiginous billows, after having conquered every foe +to the permanence of the glorious Union. I close with the sentiment of +the immortal Jackson, which I wish you to bear constantly in mind, in +your victorious progress—“The Federal Union—it must and shall be +preserved!” Relying upon the God of battles, rest assured that the +right cause will triumph, and that after having secured the great +object of your warfare, the preservation of the Union, your children +and your children’s children will rise up and call you blessed, +rejoicing in the enjoyment of a free, united, and happy country.</p> + +<p>Wishing you abundant success, I beg leave to retire.</p></div> + +<p>On Saturday, the 2d of August, 1862, we left Rienzi, <i>en route</i> for the +North, in company with William H. Hubbard, Esq., and family, who were also +refugees. From the moment I reached the Federal lines I experienced +nothing but kindness. I could not mention all who are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> deserving of thanks +from myself and family. I am under special obligations to Generals Nelson, +Rosecrans, Granger, Davis, and Asboth; also to Colonel Bryner and +Lieutenant Colonel Thrush, of the Forty-seventh Illinois, and Surgeon +Lucas, of same regiment, and to Dr. Holley, of the Thirty-sixth Illinois +Volunteers; to Josiah King, Esq., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Dr. +McCook, of Steubenville, Ohio; also Mrs. Ann Wheelwright, of Newburyport, +Massachusetts, whose kind letter will ever be remembered, and whose +“material aid” entitles her to lasting gratitude; and to Rev. George +Potts, D. D., of New York; and Mr. William E. Dubois, of Philadelphia; +Rev. Dr. Sprole, Newburgh, New York; Rev. N. Hewitt, D. D., Bridgeport, +Connecticut; and Rev. F. N. Ewing, Chicago, Illinois; Rev. J. M. Krebs, D. +D., New York; Rev. A. D. Smith, D. D., New York; and Rev. F. Reck +Harbaugh, Philadelphia, and many others.</p> + +<p>Before closing this chapter I would mention the following incident:</p> + +<p>On Wednesday evening, November 19th, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> addressed the citizens of +Philadelphia at the Sixth Presbyterian Church, (Rev. F. Reck Harbaugh’s.) +A report of this address found its way into the city papers. Two days +afterwards, while in conversation with Mr. Martien, at his book-store, two +soldiers entered, one of whom approached, and thus addressed me:</p> + +<p>“Do you know me, sir?”</p> + +<p>I replied: “Your face is familiar, but I do not remember your name. It is +my misfortune not to be able to remember proper names.”</p> + +<p>“I read the report of your address in the newspaper, and through the aid +of my comrade, I have succeeded in finding you. We have met before, at +Tupelo.”</p> + +<p>At the mention of Tupelo, I immediately recognised in the speaker the man +who, after labouring with the others in sundering my chain, engaged the +guard, who sat in the doorway, in conversation, while I watched an +opportunity to disappear under the prison. Grasping him warmly by the +hand, I said: “I now recognise you. You are Mr. Howell Trogdon, of +Missouri, late my fellow-prisoner in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> Tupelo. How and when did you succeed +in leaving that prison?”</p> + +<p>“Being a Federal prisoner, I was removed from Tupelo to Mobile, and there +parolled on the 26th of August last.”</p> + +<p>“When was I missed after my escape, and how did the officers act when they +learned that I was gone?”</p> + +<p>“You were missed at roll-call, the next morning, and in a short time, many +officers came into the prison. They were greatly enraged at this, your +second flight. The prisoners were closely questioned as to their +complicity in your escape, but they denied all knowledge of the matter. +Soon all the prison-guards on duty during the night, thirty-three in +number, were brought into the prison in chains. The cavalry was ordered +out in search of you, and directed to shoot you down wherever found. The +mode of your escape was not discovered, and the officers were of the +opinion that you had bribed the guards. <i>From that time, the officers +became more cruel than ever, and in two weeks, thirty-two of our +fellow-prisoners<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> were taken out and shot!</i> We never learned whether you +had succeeded in escaping to the Union lines. We feared that you were +overtaken and shot, or that you perished in the swamps from hunger, +thirst, and fatigue. I hope soon to see McHatten, Speer, De Grummond, and +Soper, who are also parolled, and they will rejoice to learn that you +still live. During the night of your escape, we slept but little, through +fear that <i>our chaplain</i> might be shot by the guards, and I assure you +many fervent prayers ascended to Heaven for your safety.”</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<p class="title">SOUTHERN CLASSES—CRUELTY TO SLAVES.</p> + +<div class="note"><p class="hang">Sandhillers—Dirt-eating—Dipping—Their Mode of +Living—Patois—Rain-book—Wife-trade—Coming in to see the +Cars—Superstition—Marriage of Kinsfolks—Hardshell Sermon—Causes +which lead to the Degradation of this Class—Efforts to Reconcile the +Poor Whites to the Peculiar Institution—The Slaveholding Class—The +Middle Class—Northern Isms—Incident at a Methodist Minister’s +House—Question asked a Candidate for Licensure—Reason of Southern +Hatred toward the North—Letter to Mr. Jackman—Barbarities and +Cruelties of Slavery—Mulattoes—Old Cole—Child Born at +Whipping-post—Advertisement of a Keeper of Bloodhounds—Getting Rid +of Free Blacks—The Doom of Slavery—Methodist Church South.</p></div> + +<p>The sojourner in the Slave States is struck with the wretched and degraded +appearance of a class of people called by the slaveholders, “poor white +folks,” and “the tallow-faced gentry,” from their pallid complexion. They +live in wretched hovels, dress slatternly, and are exceedingly filthy in +their habits. Many of them are clay or dirt-eaters, which is said to cause +their peculiar complexion. Their <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>children, at a very early age, form this +filthy and disgusting habit; and mere infants may be found with their +mouths filled with dirt. The mud with which they daub the interstices +between the logs of their rude domicils, must be frequently renewed, as +the occupants pick it all out in a very short time, and eat it. This +pernicious practice induces disease. The complexion becomes pale, similar +to that occasioned by chronic ague and fever.</p> + +<p>Akin to this is the practice of snuff-dipping, which is not confined +exclusively to females of the poor white caste, though scarcely one in +fifty of this class is exempt from the disgusting habit. The method is +this: The female snuff-dipper takes a short stick, and wetting it with her +saliva, dips it into her snuff-box, and then rubs the gathered dust all +about her mouth, and into the interstices of her teeth, where she allows +it to remain until its strength has been fully absorbed. Others hold the +stick thus loaded with snuff in the cheek, <i>a la quid</i> of tobacco, and +suck it with a decided relish, while engaged in their ordinary +avocations;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> while others simply fill the mouth with the snuff, and +imitate, to all intents and purposes, the chewing propensities of the men. +In the absence of snuff, tobacco in the plug or leaf is invariably +resorted to as a substitute. Oriental betel-chewing, and the Japanese +fashion of blacking the teeth of married ladies, are the height of +elegance compared with snuff-dipping. The habit leads to a speedy decay of +the teeth, and to nervous disorders of every kind. Those who indulge in it +become haggard at a very early age.</p> + +<p>The <i>Petersburg</i> (Va.) <i>Express</i> estimates the number of women in that +State as one hundred and twenty-five thousand, one hundred thousand of +whom are snuff-dippers. Every five of these will use a two-ounce paper of +snuff per day; that is, to the hundred thousand dippers, two thousand five +hundred pounds a day, amounting, in one year, to the enormous quantity of +nine hundred and twelve thousand pounds. This practice prevails generally, +it says, among the poor whites, though some females of the higher classes +are guilty of it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>The poor whites obtain their subsistence, as far as practicable, in the +primitive aboriginal mode, viz., by hunting and fishing. When these +methods fail to afford a supply, they cultivate a truck-patch, and some of +them raise a bale or two of cotton, with the proceeds of the sale of which +they buy whiskey, tobacco, and a few necessary articles. When all other +methods fail, they resort to stealing, to which many of them are addicted +from choice, as well as from necessity. They are exceeding slovenly in +their habits, cleanliness being a rare virtue. Indolence is a prevailing +vice, and its lamentable effects are everywhere visible. They fully obey +the scriptural injunction, take no thought for the morrow. A present +supply, sufficient to satisfy nature’s most urgent demands, being +obtained, their care ceases, and they relapse into listless inactivity. +They herd together upon the poor sand-hills, the refuse land of the +country, which the rich slaveholder will not purchase, for which reason, +they are sometimes called sand-hillers, and here they live, and their +children, and their children’s children, through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> successive generations, +in the same deplorable condition of wretchedness and degradation.</p> + +<p>They are exceedingly ignorant; not one adult in fifty can write; not one +in twenty can read. They can scarcely be said to speak the English +language, using a patois which is scarcely intelligible. An old lady thus +related an incident of which her daughter “<i>Sal</i>” was the heroine. “My +darter Sal yisterday sot the lather to the damsel tree, and clim up, and +knocked some of the nicest saftest damsels I ever seed in my born days.” I +once called to make some inquiry about the road, at a small log tenement, +inhabited by a sand-hiller and family. A sheet was hanging upon the wall, +containing the portraits of the Presidents of the United States. I +remarked to the lady of the house that those were, I believed, the +pictures of the Presidents.</p> + +<p>“Yes!” she replied; “they is, and I’ve hearn tell of ’em a long time. They +must be gittin’ mighty old, ef some of ’em aint dead. That top one,” she +continued, “is Gineral Washington. I’ve hearn of him ever sence I was a +gal.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> He must be gittin’ up in years, ef he aint dead. Him and Gineral +Jackson fit the British and Tories at New Orleans, and whipped ’em, too.”</p> + +<p>She seemed to pride herself greatly on her historical knowledge.</p> + +<p>One of these geniuses once informed me of a peculiar kind of book “he’d +hearn tell on,” that the Yankees had. He had forgotten its name, but thus +described it: “It told the day of the week the month come in on. It told +when we was a gwine to have rain, and what kind of wether we was gwine to +have in gineral. May-be they call it a rain-book.”</p> + +<p>I replied that I had heard of the book, and I believed that it was called +an Almanac.</p> + +<p>“You’ve said it now,” remarked the man. “It’s a alminick, and I’d give +half I’s wuth to have one. I’d no when to take a umberell, and if I +haddent nary one, I’d no when I could go a huntin’ without gittin’ wet.”</p> + +<p>Two of these semi-savages had resolved to remove to the West, in hope of +bettering their condition. One wished to remove to Arkansas, the other to +Texas. The wife of the former<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> wished to go to Texas, the latter to +Arkansas. The husbands were desirous of gratifying their spouses, but +could devise no plan that seemed likely to prove satisfactory, till one +day when hunting, finding game scarce, they sat down upon a log, when the +following dialogue took place:</p> + +<p>“Kit, I’m sort o’ pestered about Dilsie. She swars to Rackensack she’ll +go, and no whar else. I allers had a hankerin’ arter Texas. Plague take +Rackensack, I say! Ef a man war thar, the ager and the airthquakes ed +shake him out on it quicker en nothin’.”</p> + +<p>“When a woman’s set on a gwine anywhar, they’re a gwine. It’s jest no use +to talk. I’ve coaxed Minnie more’n a little to go long with me to +Arkansas, and the more I coax, the more she wont go.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Kit, ’sposen we swap women.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Sam, what trade’ll ye gin?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! a gentleman’s trade, of course!”</p> + +<p>“Shucks, Sam! ’sposen I had a young filly, and you a old mar, ye wouldn’t +ax an even trade, would ye?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>“No; it ’ud be too hard. I tell you what I’ll do, +Kit. Here’s a shot-gun that’s wuth ten dollars, ef it’s wuth a red. I’ll give it and that ar +b’ar-skin hangin’ on the side of my shanty, to boot, and say it’s a trade.”</p> + +<p>“Nuff sed, ef the women’s agreed.”</p> + +<p>Home they went, and stated the case to the women, who, <i>after due +deliberation</i>, acceded to the proposition, having also made a satisfactory +arrangement about the children, and they all soon went on their way +rejoicing to their respective destinations in that</p> + +<p class="poem">“American’s haven of eternal rest,<br /> +Found a little farther West.”</p> + +<p>On the Sabbath after the completion of the Memphis and Charleston +railroad, a large number of the sand-hillers came to Iuka Springs, to +witness the passing of the cars. Arriving too early, they visited a church +where divine service was progressing. Whilst the minister was in the midst +of his sermon, the locomotive whistle sounded, when a stampede took place +to the railroad. The exodus left the parson<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> almost alone in his glory. +The passing train caused the most extravagant expressions and gestures of +wonder and astonishment by these rude observers. It was an era in their +life.</p> + +<p>Once while standing on the railroad-track, I observed a crowd of these +people coming to see the “<i>elephant</i>.” They came so near, that I overheard +their conversation. One young lass, of sweet sixteen, with slattern dress +and dishevelled hair, looking up the road, which was visible for a great +distance, thus expressed her astonishment at what she saw: “O, dad! what a +long piece of iron!” Soon the whistle sounded; this they had never heard +before, and came to the conclusion that it was a dinner-horn. As soon as +the cars came in sight, they scattered like frightened sheep, some on one +side of the road, and some on the other. Nor did they halt till they had +placed fifty yards at least between them and the track.</p> + +<p>Superstition prevails amongst them to a fearful extent. Almost every hut +has a horse-shoe nailed above the door, or on the threshold, to keep out +witches. In sickness, charms and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> incantations are used to drive away +disease. Their physicians are chiefly what are termed faith-doctors, who +are said to work miraculous cures. They are strong believers in luck. If a +rabbit cross their path, they will turn round to change their luck. If, on +setting out on a journey, an owl hoot on the left hand, they will return +and set out anew. If the new moon is seen through brush, or on the left +hand, it is a bad omen. They will have trouble during the lunar month. +When the whippoorwill is first heard in the spring, they turn head over +heels thrice, to prevent back-ache during the year. Dreams are harbingers +of joy or wo. To dream of snakes, is ominous. To dream of seeing a coffin, +or conversing with the dead, is a sign of approaching dissolution, and +many have no doubt perished through terror, occasioned by such dreams. +Fortune-tellers are rife amongst them—those sages whose comprehensive +view knows the past, the present, and the future. They seek unto familiar +spirits, that peep and mutter, for the living to the dead.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>They have many deformed, and blind, and deaf among them, in consequence of +the intermarriage of relatives. Cousins often marry, and occasionally they +marry within the degrees of consanguinity prohibited by the law of God. +Perhaps this divine law forbids the marriage of cousins when it declares, +“Thou shalt not marry any that is near of kin.” The sad effects on +posterity, both mentally and physically, lead to the conviction that if +the law of God does not condemn it, physiological law does.</p> + +<p>These sand-hillers do not (when no serious preventive occurs) fail to +attend the elections, where the highest bidder obtains their vote. +Sometimes their vote will command cash, and sometimes only whiskey. It is +sad to witness the elective franchise, that highest and most glorious +badge of a freeman, thus prostituted.</p> + +<p>The proverb holds good—Like people, like priest. Their ministers are +ignorant, ranting fanatics. They despise literature, and every Sabbath +fulminate censures upon an educated ministry. The following is a specimen +of their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> preaching. Mr. V—— is a Hard-shell Baptist, or, as they term +themselves, “Primitive Baptists.” Entering the pulpit on a warm morning in +July, he will take off his coat and vest, roll up his sleeves, and then +begin:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">My Brethering and Sistern</span>—I air a ignorant man, follered the plough +all my life, and never rubbed agin nary college. As I said afore, I’m +ignorant, and I thank God for it. (Brother Jones responds, “Passon, +yer ort to be very thankful, fur yer very ignorant.”) Well, I’m agin +all high larnt fellers what preaches grammar and Greek fur a thousand +dollars a year. They preaches fur the money, and they gits it, and +that’s all they’ll git. They’ve got so high larnt they contradicts +Scripter, what plainly tells us that the sun rises and sets. They seys +it don’t, but that the yerth whirls round, like clay to the seal. What +ud cum of the water in the wells ef it did. Wodent it all spill out, +and leave ’em dry, and whar ed we be? I may say to them, as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +sarpent said unto David, much learning hath made thee mad.</p> + +<p>When I preaches, I never takes a tex till I goes inter the pulpit; +then I preaches a plain sarment, what even women can understand. I +never premedertates, but what is given to me in that same hour, that I +sez. Now I’m a gwine ter open the Bible, and the first verse I sees, +I’m a gwine to take it for a tex. (Suiting the action to the word, he +opened the Bible, and commenced reading and spelling together.) Man is +f-e-a-r-f-u-l-l-y—fearfully—and +w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l-l-y—wonderfully—m-a-d-e—mad.—“Man is fearfully +and wonderfully made.” (Pronounced <i>mad</i>.) Well, it’s a quar tex, but +I said I’s a gwine to preach from it, and I’m a gwine to do it. In the +fust place, I’ll divide my sarment into three heads. Fust and +foremost, I show you that a man will git mad. 2d. That sometimes he’ll +git fearfully mad; and thirdly and lastly, when thar’s lots of things +to vex and pester him, he’ll git fearfully and wonderfully mad. And in +the application I’ll show you that good men sometimes gits mad,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> for +the Posle David hisself, who rote the tex, got mad, and called all men +liars, and cussed his enemies, wishen’ ’em to go down quick into hell; +and Noah, he got tite, and cussed his nigger boy Ham, just like some +drunken masters now cusses their niggers. But Noah and David repented; +and all on us what gits mad must repent, or the devil’ll git us.</p></div> + +<p>Thus he ranted, to the great edification of his hearers, who regard him as +a perfect Boanerges, to which title his stentorian voice would truly +entitle him. This exordium will serve as a specimen of the “sarment,” as +it continued in the same strain to the end of the peroration.</p> + +<p>Where there is no vision, the people perish. Such blind leaders of the +blind are liable, with their infatuated followers, to fall into a ditch +worse than Bunyan’s Slough of Despond. This minister had undoubtedly run +when he was not sent, though he “had hearn a call; a audible voice had, +while he was a shucken corn, said unto him, Preach.” Though God does not +need men’s learning, yet he has as little use for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> their ignorance. +Learning is the handmaid of religion, but must not be substituted in its +stead.</p> + +<p>The causes which induce this “wilderness of mind” are patent to all who +make even a cursory examination. There is a tendency in the poor to ape +the manners of the rich. Those having slaves to labour in their stead, +toil not physically; hence labour falls into disrepute, and the poorer +classes, having no slaves to work for them, and not choosing to submit to +the degradation of labour, incur all the evils resulting from idleness and +poverty. Ignorance and vice of every kind soon ensue, and a general apathy +prevails, which destroys in a great measure all mental and physical +vigour.</p> + +<p>The slaveholders buy up all the fertile lands to be cultivated by their +slaves; hence the poor are crowded out, and if they remain in the vicinity +of the place of their nativity, they must occupy the poor tracts whose +sterility does not excite the cupidity of their rich neighbours. The +slaveholders’ motto is, “Let us buy more negroes to raise more cotton, to +buy more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> negroes, and so on <i>ad infinitum</i>.” To raise more cotton they +must also buy more land. Small farmers are induced to sell out to them, +and move further west. For this reason, the white population of the +fertile sections of the older slave States is constantly on the decrease, +while the slave population is as constantly increasing. Thus the +slaveholder often acquires many square miles of land, and hundreds of +human chattels. He is, as it were, set alone in the earth. Priding himself +upon his wealth, he will not send his princely sons to the same school +with the poor white trash; he either sends them to some distant college or +seminary, or employs a private teacher exclusively for his children. The +poor whites in the neighbourhood, even should they desire to educate their +children, have no means to pay for their tuition. Compelled to live on +poor or worn-out lands, honest toil considered degrading, and forced to +submit to many inconveniences and disabilities (all the offices of honour +and profit being monopolized by the slaveholders,) through the workings of +the “peculiar institution,” they find it utterly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> impossible to educate +their offspring, even in the rudiments of their mother tongue. As the +power of slavery increases, their condition waxes worse and worse.</p> + +<p>The slaveocracy becomes more exacting. Laws are passed by the legislature +compelling non-slaveholders to patrol the country nightly, to prevent +insurrections by the negroes. They denounce the law, but coercion is +resorted to, and the poor whites are forced to obey. When their masters +call for them, they must leave their labour, by day or by night, patrol +the country, follow the bloodhounds, arrest the fugitive slave, and do all +other dirty work which their tyrants demand. If they refuse to obey, they +are denounced as abolitionists, and are in danger of death at the hands of +Judge Lynch, the mildest punishment they can hope for being a coat of tar +and feathers.</p> + +<p>The house-negroes feel themselves several degrees above the poor whites, +as they, from their opportunities for observation amongst the higher +classes, are possessed of greater information and less rusticity than this +less favoured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> class. The poor whites have no love for the institution of +slavery. They regard it as the instrument of inflicting upon them many +wrongs, and depriving them of many rights. They dare not express their +sentiments to the slaveholders, who hold them completely under their +power. A. G. Brown, United States Senator from Mississippi, to reconcile +the poor whites to the peculiar institution, used the following arguments +in a speech at Iuka Springs, Mississippi. He stated, that if the slaves +were liberated, and suffered to remain in the country, the rich would have +money to enable them to go to some other clime, and that the poor whites +would be compelled to remain amongst the negroes, who would steal their +property, and destroy their lives; and if slavery were abolished, and the +negroes removed and colonized, the rich would take the poor whites for +slaves, in their stead, and reduce them to the condition of the Irish and +Dutch in the North, whose condition he represented to be one of cruel +bondage. These statements had some effect upon his auditors, who +believed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> from sad experience, that the rich could oppress the poor as +they chose, and might, in the contingency specified, reduce them to +slavery. Labour is considered so degrading, that any argument, based upon +making labour compulsory on their part, has its weight. Even the beggar +despises work. A sturdy beggar asked alms at a house at which I was +lodging. As he appeared to be a man of great physical strength, he was +advised to go to work, and thus provide for his wants. “Work!” said he, in +disgust; “niggers do the work in this country”—and retired highly +insulted.</p> + +<p>This people form a distinct class, distinguished by as many +characteristics from the middle and higher classes of Southern society, as +the Jews are from the nations amongst whom they sojourn. The causes which +brought about their reduction to their present state of semi-barbarism, +must be removed, ere they can rise to the condition whence they have +fallen. They must rise upon the ruins of slavery. When the peculiar +institution is abolished, then, and not till then, will their disabilities +be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> removed, and they be in reality what they are nominally—freemen.</p> + +<p>Slaveholders and their families form a distinct class, characterized by +idleness, vanity, licentiousness, profanity, dissipation, and tyranny. +There are glorious exceptions, it is true, but those are the +distinguishing traits of the class. The middle class is the virtuous class +of the South. They are industrious, frugal, hospitable, simple in their +habits, plain and unostentatious in their manners. Some of this class are +small slaveholders, but the great majority own none. The gross vices of +the higher class are not found among them. They labour regardless of the +sneers of their aristocratic neighbours. Senator Hammond, of South +Carolina, may call them mudsills; they regard it not, but pursue the even +tenor of their way. The slow, unmoving finger of scorn may be pointed at +them by the sons of pride, yet they refuse to eat the bread of idleness, +and labour with their <i>own hands</i>, that they may provide things honest in +the sight of all men. Equidistant from poverty and riches, they enjoy the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +golden mean, and immunity from the temptations incident to the extremes of +abject poverty and great riches.</p> + +<p>In the slave States all those born north of the “nigger line,” are +denominated Yankees. This is applied as a term of reproach. When a +southerner is angry with a man of northern nativity, he does not fail to +stigmatize him as a Yankee. The slaveholders manifest considerable +antipathy against the Yankees, which has been increasing during the last +ten years. In 1858, the Legislature of Mississippi passed resolutions +recommending non-intercourse with the “Abolition States,” and requesting +the people not to patronize natives of those States residing amongst them, +and especially to discountenance Yankee ministers and teachers. In the +educational notice of Memphis Synodical College, at La Grange, Tennessee, +it is expressly stated that the Faculty are of southern birth and +education. The principals of the Female Seminaries at Corinth and Iuka, +Mississippi, give notice that no Yankee teachers will be employed in those +institutions. While on a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> visit at the house of a Methodist clergyman, +quite a number of ministers, returning from Conference, called to tarry +for the night. During the evening, one of them, learning that I was +“<i>Yankee born</i>,” thus interrogated me: “Why is it, sir, that all kinds of +delusions originate in the North, such as Millerism, Mormonism, +Spirit-rappings, and Abolitionism?” To which I replied: “The North +originates everything. All the text-books used in southern schools, all +the books on law, physic, and divinity, are written and published north of +Mason & Dixon’s line. The South does not even print Bibles. The magnetic +telegraph, the locomotive, Lucifer matches, and even the cotton-gin, are +all northern inventions. The South, sir, has not sense enough to invent a +decent humbug. These humbugs once originated, the South is always well +represented by believers in them. I have known more men to go from this +county (Shelby county, Tennessee) to the Mormons, than I have known to go +from the whole State of Ohio.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>When I had thus spoken, my inquisitor was nonplussed, and the laugh went +against him.</p> + +<p>When a candidate before the Presbytery of Chickasaw, in Mississippi, for +licensure, one of the members of Presbytery, learning that I was a +“Yankee,” asked me the following questions, and received the following +answers:</p> + +<p>“Mr. Aughey, when will the day of judgment take place?”</p> + +<p>“The Millerites have stated that the 30th of June next will be the +judgment-day. As for myself, I have had no revelation on the subject, and +expect none.”</p> + +<p>“Do you believe that any one can call the spirits?”</p> + +<p>“I do, sir.”</p> + +<p>“What! believe that the spirits can be called?”</p> + +<p>“I do, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I will vote, then, against your licensure, if you have fallen into this +heresy of the land of your nativity.”</p> + +<p>Another then said:</p> + +<p>“Brother Aughey, please explain yourself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> I know you do not believe in +spirit-rapping.”</p> + +<p>“I do not, sir, though I believe, as I stated, that any one may call the +spirits; but I do not believe that they will come in answer to the call.”</p> + +<p>A lady once remarked to me that she did not believe that a northern man +would ever become fully reconciled to the institution of slavery, and that +his influence and sentiments, whatever might be his profession of +attachment to the peculiar institution, would be against it. The cause of +the general opposition to northern men is their opposition to slavery. +Their testimony is against its abominations and barbarities, and hence the +wish to impair the credibility of the witnesses.</p> + +<p>An illustration of the working of the institution may be found in the +following letter:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right"> +<span class="smcap">Kosciusko, Attala County, Mississippi</span>,<br /> +<span style="padding-right: 4em;">December 25, 1861.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. William Jackman:</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>—Your last kind and truly welcome letter came to hand in due +course of mail. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> owe you an apology for delaying an answer so long. +My apparent neglect was occasioned by no want of respect for you; but +in consequence of the disturbed state of the country, and difficulty +of communication with the North, I feared my reply would never reach +you. Now, however, by directing “<i>via</i> Norfolk and flag of truce,” +letters are sent across the lines to the North. In your letter you +desired me, from this stand-point, to give you my observations of the +workings of the peculiar institution, and an expression of my views as +to its consistency with the eternal principles of rectitude and +justice. In reply, I will give you a plain narrative of facts.</p> + +<p>On my advent to the South, I was at first struck with the fact that +the busy hum of labour had in some measure ceased. What labour I did +observe progressing, was done with little skill, and mainly by +negroes. I called upon the Rev. Dr. R. J. Breckinridge, to whom I had +a letter of introduction, who treated me with the greatest kindness, +inviting me to make his house my home when I visited<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> that section of +country. On leaving his house, he gave me some directions as to the +road I must travel to reach a certain point. “You will pass,” said he, +“a blacksmith’s shop, where a one-eyed man is at work—my property.” +The phrase, “my property,” I had never before heard applied to a human +being, and though I had never been taught to regard the relation of +master and slave as a sinful relation, yet it grated harshly upon my +ears to hear a human being, a tradesman, called a chattel; but it +grated much more harshly, a week after this, to hear the groans of two +such chattels, as they underwent a severe flagellation, while chained +to the whipping-post, because they had, by half an hour, overstayed +their time with their families on an adjoining plantation.</p> + +<p>The next peculiar abomination of the peculiar institution which I +observed, was the licentiousness engendered by it. Mr. D. T——, of +Madison county, Kentucky, had a white family of children, and a black, +or rather mulatto family. As his white daughters married, he gave each +a mulatto half-sister, as a waiting-girl, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> body-servant. Mr. +K.——, of Winchester, Kentucky, had a mulatto daughter, and he was +also the father of her child, thus re-enacting Lot’s sin. Dr. C——, +of Tishomingo county, Mississippi, has a negro concubine, and a white +servant to wait on her. Mr. B.——, of Marshall county, Mississippi, +lived with his white wife till he had grandchildren, some of whom came +to school to me, when he repudiated his white wife, and attached +himself to a very homely old African, who superintends his household, +and rules his other slaves with rigour. Mr. S——, of Tishomingo +county, Mississippi, has a negro concubine, and a large family of +mulatto children. He once brought this woman to church in Rienzi, to +the great indignation of the white ladies, who removed to a +respectable distance from her.</p> + +<p>I preached recently to a large congregation of slaves, the third of +whom were as white as myself. Some of them had red hair and blue eyes. +If there are any marked characteristics of their masters’ families, +the mulatto slaves are possessed of these characteristics. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> refer to +physical peculiarities, such as large mouths, humped shoulders, and +peculiar expressions of countenance. I asked a gentleman how it +happened that some of his slaves had red hair. He replied that he had +a red-headed overseer for several years.</p> + +<p>I never knew a pious overseer—never! There may be many, but I never +saw one. Overseers, as a class, are worse than slaveholders +themselves. They are cruel, brutal, licentious, dissipated, and +profane. They always carry a loaded whip, a revolver, and a +Bowie-knife. These men have the control of women, whom they often whip +to death. Mr. P——, who resided near Holly Springs, had a negro woman +whipped to death while I was at his house during a session of +Presbytery. Mr. C——, of Waterford, Mississippi, had a woman whipped +to death by his overseer. But such cruel scourgings are of daily +occurrence. Colonel H——, a member of my church, told me yesterday +that he ordered a boy, who he supposed was <i>feigning</i> sickness, to the +whipping-post, but that he had not advanced ten steps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> toward it, when +he fell dead!—and the servant was free from his master. During our +conversation, a girl passed. “There is a girl,” said he, “who does not +look very white in the face, owing to exposure; but when I strip her +to whip her, I find that she has a skin as fair as my wife.” Mrs. +F—— recently whipped a boy to death within half a mile of my +residence. A jury of inquest returned a verdict that he came to his +death by cruelty; but nothing more was done. Mrs. M—— and her +daughter, of Holly Springs, abused a girl repeatedly. She showed her +bruises to some of my acquaintances, and they believed them fatal. She +soon after died. Mr. S——, a member of my church, has several maimed +negroes from abuse on the part of the overseer.</p> + +<p>I am residing on the banks of the Yock-a-nookany, which means +“meandering,” when translated from the Indian tongue. In this vicinity +there are large plantations, cultivated by hundreds of negroes. The +white population is sparse. Every night the negroes are brought to a +judgment-seat. The overseer presides.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> If they have not laboured to +suit him, or if their task is unfulfilled, they are chained to a post, +and severely whipped. The victims are invariably stripped; to what +extent, is at the option of the overseer. In Louisiana, women, +preparatory to whipping, are often stripped to a state of perfect +nudity. Old Mr. C——, of Waterford, Mississippi, punished his negroes +<i>by slitting the soles of their feet with his Bowie-knife</i>! One man he +put into a cotton-press, and turned the screw till life was extinct. +He stated that he only intended to alarm the man, but carried the joke +too far. I have heard women thus plead, in piteous accents, when +chained to the whipping-post, and stripped: “O, my God, master! don’t +whip me! I was sick! indeed I was sick! I had a chill, and the fever +is on me now! I haven’t tasted a morsel to-day! You know I works when +I is well! O for God’s sake don’t whip a poor sick nigger! My poor +chile’s sick too! Missis thinks it’s a dyin’! O master, for the love +of God, don’t cut a poor distressed woman wid your whip! I’ll try to +do better,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> ef you’ll only let me off this once!” These piteous +plaints only rouse the ire of their cruel task-masters, who sometimes +knock them down in the midst of their pleadings. I have known an +instance of a woman giving birth to a child at the whipping-post. The +fright and pain brought on premature labour.</p> + +<p>One beautiful Sabbath morning I stood on the levee at Baton Rouge, +Louisiana, and counted twenty-seven sugar-houses in full blast. I +found that the negroes were compelled to labour eighteen hours per +day, and were not permitted to rest on the Sabbath during the rolling +season. The negroes on most plantations have a truck-patch, which they +cultivate on the Sabbath. I have pointed out the sin of thus labouring +on the Sabbath, but they plead necessity; their children, they state, +must suffer from hunger if they did not cultivate their truck-patch, +and their masters would not give them time on any other day.</p> + +<p>Negroes, by law, are prohibited from learning to read. This law was +not strictly enforced in Tennessee and some other States till within<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +a few years past. I had charge of a Sabbath-school for the instruction +of blacks in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1853. This school was put down by +the strong arm of the law in a short time after my connection with it +ceased. In Mississippi, a man who taught slaves to read or write would +be sent to the penitentiary instanter. The popular plea for this +wickedness is, that if they were taught to read, they would read +abolition documents; and if they were taught to write, they would +write themselves passes, and pass northward to Canada.</p> + +<p>Such advertisements as the following often greet the eye.</p> + +<p>“<i>Kansas War.</i>—The undersind taks this method of makkin it noan that +he has got a pack of the best nigger hounds in the South. My hounds is +well trand, and I has had much experience a huntin niggers, having +follered it for the last fiften year. I will go anywhar that I’m sent +for, and will ketch niggers at the follerin raits.</p> + +<p>“My raits fur ketchin runaway niggers $10 per hed, ef they’s found in +the beat whar thar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> master lives; $15 if they’s found in the county, +and $50 if they’s tuck out on the county.</p> + +<p>“N. B.—Pay is due when the nigger is tuck. Planters ort to send fur +me as soon as thar niggers runs away, while thar trak is fresh.”</p> + +<p>Every night the woods resound with the deep-mouthed baying of the +bloodhounds. The slaves are said by some to love their masters; but it +requires the terrors of bloodhounds and the fugitive slave law to keep +them in bondage. You in the North are compelled to act the part of the +bloodhounds here, and catch the fugitives for the planters of the +South. Free negroes are sold into bondage for the most trivial +offences. Slaveholders declare that the presence of free persons of +colour exerts a pernicious influence upon their slaves, rendering them +discontented with their condition, and inspiring a desire for freedom. +They therefore are very desirous of getting rid of these persons, +either by banishing them from the State or enslaving them. The +legislature of Mississippi has passed a law for their expulsion, and +other States have followed in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> wake. The Governor of Missouri has +vetoed the law for the expulsion of free persons of colour, passed by +the legislature of that State because of its unconstitutionality.</p> + +<p>Were I to recount all the abominations of the peculiar institution, +and the wrongs inflicted upon the African race, that have come under +my observation, they would fill a large volume. Slavery is guilty of +six abominations; yea, seven may justly be charged upon it. It is said +that the negro is lazy, and will not work except by compulsion. I have +known negroes who have purchased their freedom by the payment of a +large sum, and afterward made not only a good living, but a fortune +beside. It is said Judge W—— of South Carolina gave his servants the +use of his plantation, upon condition that they would support his +family; and that in three years he was compelled to take the +management himself, as they did not make a comfortable living for +themselves and the Judge’s family. In reply, it might be said that the +negroes had not a fair trial, as no one had any property he could call +his own, and they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> were thrown into a sort of Fourierite society, +having all things in common. In this state of things, while some would +work, others would be idle. White men do not succeed in such +communities, and for this reason it was no fair test of the industrial +energies of Judge W——’s slaves.</p> + +<p>The question is often asked, is slavery sinful in itself? My +observation has been extensive, embracing eight slave States, and I +have never yet seen any example of slavery that I did not deem sinful. +If slavery is not sinful in itself, I must have always seen it out of +itself. I have observed its workings during eleven years, amongst a +professedly Christian people, and cannot do otherwise than pronounce +it an unmitigated curse. It is a curse to the white man, it is a curse +to the black man. That God will curse it, and blot it out of existence +ere long, is my firm conviction. The elements of its abolition exist; +God speed the time when they will be fully developed, and this mother +of abominations driven from the land of the free! The development of +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> eternal principles of justice and rectitude will abolish this +hoary monster of fraud and oppression. Slavery subverts all the rights +of man. It divests him of citizenship, of liberty, of the pursuit of +happiness, of his children, of his wife, of his property, of +intellectual culture, reserving to him only the rights of the horse +and ass, and reducing him to the same chattel condition with them. Not +a single right does the State law grant him above that of the +mule—no, not one. The chastity of the slave has no legal protection. +The Methodist Church South is expunging from the discipline everything +inimical to the peculiar institution, whilst I observe that the Church +North is adding to her testimony and deliverances against the sin of +slaveholding. The Church South refused to abide by the rules of the +Church, and hence the guilt of the schism lies with her, and you are +henceforth free from any guilt in conniving at the sin which the +founder of your church, the illustrious Wesley, regarded as the “sum +of all villany.”</p> + +<p>Remember me kindly to Mrs. Jackman and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> family. Hoping to hear from +you soon, I beg leave to subscribe myself,</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Yours fraternally,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">John H. Aughey</span>.</span></p> + +<p>To Mr. William Jackman,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Amsterdam, Jefferson Co., Ohio.</span></p></div> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<p class="title">NOTORIOUS REBELS.—UNION OFFICERS.</p> + +<div class="note"><p class="hang">Colonel Jefferson Davis—His Speech at Holly Springs, Mississippi—His +Opposition to Yankee Teachers and Ministers—A bid for the +Presidency—His Ambition—Burr, Arnold, Davis—General +Beauregard—Headquarters at Rienzi—Colonel Elliott’s +Raid—Beauregard’s Consternation—Personal description—His +illness—Popularity waning—Rev. Dr. Palmer of New Orleans—His +influence—The Cincinnati Letter—His Personal Appearance—His +Denunciations of General Butler—His Radicalism—Rev. Dr. Waddell of +La Grange, Tennessee—His Prejudices against the North—President of +Memphis Synodical College—His Talents prostituted—Union +Officers—General Nelson—General Sherman.</p></div> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">COLONEL JEFFERSON DAVIS.</p> + +<p>In 1856 I heard Colonel Jefferson Davis deliver an address at Holly +Springs, Mississippi. The Colonel is about a medium height, of slender +frame, his nose aquiline, his hair dark, his manners polite. He is no +orator. His speech was principally a tirade of abuse against the North, +bitterly inveighing against the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>emigrant aid societies which had +well-nigh put Kansas upon the list of free States. He advised the people +to employ no more Yankee teachers. He had been educated in the North, and +he regarded it as the greatest misfortune of his life. Soon after Colonel +Davis visited New England, where he eulogized that section in an +extravagant manner. He was pleased with everything he saw; even “Noah +Webster’s Yankee spelling-book” received a share of the Colonel’s fulsome +flattery. On his return to the South, “a change came o’er the spirit of +his dream,” and his bile and bitterness against Yankee-land returned in +all its pristine vigour. The Colonel was making a bid for the Presidency; +but New England was not so easily gulled; his flimsy professions of +friendship were too transparent to hide the hate which lay beneath, and +his aspirations were doomed to disappointment.</p> + +<p>Though Colonel Davis is often called Mississippi’s pet, yet he is not +regarded as a truthful man, and his reports and messages are received<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +with considerable abatement by “the chivalry.” His ambition knows no +bounds. He would rather “reign in hell than serve in heaven.”</p> + +<p>Had Jefferson Davis been elected President of the United States, he would +have been among the last instead of the first to favour secession. Had he +been slain on the bloody fields of Mexico, his memory would have been +cherished. History will assign him a place among the infamous. Burr, +Arnold, and Davis will be names for ever execrated by true patriots. The +two former died a natural death, though the united voice of their +countrymen would have approved of their execution on the gallows. The fate +of the latter lies still in the womb of futurity, though his loyal +countrymen, without a dissenting voice, declare that he deserves a felon’s +doom. An announcement of his death would suffuse no patriot’s eye with +tears. What loyalist would weep while he read the news-item—the arch +traitor Jeff. Davis is dead.</p> + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">GENERAL G. T. BEAUREGARD.</p> + +<p>I met General Beauregard under very peculiar circumstances. I had gone to +Rienzi for the purpose of escaping to the Federal lines for protection +from the rigorous and sweeping conscript law. When I arrived, I found the +rebels evacuating Corinth, and their sick and wounded passing down the +Mobile and Ohio railroad to the hospitals below. General Beauregard had +just arrived in Rienzi, and had his headquarters at the house of Mr. +Sutherland. A rumour had spread through Rienzi that General Beauregard had +ordered the women and children to leave the town. Many of them, believing +that the order had been issued, were hastening into the country. In order +to confirm or refute the statement, I called upon General Beauregard, and +asked him whether he had issued such an order. He replied, “I have issued +no such order, sir.” Just at that moment a courier arrived with the +information that the Yankees had attacked the advance of their retreating +army at Boonville,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> that they had destroyed the depot, and taken many +prisoners. The General told the courier that he must be mistaken; that it +was impossible for the Yankees to pass around his army. While he was yet +speaking a citizen arrived from Boonville, confirming the statement of the +courier. Beauregard was still incredulous, replying that they must have +mistaken the Confederates for the Yankees. In a few minutes the explosion +of shells shook the building. The General then thought that it might be +true that the Yankees had passed around the army; but on hearing the +shells, he stated that General Green (of Missouri) was driving them away +with his cannon. The truth was soon ascertained by the arrival of several +couriers. Col. Elliott, of the Federal army, had made a raid upon +Boonville, had fired the depot, and destroyed a large train of cars filled +with ammunition. The explosions of the shells which we heard was +occasioned by the fire reaching the ears in which these shells were +stored. The Colonel also destroyed the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>railroad to such an extent that it +required several days to repair the track.</p> + +<p>General Beauregard is below the medium height, and has a decidedly French +expression of countenance. His hair is quite gray, though a glance at his +face will convince the observer that it is prematurely so. The General is +regarded as taciturn. His countenance is careworn and haggard. During the +winter of 1861-2, he was attacked with bronchitis and typhoid pneumonia, +and came near dying; and had not, at my interview, by any means recovered +his pristine health and vigour. His prestige as an able commander is +rapidly waning. For some time his military talents were considered of the +first order; now a third-rate position is assigned him. He is still +regarded as a first-class engineer. When General Sterling Price arrived at +Corinth, General Beauregard conducted him around all the fortifications, +explaining their nature and unfolding their strength; but no word of +approval could he elicit from the Missouri General. At length he ventured +to ask what he thought of their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> capacity for resisting an attack. General +Price replied, “They may prove effective in resisting an attack. These are +the second fortifications I ever saw; the first I captured.” He had +reference to Colonel Mulligan’s, at Lexington, Missouri. Sumter and +Manassas gave Beauregard fame. Since the latter battle his star has +declined steadily; and if the Federal generals prove themselves competent, +it will soon go out in total darkness, and the world’s verdict will be, it +was a misfortune that Beauregard lived.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">REV. DR. B. M. PALMER.</p> + +<p>Dr. Palmer has done more than any non-combatant in the South to promote +the rebellion. He was accessory both before and after the fact. His +sermons are nearly all abusive of the North. The mudsills of Yankeedom and +the scum of Europe are phrases of frequent use in his public addresses, +and they are meant to include all living north of what is more familiarly +than elegantly termed in the South the “nigger line,” although the North +is the land of his parental nativity.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>A few years ago, Dr. Palmer wrote to a friend in Cincinnati respecting a +vacant church, in which he gave as one reason, among others, for desiring +to come North, that he wished to remove his family from the baleful +influences of slavery. That letter still exists, and ought to be +published.</p> + +<p>Dr. Palmer’s personal appearance is by no means prepossessing. He is small +of stature, of very dark complexion, dish-faced. His nose is said to have +been broken when a child; at all events, it is a deformity. He is fluent +in speech, has a vivid imagination, and has a great influence over a +promiscuous congregation.</p> + +<p>After the reduction of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and the capture of +New Orleans, Dr. Palmer came to Corinth, where he preached to the rebel +army. His text was invariably General Butler’s “women-of-the-town order,” +which we fully believe he intentionally misconstrued. The conservation and +extension of slavery is a matter which lies near the Doctor’s heart. He +urged secession for the purpose of extending<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> and perpetuating for ever +the peculiar institution. His views, however, must have undergone a +radical change since the writing of the Cincinnati letter, as he then +regarded slavery with little favour. Love of public favour may have much +to do with his recently expressed views, for no true Christian and patriot +can wish to perpetuate and extend an institution founded on the total +subversion of the rights of man.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">REV. DR. JOHN N. WADDELL.</p> + +<p>Dr. Waddell is a man of considerable talent, but his prejudices are very +strong against the North. He cordially hates a Yankee, and his poor +distressed wife, who was a native of New England, was compelled to return +to her home, where she mourns in virtual widowhood her unfortunate +connection with a man who detests her land and people. Dr. Waddell’s +sermons are very abusive. The North is the theme of animadversion in all +the published sermons and addresses I have seen from his prolific pen. He +has prostituted his fine talents, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> his writings are full of cursing +and bitterness. As President of La Grange College, Tennessee, he might +wield a great influence for good—an influence which would tend to calm +the storm aroused by demagogues, rather than increase its power. His +memory will rot, for the evil which he has done will live after him.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM NELSON.</p> + +<p>I met General Nelson frequently at his head-quarters at Iuka Springs, +Mississippi. Though the General was quite brusque in his manners, yet he +always treated me with kindness and marked attention. Once while seated at +the table with him, several guests being present, the following colloquy +ensued.</p> + +<p>“Parson Aughey, I suppose you are well versed in the Scriptures, and in +order to test your knowledge, permit me to ask a question, which doubtless +you are able to answer.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, General, you have permission to ask the question you propose. +I am not so sure, however, about my ability to answer it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>“The question I desire to propose is this—How many preceded Noah in +leaving the ark?”</p> + +<p>“I am unable to answer, sir.”</p> + +<p>“That is strange, as the Bible so plainly and explicitly informs us. We +are told that Noah went <i>forth</i> out of the ark; therefore <i>three</i> must +have preceded him.”</p> + +<p>The General’s wit “set the table in a roar.” As soon as the mirth had +subsided, I addressed the General:</p> + +<p>“It is my turn to ask a question. Do you know, sir, where the witch of +Endor lived?”</p> + +<p>“I did know, but really I have forgotten.”</p> + +<p>“Well, sir, she lived at Endor.”</p> + +<p>The laugh was now against him, but he joined in it heartily himself.</p> + +<p>Knowing that General Nelson had visited every quarter of the globe, I +asked him whether he had ever seen any of the modern Greeks.</p> + +<p>“I never saw any of the ancient Greeks,” was his curt reply.</p> + +<p>General Nelson was regarded as a brave and skilful officer. He has done +good service in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> his country’s cause. At Shiloh his promptness and +efficiency contributed greatly to retrieve the disaster which befell +General Grant on the first day of the battle. His rencontre with General +Davis, which resulted in his own death, is greatly to be regretted, though +his own ungovernable temper and inexcusable conduct caused his tragic end.</p> + +<p>I once visited his headquarters late in the afternoon. On my arrival, he +informed me that I would confer a great favour upon him by guiding a +company of cavalry on an expedition to the south-eastern part of the +county, to which I consented. I rode in front with the officer in command. +When we had reached a point beyond the pickets, my companion informed me +that we would meet no more Federals; if we met any soldiers while outward +bound, we might take it for granted that they were rebels. After riding +about an hour longer, we encountered a company of cavalry, and were +ordered to halt by the officer in command. My companion, stating that they +must be rebels, rode up and gave the countersign. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> felt somewhat uneasy +at the head of that company at this time, not knowing the moment that +bullets would be whistling around us. They proved however to be Federals, +returning from an extended scouting expedition. I conducted our company to +the house of a Union man, whom we aroused from his bed; and learning that +we were Federals, he took my place, and I returned to General Nelson. The +General now desired me to go as a spy, to obtain information as to the +number of troops stationed at Norman’s Bridge, which spanned Big Bear +Creek. I replied that I had ridden sixty miles without sleep, but that I +would send two Union men of my acquaintance in my stead. This was +satisfactory, and my Union friends returned with accurate information as +to the number of rebel troops stationed at the bridge, and the best points +of attack. The attack was made on the next day after receiving the +information, and the rebels were surprised and totally defeated; but few +escaped death or capture.</p> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN.</p> + +<p>On the day that General Sherman reached Rienzi, I supped with him at the +house of a friend. At table the following dialogue took place between us.</p> + +<p>“Are you the person from whom Sherman’s battery took its name?”</p> + +<p>“I am, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Many gentlemen in this county,” said I, “and among them my father-in-law, +have pipes made of the fragments of the gun-carriages of Sherman’s +battery, which was captured at Manassas by the Confederates.”</p> + +<p>“Sherman’s battery was not captured at Manassas,” replied the General.</p> + +<p>“The honour of capturing Sherman’s battery is generally accorded to the +second regiment of Mississippi volunteers, which went from this county and +the adjoining county of Tippah, though several regiments claim it, and +many of my friends declare that they have seen Sherman’s battery since its +capture.”</p> + +<p>“I assure you, sir, Sherman’s battery was not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> captured—so far from this, +it came out of the battle of Manassas Plains with two pieces captured from +the enemy, having itself lost none.”</p> + +<p>At this moment Colonel Fry, who killed Zollikoffer, rode up for orders. +While receiving them, the horses attached to a battery halted in front of +us. “There,” said the General, “is every piece of Sherman’s battery. I +ought to know that battery, and I assure you there is not a gun missing.”</p> + +<p>The pipes, canes, and trinkets supposed to be made of the wood of +Sherman’s battery, if collected, would form a vast pile; and were you to +inform the owners of those relics that they were spurious, you would be +politely informed that you might “tell that tale to the marines,” as their +sons and their neighbours’ sons were the honoured captors of that battery; +a fact, concerning the truth of which they entertained not even the shadow +of a doubt.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<p class="title">CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.</p> + +<div class="note"><p class="hang">Cause of the Rebellion—Prevalence of Union Sentiment in the +South—Why not Developed—Stevenson’s Views—Why Incorrect—Cavalry +Raids upon Union Citizens—How the Rebels employ Slaves—Slaves +Whipped and sent out of the Federal Lines—Resisting the Conscript +Law—Kansas Jayhawkers—Guarding Rebel Property—Perfidy of +Secessionists—Plea for Emancipation—The South Exhausted—Failure of +Crops—Southern Merchants Ruined—Bragg Prohibits the Manufacture and +Vending of Intoxicating Liquors—Its Salutary Effect.</p></div> + +<p>The following is the substance of addresses delivered by me on October 22d +and 25th, 1862, at Cooper’s Institute, New York, and before the Synod of +New York and New Jersey, at its session in Brooklyn.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I will confine myself to rendering answers to various questions which +have been asked me since my escape to the North. I have viewed the +rebellion from a southern stand-point; have been conversant with its +whole history; have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> been behind the curtains, and have learned the +motives which impel its instigators in their treasonable designs +against the Government.</p> + +<p>Slavery I believe to have been the sole cause of the rebellion. It is +true that the slaveholders of the South were becoming strongly +anti-republican. Rule or ruin was their determination, and they would +not have listened to any compromise measure after the election of Mr. +Lincoln; but this feeling, this opposition to republicanism, and lust +of power, is the offspring of slavery. In 1856 I heard Jeff. Davis +declare that the people of the North and the South were not +homogeneous, and that therefore he advocated secession. The reason he +assigned for this want of homogeneousness was found in the fact that +the South held slaves; the North did not.</p> + +<p>Men accustomed to exercise arbitrary power over their fellow-men, will +not cease their encroachments upon the rights of all with whom they +are associated, politically or otherwise, and a temporary suspension +of the control of the government is regarded by them as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> <i>casus +belli</i>. Slavery may therefore be justly regarded as the parent of +secession. Whilst this cause exists, the South will be the hot-bed of +treason. Slavery has produced its legitimate fruit, and treason is its +name. With slavery intact, no compromise, if accepted by the South, +would prevent another outbreak in a few years.</p> + +<p>The question has been asked, is there any Union sentiment in the +South? I reply that there is a strong Union sentiment, even in +Mississippi. This sentiment is not found amongst the slaveholders, +for, as a class, they are firmly united in their hostility to the +Government. The middle and lower classes are not only opposed to +secession, but also to slavery itself. Eleven years’ association with +the southern people has enabled me to form a correct opinion, and to +know whereof I affirm. I make this statement without fear of +successful contradiction, that the majority of the white inhabitants +of the South are Union-loving men. The slaveholders have long ruled +both the blacks and the whites in the South. When the rebellion was +determined upon, the slaveholders<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> had the organized force to compel +acquiescence upon the part of those who favoured the Union, yet wished +to remain neutral. Their drafts and conscriptions swept them into the +army, and when once there, they must obey their officers upon pain of +death. To desert and join the Union army, was to abandon their homes +and families, and all their youthful associations. Yet many have done +it, and are now doing good service in their country’s cause.</p> + +<p>The rebels punished with death any who declared himself in favour of +the Union. In my presence at Tupelo, they were taken out daily and +shot for the expression of sentiments adverse to the rebellion. If the +Union troops at any time occupied a place, and the people expressed +any favourable sentiments to their cause, upon the evacuation of that +position, those who sided with the Union troops were cruelly treated. +All these causes, and many others which I might mention, have +prevented the full development of the true sentiments of the people. I +could name many localities within the rebel lines where the great +majority of the people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> bitterly denounce the Southern Confederacy and +all connected with it. I could name many individuals who have declared +to me that they would prefer death to a dishonourable compliance with +the conscript law. I could name localities within the rebel lines +where armed resistance to the conscript law has been made; but the +safety of those loyal citizens forbids it.</p> + +<p>I know that there are some who assert that there is no Union feeling +in the South; but they are mistaken. The author of “Thirteen Months in +the Rebel Army” found but little. His situation was not favourable for +its discovery. He informs us in his work, that after he had been +compelled to <i>volunteer</i>, he regarded his oath (an oath much more +honoured in the breach than in the observance,) of such force that he +sought to obtain information, rather than to desert. He passed from +one post of preferment to another, till at length he was on duty under +the eye of Breckinridge himself, who complimented him upon his +alacrity in bearing dispatches; and this was truly great, as he rode +at one time sixty miles in seven hours, and at another,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> fourteen +miles in less than fifty minutes. He also exhibited a guarded zeal for +the secession cause. Who would have gone to an officer who was +apparently aiding and abetting the rebellion, ably and assiduously, to +communicate his Union sentiments? Any who would thus betray themselves +could not be sure that they would not be shot in twenty-four hours. +Had Mr. Stevenson been with me in Tupelo, and looked upon those +seventy or eighty prisoners who were incarcerated for their adherence +to the Union—had he witnessed the daily execution of some of them who +preferred death to <i>volunteering</i> to defend a cause which they did not +hesitate to denounce at the peril of their lives—had he been with me +while in the midst of a host of Union citizens of Mississippi, who at +the noon of night had assembled in the deep glens and on the high +hills, for the purpose of devising means to resist the hated conscript +law—he would have come to a far different conclusion. I have seen the +cavalry go out to arrest Union men. I was at a Mr. William Herron’s, +in South Carroll, Carrol county, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span>Tennessee, and while there, several +companies of cavalry came up from Jackson to destroy the loyal +citizens of that vicinity, and they did destroy some of them and much +property. They passed within two hundred yards of fortifications +hastily thrown up to resist them, and would have been fired on had +they come within range. Before completing their mission, a messenger +came to inform them that Fort Henry was beleagured. They hastened to +the fort just in time to take part in the action. After the surrender +of the fort, they retreated to Fort Donelson, and were all captured at +the reduction of that fort, to the great joy of those Union citizens +whom they had driven from their homes, and whose property they had +destroyed.</p> + +<p>The slaves add greatly to the strength of the rebellion. Slave labour +is extensively employed in the military department. They are the +sappers and miners, the cooks, the teamsters, the artisans; and there +are instances where they are forced to shoulder the musket and go into +the ranks. I have seen and conversed with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> slave soldiers who have +fought in every battle from Manassas to Shiloh.</p> + +<p>Many strong secession counties send more soldiers to the rebel army +than there are voters in those counties. The slaves who remain at +home, labour to raise provisions for the sustenance of the families of +the soldiers, and a surplus for the army; hence every white man is +available for service in the field. Were this slave labour diverted to +some other channel, the result would follow, that a great proportion +of the rebel soldiers would be forced to return home to care for their +families, or those families must perish. In order to divert this +labour, it would be only necessary to encourage the negroes to leave +their masters. Wherever the Federal army has advanced in the +southwest, the slaves have crowded into their lines by hundreds, and +only desisted upon learning, much to their regret, that they would not +be received, many of them being tied up and whipped, and then sent +southward beyond the limits of the Federal army. Some who had +travelled seventy miles upon the underground<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> railroad, to reach the +Union army, being asked by their fellow-servants upon their return, +how they liked the Yankees, replied that “General Nelson sort o’ +hinted that he didn’t want us.” Upon being urged to be more explicit, +and to state more fully what was the nature of the hint which led them +to infer that General Nelson did not want them, their spokesman +replied: “Well, if we must tell, we must. General Nelson tied us up +and gave us fifty apiece, and sent us off, sw’arin’ he’d guv us a +hundred ef we didn’t go right straight back home to our masters. He +said this wa’n’t no war got up to set the niggers free.”</p> + +<p>The Kansas Jayhawkers liberate all the slaves with whom they come in +contact. I passed four regiments of their cavalry last August, on +their way to Rienzi, Mississippi. They had about two thousand slaves +with them, of every age and sex. Those slaves groomed their horses, +drove their wagons, cooked their victuals, and made themselves useful +in a variety of ways, leaving every white man free to go into the +battle when the hour of contest arrived.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>Slavery is a strong prop to the rebellion. Four millions of labourers +are able to furnish supplies for eight millions. Subtract that vast +resource from the rebellion, add it to the support of the Government, +and its stunning effect would be speedily demonstrated in the complete +paralysis of the Southern Confederacy. In order to supply the loss of +the slaves, half the soldiers in the army must return, or famine would +sweep both the army and the families of the soldiers from the face of +the earth. One cause of the long continuance of the war is, that the +Union army has endeavoured to conciliate the South, rather than crush +the rebellion. They have guarded the property of the rebels; they have +returned promptly their fugitive slaves; they have put down servile +insurrection with an iron hand, and in every possible way have shown +clemency instead of severity. But their kindness has been abused, +their clemency regarded as evidence of imbecility, and the humane +policy of the Government totally misconstrued. Captain John Rainey, of +Cambridge, Ohio, while on duty at Corinth, Mississippi, received<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> an +application from a notorious secessionist for a guard to protect his +premises, which was obtained for him from the colonel, three soldiers +being detached for that purpose, who proceeded to the station assigned +them. About four o’clock in the afternoon they saw the owner of the +premises they were guarding, mount his horse and ride off. Supposing +him to be going on some ordinary errand, they took no further notice +of it. About nine o’clock, one of the guard who had strayed into the +orchard, some three hundred yards from the house, heard an unusual +sound, as of cavalry approaching. Concealing himself, he saw, by the +bright moonlight, this secessionist ride up with seven or eight rebel +cavalrymen, who, seizing his two companions, rode off with them as +prisoners. The ingrate who committed this base and perfidious act then +went into his house and retired to rest. As speedily as possible the +third picket returned to his company, and informed them of the +occurrence. Fired with indignation, twenty men volunteered to visit +summary punishment upon the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>perpetrator of this villany. Hastening to +his house, they aroused him from his slumbers, and in a few minutes +suspended him by the neck between the heavens and the earth. On their +return they reported to their companions what they had done, and, +through fear of punishment, took every precaution to prevent the act +reaching the colonel’s ears. It was reported to the colonel, however, +whose reply to his informant was, “Served him right!” This policy of +guarding rebel property by Union troops must be abandoned, or the war +will never terminate. The Union army has been attacked by the rebels +when large numbers of the soldiers were absent as guards to protect +the plantations and all the interests of secessionists. Such gingerly +warfare must end, or the days of the Republic are numbered. Carrying +the war into the enemy’s country has thus far proved a mere farce. The +retreating rebels destroyed tenfold more property than the pursuing +Federals. I would not counsel cruelty. I would not advise the +unnecessary destruction of life or property, for all wanton +destruction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> tends to weaken rather than to strengthen the cause of +those who perpetrate it. Vandalism is everywhere reprehensible. The +proper policy I believe to be this: Let the Union army be supplied +with provisions, so far as practicable, from the territory occupied. +Let the slaves find protection and employment on their arrival within +the Union lines. Despise not their valuable services. Let it be +proclaimed that for every Union citizen of the South who is slain for +his adherence to the old flag, a rebel prisoner shall be executed, and +that the confiscated property of Union men shall be restored, at the +cost of rebel sympathizers in the vicinity. Let these necessary +measures be carried out, and no well-informed person can doubt that +the war will cease before the end of six months. With slavery, the +rebels are powerful; without it, they are powerless. With slavery, +every white man between the ages of eighteen and sixty is available as +a soldier, and vast supplies are procured by servile labour. Abolish +slavery, and the army would be immediately reduced one-half, and +supplies would be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> diminished to a destructive extent. Slaves armed +and drilled would make effective soldiers. With a perfect knowledge of +the country, with an intense desire to liberate themselves and their +brethren from bondage, with an ardent hatred of their cruel masters +and overseers, (and the majority of them are cruel,) they would render +a willing and powerful aid in crushing the great rebellion. After the +war is ended, give them as much land as their necessities require, +either in New Mexico or Arizona, and they will furnish more sugar, +rice, and cotton, than were extorted from them by compulsory labour in +the house of bondage.</p> + +<p>The desire for freedom on the part of the slaves is universal. It is, +according to my observation and full belief, a rule without exception. +These aspirations are constantly increasing as the rigours of slavery +are increased, and the slaves are as well prepared for freedom as they +would be a hundred years hence. The <i>Iron Furnace</i> of slavery does not +tend to the elevation of its victims. There are better methods of +elevating a race than by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> enslaving it. The moral elevation of the +slave is no part of the reason why he is held in bondage; but the +convenience and profit of the master is the sole end and aim of the +peculiar institution. All attempts on the part of the slaves to obtain +their liberty are resisted by the slaveholders, by the infliction of +appalling and barbarous cruelties. Thirty-two negroes were executed at +Natchez, Mississippi, recently, because they expressed a determination +“to go to Lincoln.” Six were hanged in Hoxubee county, and one burned +in the streets of Macon. The southern papers state that Hon. Mr. Orr, +of South Carolina, attempted to drive his slaves into the interior, to +prevent their escaping to the Yankees, and upon their refusal to go, +he ordered them to be driven at the point of the bayonet, and in the +execution of the order, fifty of them were slain. There are instances +in which the slave is greatly attached to his master’s family, but his +love of liberty is greater than that attachment. It often transcends +his love for his own family, which he abandons for its sake, risking +his life on the underground <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>railroad, and enduring the rigours of a +Canadian winter, that he may enjoy his inalienable rights.</p> + +<p>The southwest is already nearly exhausted. The troops which first went +into the service were well supplied with clothing, provisions, and +money; but the conscripts were poorly clad, and received their wages +in Confederate bonds, which have so depreciated, that ten dollars in +gold will purchase one hundred dollars of the bonds. Great suffering +is the consequence, and desertions are of daily occurrence. While I +was in prison at Tupelo, eighty-seven of the Arkansas infantry +deserted in a body. One hundred cavalry were sent to arrest them, but +they defeated the cavalry in a fair fight, and went on their way +rejoicing. Tennesseeans and Kentuckians could not be trusted on picket +duty, their proclivity for desertion being notorious. They suffered no +opportunity to escape them, and often went off in squads. Many of them +being forced into the service, did not consider their involuntary oath +binding.</p> + +<p>The wheat crop of 1862, in the southwest, was almost totally destroyed +by the rust, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> corn crop by the drought. Salt could not be +obtained at any cost, and every marketable commodity had reached a +fabulous price. Southern merchants feel that they are ruined. At the +commencement of the war they had made large purchases in the North, +mainly on credit. The rebel Congress passed a law that all who were +indebted to the North must pay two-thirds of the amount of their +indebtedness to the Southern Confederacy. This the merchants did. They +then sold their goods, taking cotton and Confederate money in pay. The +cotton was destroyed by order of Beauregard, and the Confederate scrip +is worthless, and the Federal generals are enforcing the payment of +Northern claims. This fourfold loss will beggar every southern +merchant subjected to it.</p> + +<p>At the commencement of the war, strong drink was abundant, and it was +freely used by the soldiers. Drunkenness was fearfully prevalent. This +vice increased to such a degree that the army was rapidly becoming +demoralized. A large amount of grain was wasted in the manufacture of +liquor. At this juncture the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> rebel government wisely prohibited the +manufacture and sale of all that would intoxicate. Soon the wisdom of +this measure was apparent. For a time this contraband article was +smuggled in, yet it was only in limited quantities, and at the present +time a drunken soldier is a <i>rara avis</i> in the army. At the first +promulgation of the law, a cunning countryman perforated a large +number of eggs, withdrew the contents, filled the shells with whiskey, +closed them up, and carrying them to the camp at Rienzi, sold them at +an exorbitant price. Others resorted to filling coffee-pots with +whisky, stopping up the bottom of the spout, filling it with +buttermilk, and if asked by the guards what they had for sale, would +pour out some of the milk in the spout, and by this deception gain an +entrance to the camp, and supply the soldiers with liquor. But all +these tricks were discovered, and since the manufacture, as well as +the sale, was prohibited, the supply on hand became exhausted, and +drunkenness ceased.</p></div> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<p class="title">BATTLES OF LEESBURG, BELMONT, AND SHILOH.</p> + +<div class="note"><p class="hang">Rebel Cruelty to Prisoners—The Fratricide—Grant Defeated—Saved by +Gunboats—Buell’s Advance—Railroad Disaster—The South +Despondent—General Rosecrans—Secession will become Odious even in +the South—Poem.</p></div> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">BATTLE OF LEESBURG.</p> + +<p>The battle of Leesburg was fought on the 21st of October, 1861. The +southern accounts of this battle were so contradictory, that I will not +give the various versions. One statement, however, all concur in—that +when the Federal troops retreated to the river, after being overpowered by +superior numbers, and had thrown down their arms, calling for quarter, no +mercy was shown them. Hundreds were bayoneted, or forced into the river +and drowned. The rebels clubbed their guns, and dashed out the brains of +many while kneeling at their feet and imploring mercy. I saw one ruffian +who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> boasted that he had bayoneted seven Yankee prisoners captured on that +occasion.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">BATTLE OF BELMONT.</p> + +<p>The battle of Belmont was fought on the 7th of November, 1861. I have +heard repeatedly from southern officers their version of the events which +occurred on that occasion. General McClernand, for the purpose of breaking +up the rebel camp at Belmont, attacked it in force at an early hour, and +completely routed the enemy, pursuing them to a considerable distance. +Returning, he destroyed completely the camp, but delaying too long, large +reinforcements were thrown over the river from Columbus, and the Federals +were compelled to retreat precipitately to their boats, not, however, till +they had fully accomplished the object of their mission. A scene occurred +on this field which exhibits one of the saddest phases of this internecine +strife. The incident was related to me by Mr. Tomlin, a lawyer of Jackson, +Tennessee, not unknown even in the North, who was personally acquainted +with the actors. Colonel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> Rogers, of an Illinois regiment, led his command +into action early in the contest. A Tennessee regiment opposed him with +fierceness for some time. At length they began to waver and exhibit +symptoms of disorder. At this moment their colonel, who had been unhorsed, +mounted a stump, and by an energetic and fervid address, rallied his men. +Again they began to falter, and again his burning words restored order. +Colonel Rogers believing that the safety of himself and regiment depended +upon the death of the Tennessee colonel, drew a pistol from his holsters, +rode up and deliberately shot him through the brain. The Tennesseeans +seeing their colonel fall, fled precipitately. On the return of the +Illinois troops, Colonel Rogers, impelled by curiosity, dismounted, and +scanning the features of the colonel whom his own hand had slain, +recognised his own brother. As the tide of battle had rolled past for the +moment, he ordered the corpse to be conveyed to a transport, on which it +was brought to Cairo, and thence borne to the stricken parents, who +mourned over and buried the remains<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> of their brave but erring child, who +had met his fate at his brother’s unconsciously fratricidal hand.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">BATTLE OF SHILOH.</p> + +<p>On April 6th, 1862, the sun rose clear; not a cloud was discernible in the +sky; it was truly a lovely Sabbath, even for a southern clime. Early in +the morning I took a walk with my little daughter, a child four years of +age, in whose prattle I was taking great interest. We had gone about one +hundred yards when my child exclaimed, “Pa, we must go back! it’s going to +rain; don’t you hear the thunder?” The sharp and stunning reports I soon +recognised to be the sound of cannon on the field of battle. The +cannonading continued incessantly during the day. The whole country became +intensely excited, and many citizens hastened to the battlefield, the +majority bent upon plunder. On Monday the battle still raged with +increasing fury. On Sabbath, General Grant had been completely surprised, +and would have lost his whole army but for the gunboats in the river.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +These gunboats shelled the pursuing rebels, checking their advance, and +saving the discomfitted Federals. Buell arrived with his division on +Sabbath night, and on Monday the rebels were driven at every point during +the whole day, with great loss. When I heard the rebel officers state that +the gunboats lying in the Tennessee river had checked their pursuit, and +had committed great havoc amongst their troops, at the distance of nearly +three miles, I supposed that the rebel army had continued the pursuit till +they came in sight of the gunners on the boats, who then threw their +shells into their advancing columns, and my mistake was not corrected till +I saw the scene of action. A plateau extended from the river, where the +gunboats lay, to the hills, a distance of about one-quarter of a mile. The +hills rose to a considerable height, and were covered with a large growth, +and on their frowning summits the lofty trees seemed to intercept the +passing clouds. Grant’s discomfitted and shattered army had taken refuge +on the plateau. Some had even thrown themselves into the river, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> swam +across. Such was the position of affairs when the gunners threw their +shells over those lofty hills, and beyond them a distance of two miles, +into the midst of the rebels, checking their advance, and destroying them +by scores. Couriers constantly passed to and fro to give information of +the position of the enemy. All night long their shelling continued, +causing Beauregard to change his camp thrice. Thus,</p> + +<p class="poem"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">“Bombs bursting in air,</span><br /> +Gave proof through the night<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That our flag was still there.”</span></p> + +<p>On Monday morning Buell’s division advanced, and the tide was turned. The +rebels were driven from every position, and their loss was fearful; and +had pursuit been continued to Corinth, their whole army must have been +annihilated. General A. S. Johnson fell about three o’clock on the +Sabbath. The tibial artery had been severed—a wound not necessarily +fatal; but he remained in the saddle till he fainted from loss of blood, +and when borne from his horse by Governor Harris and others, survived but +twenty minutes. On Sabbath<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> night Beauregard occupied, for a time, an old +Presbyterian church—a rude log edifice. The church was named Shiloh; +hence both Beauregard and General Grant, in their dispatches, named the +engagement the battle of Shiloh. I was in Rienzi as the wounded passed +down on the cars to the various hospitals below. They passed continually +for a month. On the 18th of April I went down to Macon, in Noxubee county. +A large number of wounded were on the train. A lady from the Female +Seminary in Aberdeen had been placed under my care. When we reached a +point six miles from Crawfordsville, I noticed a young man looking out in +an excited manner, and immediately after he jumped out and rolled down an +embankment. I was much surprised at his conduct, but soon the crashing of +the cars explained the cause. The train had been thrown from the track, +and was rushing down an embankment. Jumping from the cars now became +general. My lady friend arose, declaring that she also would leap from the +car. I caught and held her till the danger was over, and thus <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span>prevented +perhaps serious injury to her person, as all who jumped from the train +were more or less injured. On extricating ourselves from the debris of the +cars, an appalling sight met our view. The sick, wounded, dying, and dead, +were scattered promiscuously in every direction. Their groans and piercing +shrieks were heart-rending. The heavy fragments of the broken cars were +thrown upon their mangled limbs, and in many instances this disaster +completed what Shiloh had commenced. As we came down, I passed through the +train amongst the wounded. Some had lost an arm, several an upper lip, as +many an under lip. Through the body of one six balls had passed. They were +wounded in the feet, the hands, the head, and the body; and some who had +not been touched by ball or bullet were paralyzed by their proximity to +the exploding shells. Truly every battle is with confused noise and +garments rolled in blood. I remained some time at the destroyed train, +aiding in extricating those buried beneath the ruins. The extent of the +damage and destruction of life, I never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> accurately learned. It must, +however, have been great. The catastrophe was occasioned by a stick of +wood falling from the tender before the wheels of the adjacent car, which, +being thrown from the track, precipitated the whole train down the +embankment.</p> + +<p>For weeks after the battle of Shiloh, little was done by Federals or +Confederates. The rebels firmly believed that Corinth could not be taken. +Its evacuation discouraged the people exceedingly. Nothing but disasters +had befallen them since the year commenced. Zollikoffer had been slain, +and Crittenden defeated, at Fishing Creek. Roanoke Island had been +captured. Forts Henry, Donelson, Pulaski, St. Philip, and Jackson had been +reduced. Island “No. 10” was taken, and New Orleans had fallen. The bloody +field of Shiloh had proved disastrous; and now, even Corinth, the boasted +Gibraltar of rebeldom, fortified by the “best engineer on the continent,” +and defended by the whole army of the southwest, had been evacuated. What, +under these circumstances, could resist the progress of Halleck to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> +Gulf? Many saw the cause of these disasters in the fact that the rebel +generals had made their attacks upon the Union troops upon the Sabbath; +and all history confirms the truth that the army attacking on the Sabbath +is almost invariably defeated. Universal gloom and an all-pervading spirit +of despondency, brooded over the whole southern people. Had the rebel army +been crushed at Corinth, or had Beauregard been vigorously pursued, and +forced to fight or surrender, the war in the southwest would have been +terminated. General Rosecrans informed me that they could have crushed the +rebels at Corinth, and on my asking him why it was not done, he replied: +“It would have been done at the cost of many lives on both sides, and it +is not our desire to sacrifice life unnecessarily. Let Beauregard go down +to the swamps of Mississippi; he can do us no injury. It is not probable +that he will ever return to Corinth to attack us, and they must starve out +in a section which never produced enough to sustain its own population.” +But Beauregard did not remain long in the swamps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> of Mississippi. He took +the flower of his army and hastened on to Richmond, to reinforce General +Lee, who immediately gave battle to McClellan, and drove him from the +Peninsula. Halleck should never have suffered McClellan to be compelled to +fight both Lee’s forces and Beauregard’s, whilst his own army was merely +protecting rebel property and consuming rations. I think General +Rosecrans, had he been in chief command, would not have thus acted; and +his statement to me was a mere apology for the conduct of his superior, +for his policy has ever been vigorous, and the rebels dread him more than +any living man. The lamented Lyon also inspired a similar wholesome dread. +I saw much of General Rosecrans. He is a genial, pleasant gentleman. He +seems desirous of accomplishing his end by the use of mild means; but if +these will not effect the object, the reverse policy is resorted to. The +rebels dread, yet respect him. He will do much to oblige a friend. I +desired at one time to go with my family beyond the Federal lines. General +Rosecrans went in person to General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> Pope to obtain a pass; but Pope’s +orders were that no passes should be issued for a specified time. General +Rosecrans then asked and obtained permission to send one of his aids with +us, who conducted us beyond the pickets, a distance of five miles. This +act, the General remarked, was in consideration of the kindness I had +shown himself and staff while in Rienzi. The Federal generals committed a +great mistake in desiring to overrun the country without destroying the +rebel armies. A physician who drives a disease from one limb only to +appear in a more aggravated form in another, accomplishes nothing. And +when a general permits a hostile army to change its location as a +strategic movement, he has accomplished nothing, except giving aid and +comfort to the enemy. The rebels estimated their forces at the battle of +Shiloh at eighty thousand. Though considerable accessions had been +received, yet in consequence of sickness and desertion, their number was +about the same at the evacuation of Corinth. They lost about eleven +thousand, slain, wounded, and prisoners, in the battle.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>War has a tendency to engender great bitterness of feeling between the +belligerents. The secessionists hate the northern people, but not with the +intensity of hatred which they exercise toward the Union-loving citizens +of the South. In South Carolina, in the days of nullification, the +nullifiers and Union men were very bitter in their hostility against each +other. After the suppression of nullification by General Jackson, the +cause being removed, the enmity ceased, and in a short time, the odium +attached to nullification became so great, that few would admit that they +had been nullifiers. Let the supremacy of the law and the Constitution be +enforced, and a few years hence, few, even in the South, will be found +willing to admit that they were secessionists. The descendants of the +Tories carefully conceal their genealogy; the descendants of the +secessionists will do the same. Slavery and secession will perish +together; and the classes of the South who have been fearfully injured by +both these heresies, will be fully compensated for their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> present distress +by the vast blessings which will accrue to themselves and posterity by the +abolition of an institution which has degraded labour, oppressed the poor +white man, opposed progress, retarded the development of the country’s +resources, taken away the key of knowledge, caused every species of vice +to flourish, impoverished the people, enriched a favoured class at the +expense of the masses, caused woes unnumbered to a whole race—in short, +has been the prolific parent of fraud, oppression, lust, tyranny, murder, +and every other crime in the dark catalogue.</p> + +<p class="poem">“We are living, we are dwelling<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In a grand and awful time;</span><br /> +In an age, on ages telling,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To be living is sublime!</span><br /> +<br /> +Hark! the waking up of nations,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gog and Magog to the fray;</span><br /> +Hark! what soundeth—is creation<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Groaning for its latter day?</span><br /> +<br /> +Will ye play, then? will ye dally<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With your music and your wine?</span><br /> +Up! it is Jehovah’s rally!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">God’s own arm hath need of thine.</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span><br /> +Hark! the onset! will ye fold your<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Faith-clad arms in lazy lock;</span><br /> +Up! oh, up! thou drowsy soldier,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Worlds are charging to the shock!</span><br /> +<br /> +Worlds are charging; heaven beholding;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thou hast but an hour to fight;</span><br /> +Now the blazoned cross unfolding,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>On!</i> right onward <i>for the right</i>.</span><br /> +<br /> +<i>On!</i> let all the soul within you,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For the truth’s sake go abroad;</span><br /> +Strike! let every nerve and sinew<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tell on ages,—tell for God!”</span></p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<div class="note"> +<p class="title">SEE TO YOUR INTEREST!!</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Amsterdam</span>, <i>Jefferson co.</i>, Ohio, <i>January 1, 1863</i>.</p> + +<p>The undersigned tenders his thanks to his customers for their liberal +patronage in the past, and respectfully solicits its continuance.</p> + +<p>He has recently made considerable additions to his stock of</p> + +<p class="center">DRY GOODS AND GROCERIES,</p> + +<p>and he will endeavour to make it the interest of the citizens of Amsterdam +and vicinity to deal with him; nor will he permit his competitors to +surpass him in the cheapness and quality of his goods.</p> + +<p>The <i>highest price</i> will be paid for PRODUCE OF EVERY KIND, and <i>Cash</i> +will not be refused in payment for goods.</p> + +<p>A word to the wise is sufficient.</p> + +<p class="right">DAVID AUGHEY.</p></div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Iron Furnace, by John H. 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Aughey + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Iron Furnace + Slavery and Secession + +Author: John H. Aughey + +Release Date: February 13, 2012 [EBook #38855] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE IRON FURNACE *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive.) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: John H. Aughey. _Engraved by Samuel Sartain, Phila._] + + + + + THE IRON FURNACE: + OR, + SLAVERY AND SECESSION. + + + BY REV. JOHN H. AUGHEY, + A REFUGEE FROM MISSISSIPPI. + + + Cursed be the men that obeyeth not the words + of this covenant, which I commanded your + fathers in the day that I brought them forth + out of the land of Egypt, from the _Iron + Furnace_.--Jer. xi. 3, 4. See also, 1 Kings + viii. 51. + + + PHILADELPHIA: + WILLIAM S. & ALFRED MARTIEN. + 606 CHESTNUT STREET. + 1863. + + + + + Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1863, + BY WILLIAM S. & ALFRED MARTIEN, + In the office of the Clerk of the District Court for the + Eastern District of Pennsylvania. + + + + + TO MY PERSONAL FRIENDS + + REV. CHARLES C. BEATTY, D.D., LL.D., + OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, + Moderator of the General Assembly of the (O.S.) Presbyterian + Church in the United States of America, + and long Pastor of the Church in which + my parents were members, and + our family worshippers; + + REV. WILLIAM PRATT BREED, + Pastor of the West Spruce Street Presbyterian Church, of + Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; + + GEORGE HAY STUART, ESQ., + OF PHILADELPHIA, PA., + The Philanthropist, whose virtues are known and + appreciated in both hemispheres, + + THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +A celebrated author thus writes: "Posterity is under no obligations to a +man who is not a parent, who has never planted a tree, built a house, nor +written a book." Having fulfilled all these requisites to insure the +remembrance of posterity, it remains to be seen whether the author's name +shall escape oblivion. + +It may be that a few years will obliterate the name affixed to this +Preface from the memory of man. This thought is the cause of no concern. I +shall have accomplished my purpose if I can in some degree be humbly +instrumental in serving my country and my generation, by promoting the +well-being of my fellow-men, and advancing the declarative glory of +Almighty God. + +This work was written while suffering intensely from maladies induced by +the rigours of the Iron Furnace of Secession, whose sevenfold heat is +reserved for the loyal citizens of the South. Let this fact be a +palliation for whatever imperfections the reader may meet with in its +perusal. + +There are many loyal men in the southern States, who to avoid martyrdom, +conceal their opinions. They are to be pitied--not severely censured. All +those southern ministers and professors of religion who were eminent for +piety, opposed secession till the States passed the secession ordinance. +They then advocated reconstruction as long as it comported with their +safety. They then, in the face of danger and death, became quiescent--not +acquiescent, by any means--and they now "bide their time," in prayerful +trust that God will, in his own good time, subvert rebellion, and +overthrow anarchy, by a restoration of the supremacy of constitutional +law. By these, and their name is legion, my book will be warmly approved. +My fellow-prisoners in the dungeon at Tupelo, who may have survived its +horrors, and my fellow-sufferers in the Union cause throughout the South, +will read in my narrative a transcript of their own sufferings. The loyal +citizens of the whole country will be interested in learning the views of +one who has been conversant with the rise and progress of secession, from +its incipiency to its culmination in rebellion and treason. It will also +doubtless be of general interest to learn something of the workings of the +"peculiar institution," and the various phases which it assumes in +different sections of the slave States. + +Compelled to leave Dixie in haste, I had no time to collect materials for +my work. I was therefore under the necessity of writing without those aids +which would have secured greater accuracy. I have done the best that I +could under the circumstances; and any errors that may have crept into my +statements of facts, or reports of addresses, will be cheerfully rectified +as soon as ascertained. + +That I might not compromise the safety of my Union friends who rendered me +assistance, and who are still within the rebel lines, I was compelled to +omit their names, and for the same reason to describe rather indefinitely +some localities, especially the portions of Ittawamba, Chickasaw, +Pontotoc, Tippah, and Tishomingo counties, through which I travelled while +escaping to the Federal lines. This I hope to be able to correct in future +editions. + +Narratives require a liberal use of the first personal pronoun, which I +would have gladly avoided, had it been possible without tedious +circumlocution, as its frequent repetition has the appearance of egotism. + +I return sincere thanks to my fellow-prisoners who imperilled their own +lives to save mine, and also to those Mississippi Unionists who so +generously aided a panting fugitive on his way from chains and death to +life and liberty. My thanks are also due to Rev. William P. Breed, for +assistance in preparing my work for the press. + +I am also under obligations to Rev. Francis J. Collier, of Philadelphia; +to Rev. A. D. Smith, D. D., and Rev. J. R. W. Sloane, of New York, and to +Rev. F. B. Wheeler, of Poughkeepsie, New York. + +May the Triune God bless our country, and preserve its integrity! + +JOHN HILL AUGHEY. + +FEBRUARY 1, 1863. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + + SECESSION. + + Speech of Colonel Drane--Submission Denounced--Northern + Aggression--No more Slave States--Northern _isms_--Yankees' + Servants--Yankee inferiority--Breckinridge, or immediate, + complete, and eternal Separation--A Day of Rejoicing--Abraham + Lincoln, President elect--A Union Speech--A Southerner's + Reasons for opposing Secession--Address by a Radical + Secessionist--Cursing and Bitterness--A Prayer--Sermon + against Secession--List of Grievances--Causes which led to + Secession 13--49 + + + CHAPTER II. + + VIGILANCE COMMITTEE AND COURT-MARTIAL. + + The election of Delegates to determine the status of + Mississippi--The Vigilance Committee--Description of its + members--Charges--Phonography--No formal verdict--Danger of + Assassination--Passports--Escape to Rienzi--Union sentiment-- + The Conscript Law--Summons to attend Court-Martial-- + Evacuation of Corinth--Destruction of Cotton--Suffering + poor--Relieved by General Halleck 50--69 + + + CHAPTER III. + + ARREST, ESCAPE, AND RECAPTURE. + + High price of Provisions--Holland Lindsay's Family--The + arrest--Captain Hill--Appearance before Colonel Bradfute at + Fulton--Arrest of Benjamin Clarke--Bradfute's Insolence-- + General Chalmers--The clerical Spy--General Pfeifer--Under + guard--Priceville--General Gordon--Bound for Tupelo--The + Prisoners entering the Dungeon--Captain Bruce--Lieutenant + Richard Malone--Prison Fare and Treatment--Menial Service-- + Resolve to escape--Plan of escape--Federal Prisoners-- + Co-operation of the Prisoners--Declaration of Independence-- + The Escape--The Separation--Concealment--Travel on the + Underground Railroad--Pursuit by Cavalry and Bloodhounds--The + Arrest--Dan Barnes, the Mail-robber--Perfidy--Heavily + ironed--Return to Tupelo 70--112 + + + CHAPTER IV. + + LIFE IN A DUNGEON. + + Parson Aughey as Chaplain--Description of the Prisoners-- + Colonel Walter, the Judge Advocate--Charges and + Specifications against Parson Aughey, a Citizen of the + Confederate States--Execution of two Tennesseeans--Enlistment + of Union Prisoners--Colonel Walter's second visit--Day of + Execution specified--Farewell Letter to my Wife--Parson + Aughey's Obituary penned by himself--Address to his Soul--The + Soul's Reply--Farewell Letter to his Parents--The Union + Prisoners' Petition to Hon. W. H. Seward--The two Prisoners + and the Oath of Allegiance--Irish Stories 113--142 + + + CHAPTER V. + + EXECUTION OF UNION PRISONERS. + + Resolved to Escape--Mode of Executing Prisoners--Removal of + Chain--Addition to our Numbers--Two Prisoners become Insane-- + Plan of Escape--Proves a Failure--Fetters Inspected-- + Additional Fetters--Handcuffs--A Spy in the Disguise of a + Prisoner--Special Police Guard on Duty--A Prisoner's + Discovery--Divine Services--The General Judgment--The Judge-- + The Laws--The Witnesses--The Concourse--The Sentence 143--167 + + + CHAPTER VI. + + SUCCESSFUL ESCAPE. + + The Second Plan of Escape--Under the Jail--Egress--Among the + Guards--In the Swamp--Travelling on the Underground + Railroad--The Fare--Green Corn eaten Raw--Blackberries and + Stagnant Water--The Bloodhounds--Tantalizing Dreams--The + Pickets--The Cows--Become Sick--Fons Beatus--Find Friends-- + Union Friend No. Two--The night in the Barn--Death of Newman + by Scalding--Union Friend No. Three--Bound for the Union + Lines--Rebel Soldiers--Black Ox--Pied Ox--Reach Headquarters + in Safety--Emotions on again beholding the Old Flag--Kindness + while Sick--Meeting with his Family--Richard Malone again-- + The Serenade--Leave Dixie--Northward bound 168--211 + + + CHAPTER VII. + + SOUTHERN CLASSES--CRUELTY TO SLAVES. + + Sandhillers--Dirt-eating--Dipping--Their Mode of Living-- + Patois--Rain-book--Wife-trade--Coming in to see the Cars-- + Superstition--Marriage of Kinsfolks--Hardshell Sermon--Causes + which lead to the Degradation of this Class--Efforts to + Reconcile the Poor Whites to the Peculiar Institution--The + Slaveholding Class--The Middle Class--Northern _isms_-- + Incident at a Methodist Minister's House--Question asked a + Candidate for Licensure--Reason of Southern Hatred toward the + North--Letter to Mr. Jackman--Barbarities and Cruelties of + Slavery--Mulattoes--Old Cole--Child Born at Whipping-post-- + Advertisement of a Keeper of Bloodhounds--Getting Rid of Free + Blacks--The Doom of Slavery--Methodist Church South 212--248 + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + NOTORIOUS REBELS.--UNION OFFICERS. + + Colonel Jefferson Davis--His Speech at Holly Springs, + Mississippi--His Opposition to Yankee Teachers and + Ministers--A bid for the Presidency--His Ambition--Burr, + Arnold, Davis--General Beauregard--Headquarters at Rienzi-- + Colonel Elliott's Raid--Beauregard's Consternation--Personal + description--His illness--Popularity waning.--Rev. Dr. Palmer + of New Orleans--His influence--The Cincinnati Letter--His + Personal Appearance--His Denunciations of General Butler--His + Radicalism.--Rev. Dr. Waddell of La Grange, Tennessee--His + Prejudices against the North--President of Memphis Synodical + College--His Talents prostituted.--Union Officers--General + Nelson--General Sherman 249--263 + + + CHAPTER IX. + + CONDITION OF THE SOUTH. + + Cause of the Rebellion--Prevalence of Union Sentiment in the + South--Why not Developed--Stevenson's Views--Why Incorrect-- + Cavalry Raids upon Union Citizens--How the Rebels employ + Slaves--Slaves Whipped and sent out of the Federal Lines-- + Resisting the Conscript Law--Kansas Jayhawkers--Guarding + Rebel Property--Perfidy of Secessionists--Plea for + Emancipation--The South Exhausted--Failure of Crops--Southern + Merchants Ruined--Bragg Prohibits the Manufacture and Vending + of Intoxicating Liquors--Its Salutary Effect 264--281 + + + CHAPTER X. + + BATTLES OF LEESBURG, BELMONT, AND SHILOH. + + Rebel Cruelty to Prisoners--The Fratricide--Grant Defeated-- + Saved by Gunboats--Buell's Advance--Railroad Disaster--The + South Despondent--General Rosecrans--Secession will become + Odious even in the South--Poem 282--296 + + + + +THE IRON FURNACE; OR SLAVERY AND SECESSION. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +SECESSION. + + Speech of Colonel Drane.--Submission Denounced.--Northern + Aggression.--No more Slave States.--Northern _isms_.--Yankees' + Servants.--Yankee inferiority.--Breckinridge, or immediate, complete, + and eternal Separation.--A Day of Rejoicing.--Abraham Lincoln + President elect.--A Union Speech.--A Southerner's Reasons for opposing + Secession.--Address by a Radical Secessionist.--Cursing and + Bitterness.--A Prayer.--Sermon against Secession.--List of + Grievances.--Causes which led to Secession. + + +At the breaking out of the present rebellion, I was engaged in the work of +an Evangelist in the counties of Choctaw and Attala in Central +Mississippi. My congregations were large, and my duties onerous. Being +constantly employed in ministerial labours, I had no time to intermeddle +with politics, leaving all such questions to statesmen, giving the +complex issues of the day only sufficient attention to enable me to vote +intelligently. Thus was I engaged when the great political campaign of +1860 commenced--a campaign conducted with greater virulence and asperity +than any I have ever witnessed. During my casual detention at a store, +Colonel Drane arrived, according to appointment, to address the people of +Choctaw. He was a member of one of my congregations, and as he had been +long a leading statesman in Mississippi, having for many years presided +over the State Senate, I expected to hear a speech of marked ability, +unfolding the true issues before the people, with all the dignity, +suavity, and earnestness of a gentleman and patriot; but I found his whole +speech to be a tirade of abuse against the North, commingled with the bold +avowal of treasonable sentiments. The Colonel thus addressed the people: + + MY FELLOW-CITIZENS--I appear before you to urge anew resistance + against the encroachments and aggressions of the Yankees. If the + Black Republicans carry their ticket, and Old Abe is elected, our + right to carry our slaves into the territories will be denied us; and + who dare say that he would be a base, craven submissionist, when our + God-given and constitutional right to carry slavery into the common + domain is wickedly taken from the South. The Yankees cheated us out of + Kansas by their infernal Emigrant Aid Societies. They cheated us out + of California, which our blood-treasure purchased, for the South sent + ten men to one that was sent by the North to the Mexican war, and thus + we have no foothold on the Pacific coast; and even now we pay five + dollars for the support of the general Government where the North pays + one. We help to pay bounties to the Yankee fishermen in New England; + indeed _we_ are always paying, paying, paying, and yet the North is + always crying, Give, give, give. The South has made the North rich, + and what thanks do we receive? Our rights are trampled on, our slaves + are spirited by thousands over their underground railroad to Canada, + our citizens are insulted while travelling in the North, and their + servants are tampered with, and by false representations, and often by + mob violence, forced from them. Douglas, knowing the power of the + Emigrant Aid Societies, proposes squatter sovereignty, with the + positive certainty that the scum of Europe and the mudsills of + Yankeedom can be shipped in in numbers sufficient to control the + destiny of the embryo State. Since the admission of Texas in 1845, + there has not been a single foot of slave territory secured to the + South, while the North has added to their list the extensive States of + California, Minnesota, and Oregon, and Kansas is as good as theirs; + while, if Lincoln is elected, the Wilmot proviso will be extended over + all the common territories, debarring the South for ever from her + right to share the public domain. + + The hypocrites of the North tell us that slaveholding is sinful. Well, + suppose it is. Upon us and our children let the guilt of this sin + rest; we are willing to bear it, and it is none of their business. We + are a more moral people than they are. Who originated Mormonism, + Millerism, Spirit-rappings, Abolitionism, Free-loveism, and all the + other abominable _isms_ which curse the world? The reply is, the + North. Their puritanical fanaticism and hypocrisy is patent to all. + Talk to us of the sin of slavery, when the only difference between us + is that our slaves are black and theirs white. They treat their white + slaves, the Irish and Dutch, in a cruel manner, giving them during + health just enough to purchase coarse clothing, and when they become + sick, they are turned off to starve, as they do by hundreds every + year. A female servant in the North must have a testimonial of good + character before she will be employed; those with whom she is + labouring will not give her this so long as they desire her services; + she therefore cannot leave them, whatever may be her treatment, so + that she is as much compelled to remain with her employer as the slave + with his master. + + Their servants hate them; our's love us. My niggers would fight for me + and my family. They have been treated well, and they know it. And I + don't treat my slaves any better than my neighbours. If ever there + comes a war between the North and the South, let us do as Abraham + did--arm our trained servants, and go forth with them to the battle. + They hate the Yankees as intensely as we do, and nothing could please + our slaves better than to fight them. Ah, the perfidious Yankees! I + cordially hate a Yankee. We have all suffered much at their hands; + they will not keep faith with us. Have they complied with the + provisions of the Fugitive Slave Law? The thousands and tens of + thousands of slaves aided in their escape to Canada, is a sufficient + answer. We _have_ lost millions, and _are_ losing millions every year, + by the operations of the underground railroad. How deep the perfidy of + a people, thus to violate every article of compromise we have made + with them! The Yankees are an inferior race, descended from the old + Puritan stock, who enacted the Blue Laws. They are desirous of + compelling us to submit to laws more iniquitous than ever were the + Blue Laws. I have travelled in the North, and have seen the depth of + their depravity. Now, my fellow-citizens, what shall we do to resist + Northern aggression? Why simply this: if Lincoln or Douglas are + elected, (as to the Bell-Everett ticket, it stands no sort of chance,) + let us secede. This remedy will be effectual. I am in favour of no + more compromises. Let us have Breckinridge, or immediate, complete, + and eternal separation. + +The speaker then retired amid the cheers of his audience. + +Soon after this there came a day of rejoicing to many in Mississippi. The +booming of cannon, the joyous greeting, the soul-stirring music, indicated +that no ordinary intelligence had been received. The lightnings had +brought the tidings that Abraham Lincoln was President elect of the United +States, and the South was wild with excitement. Those who had been long +desirous of a pretext for secession, now boldly advocated their +sentiments, and joyfully hailed the election of Mr. Lincoln as affording +that pretext. The conservative men were filled with gloom. They regarded +the election of Mr. Lincoln, by the majority of the people of the United +States, in a constitutional way, as affording no cause for secession. +Secession they regarded as fraught with all the evils of Pandora's box, +and that war, famine, pestilence, and moral and physical desolation would +follow in its train. A call was made by Governor Pettus for a convention +to assemble early in January, at Jackson, to determine what course +Mississippi should pursue, whether her policy should be submission or +secession. + +Candidates, Union and Secession, were nominated for the convention in +every county. The speeches of two, whom I heard, will serve as a specimen +of the arguments used _pro_ and _con_. Captain Love, of Choctaw, thus +addressed the people. + + MY FELLOW-CITIZENS--I appear before you to advocate the Union--the + Union of the States under whose favoring auspices we have long + prospered. No nation so great, so prosperous, so happy, or so much + respected by earth's thousand kingdoms, as the Great Republic, by + which name the United States is known from the rivers to the ends of + the earth. Our flag, the star-spangled banner, is respected on every + sea, and affords protection to the citizens of every State, whether + amid the pyramids of Egypt, the jungles of Asia, or the mighty cities + of Europe. Our Republican Constitution, framed by the wisdom of our + Revolutionary fathers, is as free from imperfection as any document + drawn up by uninspired men. God presided over the councils of that + convention which framed our glorious Constitution. They asked wisdom + from on high, and their prayers were answered. Free speech, a free + press, and freedom to worship God as our conscience dictates, under + our own vine and fig-tree, none daring to molest or make us afraid, + are some of the blessings which our Constitution guarantees; and these + prerogatives, which we enjoy, are features which bless and distinguish + us from the other nations of the earth. Freedom of speech is unknown + amongst them; among them a censorship of the press and a national + church are established. + + Our country, by its physical features, seems fitted for but one + nation. What ceaseless trouble would be caused by having the source of + our rivers in one country and the mouth in another. There are no + natural boundaries to divide us into separate nations. We are all + descended from the same common parentage, we all speak the same + language, and we have really no conflicting interests, the statements + of our opponents to the contrary notwithstanding. Our opponents + advocate separate State secession. Would not Mississippi cut a sorry + figure among the nations of the earth? With no harbour, she would be + dependent on a foreign nation for an outlet. Custom-house duties would + be ruinous, and the republic of Mississippi would find herself + compelled to return to the Union. Mississippi, you remember, + repudiated a large foreign debt some years ago; if she became an + independent nation, her creditors would influence their government to + demand payment, which could not be refused by the weak, defenceless, + navyless, armyless, moneyless, repudiating republic of Mississippi. + To pay this debt, with the accumulated interest, would ruin the new + republic, and bankruptcy would stare us in the face. + + It is true, Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United States. + My plan is to wait till Mr. Lincoln does something unconstitutional. + Then let the South unanimously seek redress in a constitutional + manner. The conservatives of the North will join us. If no redress is + made, let us present our ultimatum. If this, too, is rejected, I for + one will not advocate submission; and by the cooperation of all the + slave States, we will, in the event of the perpetration of wrong, and + a refusal to redress our grievances, be much abler to secure our + rights, or to defend them at the cannon's mouth and the point of the + bayonet. The Supreme Court favours the South. In the Dred Scott case, + the Supreme Court decided that the negro was not a citizen, and that + the slave was a chattel, as we regard him. The majority of Congress on + joint ballot is still with the South. Although we have something to + fear from the views of the President elect and the Chicago platform, + let us wait till some overt act, trespassing upon our rights, is + committed, and all redress denied; then, and not till then, will I + advocate extreme measures. + + Let our opponents remember that secession and civil war are + synonymous. Who ever heard of a government breaking to pieces without + an arduous struggle for its preservation? I admit the right of + revolution, when a people's rights cannot otherwise be maintained, but + deny the right of secession. We are told that it is a reserved right. + The constitution declares that all rights not specified in it are + reserved to the people of the respective States; but who ever heard of + the right of total destruction of the government being a reserved + right in any constitution? The fallacy is evident at a glance. Nine + millions of people can afford to wait for some overt act. Let us not + follow the precipitate course which the ultra politicians indicate. + Let W. L. Yancey urge his treasonable policy of firing the Southern + heart and precipitating a revolution; but let us follow no such + wicked advice. Let us follow the things which make for peace. + + We are often told that the North will not return fugitive slaves. Will + secession remedy this grievance? Will secession give us any more slave + territory? No free government ever makes a treaty for the rendition of + fugitive slaves--thus recognising the rights of the citizens of a + foreign nation to a species of property which it denies to its own + citizens. Even little Mexico will not do it. Mexico and Canada return + no fugitives. In the event of secession, the United States would + return no fugitives, and our peculiar institution would, along our + vast border, become very insecure; we would hold our slaves by a very + slight tenure. Instead of extending the great Southern institution, it + would be contracting daily. Our slaves would be held to service at + their own option, throughout the whole border, and our gulf States + would soon become border States; and the great insecurity of this + species of property would work, before twenty years, the extinction + of slavery, and, in consequence, the ruin of the South. Are we + prepared for such a result? Are we prepared for civil war? Are we + prepared for all the evils attendant upon a fratricidal contest--for + bloodshed, famine, and political and moral desolation? I reply, we are + not; therefore let us look before we leap, and avoiding the heresy of + secession-- + + "Rather bear the ills we have, + Than fly to others that we know not of." + +A secession speaker was introduced, and thus addressed the people: + + LADIES AND GENTLEMEN--FELLOW-CITIZENS--I am a secessionist out and + out; voted for Jeff Davis for Governor in 1850, when the same issue + was before the people; and I have always felt a grudge against the + _free state_ of Tishomingo for giving H. S. Foote, the Union + candidate, a majority so great as to elect him, and thus retain the + State in this accursed Union ten years longer. Who would be a + craven-hearted, cowardly, villanous submissionist? Lincoln, the + abominable, white-livered abolitionist, is President elect of the + United States; shall he be permitted to take his seat on Southern + soil? No, never! I will volunteer as one of thirty thousand, to + butcher the villain if ever he sets foot on slave territory. Secession + or submission! What patriot would hesitate for a moment which to + choose? No true son of Mississippi would brook the idea of submission + to the rule of the baboon Abe Lincoln--a fifth-rate lawyer, a + broken-down hack of a politician, a fanatic, an abolitionist. I, for + one, would prefer an hour of virtuous liberty to a whole eternity of + bondage under northern, Yankee, wooden-nutmeg rule. The halter is the + only argument that should be used against the submissionists, and I + predict that it will soon, very soon, be in force. + + We have glorious news from Tallahatchie. Seven tory-submissionists + were hanged there in one day, and the so-called Union candidates, + having the wholesome dread of hemp before their eyes, are not + canvassing the county; therefore the heretical dogma of submission, + under any circumstances, disgraces not their county. Compromise! let + us have no such word in our vocabulary. Compromise with the Yankees, + after the election of Lincoln, is treason against the South; and still + its syren voice is listened to by the demagogue submissionists. We + should never have made any compromise, for in every case we + surrendered rights for the sake of peace. No concession of the scared + Yankees will now prevent secession. They now understand that the South + is in earnest, and in their alarm they are proposing to yield us much; + but the die is cast, the Rubicon is crossed, and our determination + shall ever be, No union with the flat-headed, nigger-stealing, + fanatical Yankees. + + We are now threatened with internecine war. The Yankees are an + inferior race; they are cowardly in the extreme. They are descended + from the Puritan stock, who never bore rule in any nation. We, the + descendants of the Cavaliers, are the Patricians, they the Plebeians. + The Cavaliers have always been the rulers, the Puritans the ruled. The + dastardly Yankees will never fight us; but if they, in their + presumption and audacity, venture to attack us, let the war come--I + repeat it--let it come! The conflagration of their burning cities, the + desolation of their country, and the slaughter of their inhabitants, + will strike the nations of the earth dumb with astonishment, and serve + as a warning to future ages, that the slaveholding Cavaliers of the + sunny South are terrible in their vengeance. I am in favour of + immediate, independent, and eternal separation from the vile Union + which has so long oppressed us. After separation, I am in favour of + non-intercourse with the United States so long as time endures. We + will raise the tariff, to the point of prohibition, on all Yankee + manufactures, including wooden-nutmegs, wooden clocks, quack nostrums, + &c. We will drive back to their own inhospitable clime every Yankee + who dares to pollute our shores with his cloven feet. Go he must, and + if necessary, with the bloodhounds on his track. The scum of Europe + and the mudsills of Yankeedom shall never be permitted to advance a + step south of 36 deg. 30'. South of that latitude is ours--westward to + the Pacific. With my heart of hearts I hate a Yankee, and I will make + my children swear eternal hatred to the whole Yankee race. A mongrel + breed--Irish, Dutch, Puritans, Jews, free niggers, &c.--they scarce + deserve the notice of the descendants of the Huguenots, the old + Castilians, and the Cavaliers. Cursed be the day when the South + consented to this iniquitous league--the Federal Union--which has long + dimmed her nascent glory. + + In battle, one southron is equivalent to ten northern hirelings; but I + regard it a waste of time to speak of Yankees--they deserve not our + attention. It matters not to us what they think of secession, and we + would not trespass upon your time and patience, were it not for the + tame, tory submissionists with which our country is cursed. A fearful + retribution is in waiting for the whole crew, if the war which they + predict, should come. Were they then to advocate the same views, I + would not give a fourpence for their lives. We would hang them + quicker than old Heath would hang a tory. Our Revolutionary fathers + set us a good example in their dealings with the tories. They sent + them to the shades infernal from the branches of the nearest tree. The + North has sent teachers and preachers amongst us, who have insidiously + infused the leaven of Abolitionism into the minds of their students + and parishioners; and this submissionist policy is a lower development + of the doctrine of Wendell Philips, Gerritt Smith, Horace Greely, and + others of that ilk. We have a genial clime, a soil of uncommon + fertility. We have free institutions, freedom for the white man, + bondage for the black man, as nature and nature's God designed. We + have fair women and brave men. The lines have truly fallen to us in + pleasant places. We have indeed a goodly heritage. The only evil we + can complain of is our bondage to the Yankees through the Federal + Union. Let us burst these shackles from our limbs, and we will be free + indeed. + + Let all who desire complete and eternal emancipation from Yankee + thraldom, come to the polls on the ---- day of December, prepared not + to vote the cowardly submissionist ticket, but to vote the secession + ticket; and their children, and their children's children, will owe + them a debt of gratitude which they can never repay. The day of our + separation and vindication of States' rights, will be the happiest day + of our lives. Yankee domination will have ceased for ever, and the + haughty southron will spurn them from all association, both + governmental and social. So mote it be! + +This address was received with great eclat. + +On the next Sabbath after this meeting, I preached in the Poplar Creek +Presbyterian church, in Choctaw county, from Romans xiii. 1: "Let every +soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: +the powers that be, are ordained of God." + +Previous to the sermon a prayer was offered, of which the following is the +conclusion: + + ALMIGHTY GOD--We would present our country, the United States of + America, before thee. When our political horizon is overcast with + clouds and darkness, when the strong-hearted are becoming fearful for + the permanence of our free institutions, and the prosperity, yea, the + very existence of our great Republic, we pray thee, O God, when flesh + and heart fail, when no human arm is able to save us from the fearful + vortex of disunion and revolution, that thou wouldst interpose and + save us. We confess our national sins, for we have, as a nation, + sinned grievously. We have been highly favoured, we have been greatly + prospered, and have taken our place amongst the leading powers of the + earth. A gospel-enlightened nation, our sins are therefore more + heinous in thy sight. They are sins of deep ingratitude and + presumption. We confess that drunkenness has abounded amongst all + classes of our citizens. Rulers and ruled have been alike guilty; and + because of its wide-spreading prevalence, and because our legislators + have enacted no sufficient laws for its suppression, it is a national + sin. Profanity abounds amongst us; Sabbath-breaking is rife; and we + have elevated unworthy men to high positions of honour and trust. We + are not, as a people, free from the crime of tyranny and oppression. + For these great and aggravated offences, we pray thee to give us + repentance and godly sorrow, and then, O God, avert the threatened and + imminent judgments which impend over our beloved country. Teach our + Senators wisdom. Grant them that wisdom which is able to make them + wise unto salvation; and grant also that wisdom which is profitable to + direct, so that they may steer the ship of State safely through the + troubled waters which seem ready to engulf it on every side. Lord, + hear us, and answer in mercy, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. + Amen and Amen! + +The following is a synopsis of my sermon: + + Israel had been greatly favoured as a nation. No weapon formed against + them prospered, so long as they loved and served the Lord their God. + They were blessed in their basket and their store. They were set on + high above all the nations of the earth. * * * * When all Israel + assembled, ostensibly to make Rehoboam king, they were ripe for + rebellion. Jeroboam and other wicked men had fomented and cherished + the sparks of treason, till, on this occasion, it broke out into the + flame of open rebellion. The severity of Solomon's rule was the + pretext, but it was only a pretext, for during his reign the nation + prospered, grew rich and powerful. Jeroboam wished a disruption of the + kingdom, that he might bear rule; and although God permitted it as a + punishment for Israel's idolatry, yet he frowned upon the wicked men + who were instrumental in bringing this great evil upon his chosen + people. + + The loyal division took the name of Judah, though composed of the two + tribes, Judah and Benjamin. The revolted ten tribes took the name of + their leading tribe, Ephraim. Ephraim continued to wax weaker and + weaker. Filled with envy against Judah, they often warred against that + loyal kingdom, until they themselves were greatly reduced. At last, + after various vicissitudes, the ten tribes were carried away, and + scattered and lost. We often hear of the lost ten tribes. What became + of them is a mystery. Their secession ended in their being blotted out + of existence, or lost amidst the heathen. God alone knows what did + become of them. They resisted the powers that be--the ordinance of + God--and received to themselves damnation and annihilation. + + As God dealt with Israel, so will he deal with us. If we are exalted + by righteousness, we will prosper; if we, as the ten tribes, resist + the ordinance of God, we will perish. At this time, many are + advocating the course of the ten tribes. Secession is a word of + frequent occurrence. It is openly advocated by many. Nullification and + rebellion, secession and treason, are convertible terms, and no good + citizen will mention them with approval. Secession is resisting the + powers that be, and therefore it is a violation of God's command. + Where do we obtain the right of secession? Clearly not from the word + of God, which enjoins obedience to all that are in authority, to whom + we must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. + The following scriptural argument for secession is often used, 1 Tim. + vi. 1--5. In these verses Paul was addressing believing servants, and + commanding them to absent themselves from the teaching of those who + taught not the doctrine which is according to godliness. In a former + epistle he had commanded Christians not to keep company with the + incestuous person who had his father's wife. He directed that they + should not keep company with any man who was called a brother, if he + were a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a + drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat; but he + expressly declares that he does not allude to those who belong to the + above classes that have made no profession of religion. He does not + judge them that are without, for them that are without, God judgeth. + He afterwards exhorts that the church confirm their love toward the + incestuous person as he had repented of his wickedness. This direction + of the Apostle to believers to withdraw from a brother who walked + disorderly, till he had manifested proper repentance; and his + exhortation to believing servants to absent themselves from the + teachings of errorists, cannot logically be construed as a scriptural + argument in favour of secession. Were the President of the United + States an unbeliever, a profane swearer, a Sabbath-breaker, or a + drunkard, this fact would not, _per se_, give us the right to secede + or rebel against the government. + + There is no provision made in the Constitution of the United States + for secession. The wisest statesmen, who made politics their study, + regarded secession as a political heresy, dangerous in its tendencies, + and destructive of all government in its practical application. + Mississippi, purchased from France with United States gold, fostered + by the nurturing care, and made prosperous by the wise administration + of the general government, proposes to secede. Her political status + would then be anomalous. Would her territory revert to France? Does + she propose to refund the purchase-money? Would she become a territory + under the jurisdiction of the United States Congress? + + Henry Clay, the great statesman, Daniel Webster, the expounder of the + Constitution, General Jackson, George Washington, and a mighty host, + whose names would fill a volume, regarded secession as treason. One of + our smallest States, which swarmed with tories in the Revolution, + whose descendants still live, invented the doctrine of nullification, + the first treasonable step, which soon culminated in the advocacy of + secession. Why should we secede, and thus destroy the best, the + freest, and most prosperous government on the face of the earth? the + government which our patriot fathers fought and bled to secure. What + has Mississippi lost by the Union? I have resided seven years in this + State, and have an extensive personal acquaintance, and yet I know not + a single individual who has lost a slave through northern influence. I + have, it is true, known of some ten slaves who have run away, and have + not been found. They may have been aided in their escape to Canada by + northern and southern citizens, for there are many in the South who + have given aid and comfort to the fugitive; but the probability is + that they perished in the swamps, or were destroyed by the + bloodhounds. + + The complaint is made that the North regards slavery as a moral, + social, and political evil, and that many of them denounce, in no + measured terms, both slavery and slaveholders. To be thus denounced is + regarded as a great grievance. Secession would not remedy this evil. + In order to cure it effectually, we must seize and gag all who thus + denounce our peculiar institution. We must also muzzle their press. As + this is impracticable, it would be well to come to this + conclusion:--If we are verily guilty of the evils charged upon us, let + us set about rectifying those evils; if not, the denunciations of + slanderers should not affect us so deeply. If our northern brethren + are honest in their convictions of the sin of slavery, as no doubt + many of them are, let us listen to their arguments without the dire + hostility so frequently manifested. They take the position that + slavery is opposed to the inalienable rights of the human race; that + it originated in piracy and robbery; that manifold cruelties and + barbarities are inflicted upon the defenceless slaves; that they are + debarred from intellectual culture by State laws, which send to the + penitentiary those who are guilty of instructing them; that they are + put upon the block and sold; parent and child, husband and wife being + separated, so that they never again see each other's face in the + flesh; that the law of chastity cannot be observed, as there are no + laws punishing rape on the person of a female slave; that when they + escape from the threatened cat-o'-nine-tails, or overseer's whip, they + are hunted down by bloodhounds, and bloodier men; that often they are + half-starved and half-clad, and are furnished with mere hovels to live + in; that they are often murdered by cruel overseers, who whip them to + death, or overtask them, until disease is induced, which results in + death; that masters practically ignore the marriage relation among + slaves, inasmuch as they frequently separate husband and wife, by sale + or removal; that they discourage the formation of that relation, + preferring that the offspring of their female slaves should be + illegitimate, from the mistaken notion that it would be more numerous. + They charge, also, that slavery induces in the masters, pride, + arrogance, tyranny, laziness, profligacy, and every form of vice. + + The South takes the position, that if slavery is sinful, the North is + not responsible for that sin; that it is a State institution, and that + to interfere with slavery in the States in any way, even by censure, + is a violation of the rights of the States. The language of our + politicians is, Upon us and our children rest the evil! We are willing + to take the responsibility, and to risk the penalty! You will find + evil and misery enough in the North to excite your philanthropy, and + employ your beneficence. You have purchased our cotton; you have used + our sugar; you have eaten our rice; you have smoked and chewed our + tobacco--all of which are the products of slave-labour. You have grown + rich by traffic in these articles; you have monopolized the carrying + trade, and borne our slave-produced products to your shores. Your + northern ships, manned by northern men, brought from Africa the + greater part of the slaves which came to our continent, and they are + still smuggling them in. When, finding slavery unprofitable, the + northern States passed laws for gradual emancipation, but few obtained + their freedom, the majority of them being shipped South and sold, so + that but few, comparatively, were manumitted. If the slave trade and + slavery are great sins, the North is _particeps criminis_, and has + been from the beginning. + + These bitter accusations are hurled back and forth through the + newspapers; and in Congress, crimination and recrimination occur every + day of the session. Instead of endeavouring to calm the troubled + waters, politicians are striving to render them turbid and boisterous. + Sectional bitterness and animosity prevail to a fearful extent; but + secession is not the proper remedy. To cure one evil by perpetrating a + greater, renders a double cure necessary. In order to cure a disease, + the cause should be known, that we may treat it intelligently, and + apply a proper remedy. Having observed, during the last eleven years, + that sectional strife and bitterness were increasing with fearful + rapidity, I have endeavoured to stem the torrent, so far as it was + possible for individual effort to do so. I deem it the imperative duty + of all patriots, of all Christians, to throw oil upon the troubled + waters, and thus save the ship of State from wreck among the + vertiginous billows. + + Most of our politicians are demagogues. They care not for the people, + so that they accomplish their own selfish and ambitious schemes. Give + them power, give them money, and they are satisfied. Deprive them of + these, and they are ready to sacrifice the best interests of the + nation to secure them. They excite sectional animosity and party + strife, and are willing to kindle the flames of civil war to + accomplish their unhallowed purposes. They tell us that there is a + conflict of interest between the free and slave States, and endeavour + to precipitate a revolution, that they may be leaders, and obtain + positions of trust and profit in the new government which they hope + to establish. The people would be dupes indeed to abet these wicked + demagogues in their nefarious designs. Let us not break God's command, + by resisting the ordinance of God--the powers that be. I am not + discussing the right of revolution, which I deem a sacred right. When + human rights are invaded, when life is endangered, when liberty is + taken away, when we are not left free to pursue our own happiness in + our own chosen way--so far as we do not trespass upon the rights of + others--we have a right, and it becomes our imperative duty to resist + to the bitter end, the tyranny which would deprive us and our children + of our inalienable rights. Our lives are secure; we have freedom to + worship God. Our liberty is sacred; we may pursue happiness to our + hearts' content. We do not even charge upon the general Government + that it has infringed these rights. Whose life has been endangered, or + who has lost his liberty by the action of the Government? If that man + lives, in all this fair domain of ours, he has the right to complain. + But neither you nor I have ever heard of or seen the individual who + has thus suffered. We have therefore clearly no right of revolution. + + Treason is no light offence. God, who rules the nations, and who has + established governments, will punish severely those who attempt to + overthrow them. Damnation is stated to be the punishment which those + who resist the powers that be, will suffer. Who wishes to endure it? I + hope none of my charge will incur this penalty by the perpetration of + treason. You yourselves can bear me witness that I have not heretofore + introduced political issues into the pulpit, but at this time I could + not acquit my conscience were I not to warn you against the great sin + some of you, I fear, are ready to commit. + + Were I to discuss the policy of a high or low tariff, or descant upon + the various merits attached to one or another form of banking, I + should be justly obnoxious to censure. Politics and religion, however, + are not always separate. When the political issue is made, shall we, + or shall we not, grant license to sell intoxicating liquors as a + beverage? the minister's duty is plain; he must urge his people to use + their influence against granting any such license. The minister must + enforce every moral and religious obligation, and point out the path + of truth and duty, even though the principles he advocates are by + statesmen introduced into the arena of political strife, and made + issues by the great parties of the day. I see the sword coming, and + would be derelict in duty not to give you faithful warning. I must + reveal the whole counsel of God. I have a message from God unto you, + which I must deliver, whether you will hear, or whether you will + forbear. If the sword come, and you perish, I shall then be guiltless + of your blood. As to the great question at issue, my honest conviction + is (and I think I have the Spirit of God,) that you should with your + whole heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, oppose secession. You + should talk against it, you should write against it, you should vote + against it, and, if need be, you should fight against it. + + I have now declared what I believe to be your high duty in this + emergency. Do not destroy the government which has so long protected + you, and which has never in a single instance oppressed you. Pull not + down the fair fabric which our patriot fathers reared at vast expense + of blood and treasure. Do not, like the blind Samson, pull down the + pillars of our glorious edifice, and cause death, desolation, and + ruin. Perish the hand that would thus destroy the source of all our + political prosperity and happiness. Let the parricide who attempts it + receive the just retribution which a loyal people demand, even his + execution on a gallows, high as Haman's. Let us also set about + rectifying the causes which threaten the overthrow of our government. + As we are proud, let us pray for the grace of humility. As a State, + and as individuals, we too lightly regard its most solemn obligations; + let us, therefore, pray for the grace of repentance and godly sorrow, + and hereafter in this respect sin no more. As many transgressions have + been committed by us, let the time past of our lives suffice us to + have wrought the will of the flesh, and now let us break off our sins + by righteousness, and our transgressions by turning unto the Lord, and + he will avert his threatened judgments, and save us from dissolution, + anarchy, and desolation. + + If our souls are filled with hatred against the people of any section + of our common country, let us ask from the Great Giver the grace of + charity, which suffereth long and is kind, which envieth not, which + vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself + unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no + evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth + all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all + things, and which never faileth; then shall we be in a suitable frame + for an amicable adjustment of every difficulty; oil will soon be + thrown upon the troubled waters, and peace, harmony, and prosperity + would ever attend us; and our children, and our children's children + will rejoice in the possession of a beneficent and stable government, + securing to them all the natural and inalienable rights of man. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +VIGILANCE COMMITTEE AND COURT-MARTIAL. + + The election of Delegates to determine the status of Mississippi--The + Vigilance Committee--Description of its + members--Charges--Phonography--No formal verdict--Danger of + Assassination--Passports--Escape to Rienzi--Union sentiment--The + Conscript Law--Summons to attend Court-Martial--Evacuation of + Corinth--Destruction of Cotton--Suffering poor--Relieved by General + Halleck. + + +Soon after this sermon was preached, the election was held. Approaching +the polls, I asked for a Union ticket, and was informed that none had been +printed, and that it would be advisable to vote the secession ticket. I +thought otherwise, and going to a desk, wrote out a Union ticket, and +voted it amidst the frowns and suppressed murmurs of the judges and +bystanders, and, as the result proved, I had the honour of depositing the +only vote in favour of the Union which was polled in that precinct. I knew +of many who were in favour of the Union, who were intimidated by threats, +and by the odium attending it from voting at all. A majority of secession +candidates were elected. The convention assembled, and on the 9th of +January, 1861, Mississippi had the unenviable reputation of being the +first to follow her twin sister, South Carolina, into the maelstrom of +secession and treason. Being the only States in which the slaves were more +numerous than the whites, it became them to lead the van in the +slave-holders' rebellion. Before the 4th of March, Florida, Alabama, +Georgia, Louisiana and Texas had followed in the wake, and were engulfed +in the whirlpool of secession. + +It was now dangerous to utter a word in favour of the Union. Many +suspected of Union sentiments were lynched. An old gentleman in Winston +county was arrested for an act committed twenty years before, which was +construed as a proof of his abolition proclivities. The old gentleman had +several daughters, and his mother-in-law had given him a negro girl. +Observing that his daughters were becoming lazy, and were imposing all the +labour upon the slave, he sent her back to the donor, with a statement of +the cause for returning her. This was now the ground of his arrest, but +escaping from their clutches, a precipitate flight alone saved his life. + +Self-constituted vigilance committees sprang up all over the country, and +a reign of terror began; all who had been Union men, and who had not given +in their adhesion to the new order of things by some public proclamation, +were supposed to be disaffected. The so-called Confederate States, the new +power, organized for the avowed purpose of extending and perpetuating +African slavery, was now in full blast. These _soi-disant_ vigilance +committees professed to carry out the will of Jeff. Davis. All who were +considered disaffected were regarded as being tinctured with abolitionism. +My opposition to the disruption of the Union being notorious, I was +summoned to appear before one of these august tribunals to answer the +charge of being an abolitionist. My wife was very much alarmed, knowing +that were I found guilty of the charge, there was no hope for mercy. +Flight was impossible, and I deemed it the safest plan to appear before +the committee. I found it to consist of twelve persons, five of whom I +knew, viz., Parson Locke, Armstrong, Cartledge, Simpson, and Wilbanks. +Parson Locke, the chief speaker, or rather the inquisitor-general, was a +Methodist minister, though he had fallen into disrepute among his +brethren, and was engaged in a tedious strife with the church which he +left in Holmes county. The parson was a real Nimrod. He boasted that in +five months he had killed forty-eight raccoons, two hundred squirrels, and +ten deer; he had followed the bloodhounds, and assisted in the capture of +twelve runaway negroes. W. H. Simpson was a ruling elder in my church. +Wilbanks was a clever sort of old gentleman, who had little to say in the +matter. Armstrong was a monocular Hard-shell-Baptist. Cartledge was an +illiterate, conceited individual. The rest were a motley crew, not one of +whom, I feel confident, knew a letter in the alphabet. The committee +assembled in an old carriage-shop. Parson Locke acted, as chairman, and +conducted the trial, as follows. + +"Parson Aughey, you have been reported to us as holding abolition +sentiments, and as being disloyal to the Confederate States." + +"Who reported me, and where are your witnesses?" + +"Any one has a right to report, and it is optional whether he confronts +the accused or not. The proceedings of vigilance committees are somewhat +informal." + +"Proceed, then, with the trial, in your own way." + +"We propose to ask you a few questions, and in your answers you may defend +yourself, or admit your guilt. In the first place, did you ever say that +you did not believe that God ordained the institution of slavery?" + +"I believe that God did not ordain the institution of slavery." + +"Did not God command the Israelites to buy slaves from the Canaanitish +nations, and to hold them as their property for ever?" + +"The Canaanites had filled their cup of iniquity to overflowing, and God +commanded the Israelites to exterminate them; this, in violation of God's +command, they failed to do. God afterwards permitted the Hebrews to reduce +them to a state of servitude; but the punishment visited upon those seven +wicked nations by the command of God, does not justify war or the +slave-trade." + +"Did you say that you were opposed to the slavery which existed in the +time of Christ?" + +"I did, because the system of slavery prevailing in Christ's day was cruel +in the extreme; it conferred the power of life and death upon the master, +and was attended with innumerable evils. The slave had the same complexion +as his master; and by changing his servile garb for the citizen dress, he +could not be recognised as a slave. You yourself profess to be opposed to +white slavery." + +"Did you state that you believed Paul, when he sent Onesimus back to +Philemon, had no idea that he would be regarded as a slave, and treated as +such after his return?" + +"I did. My proof is in Philemon, verses 15 and 16, where the apostle asks +that Onesimus be received, not as a servant, but as a brother beloved?" + +"Did you tell Mr. Creath that you knew some negroes who were better, in +every respect, than some white men?" + +"I said that I knew some negroes who were better classical scholars than +any white men I had as yet met with in Choctaw county, and that I had +known some who were pre-eminent for virtue and holiness. As to natural +rights, I made no comparison; nor did I say anything about superiority or +inferiority of race; I also stated my belief in the unity of the races." + +"Have you any abolition works in your library, and a poem in your +scrap-book, entitled 'The Fugitive Slave,' with this couplet as a refrain, + + 'The hounds are baying on my track; + Christian, will you send me back?'" + +"I have not Mrs. Stowe's nor Helper's work; they are contraband in this +region, and I could not get them if I wished. I have many works in my +library containing sentiments adverse to the institution of slavery. All +the works in common use amongst us, on law, physic, and divinity, all the +text-books in our schools--in a word, all the works on every subject read +and studied by us, were, almost without exception, written by men opposed +to the peculiar institution. I am not alone in this matter." + +"Parson, I saw Cowper's works in your library, and Cowper says: + + 'I would not have a slave to fan me when I sleep, + And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth + That sinews bought and sold have ever earned.'" + +"You have Wesley's writings, and Wesley says that 'Human slavery is the +sum of all villany.' You have a work which has this couplet: + + 'Two deep, dark stains, mar all our country's bliss: + Foul slavery one, and one, loathed drunkenness.' + +You have the work of an English writer of high repute, who says, 'Forty +years ago, some in England doubted whether slavery were a sin, and +regarded adultery as a venial offence; but behold the progress of truth! +Who now doubts that he who enslaves his fellow-man is guilty of a fearful +crime, and that he who violates the seventh commandment is a great sinner +in the sight of God?'" + +"You are known to be an adept in Phonography, and you are reported to be a +correspondent of an abolition Phonographic journal." + +"I understand the science of Phonography, and I am a correspondent of a +Phonographic journal, but the journal eschews politics." + +Another member of the committee then interrogated me. + +"Parson Aughey, what is Funnyography?" + +"Phonography, sir, is a system of writing by means of a philosophic +alphabet, composed of the simplest geometrical signs, in which one mark is +used to represent one and invariably the same sound." + +"Kin you talk Funnyography? and where does them folks live what talks it?" + +"Yes, sir, I converse fluently in Phonography, and those who speak the +language live in Columbia." + +"In the Destrict?" + +"No, sir, in the poetical Columbia." + +I was next interrogated by another member of the committee. + +"Parson Aughey, is Phonography a Abolition fixin?" + +"No, sir; Phonography, abstractly considered, has no political complexion; +it may be used to promote either side of any question, sacred or profane, +mental, moral, physical, or political." + +"Well, you ought to write and talk plain English, what common folks can +understand, or we'll have to say of you, what Agrippa said of Paul, 'Much +learning hath made thee mad.' Suppose you was to preach in Phonography, +who'd understand it?--who'd know what was piped or harped? I'll bet high +some Yankee invented it to spread his abolition notions underhandedly. I, +for one, would be in favour of makin' the parson promise to write and talk +no more in Phonography. I'll bet Phonography is agin slavery, tho' I never +hearn tell of it before. I'm agin all secret societies. I'm agin the +Odd-fellers, Free-masons, Sons of Temperance, Good Templars and +Phonography. I want to know what's writ and what's talked. You can't throw +dust in my eyes. Phonography, from what I've found out about it to-day, is +agin the Confederate States, and we ought to be agin it." + +Parson Locke then resumed: + +"I must stop this digression. Parson Aughey, are you in favour of the +South?" + +"I am in favour of the South, and have always endeavoured to promote the +best interests of the South. However, I never deemed it for the best +interests of the South to secede. I talked against secession, and voted +against secession, because I thought that the best interests of the South +would be put in jeopardy by the secession of the Southern States. I was +honest in my convictions, and acted accordingly. Could the sacrifice of my +life have stayed the swelling tide of secession, it would gladly have been +made." + +"It is said that you have never prayed for the Southern Confederacy." + +"I have prayed for the whole world, though it is true that I have never +named the Confederate States in prayer." + +"You may retire." + +After I had retired, the committee held a long consultation. My answers +were not satisfactory. I never learned all that transpired. They brought +in no formal verdict. The majority considered me a dangerous man, but +feared to take my life, as they were, with one exception, adherents of +other denominations, and they knew that my people were devotedly attached +to me before the secession movement. Some of the secessionists swore that +they would go to my house and murder me, when they learned that the +committee had not hanged me. My friends provided me secretly with arms, +and I determined to defend myself to the last. I slept with a +double-barrelled shot-gun at my head, and was prepared to defend myself +against a dozen at least. + +Learning that I was not acceptable to many of the members of my church, +whilst my life was in continual jeopardy, and my family in a state of +constant alarm, I abandoned my field of labour, and sought for safety in a +more congenial clime. I intended to go North. Jeff. Davis and his Congress +had granted permission to all who so desired, to leave the South. Several +Union men of my acquaintance applied for passports, but were refused. The +proclamation to grant permits was an act of perfidy; all those, so far as +I am informed, who made application for them, were refused. The design in +thus acting was to get Union men to declare themselves as such, and +afterwards to punish them for their sentiments by forcing them into the +army, confining them in prison, shooting them, or lynching them by mob +violence. Finding that were I to demand a passport to go north, I would be +placed on the proscribed list, and my life endangered still more, I +declared my intention of going back to Tishomingo county, in which I owned +property, and which was the home of many of my relatives. I knew that I +would be safer there, for this county had elected Union delegates by a +majority of over fourteen hundred, and a strong Union sentiment had always +prevailed. + +On my arrival in Tishomingo, I found that the great heart of the county +still beat true to the music of the Union. Being thrown out of employment +I deemed it my duty, in every possible way, to sustain the Union cause and +the enforcement of the laws. It was impossible to go north. Union +sentiments could be expressed with safety in many localities. Corinth, +Iuka, and Rienzi had, from the commencement of the war, been camps of +instruction for the training of Confederate soldiers. These three towns in +the county being thus occupied, Union men found it necessary to be more +cautious, as the cavalry frequently made raids through the county, +arresting and maltreating those suspected of disaffection. After the +reduction of Forts Henry and Donelson, and the surrender of Nashville, the +Confederates made the Memphis and Charleston railroad the base of their +operations, their armies extending from Memphis to Chattanooga. Soon, +however, they were all concentrated at Corinth, a town in Tishomingo +county, at the junction of the Memphis and Charleston railroad with the +Mobile and Ohio. After the battle of Shiloh, which was fought on the 6th +and 7th of April, the Federal troops held their advance at Farmington, +four miles from Corinth, while the Confederates occupied Corinth, their +rear guard holding Rienzi, twelve miles south, on the Mobile and Ohio +railroad. + +Thus there were two vast armies encamped in Tishomingo county. Being +within the Confederate lines, I, in common with many others, found it +difficult to evade the conscript law. Knowing that in a multitude of +counsellors there is wisdom, we held secret meetings, in order to devise +the best method of resisting the law. We met at night, and had our +countersigns to prevent detection. Often our wives, sisters, and daughters +met with us. Our meeting-place was some ravine, or secluded glen, as far +as possible from the haunts of the secessionists; all were armed; even the +ladies had revolvers, and could use them too. The crime of treason we were +resolved not to commit. Our counsels were somewhat divided, some +advocating, as a matter of policy, the propriety of attending the militia +musters, others opposing it for conscience' sake, and for the purpose of +avoiding every appearance of evil. Many who would not muster as +conscripts, resolved to escape to the Federal lines; and making the +attempt two or three at a time, succeeded in crossing the Tennessee river, +and reaching the Union army, enlisted under the old flag, and have since +done good service as patriot warriors. Some who were willing to muster as +conscripts, were impressed into the Confederate service, and I know not +whether they ever found an opportunity to desert. Others, myself among the +number, were saved by the timely arrival of the Federal troops, and the +occupation of the county by them, after Beauregard's evacuation of +Corinth. I had received three citations to attend muster, but disregarding +them, I was summoned to attend a court-martial on the first day of June, +at the house of Mr. Jim Mock. The following is a copy of the citation. + + Ma the 22d. 1862 + + _Parson Awhay_, You havent tended nun of our mustters as a konskrip. + Now you is her bi sumenzd to attend a kort marshal on Jun the fust at + Jim Mock. + +When I received the summons, I resolved to attempt reaching the Union +lines at Farmington. Two of my friends, who had received a similar +summons, expected to accompany me. On the 29th of May, I left for Rienzi, +where my two friends were to meet me. I had not been many hours in Rienzi +when it became evident that the Confederates were evacuating Corinth. On +the 1st of June, (the day the court-martial was to convene,) I had the +pleasure of once more beholding the star-spangled banner as it was borne +in front of General Granger's command, which led the van of the pursuing +army. Had I remained and attended the court-martial, I would have been +forced into the army. Were I then to declare that I would not take up arms +against the United States, I would have been shot, as many have been, for +their refusal thus to act. General Rosecrans, on his arrival, made his +head-quarters at my brother's house, where I had the pleasure of forming +his acquaintance, together with that of Generals Smith, Granger, and Pope. +As this county was now occupied by the Federal army, I returned to my +father-in-law's, within five miles of which place the court-martial had +been ordered to convene, considering myself comparatively safe. I learned +that the court-martial never met, as Colonel Elliott, in his successful +raid upon Boonville, had passed Jim Mock's, scaring him to such a degree, +that he did not venture to sleep in his house for two weeks. The Union +cavalry scoured the country in all directions, daily, and we were +rejoicing at the prospect of continuous safety, and freedom from outrage. + +The Rebels, during their retreat, had burned all the cotton which was +accessible to their cavalry, on their route. At night, the flames of the +burning cotton lighted up the horizon for miles around. These baleful +pyres, with their lurid glare, bore sad testimony to the horrors of war. +In this wanton destruction of the great southern staple, many poor +families lost their whole staff of bread, and starvation stared them in +the face. Many would have perished, had it not been for the liberal +contributions of the North; for, learning the sufferings of the poor of +the South, whose whole labour had been destroyed by pretended friends, +they sent provisions and money, and thus many who were left in utter +destitution, were saved by this timely succor. I have heard the rejoicings +of the poor, who, abandoned by their supposed friends, were saved, with +their children, from death, by the beneficence of those whom they had been +taught to regard as enemies the most bitter, implacable, unmerciful, and +persistent. Their prayer may well be, Save us from our friends, whose +tender mercies are cruel! I have never known a man to burn his own cotton, +but I have heard their bitter anathemas hurled against those who thus +robbed them, and their denunciations were loud and deep against the +government which authorized such cruelty. It is true that those who thus +lose their cotton, if secessionists, receive a "promise to pay," which all +regard as not worth the paper on which it is written. Ere pay-day, those +who are dependent on their cotton for the necessaries of life, would have +passed the bourne whence no traveller returns. 'Tis like the Confederate +bonds--at first they were made payable two years after date, and printed +upon paper which would be worn out entirely in six months, and would have +become illegible in half that time. The succeeding issues were made +payable six months after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the +United States and the Confederate States. Though not a prophet, nor a +prophet's son, I venture the prediction that those bonds will never be +due. The war of elements, the wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds, +announcing the end of all things, will be heard sooner. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ARREST, ESCAPE, AND RECAPTURE. + + High price of Provisions--Holland Lindsay's Family--The + arrest--Captain Hill--Appearance before Colonel Bradfute at + Fulton--Arrest of Benjamin Clarke--Bradfute's Insolence--General + Chalmers--The clerical Spy--General Pfeifer--Under + guard--Priceville--General Gordon--Bound for Tupelo--The Prisoners + entering the Dungeon--Captain Bruce--Lieutenant Richard Malone--Prison + Fare and Treatment--Menial Service--Resolve to escape--Plan of + escape--Federal Prisoners--Co-operation of the Prisoners--Declaration + of Independence--The Escape--The Separation--Concealment--Travel on + the Underground Railroad--Pursuit by Cavalry and Bloodhounds--The + Arrest--Dan Barnes, the Mail-robber--Perfidy--Heavily ironed--Return + to Tupelo. + + +At this time--May and June, 1862--all marketable commodities were +commanding fabulous prices; as a lady declared, it would soon be +necessary, on going to a store, to carry two baskets, one to hold the +money, and the other the goods purchased. Flour was thirty dollars per +barrel, bacon forty cents per pound, and coffee one dollar per pound. +Salt was nominally one hundred dollars per sack of one hundred pounds, or +one dollar per pound, but there was none to be obtained even at that +price. Ladies were compelled to dispense with salt in their culinary +operations; even the butter was unsalted. Cotton-cards, an article used in +every house at the South, the ordinary price of which is fifty cents per +pair, were selling at twenty-five dollars per pair, and wool-cards at +fifteen dollars per pair, the usual price being thirty-eight cents. All +the cotton used in the manufacture of home-made cloth, is carded into +rolls upon these cotton-cards, which are brought from the North, there +being not a single manufactory of them in the South. When the supply on +hand becomes exhausted, the southern home manufacture of cloth must cease, +no one as yet having been able to suggest a substitute for the +cotton-card. There are only three factories in Mississippi, which must +cease running as soon as their machinery wears out, as the most important +parts of the machinery in those factories are supplied from the North. The +people are fully aware of these difficulties, but they can devise no +remedy, hence the high price of all articles used in the manufacture of +all kinds of cloths. All manufactured goods were commanding fabulous +prices. On the occupation of the county by Federal troops, goods could be +obtained at reasonable prices, but our money was all gone, except +Confederate bonds, which were worthless. Planters who were beyond the +lines of the retreating army had cotton, but many of them feared to sell +it, as the Rebels professed to regard it treason to trade with the +invaders, and threatened to execute the penalty in every case. As there +was no penalty attached to the selling of cotton by one citizen of +Mississippi to another, some of my friends offered to sell me their cotton +for a reasonable price. + +I was solicited also to act as their agent in the purchase of commodities. +I agreed to this risk, because of the urgent need of my friends, many of +whom were suffering greatly for the indispensable necessaries of life. I +thought it was better that one should suffer, than that the whole people +should perish. By this arrangement my Union friends would escape the +punishment meted out to those who were found guilty of trading with the +Yankees; if discovered, I alone would be amenable to their unjust and +cruel law, and they would thus save their cotton, which was liable to be +destroyed at any moment by a dash of rebel cavalry. I now hired a large +number of wagons to haul cotton into Eastport and Iuka, that I might ship +it to the loyal States. On the 2d of June the wagons were to rendezvous at +a certain point; there were a sufficient number to haul one hundred bales +per trip. I hoped to keep them running for some time. + +On the first of June I rode to Mr. Holland Lindsay's on business. I had +learned that he was a rabid secessionist, but supposed that no rebel +cavalry had come so far north as his house since the evacuation of +Corinth. Mr. Lindsay had gone to a neighbour's. His wife was weaving; she +was a coarse, masculine woman, and withal possessed of strong prejudice +against all whom she did not like, but especially the Yankees. I sat down +to await the arrival of her husband, and it was not long before Mrs. +Lindsay broached the exciting topic of the day, the war. She thus vented +her spleen against the Yankees. + +"There was some Yankee calvary passed here last week--they asked me if +there wos ony rebels scoutin round here lately. I jest told em it want +none of ther bizness. Them nasty, good for nothin scamps callen our men +rebels. Them nigger-stealin, triflin scoundrels. They runs off our +niggers, and wont let us take em to Mexico and the other territories." + +I ventured to remark, "The Yankees are mean, indeed, not to let _us_ take +_our_ negroes to the Territories, and not to help catch them for _us_ when +they run off." + +The emphatic _us_ and _our_ nettled her, as none of the Lindsays ever +owned a negro, being classed by the southern nabobs as among the _poor +white trash_; nor did I ever own a slave. Her husband, however, had once +been sent to the Legislature, which led the family to ape the manners, and +studiously copy the ultraism of the classes above them. Mrs. Lindsay +became morose. I concluded to ride over and see her husband. + +On my way I met a member of Hill's cavalry. He halted me, inquired my name +and business, which I gave. He said that, years ago, he had heard me +preach, and that he was well acquainted with my brothers-in-law, who were +officers in the Rebel army. He informed me that his uncle, Mr. Lindsay, +had gone across the field home, and that he himself was on his way there. +I returned with him, but fearing arrest, my business was hastily attended +to, and I at once started for my horse. By this time one or two other +cavalry-men rode up. I heard Mrs. Lindsay informing her nephew that I was +a Union man, and advising my arrest. When I had reached my horse, Mr. +Davis, Lindsay's nephew arrested me, and sent my horse to the stable. +After supper, my horse was brought, and I was taken to camp. Four men were +detached to guard me during the night. They ordered me to lie down on the +ground and sleep. As it had rained during the day, and I had no blanket, +I insisted upon going to a Mr. Spigener's, about fifty yards distant, to +secure a bed. After some discussion they consented, the guards remaining +in the room, and guarding me by turns during the night. The next morning I +sought Captain Hill, and asked permission to return home, when the +following colloquy ensued. + +"Are you a Union man?" + +"I voted the Union ticket, sir." + +"That is not a fair answer. I voted the Union ticket myself, and am now +warring against the Union." + +"I have seen no good reason for changing my sentiments." + +"You confess, then, that you are a Union man?" + +"I do; I regard the union of these States as of paramount importance to +the welfare of the people inhabiting them." + +"You must go to head-quarters, where you will be dealt with as we are +accustomed to deal with all the abettors of an Abolition government." + +A heavy guard was then detached to take charge of me, and the company set +off for Fulton, the county seat of Ittawamba county, Mississippi, distant +thirty miles. After going about ten miles, we halted, and two men were +detached to go forward with the prisoners, a Mr. Benjamin Clarke and +myself. Our guards were Dr. Crossland, of Burnsville, Tishomingo county, +Mississippi, and Ferdinand Woodruff. They were under the influence of +liquor, and talked incessantly, cursing and insulting us, on every +occasion, by abusive language. They detailed to each other a history of +their licentious amours. We halted for dinner at one o'clock, and being +out of money, they asked me to pay their bill, which I did, they promising +to refund the amount when they reached Fulton. This they forgot to do. + +On our arrival at Fulton, we were taken into the office of the commander +of the post, Colonel Bradfute. My fellow-prisoner was examined first. +Woodruff stated that they had played off on Mr. Clarke--calling on him, +as he was plowing in the field, stating that they were Federal soldiers. +They asked Clarke what were his political views. He replied that he always +had been a Union man--had voted the Union ticket, and would do it again, +if another election were held; that he hated the secession principles, and +would enlist in the Federal army as soon as he got his crop in such a +condition that his family could attend to it. On hearing this statement, +Bradfute became very angry, swearing that Clarke ought to be taken out and +shot then, but that a few days' respite would make but little difference. +Said he, addressing the guards, had you hung Clarke, you would have saved +us some trouble, and have done your country good service. The Colonel, +turning round, glared upon me with eyes inflamed with passion and liquor, +and thus addressed me: + +"Are you a Union man too?" + +"I am, sir. I have never denied it." + +"Where do you reside?" + +"I consider Rienzi my home, but have been staying for some time at my +father-in-law's, in the south-eastern part of Tishomingo county." + +"What is your father-in-law's name?" + +"Mr. Alexander Paden." + +"I know the old gentleman and his three sons. They are all in the +Confederate service. They are brave men, and have done some hard fighting +in our cause. How happens it that you look at matters in a different light +from your relatives?" + +"I am not guided in my opinions by the views of my friends." + +"What is your profession?" + +"I am a minister of the gospel." + +"I suppose, then, that you go to the Bible for your politics, and that you +are a sort of higher-law man." + +"My Bible teaches, 'Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, for +there is no power but of God; the powers that be, are ordained of God. +Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; +and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.' I have seen +no reason for resistance to the government under which we have, as a +nation, so long prospered." + +"I command you to hush, sir; you shan't preach treason to me, and if you +get your deserts you will be hung immediately. Have you ever been within +the Federal lines?" + +"I have, sir." + +"At what points?" + +"At Rienzi and Iuka." + +"When were you at Iuka?" + +"On last Saturday." + +"Had the Federals a large force at that place, and who was in command?" + +"They have a large force, and Generals Thomas and Steadman are in +command." + +"That is contrary to the reports of our scouts, who say that there are but +two regiments in the town. I fear you are purposely trying to mislead us." + +"General Steadman has but two regiments in the town, but General Thomas is +within striking distance with a large force." + +"What was your business in Iuka?" + +"I went there to pay a debt of fifty dollars which a widow owed, as she +wished it to be paid in Confederate money before it became worthless." + +"Have you a Federal pass?" + +"I have none with me, but I have one at home." + +"How does it read?" + +"It was given by General Nelson, and reads thus: 'The bearer, Rev. John H. +Aughey, has permission to pass backward and forward through the lines of +this division at will.'" + +"Where were you born?" + +"I was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, New York." + +"Yankee born," said the Colonel, with a sneer; "you deserve death at the +rope's-end, and if I had the power I would hang all Yankees who are among +us, for they are all tories, whatever may be their pretensions." + +"My being born north of the nigger-line, Colonel, if a crime worthy of +death, was certainly not my fault, but the fault of my parents. They did +not so much as consult me in regard to any preference I might have +concerning the place of my nativity." + +Woodruff, one of my guards, now informed the Colonel that I was a spy, +and, while the Confederates were at Corinth, had, to his certain +knowledge, been three times at Nashville, carrying information. I told +Woodruff that his statement was false, and that he knew it; that I had +never been at Nashville in my life. General Chalmers, who was present, and +Colonel Bradfute, at the conclusion of the examination, spent fifteen or +twenty minutes in bitterly cursing all Yankees, tories, and traitors, as +they termed us. All the conversation of the rebel officers was interlarded +with the most horrid profanity. General Chalmers, in speaking, invariably +called me the clerical spy. We were placed under guard, and sent to +Brooksville, ten miles distant, the head-quarters of General Pfeifer. +Immediately after our arrival, we were soundly berated by General Pfeifer, +and then sent out to the camp, half a mile from the town, where we were +placed under guard for the night, in a small plot of ground surrounded by +a chain. We had no supper, and no blankets to sleep on. Our bed was the +cold ground, our covering the blue canopy of heaven. The next morning we +were started, without breakfast, under a heavy guard, numbering fourteen +cavalry, to Priceville, six miles west of Brooksville. Priceville was +named in honour of General Sterling Price, or rather the little village +where he encamped had its name changed in his honour. When we reached +Priceville we were taken to the head-quarters of General Jordan, and +immediately brought into his presence. After reading the letter handed to +him by one of the guard, he said, looking sternly at me, + +"You are charged with sedition." + +I asked him what sedition meant, to which he replied: + +"It means enough to hang you, you villanous tory!" + +He also asked me where I was born. My reply was, in the State of New York, +near Utica, in Oneida county. + +"Then you doubly deserve death," said he. + +"As to the guilt of my nativity," said I, "it is not my fault, for I could +not have helped it if I had tried. But I glory in my native State. She has +never done anything to disgrace her. She never repudiated her just debts, +nor committed any other disgraceful act." + +"Well, you ought to have staid there, or have gone back when Mississippi +seceded." + +"Give me an opportunity, and I will go instanter." + +"The first _going_ you will do, will be to go to hell, where, if the devil +had his due, you would have been long ago; and before you leave us, we +will give you a free ticket to the shades infernal." + +"Thank you for your kind offer to give me a free pass to the infernal +regions. I did not know before that you were the devil's ticket-agent. You +have me in your power, and may destroy my life; but when you have done +that, there is no more that you can do." + +Very little was said to my fellow-prisoner, Clarke. A few curses for a +traitor, tory, &c., was about all. We were now placed under guard, and +conducted to Tupelo, and after visiting the provost-marshal's office and +the office of the commander of the post, whose names were Peden and Clare, +we were committed to the Central Military Prison. As we entered, Captain +Bruce and Lieutenant Malone (two gentlemen who had been elected to those +offices by their fellow-prisoners) received us with a cordial greeting. +Captain Bruce thus addressed us: + +"Welcome, gentlemen, thrice welcome. I am rejoiced to see you at my hotel. +We are now doing a land-office business, as the large number of my +boarders, whom you see, will testify. We have numerous arrivals daily, +whilst the departures are very few, giving evidence that all are satisfied +with their treatment. The bill of fare is not very extensive. In these war +times we must not expect the luxuries of life, but be content with the +necessaries. It is true, we cannot furnish you with coffee, or molasses, +or sugar, or salt, or beef, or vegetables; but we have something more +substantial--we have flour, rather dark in colour, to be sure, but people +must not be squeamish. The boarders are required to do their own cooking, +as they could otherwise have but little exercise; we consider it a +sanitary measure, exercise being indispensable to health. We furnish the +boarders, also, with meat--none of your lean meat, either, but fat +middling, with a streak of lean in it. The Bible promises the righteous +that their bread shall be given, and their water sure; but we go beyond +the promise, and give not only bread (or rather the flour to make it) and +water, but also fat, strong meat. What room will you be pleased to have?" + +I replied, that as they seemed to be crowded, I would choose number 199. + +"Well," said the Captain, "it shall be prepared. Lieutenant Malone, have +room number 199 fitted up for the reception of these gentlemen." + +Lieutenant Malone replied, that the room designated would be fitted up in +style for our reception. He asked us if we had dined. + +"No," replied Clarke; "we have not tasted food since yesterday at noon, +when the Parson paid for his own dinner and the dinner of the guards. We +asked for something to eat, but were as often refused, and now we are in a +starving condition." + +"I pity you," said Malone, laying aside his facetious style; "you shall +have something to eat as soon as it can be cooked." + +He then went to some of the prisoners, and set them to cooking, and we +were soon furnished with the best repast the poor fellows could supply. + +We entered the prison July 3d, 1862, at two o'clock, P. M. Our prison was +a grocery-house, its dimensions about twenty-five by fifty feet. When we +were incarcerated, there were about seventy prisoners in the building, +whites, mulattoes and negroes. The prison was filthy in the extreme, and +filled with vermin; even our food was infested with them. No brooms were +furnished us, and we could not sweep the floor. No beds were furnished, +and we were compelled to lie upon the floor, with no covering, and +nothing but the hard planks beneath us. + +Several times a day officers would come in and order a specified number of +men to go and work, under a strong guard. We were made to clean the +streets, roll barrels, and clean the hospital; but our own prison we were +not permitted to clean. Every kind of drudgery, and the most menial +services, were imposed upon us. + +The crimes charged upon the prisoners were desertion, trading with the +Yankees, adhesion to the United States government or Unionism, acting as +spies, refusing Confederate bonds, and piloting the Yankees. The crime of +the negroes and mulattoes was endeavouring to escape on the underground +railroad from Dixie land and the Iron Furnace. These remained till their +masters were informed of their arrest, and came for and released them. On +the evening preceding our imprisonment, two prisoners had been led out and +shot, and I soon learned that this was no unusual occurrence. Nearly +every day witnessed the execution of one or more of us. Those who were +doomed to die were heavily ironed. In some cases, however, those who were +not in fetters were taken out and shot or hanged, often with no previous +warning; though sometimes a few hours warning was given. + +Our privations were so great from a want of proper food and water--for the +scanty amount of water furnished us was tepid and foul--and from a lack of +beds, cots, couches, or something better than a filthy floor whereon to +sleep, that I resolved to attempt an escape at the risk of my life. I felt +confident that I could not long survive such cruel treatment. As soon as +my arrest was known to the thirty-second Mississippi regiment, encamped in +the suburbs of Tupelo, the colonel, major, adjutant, and one of the +captains called upon me. This regiment was raised in Tishomingo county, +one of the companies, the Zollicoffer Avengers, being from Rienzi, where I +had been for years proprietor and Principal of the Rienzi Female Seminary. +The daughters of many of the officers of this regiment had been educated +at this Seminary during my superintendence. Some of these officers had +expressed themselves under great obligations to me, for the thorough, +moral, mental, and physical training of their children while under my +care. As proof of this, I have their own statements, as published in the +public journals of the day. Owing me a debt of gratitude, as they +professed, could I expect less than the manifestation of deep sympathy for +me in my sad condition--confined in a gloomy dungeon, deprived of the +comforts, yea, even the necessaries of life, menaced and insulted by the +officers in whose power I was? Whatever may have been my hopes, they were +doomed to be blasted. These summer friends, so obsequious in my +prosperity, conversed for a while on indifferent topics, never alluding to +my condition, and as I did not obtrude it upon their attention, they left, +promising to call again. I said, "Do so, gentlemen; you will always find +me _at home_." Adjutant Irion, as he passed out, asked Lieutenant Malone +what the charge was against me. Malone replied that I was charged with +being a Union man. The adjutant said, in a bitter and sarcastic tone, that +I should never have been brought to Tupelo, but on my arrest should have +been sent to hell from the lowest limb of the nearest tree. + +Having determined to escape at all hazards, I sought out an accomplice, a +_compagnon de voyage_; that person was Richard Malone; his piercing eye, +his intellectual physiognomy, led me to believe that if he consented to +make the attempt with me, our chances for escape would be good. I drew +Malone to one side, and covertly introduced the matter. He soon got my +idea, and drawing from his pocket a paper, showed me the route mapped out +which he intended to pursue, as he had for some days determined to escape, +or die in the attempt. He was charged with being a spy, and there was +little doubt that they would establish his guilt by false testimony. We +went out now under every possible pretext. We no longer shunned the guard +who came to obtain prisoners to do servile labour. Our object being to +reconnoitre, in order to learn where guards were stationed, and to +determine the best method of escape through the town after leaving the +prison. During the day we made these observations: that there were two +guards stationed at the back door, who were very verdant; that they would, +after relief, come on duty again at midnight; that there was a building on +the south side of the prison, extending beyond the prison and beyond the +guards; that the moon would set about eleven o'clock, P. M.; that there +were no guards stationed on the south side of the prison during the day; +that one of the planks in the floor could be easily removed; and that +there were several holes, when we were once under the floor, by which +egress might be made either on the north or south side; that the coast was +probably clearest in the direction of a corn-field some two hundred yards +distant in a northwest direction. + +At four o'clock P. M., our plan was fully matured. At midnight, (the moon +being down, and the verdant guards on duty) we would raise the plank, get +under the floor, and myself in the advance, make our exit through one of +the holes on the south side of the jail, then crawl to the building, some +fifteen feet distant, and continue crawling till we passed the guards; +then rise and make our way as cautiously as possible, to a point in the +corn-field, a short distance in the rear of a garment which was hanging +upon the fence. The one who first arrived must await the other. A signal +was agreed upon, to prevent mistake. If the guards ordered us to halt, we +had resolved to risk their fire, our watchword being, Liberty or death! + +About this time the prisoners chose me their chaplain by acclamation. +During the day, we made known our intention of escaping to several +fellow-prisoners, who promised us all the assistance in their power. All +the prisoners who knew of the matter, earnestly desired our escape, and +co-operated with us in effecting it. Clarke and Robinson begged us to take +them along, averring there was no doubt that they would be shot. Malone +told them that no more than two could go together; that if they wished to +escape, they could make the attempt half an hour after us, which they +agreed to. Clarke, however, came to me, and desired me to take him along, +as he would rather go with us than with Robinson. He had a wife and five +small children dependent on him for support, and if he perished, they must +perish too. I consulted Malone, but he would not agree to have Clarke go +with us. Three would be too many for safety, and he doubted whether Clarke +had sufficient nerve to face the glittering bayonet, or tact enough to +pass through the camps without detection. He might commit some blunder +which would endanger our safety. I informed Clarke that the arrangement +made, in which he and Robinson were to go together, must be adhered to. He +begged me, by all that was sacred, to take him along. But Malone was +inexorable, and I thought it best to acquiesce in his judgment. + +Night drew on apace. Thick darkness gathered around us, and murky clouds +covered the sky, as we sat down with the Federal prisoners to our scanty +allowance. While partaking of our rude fare, Malone thus spoke: + +"This day is the 4th of July, 1862, the anniversary of our patriot +fathers' declaration of independence of British tyranny and oppression. +They had much to complain of. They suffered grievous wrongs and cruel +bondage. But eighty-six years ago to-day they declared themselves to be a +free and independent people, who would rather die than be again enslaved. +Of what worth was their declaration if they had remained inactive? +Supineness would not have saved them. But trusting in our God, who gives +success to the righteous cause, they imperilled their lives, they hazarded +their fortunes, and with untiring energy and sleepless vigilance they +contested to the bitter end against all efforts to deprive them of their +inalienable rights. Success crowned their efforts, and they rid themselves +of tyrants' chains. We (I allude to my friend, Parson Aughey, and myself,) +degenerate sons of these noble sires, have suffered wrong, nay, gross +outrage. Citizens of the sunny South, guilty of no offence whatever, not +even of constructive crime, we are immured in a loathsome dungeon, +deprived of the comforts of life, separated from our families, and +suffered to have no communication with them; dragging out a miserable +existence, which an ignominious death on the scaffold must soon end. We, +therefore, John H. Aughey and Richard Malone, in view of these accumulated +wrongs and outrages, solemnly swear before High Heaven, and in presence of +these witnesses, that we will be free, or perish in the attempt. Appealing +to the God of liberty, of truth, and of righteousness, for the rectitude +of our motives and the justness of our cause, we commit ourselves into his +hands, and implore his protection amid the dangers through which we are +about to pass, and humbly pray that he will give us success, and restore +us speedily to our families and friends, and to the enjoyment of our +inalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." + +Grasping the Lieutenant by the hand, I consented to this Declaration of +Independence of rebel thraldom. We gave our respective addresses to our +friends, who promised, that if they were ever liberated, and we were +killed by the guards, they would write to our families, informing them of +the manner of our death. + +About ten o'clock, Malone raised the plank, and I went under to +reconnoitre. I remained under the floor about ten minutes, having learned +that there were no guards patroling the south side of the house, as we +feared might be the case after night. We had learned, from observation, +that there were none during the day. Just at the noon of night, we heard +the relief called. Malone and I endeavoured to find the prisoners who were +to raise the plank, but not being able readily to do so, we raised the +plank ourselves, and both got under without difficulty. Malone getting +under first, was, contrary to agreement, compelled to take the lead. As he +was passing out, he made considerable noise. To warn him of the danger, I +patted him on the back. Reaching back, he gave my hand a warm pressure, to +assure me that all was right, and passed out. I followed, and reached the +designated point in the corn-field in about half an hour, having to use +the utmost precaution, and in some cases to pass the guards by crawling in +a serpentine manner. When I arrived, I gave the preconcerted signal, but +Malone was nowhere to be seen. I waited for him two hours at least, when I +was compelled to seek my safety alone. + +Not being able to meet with my friend, I regarded as a great misfortune, +because, after reaching a point ten miles north of Tupelo, he would be +familiar with the country. I had frequently passed through the town on the +railroad, but knew nothing of the country through which I must travel. +Somewhat depressed in spirits at the loss of my _compagnon de voyage_, I +resolved to reach my family by the safest and most practicable route. +Still in the midst of camps, I had considerable difficulty in making my +way out of them. When I thought that this had been effected, I found that +day was brightening in the east. Looking around for some place to hide, I +soon found a dense, though small thicket, in which I secreted myself as +covertly as possible. Having slept but little since my arrest, I +endeavoured to compose myself to slumber, and partially succeded; but soon +the noise and confusion of soldiers passing and re-passing near, awoke and +alarmed me. I soon learned that I was near a camp, and that the soldiers +had found a suitable place for bathing in a creek which ran within thirty +yards of my place of concealment. There were two paths by which they +reached the creek. On one, they passed within fifteen feet of me; on the +other, within six or seven. About nine o'clock, I heard the booming of +cannon all around me, proceeding from the different camps. The soldiers +who passed me stated, in their conversation, that the cannon were firing +in honour of a great victory obtained over General McClellan, in Virginia. +According to their statement, his whole army, after a succession of +losses, during eight days' fighting, had been completely annihilated, and +that Stonewall Jackson would be in Washington city before the close of the +week. + +The day passed slowly away. At one time two soldiers came within a few +feet of me in search of blackberries, but passed out without detecting me. +At another time two soldiers sat down to converse, so near that their +lowest tones were distinctly audible. One informed the other that he had +been in town in the morning, and had learned that the _Clerical Spy_, +Parson Aughey, and a fellow by the name of Malone, had broke jail, but +that they would soon be brought in, as a company of cavalry had been put +on their track, with a pack of bloodhounds. Soon after this, one of them +arose and struck a bush several times, which seemed to be but a very short +distance above my head. I thought that he had discovered me, and was about +to rise and run, when I heard him say to his companion, that he had +attempted to kill a very large snake, which had escaped to the bushes. I +began to feel somewhat uncomfortably situated when I learned that I was in +close proximity to a large snake, though I would have preferred meeting +with an anaconda, boa-constrictor, rattlesnake, or even the deadly cobra +di capello, rather than with those vile secessionists thirsting for +innocent blood. + +I thought this 5th of July was the longest day I had ever known. The sun +was so long in reaching the zenith, and so slow in passing down the steep +ecliptic way to the occident. The twilight, too, seemed of endless +duration. But as all long days have had an end, so had this. The stars +came glittering one by one. I soon recognised that old staunch and +immovable friend of all travellers on the underground railroad, the +polar-star. + +Rising from my lair, I was soon homeward bound, guided by the north-star +and an oriental constellation. Plunging into a dense wood I found my rapid +advance impeded by the undergrowth, and great difficulty in following my +guiding stars, as the boughs of the great oaks rendered them invisible, or +dimly seen. Fatigued, hungry, and sleepy, I at length lay down at the foot +of a large swamp-oak tree, intending to take a nap, and then rise and +pursue my journey. When I awoke the sun was just rising. I arose filled +with regret for the time I had lost. Though somewhat refreshed by my +sound sleep, yet I was very hungry and almost famished with thirst. + +After travelling about half a mile I came to a small log-house on a +road-side. Feeling sick and faint, I resolved to go to the house to obtain +water, and, if I liked the appearance of the inmates, to reveal my +condition and ask for aid. Upon reaching the house I met the proprietor, +but did not like his physiognomy. He looked the villain; a sinister +expression, a countenance revealing no intellectuality, except a sort of +low cunning, bore testimony that it would be foolish to repose confidence +in the possessor of such villanous looks. I asked for water, intending to +drink and leave. He pointed to the bucket; I drank and bade him good +morning, and turned to leave. I had proceeded but a few steps, when I was +ordered, in a stentorian tone, to halt. On looking round, I saw a soldier +within a few steps, presenting a double-barrelled gun; another soldier was +standing near, heavily armed. I asked by what authority he halted me. To +which he replied: + +"I know you, sir; I have heard you preach frequently. You are Parson +Aughey, and you were arrested and confined in prison at Tupelo. I was in +Lowrey's regiment yesterday, and learned that you had broken jail; and +now, sir, you must return. My name is Dan Barnes. You may have heard of +me." + +I had indeed heard of him. He had been guilty of robbing the United States +mail, had fled to Napoleon or Helena, Arkansas, where he was arrested, +brought back, and incarcerated in jail at Pontotoc, and confined there for +nearly a year. As the evidence against him was positive, he would have +been sent to the penitentiary; but, fortunately for him, at this juncture +Mississippi seceded. There being then no United States officers to execute +the laws, he was liberated, and soon after joined the army. + +After breakfast, which I paid for, Barnes called me to one side, and told +me that he felt sorry for me, and would afford me an opportunity of +escaping, if I would pay him a reasonable sum. He had been in a tight +place himself, and would have been glad had some friend been near to aid +him. He named two hundred and forty dollars as the _reasonable sum_ for +permitting me to escape. After getting my money, their horses were +saddled, and telling me he was playing-off on me, said I must go to +General Jordan's head-quarters at Priceville, to which place he and Huff, +the proprietor of the log cabin, conducted me. + +On my arrival, General Jordan ordered me to be put in irons, and placed +under guard. I was taken to a blacksmith's shop in the town, the General +accompanying the guard, and heavy iron bands were put around my ankles, +and connected by a chain. The bands were put on hot, and my boots were +burnt in the operation. The blacksmith seemed averse to the order, and +only obeyed it upon compulsion. The General stood by, and saw that it was +well done. "Iron him securely--securely, sir," was his oft repeated order. +The ironing caused me much pain. My ankles were long discoloured from +the effects of it. + +[Illustration: "I was taken to a blacksmith's shop, and heavy iron bands +put around my ankles." Page 104.] + +After my manacles were put on, I was taken back to Tupelo by Barnes and +another guard. On my arrival, the commander of the post and the Provost +Marshal were filled with joy. Barnes gave them the history of the arrest, +stating that I had attempted to bribe him; that he listened to my +proposition with indignation, and when he had got the money, performed +what he regarded his duty. The commander replied that all the property of +traitors was theirs, and that he did right in deceiving me, after +accepting the bribe. He also recommended Barnes for promotion for his +heroic and patriotic act in arresting me. (Perhaps it secured for him a +captaincy.) The following colloquy now took place between the commander of +the post, the Provost Marshal, and myself: + +"Why did you attempt to leave us?" + +"Because, sir, your prison was so filthy, and your fare so meagre and +unwholesome, that I could not endure it long, and live." + +"Parson, you know the Bible says, the wicked flee when no man pursueth, +but the righteous are as bold as a lion. You must have been guilty of +crime, or you would not have tried to escape." + +"I may have been guilty of the offence charged against me, and yet +innocent of real _guilt_." + +"You shall never be taken back to the prison you left, rest assured of +that. Did any of the prisoners know of or aid you in your escape?" + +"No, sir; none of them knew anything about it." + +"Are you telling the truth?" + +"I am." + +"Where is Malone?" + +"I never saw him after I left the building." + +"He cannot escape; the cavalry are after him, and he will be brought in +soon, dead or alive." + +"Why did you attempt to bribe Barnes?" + +"It was his own offer. I knew that his cupidity was great, and thought it +no harm to accept his offer. If Barnes had his deserts, he would now be +hard at work in the penitentiary." + +"Did the jury that tried him, acquit him?" + +"No. The secession of Mississippi saved him. I refer you to Colonel Tison, +who is in Tupelo, for the particulars. He being marshal of North +Mississippi, arrested Barnes, and knows all about it. He found on his +person the evidence of his guilt, the money and checks stolen when he +robbed the mail." + +"Parson, you will not be immediately executed, but you will, without +doubt, hang in a week or two, so that, if you have any word to send your +family, you have permission to do so." + +"May I write a letter to my wife?" + +"You may, and I will see that it is forwarded to her." + +I sat down and wrote a letter, a very common-place letter, to my wife, +inserting, occasionally, a word in phonography, which, taken in +connection, read thus: "If possible, inform General Rosecrans or Nelson of +my arrest." While inspecting the letter, Lieutenant Peden noticed the +phonography, and asked me to read it. I read it thus: "My dear wife, I +hope to be at home soon. Do not grieve." This letter they never sent. It +was merely an act of duplicity on their part, to obtain some concession, +which might be used against me. The guard, receiving orders, now conducted +me to a hotel, and placed me in a small room, two guards remaining inside, +and two at the door outside, with orders to shoot me if I made the least +attempt at escape. I remained in this room only a few hours, after which I +was taken to my old prison. As I entered, my old friends, the prisoners, +crowded around me, and Captain Bruce addressed me in his facetious manner. +In prison, his wit had beguiled many a tedious hour. His humour was the +pure Attic salt. + +"Parson Aughey, you are welcome back to my house, though you have played +us rather a scurvy trick in leaving without giving me the least inkling of +the matter, or settling your bill." + +I replied: "Captain, it was hardly right; but I did not like your fare, +and your beds were filled with vermin." + +"Well, you do not seem to have fared better since you left, for you have +returned." + +"Captain, my return is the result of coercion. Some who oppose this +principle when applied to themselves, have no scruples in enforcing it +upon others. + + "No rogue e'er felt the halter draw, + With good opinion of the law;" + +is an old saw, and the truth of proverbs is seldom affected by time. I am +your guest upon compulsion; but remember, I will leave you the first +opportunity." + +Upon hearing this, an officer present swore that when I again left that +building, it would be to cross the railroad, (the place of execution.) + +The prisoners gathered around me, and I related to them my adventures. +They then informed me of what had transpired during my absence. Clarke was +taken out of prison to guide a cavalry company in search of me. Clarke +informed me that they scoured the country, and then went to my +father-in-law's; and after searching the premises, returned, believing +that I had gone due north towards Rienzi, in which direction another +company had been despatched. On their return, Clarke was remanded to jail. +At roll-call--seven o'clock, A. M., we were missed. The cavalry were +immediately sent in pursuit. All the guards on duty during the night were +put under arrest. Our method of escape was soon discovered, and the guards +were released, as they were not at fault. A large number of spikes were +hammered in the floor, the guards were doubled, and greater vigilance +enjoined. The prisoners were questioned, strictly and individually, to +learn whether any of them knew of our intention to escape, or had rendered +us any assistance. They all positively denied any knowledge of the matter. +They asked me whether I had given the officers any information about their +knowledge of our designs, and cooperation in effecting them. I replied +that I had positively denied that any except Malone and myself were privy +to our plans. + +I may state here that it is difficult to justify a falsehood. We ought to +utter truth always, without exaggeration or prevarication, leaving +consequences with God. We should do right without regard to results, for +with consequences we have no business; but in this case the temptation to +utter an untruth was great. These wicked men, thirsting for my blood, had +no right to make me criminate myself or my coadjutors. It would have been +wrong for me to give them the information they desired. Truth is too +precious for a secessionist, thirsting for innocent blood. Had I refused +to answer, they would have suspected that some of my fellow-prisoners +aided us, and would have either forced me to tell who they were, or would +have hanged me instantly for my refusal. If I had given information, and +criminated those who had befriended us, they would have been severely +punished, and I have been guilty of the basest ingratitude; I would have +been shunned by the prisoners, and regarded as one of the meanest of men, +one of the veriest wretches in existence; I could never again ask nor +expect aid in a similar attempt to save myself from a violent death. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +LIFE IN A DUNGEON. + + Parson Aughey as Chaplain--Description of the Prisoners--Colonel + Walter, the Judge Advocate--Charges and Specifications against Parson + Aughey--A Citizen of the Confederate States--Execution of two + Tennesseeans--Enlistment of Union Prisoners--Colonel Walter's second + visit--Day of Execution specified--Farewell Letter to my Wife--Parson + Aughey's Obituary penned by himself--Address to his Soul--The Soul's + Reply--Farewell Letter to his Parents--The Union Prisoners' Petition + to Hon. W. H. Seward--The two Prisoners and the Oath of + Allegiance--Irish Stories. + + +I was remanded to jail on Sabbath, the 6th of July, 1862. On the day of my +escape I had been elected chaplain. Captain Bruce asked permission for me +to hold divine service, to which no special objection was made. I +conducted the services as I would have done were I in my own pulpit. The +best order was maintained by the prisoners, and a deep seriousness +prevailed. The songs of Zion resounded through the prison-house, and a +great concourse of soldiers assembled outside the guards in front of the +door, causing considerable interruption by their noise and insulting +language. Several officers, also, saw fit to come in and interrupt the +services by conversing in a loud tone, and asking me how I liked my +jewelry, referring to my fetters. The prisoners protested against their +rude and ungentlemanly conduct, but with little effect. They sent a +remonstrance to the commander of the post, but he treated it with silent +contempt. + +As the prisoners insisted upon it, I persisted in preaching, +notwithstanding the persecutions endured, as long as I remained with them. +We were a motley assemblage. Some were dressed in cloth of finest texture; +others were clad in filthy rags. There were present the learned and the +illiterate, the rowdy and the minister of the gospel, the holy and the +profane, the saint and the sinner. All the Southern States, and every +prominent religious denomination were represented. The youth in his +nonage, and the gray-haired and very aged man were there. The superior and +the subordinate were with us. The descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, +were here on the same common level, for in our prison were Afric's +dark-browed sons, the descendants of Pocahontas, and the pure Circassian. +Death is said to be THE great leveller; the dungeon at Tupelo was _a_ +great leveller. A fellow-feeling made us wondrous kind; none shared his +morsel alone, and a deep and abiding sympathy for each other's woes +pervaded every bosom. When our fellow-prisoners were called to die, and +were led through us with pallid brows, and agony depicted on their +countenances, our expressions of sorrow and commiseration were not loud +(through fear) but deep. + +On Monday morning an officer entered; my name was called, and I arose from +the floor on which I had been reclining. I recognised him as my old +friend, Colonel H. W. Walter, of Holly Springs, Mississippi. After the +ordinary salutations, he informed me that he was Judge Advocate, and that +my trial would take place in a few days, and inquired whether I wished to +summon any witnesses. I gave him the names and residences of several +witnesses, but he refused to send for them, upon the plea that they were +too near the Federal lines, and their cavalry might be in danger of +capture were they to proceed thither. I told him that the cavalry which +went in pursuit of me had visited that locality. He then wished to know +what I desired to prove by those witnesses. I replied that I wished to +prove that the specifications in the charge of being a spy were false. + +"Your own admissions are sufficient to cause you to lose your life," said +the Colonel, "and I will not send for those witnesses." + +I replied: "I know that I must die, and you need not go through the +formality of a trial. If condemned as a spy, I must be hanged. I only +wished the witnesses to prove that Woodruff is a man of no moral worth, +that his testimony is false; that Barnes is a mail-robber, and that his +testimony, therefore, should be rejected. Proving these facts, the other +charges which I admit, will cause me to be shot. I hope I am prepared to +die, but do not wish to die a dog's death. Promise me that I shall be +shot, and not hanged, and I will cavil no more." + +"Parson Aughey, your chances for living are very slender. The proof +against you on both charges will be established; the testimony as to your +guilt is positive, and spies are always hanged." + +He then stated the charges and specifications against me as follows: + +First charge--_Treason_. + +Specification 1st. That said Aughey stated to a member of Hill's cavalry, +that if McClellan were defeated, the North could raise a much larger army +in a very short time; that the North would eventually conquer the South, +and that he was a Union man--this for the purpose of giving aid and +comfort to the enemy. + +Specification 2d. That when said Aughey was requested to take the oath of +allegiance to the Confederate States, he refused, giving as a reason, that +England, France, and himself, had not yet recognised the Southern +Confederacy, stating, also, that he had voluntarily taken the oath of +allegiance to the United States Government, which he regarded as +binding--this in North Mississippi. + +Specification 3d. That said Aughey was acting as a Federal agent in the +purchase of cotton, and had received from the United States Government a +large amount of gold, to pay for the cotton purchased. + +Second charge--_Acting as a spy_. + +Specification 1st. That said Aughey, while a citizen of the Confederate +States, repeatedly came into our lines for the purpose of obtaining +information for the benefit of the enemy, and that he passed through the +lines of the enemy at pleasure, holding an unlimited pass from General +Nelson, granting that privilege--this in the vicinity of Corinth, +Mississippi. + +Witnesses, ---- Wallace, Dan Barnes, Ferdinand Woodruff, ---- Williams, +David Huff. + +I demanded a copy of the charges, which Colonel Walter promised to +furnish. + +About three o'clock in the afternoon, I went to a couple of prisoners who +were heavily ironed; they were handcuffed, had a chain on their legs +similar to mine, and were chained together to a post, or to some fixture +at the side of the jail. I inquired for what offence they were +incarcerated. + +The prisoner whom I addressed was a tall gentleman, with a very +intellectual countenance, and of prepossessing manners. He was somewhat +pale, and wore a sad countenance. He replied: + +"We are charged with desertion." + +"Did you desert?" + +"I enlisted in the Confederate service for twelve months. At the +expiration of my term of service, I asked permission to return home, +stating that my family were suffering for the necessaries of life; that +they lived in Tennessee, which is occupied by Federal troops. Confederate +bonds are there not worth the paper on which they are printed; provisions +are scarce, and my family have not the means of purchasing. I wish to +relieve their wants, and as my term of service has expired, I wish a +discharge. This they refused, stating that the Confederate Congress had +passed a law requiring all troops who had enlisted for any term, however +short, to be held to service during the war, and all who left before that +time would be considered guilty of desertion, and if arrested, would be +shot. I attempted to return to my family, regarding the law a tyrannical +enactment. I was arrested and committed to this prison." + +"What will be your fate?" + +"I know not, but fear the worst." + +I learned that the other prisoner had about the same statement to make, +and was also in dread of capital punishment. I left them and walked to the +opposite side of the prison, when I observed a file of soldiers drawn up +in front of the building. Two officers entered, and walking up to the two +prisoners whom I had just left, unfastened their chains, and ordered them +to follow. One of the prisoners asked whether he should bring his blanket. +"No," replied the officer, in a jocular tone; "you have no more need for a +blanket in this world." + +On reaching the door, the soldiers separated, received the prisoners in +their midst, closed up, and marching them across the railroad, shot them. +As the officers passed Captain Bruce, he asked where the prisoners were +going. They replied, "Going to be shot!" and showed him the warrant for +their execution, having written across it, in red letters, "_Condemned to +death!_" + +Thus was perpetrated an act of cruel tyranny, which cries loudly to Heaven +for vengeance. Two families, helpless and destitute, were thus each +deprived of its head, on whom they were dependent for support, and +abandoned to the cold charity of a selfish world. The wages they earned by +a year's faithful service in behalf of the wicked, cruel, and vindictive +Confederate States, was an ignominious death and a dishonoured grave. Will +not God visit for this? The widow and the fatherless cry to Heaven for +vengeance, and their cries have entered into the ears of the Lord of +Sabaoth. + +On Tuesday morning, six young men, who had been arrested for their Union +sentiments, resolved to escape. Their plan was to enlist in the +Confederate service, then to desert on the first opportunity, and make +their way to the Federal lines. They consulted me as to the propriety of +taking the oath of allegiance under these circumstances. Such a step would +give them another chance for life; but were they to profess adherence to +their Union principles, they had no hope of living many days. If permitted +to enlist, they thought there was little doubt of their escape in a few +days; and should a battle take place, no Federal soldiers would be injured +by them, and an opportunity to desert might occur during the engagement. I +drew up a paper for them, requesting permission to enlist in a company +which they specified. Their petition was granted by the authorities, and +they were removed from prison to the camp. I feel confident that ere this, +they are safe in the Federal lines, for they knew the whole country, so as +to be able to travel by night or by day, with little danger of detection. +They had all been arrested at their homes by the Rebel cavalry. They were +bitter in sentiment against the military usurpation, self-styled the +Confederate States of America. + +This (Tuesday) evening, Colonel Walter called again, to give me a copy of +the charges against me. He informed me that my trial had been deferred +till Monday, the 15th inst. He also informed me in advance, that I must +die, and that, doubtless, on the day after the trial. I asked and obtained +permission to send for the Rev. Dr. Lyon, of Columbus, Mississippi, to be +present at my execution. Dr. Lyon and I were co-presbyters, both being +members of the Tombeckbee Presbytery. Colonel Walter was a renegade +Yankee. Coming from Michigan to Mississippi, he married the daughter of a +wealthy slave-holder. Obtaining through her the control of a large number +of slaves, he became a very ultra advocate of the peculiar institution, +and a rabid secessionist. + +Soon after Colonel Walter left, Colonel Ware came in, and asked me if I +had been President of a Female College in Rienzi. I replied in the +affirmative. 'Tis strange, said he, that one who has been so favoured, and +one who has accumulated property in the South, should prove a traitor to +the land of his adoption, and side with his enemies. I replied that I had +given a fair equivalent for every dollar I had obtained from the citizens +of the South; that for eleven years I had laboured faithfully as a teacher +and minister of the gospel to promote the educational and spiritual +interests of the Southern people; and that now I was receiving my reward +in being chained, starved, and insulted; and that they intended soon to +pay the last instalment by putting me to death ignominiously on the +scaffold; I also denied being an enemy to the South. I regarded those who +imperilled all her best interests, and plunged her into a protracted and +desolating war, as the real enemies of the South. If my advice had been +followed, the South and the whole country would now be enjoying its wonted +peace and prosperity. He only replied with cursing and vituperation. + +Believing my end to be near, I sat down upon the floor of my dungeon, and +penned the following letter to my wife. + + TUPELO MILITARY DUNGEON, July 10th, 1862. + + MY DEAR MARY--The Confederate authorities announce to me that I have + only a few more days to live. When you receive this letter, the hand + that penned it will be cold in death. My soul will have passed the + solemn test before the bar of God; I have a good hope through grace + that I will be then rejoicing amid the sacramental host of God's + elect, singing the new song of redeeming love in the presence of Him + who is the Chief among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely. + Mary, meet me in heaven, where sorrow, and crying, and sin are not + known, and where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at + rest. I will request your brother Ramsey, and cousin, Captain + Tankersley, to convey my body to you. Bury me in the graveyard at + Bethany. Plant an evergreen--a cedar--at my head, and one at my feet, + and there let me repose in peace, till the Archangel's trump shall + sound, calling the dead to the judgment of the great day, and + vouchsafing to saints the long wished-for "redemption of the body." + + As to my property, it has all been confiscated; and after years of + incessant toil, I leave you penniless and dependent; but trust in God. + To his protecting care I commit you and our dear little Kate, who has + promised that he will be the widow's husband, and the father of the + fatherless. Rest assured, the Lord will provide. Only trust in him, + and love him with your whole heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. + "I know that it shall be well with those that love God." Be not + faithless, but believing, and though clouds and thick darkness + surround you at present, a more auspicious day will dawn, and God will + bring you safely to your journey's end, and our reunion in heaven will + be sweet. + + Our dear little daughter, Kate, bring up in the nurture and admonition + of the Lord. Teach her to walk in wisdom's ways, for her ways are ways + of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Her mind may be compared + to wax, in its susceptibility for receiving impressions, and to + marble, for its power of retaining those impressions. O that she may + be satisfied early with the mercy of God, that she may rejoice and be + glad all her days! Teach her to remember her Creator in the days of + her youth, before the evil days come, in which she shall say, I have + no pleasure in thee. Make the Bible her constant study, and let its + words be as household words to her. Inspire her mind with a reverence + for _the Book_ which is able to make wise unto salvation. See to it + that the words of Christ dwell richly in her soul, that she may be + filled with wisdom, and knowledge, and spiritual understanding. Pray + for the Holy Spirit to bless your labours and instructions, without + which all your efforts would be in vain, and pray that the Third + Person of the adorable Trinity may take up his abode in her heart, and + dwell with her for ever. + + As my duties in regard to instructing our child, will devolve solely + on you, take for your guidance, in this respect, Deut. vi. 5-9. Let + your example be such as you would wish her to follow. Children are + much more inclined to follow example than precept. Exercise care in + this respect, for, "as is the mother, so is her daughter." + + I regret my family will, from the force of circumstances, be compelled + to remain in a land where my death will be considered disgraceful, but + it cannot be avoided. The time may come when, even in Mississippi, I + may be regarded as a patriot martyr. My conscience is void of offence, + as regards the guilt attached to the charges made against me. I am + charged with treason against the Confederate States. The charge and + the specifications are true, except that I was not a Federal agent in + the purchase of cotton. That was a private arrangement altogether. I + am also charged with acting as a spy. The specifications under this + charge are false. I think that this accusation was made to prevent + retaliation by the Federal generals; and in the Rebel army they are + not at a loss to prove any charge, however false. Ferdinand Woodruff + is their tool to prove me a spy, and he will do it, though he knows + his testimony to be as false as that of the suborned witnesses who + bore testimony against the Saviour. + + How long shall the wicked triumph? How long will God forbear to + execute that vengeance which is his, and which he will repay sooner or + later! I feel confident that the right cause will prevail, and though + I will not live to see it, for my days are numbered, yet I firmly + believe that the rebel power will be destroyed utterly. + + "Truth, crushed to earth, will rise again; + The eternal years of God are hers; + But error, wounded, writhes in pain, + And dies amid her worshippers." + + I write this letter amid the din and confusion incident to a large + number of men crowded into a narrow compass, and free from all + restraint. This letter will be transmitted to you by friends. The + names of those friends you will know hereafter. They will present your + case to General Rosecrans or Nelson, who may obtain a pension for you. + My services heretofore in the Union cause are known to them, and I + think they will see that you do not suffer; all my real estate will + be restored to you if the Union cause triumphs, and I think there is + no doubt as to its success. Give my love to all my friends. Remember + that I have prayed for you unceasingly during my imprisonment, and my + last utterances on earth will be prayers for your welfare. + + Farewell. God bless you, and preserve you and our dear little Kate. + + Your affectionate husband, + + JOHN H. AUGHEY. + +I next wrote my obituary, which I placed in the hands of a Union soldier +who expected soon to be exchanged. By him it was to be sent to the editors +of _The Presbyterian_, published in Philadelphia, with a request that it +should appear in their columns. + +OBITUARY. + +Died, in Tupelo, Ittawamba county, Mississippi, July --, 1862, the Rev. +John H. Aughey. The subject of the above notice was executed on the +gallows, by authority of the Confederate States, on the charges of treason +and acting as a spy. + +John H. Aughey was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, New York, May 8th, +1828; removed with his parents to Steubenville, Ohio, in 1837; is an +alumnus of Franklin College, New Athens, Harrison county, Ohio; studied +theology in Memphis, Tennessee, under the Rev. John H. Gray, D. D., +President of Memphis Synodical College--also under the care of the Rev. S. +I. Reid of Holly Springs, Mississippi; was licensed to preach the gospel +by the Presbytery of Chickasaw, October 4th, 1856; was ordained to the +full work of the gospel ministry by the Presbytery of Tombeckbee, at its +session in Winston county, Mississippi, in April, 1861. God blessed his +labours by giving him many seals to his ministry. After labouring eleven +years in the South as a teacher and minister of the gospel, having never +injured a citizen of the South either in person or property, he suffered a +felon's death for attachment to the Federal Union, because he would not +turn traitor to the government which had never in a single instance +oppressed, but had always afforded him protection. He rests in peace, and +in the hope of a blessed immortality. + + "Leaves have their time to fall, + And flowers to wither in the north wind's breath, + And stars to set; but all-- + Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death!" + +ADDRESS TO MY SOUL. + +O my soul! thou art about to appear in the presence of thy Creator, who is +infinite, eternal, unchangeable in his being, power, wisdom, holiness, +justice, goodness, and truth. He cannot look upon sin. He is a +sin-avenging God, and thou art stained with sin. Thy transgressions are as +numerous as the stars of heaven, and the sand that is upon the sea-shore. +Thou art totally debased by sin, and thy iniquities abound. Thou art +guilty of sins of omission and of commission. Justice would consign thee +to everlasting burnings, to dwell with devouring fire, even to everlasting +destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power. +Guilty, helpless, wretched as thou art, what is thy plea why sentence of +eternal death should not be pronounced against thee? + +THE SOUL'S REPLY. + +I plead the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses from +_all_ sin, even from sins of the deepest dye. I plead the sufferings of +Him who bore my sins in his own body, on the tree, and wrought out a +perfect righteousness, which I may obtain by simple faith. No money, no +price is demanded. This I could not pay, for all my righteousness is as +filthy rags, and I must perish, were any part of the price demanded. +Nothing in my hand I bring. My salvation must be _all_ of grace, or to me +it would be hopeless. I trust that Christ will clothe me in the spotless +robes of his own righteousness, and present me faultless before his +Father. With this trust, I go to the judgment-seat, assured that the soul +which trusts in Christ shall never be put to shame. God is faithful who +has promised. + + MILITARY DUNGEON, Tupelo, + Ittawamba Co., Miss., July 11th, 1862. + + DEAR PARENTS--"Life is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing to behold the + sun." "All that a man hath, will he give for his life." "Having + promise of the life that now is." "The life is more than meat." "They + hunt for the _precious_ life." The above quotations from the Word of + Life, show the high estimate that is placed upon life. My life is not + "_precious_" in the eyes of the Secessionists, for their authorities + declare that "my chances for living long are extremely slender." "Yet + a few days, and me the all-beholding sun shall see no more in all his + course." Mourn not for me, my dear parents, as those who have no hope. + "For me to live, is Christ; but to die, is gain." I fear not those + who, when they have killed the body, have no more that they can do. + But I fear Him whose fear casteth out every other fear. When these + lines are read by you, their author will be an inhabitant of the + Celestial City, the New Jerusalem, and will be reposing in Abraham's + bosom, in the midst of the Paradise of God. Next to God, my thanks are + due to you, for guiding my infant feet in the paths of wisdom and + virtue. In riper years, by precept, I have been warned and instructed. + By example I have been led, until my habits were fixed, and then, + accompanied by your parental blessing, I sought a distant home, to + engage in the arduous duties of life. Whatever success I have met + with, whatever influence for good I may have exerted, are all due to + your pious training. I owe you a debt of gratitude which I can never + repay. Though I cannot, God will grant you a reward lasting as + eternity. It will add to that exceeding and eternal weight of glory + which will be conferred on you in that day when the heavens shall be + dissolved, and the elements melt with fervent heat. I die for my + loyalty to the Federal Government. I know that you would not have me + turn traitor to save my life. Life is precious, but death, even death + on the scaffold, is preferable to dishonour. Remember me kindly to all + my friends. Tell sisters Sallie, Mary, and Emma, to meet me in heaven. + I know that _my_ Redeemer liveth. Dying is but going home. I have + taught many how to live, and now I am called to teach them how to die. + May God grant that as my day is, so may my strength be, and that, in + my last moments, I may not bring dishonour upon my Master's cause, + but may glorify him in the fires! + + My dear parents, farewell till we meet beyond the river. + + Your affectionate son, + JOHN H. AUGHEY. + + TO DAVID AND ELIZABETH AUGHEY, + Amsterdam, Jefferson Co., Ohio. + +The following letter was written to the Hon. William H. Seward in behalf +of the Union men in prison and within the rebel lines. + + CENTRAL MILITARY PRISON, Tupelo, + Ittawamba Co., Mississippi, July 11th, 1862. + + Hon. William H. Seward: + + DEAR SIR--A large number of citizens of Mississippi, holding Union + sentiments, and who recognise no such military usurpation as the + so-called Confederate States of America, are confined in a filthy + prison, swarming with vermin, and are famishing from hunger--a + sufficient quantity of food not being furnished us. We are separated + from our families, and suffered to hold no communication with them. + We are compelled, under a strong guard, to perform the most menial + services, and are insulted on every occasion by the officers and + guards of the prison. The nights are very cool; we are furnished with + no bedding, and are compelled to lie down on the floor of our dungeon, + where sleep seldom visits us, until exhausted nature can hold out no + longer; then our slumbers are broken, restless, and of short duration. + Our property is confiscated, and our families left destitute of the + necessaries of life; all that they have, yea, all their living, being + seized upon by the Confederates, and converted to their own use. Heavy + fetters are placed upon our limbs, and daily some of us are led to the + scaffold, or to death by shooting. Many of us are forced into the + army, instant death being the penalty in case of refusal; thus + constraining us to bear arms against our country, to become the + executioners of our friends and brethren, or to fall ourselves by + their hands. + + These evils are intolerable, and we ask protection, through you, from + the United States Government. The Federal Government may not be able + to release us, but we ask the protection which the Federal prisoner + receives. Were his life taken, swift retribution would be visited upon + the rebels by a just retaliation--a rebel prisoner would suffer death + for every Federal prisoner whom they destroyed. Let this rule hold + good in the case of Union men who are citizens of the South. The loyal + Mississippian deserves protection as much as the loyal native of + Massachusetts. We ask, also, that our confiscated property be restored + to us, or, in case of our death, to our families. If it be destroyed, + let reparation be demanded from the rebels, or the property of known + and avowed secessionists sequestered to that use. + + Before this letter reaches its destination, the majority of us will + have ceased to be. The writer has been informed by the officers that + "his chances for living long are very slender;" that he has confessed + enough to cause him to lose his life, and the Judge Advocate has + specified Tuesday, the 15th inst., as the day of his execution. We + have, therefore, little hope that we, individually, can receive any + benefit from this petition, though you regard it favourably, and + consent to its suggestions; but our families, who have been so cruelly + robbed of all their substance, may, in after time, receive + remuneration for their great losses. And if citizens of avowed + secession proclivities, who are within the Federal lines, are arrested + and held as hostages for the safety of Union men who are and may be + hereafter incarcerated in the prison in Tupelo and elsewhere, the + rebels will not dare put another Union man to death. + + Hoping that you will deem it proper to take the matters presented in + our petition under advisement, we remain, with high considerations of + respect and esteem, your oppressed and imprisoned fellow-citizens, + + JOHN H. AUGHEY, + BENJAMIN CLARKE, + JOHN ROBINSON, + and thirty-seven others. + +Two young men informed me to-day that they had been forced into the rebel +service. They had been taken prisoners at Corinth by General Pope, and had +taken the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government, to which their +hearts had always been loyal. Recently they had been arrested, and on +refusing to rejoin their regiment, were immured in this dungeon. From the +threats of the officers, they expected to be shot at any moment. They had +used every means to banish the thoughts of death--had forced themselves to +engage in pleasantry and mirth to drive away the sadness and gloom which +oppressed them when alone, and recalled the pleasures of their happy +homes--homes which they would never see again. I counselled them to +prepare to meet their God in peace; to wisely improve the short time +granted them to make their calling and election sure. They replied that +they hoped all would be well. They had long since confessed Christ before +men, and hoped for salvation through his merits. Still, they could not +help feeling sad in the near prospect of death. They left me to mingle +with a group of prisoners, who were endeavouring to dissipate the tedium, +and vary the monotonous routine of prison life, by "telling stories." +Captain Bruce led off by telling the following Irish story: + +"Once upon a time, an Irishman, who rejoiced in the possession of a fine +mare and a colt, wished to cross the Mississippi river at Baton Rouge with +them. By some mishap, they were all precipitated from the ferry-boat into +the water. The Irishman, being unable to swim, grasped the colt's tail, +hoping thus to be carried to the shore. Some of the passengers called out +to him: 'Halloo, Pat, why don't you take hold of the mare's tail; she is +much stronger, and much more able to carry you safely to the shore.' 'O, +be jabers!' says Pat, 'this is no time for swapping horses.'" This tale +was received with applause. + +Baltimore Bill, a real Plug-ugly, told his story next, as follows: "Two +Irishmen, immediately after their arrival in America, found a gun. After +long inspection, they concluded it was some kind of musical instrument, +and wishing to hear the music, it was agreed that Jimmie should blow at +the muzzle, while Pat worked with the 'fixins' at the breech. At it they +went. Soon the gun went off, and Jimmie fell down, shot dead. 'Och!' says +Pat, 'are you charmed at the first note?'" This story was received with +loud bursts of laughter. An officer then entered, and ordered us to be +quiet, forbidding us to narrate any more tales. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +EXECUTION OF UNION PRISONERS. + + Resolved to Escape--Mode of Executing Prisoners--Removal of + Chain--Addition to our Numbers--Two Prisoners become Insane--Plan of + Escape--Proves a Failure--Fetters Inspected--Additional + Fetters--Handcuffs--A Spy in the Disguise of a Prisoner--Special + Police Guard on Duty--A Prisoner's Discovery--Divine Services--The + General Judgment--The Judge--The Laws--The Witnesses--The + Concourse--The Sentence. + + +On Friday morning, the twelfth of July, as I lay restless and sore, +endeavouring to find some position which would be sufficiently easy to +permit me to enjoy, even for a few moments, the benefit of "Tired nature's +sweet restorer, balmy sleep," the thought occurred that it would be well +to attempt an escape, though it should result in death from the fire of +the guards, which would be far preferable to death by strangling at the +rope's end, and in the presence of a large concourse of rebel enemies. +Their method of shooting was, to dig a hole, and make the victim sit with +his legs hanging in it. The soldiers would fire three balls through the +brain, and three through the heart; then the mangled and bleeding body +fell into the grave, and was immediately covered with earth. At first, +coffins were used, but of late, these had been dispensed with, owing to +the increased expense, and the increasing number of executions. + +I had not long meditated upon this subject, when I arose, fully resolved +on death or liberty. My intentions were communicated to several prisoners, +who promised me all the aid in their power. My fetters were examined, and +it was concluded, that with proper instruments my bands could be divested +of the iron which secured the chain-rings. A long-handled iron spoon, a +knife, and an old file, were obtained, and two were detached at a time to +work on my fetters. We went to one side of the building, and a sufficient +number of prisoners stood in front of us, to prevent the guard from +noticing our proceedings. Our locations were changed frequently, to +prevent detection; and when an officer entered, labour was suspended till +his exit. + +We called General Bragg, Robespierre; General Jordan, Marat; and General +Hardee, Danton. Several prisoners were led out and shot to-day. The +majority of them were Union men. Six Union men were committed to jail +to-day. The horrors of our situation were sufficient to render two of +these victims insane. A reign of terror had been inaugurated, only +equalled, in its appalling enormity, by the memorable French Revolution. +Spies and informers, in the pay of the Rebel government, prowl through the +country, using every artifice and strategy to lead Union men to criminate +themselves, after which they are dragged to prison and to death. The +cavalry dash through the country, burning cotton, carrying off the +property of loyal citizens, and committing depredations of every kind. + +Several prisoners resolved to attempt an escape with me. Our plan was, to +bring in the axe with which we split wood for cooking, and raise a plank +in the floor, a sufficient number to stand around those who lifted it, to +prevent observation, and then make our way out among the guards, who were +off duty on the north side of the building. At this time there were three +guards in front of each door, and two on the south side of the building. +On the north side of the building, there were no guards on duty, for, if +the other three sides were securely guarded, the prisoners could not +escape on the north side. There were, however, several hundred guards, +who, when off duty, slept on this side of the prison. When their turn +came, they went on duty; and those who were relieved, came there to sleep. +They were coming and going all the time, and during the whole night, they +kept up an incessant noise. + +After the unremitting labour of my friends during the day, I found that I +could slip my chain off and on at pleasure. The sun was now setting, but +the axe had not been brought in. At this time a guard was stationed in +each door; the favourable moment had passed; none dared to bring the axe +past the guard. While deliberating on the best course to pursue--as +raising a plank had proved a failure for the present--General Jordan and +Colonel Clare entered. I was standing with others in the middle of the +floor. General Jordan came directly to me; either accidentally or +intentionally, he held up a light to my face. "Ah! you are here yet," said +he. I gave an affirmative nod. "Well," said he to Colonel Clare, "I must +examine this fellow's irons." Putting his hand down, and ascertaining that +they had been tampered with, he endeavoured, ineffectually, to pull the +bands off; he did not notice that I could slip the chain-rings off. "These +irons," said he, "are very insecure; who helped you to put them in this +condition?" I made no reply. After waiting until he found I intended none, +he continued: "Colonel Clare, have these irons secured in the morning; +also put handcuffs on him, and chain him, so as to confine him to one +locality; the gallows shall not be cheated of their due." Having given +these orders, they passed out. As soon as they were gone, the prisoners +who had aided me crowded around, stating that they believed there was a +spy in the house, in the guise of a prisoner, and declaring that I must +escape that night, or it would be too late. All realized that on to-morrow +there would be no hope. + +There were eleven guards on duty--three in front of each door, one in each +door, two on the south side of the building, and at night one passing back +and forth through the centre of the prison, which was lighted during the +whole night. There was also a special police guard on duty that night, as +five Federal prisoners, who remained in our prison until some formalities +were gone through with, would be sent in the morning to the prison at +Columbus, Mississippi, and it was feared they might attempt to escape ere +they were sent further south. + +At this juncture, a young man ran up and informed me that he had made a +discovery which might result in my escape; I must go alone, however, and +though they would aid me, they would run great risk in doing so. Only +four could assist, and he would volunteer to be one of them. Several +others immediately volunteered, of whom three were selected by M----, and +the plan then communicated. At this moment, Captain Bruce announced that +the hour for divine worship had arrived. I asked my friends whether I +should plead indisposition, and dispense with the services for that time. +They replied that it might lead to suspicion, and advised me to give them +a short sermon. I went to my usual place of standing, clanking my chains +as heretofore. I give a synopsis of the sermon. + +The text was 2 Cor. v. 10: "We must all appear before the judgment-seat of +Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according +to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." + +The doctrine of a general judgment was revealed to mankind at a very early +period of the world's history. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, +saying, "Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to +execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among +them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of +all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." +Job declares: "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at +the latter day upon the earth." Daniel also speaks of a general judgment: +"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did +sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the +pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning +fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand +thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood +before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." The New +Testament is also explicit in its declarations that God hath appointed a +day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he +hath ordained. The text declares that we must all appear before the +judgment-seat of Christ. + +The scenes which will usher in the judgment of the great day will be of +the most magnificent character. "The heavens shall pass away with a great +noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and +the works that are therein, shall be burned up." This does not indicate +annihilation. God will never annihilate any of his creatures, animate or +inanimate. + +The inquiry is often made, what becomes of the soul after death, and where +does it await the general judgment? A sect called the Soul-sleepers, take +the position that the soul, after death, goes into a torpid state, like +bears in winter, and thus remains till the sounding of the Archangel's +trump. There is no Scripture to sustain this view, and it is only assumed, +to avoid the objection that God would not judge a soul, and send it to +reward or punishment, and then bring it back, to be again judged. That the +soul, at death, passes immediately into glory or torment, is proved by +many scriptures. Paul "desired to depart, and be with Christ, which was +far better," than remaining on earth. He declares that to be present with +the body, is to be absent from the Lord. The dying Stephen calls upon the +Lord Jesus to receive his spirit. These holy men would not thus have +spoken, if they supposed that ages must elapse ere they entered heaven. +God is not the God of the dead or torpid, but of the living. Moses and +Elias appeared on the mount of transfiguration in a state far from +torpidity. The dying thief received the promise, "This day shalt thou be +with me in paradise." No mention is made of Purgatory or torpidity. The +objector urges that paradise is not heaven. We are told that the river of +life flows from the throne of God, that the tree of life grows on both +sides of the river, and that the tree of life grows in the midst of the +paradise of God. The paradise of God is where he is seated on his throne, +which is heaven. Paradise is where Christ is. The thief would be with +Christ in paradise. He who regards the Lord Jesus as the Chief among ten +thousand, the One altogether lovely, will deem his presence heaven indeed. +As to the wicked, it is said of the rich man, that in hell he lifted up +his eyes, being in torment. If, after being judged, the souls of +believers, do pass immediately into glory, and the wicked into torment, +what use is there of another or general judgment. I reply, We are +responsible not only for our acts, but for the influence which those acts +exert through all time. Gibbon, Hume, Rosseau, Paine, and other infidel +writers, wrote works which, during the life of the authors, did great +evil. If those wicked men passed away from earth impenitent, they are now +suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. But the influence for evil, of +those wicked works, did not cease with the death of their authors. +Thousands of young men every year are led into pernicious and hurtful +errors by their perusal. At the general judgment, the accumulated guilt, +for the baleful influence exerted through their writings in all time, will +sink them deeper in the flames of perdition. The sainted Alexander, and +other pious men who are now in heaven, wrote many works whose influence +for good was great while their authors lived; and since their death they +are, and will continue to be, instrumental in the hand of God in turning +many to righteousness. All the good accomplished by their writings, +through all time, will, at the judgment, add to their exceeding and +eternal weight of glory. + +In this life, we often see the righteous man contending with life's +unnumbered woes; all the dealings of Providence seem to be adverse. While +the wicked are in great power, they flourish in life, like the green +bay-tree, and have no bands in their death. These things are strange and +mysterious. We understand them not now; but we shall learn, in that great +day, when all mysteries are made plain, that God's dealings were just, +both with the righteous and the wicked. + +The text declares that _we_ must all appear before the judgment-seat of +Christ. This _we_ includes all who are now within the sound of my voice, +and not only us, but all who live upon the face of the earth; and the +Archangel's trump will wake the pale nations of the dead, and summon them +to judgment. The dark domain of hell will be vacated, and the angels that +kept not their first estate, and are now reserved in chains of darkness, +will appear in the presence of the Judge. Heaven's holy inhabitants will +be present. Thus heaven, earth, and hell, will be represented in that +august assemblage. The scene will bear some resemblance to that which +takes place in our earthly courts. The Lord Jesus Christ will be the +Judge, and the angels and saints will be the jurors, who will consent to +and approve of the acts of the Judge. The angels will be the officers who +will summon, from the prison-house of hell, the devils, to the trial, and +also those wicked men who will call upon the rocks and mountains to fall +upon them, and hide them from the face of the Lamb. Nor, as is so often +the case with earthly officers, will any be able to elude the vigilance of +these. They will be clothed with ample power to compel the attendance of +all; none will escape. We _must all_ appear before the judgment-seat. As +in earthly courts, law is the basis of judgment, so we shall be judged +according to law in that day. The heathen will be judged by the law of +nature--the law written in their hearts, and on their consciences. The +light of nature teaches the being, wisdom, power, and goodness of God. For +a violation of this law, they will be beaten with few stripes. The Jews +will be judged by both the law of nature, which they have, in common with +the heathen and the Mosaic law. But we who live in the nineteenth century, +in the full blaze of gospel light, will be judged not only by the light of +nature and the Mosaic law, which we possess in common with the heathen and +the Jew, but also by the glorious gospel of the Son of God, which brought +life and immortality to light; and if condemned, how fearful our doom, who +are so highly favoured! In earthly courts, we are judged for our overt +acts alone; but in the court of heaven, the commandment is exceeding +broad; it reaches every thought. Our words, too, are taken into account. +We must give an account for every idle word. By our words, we shall be +justified, and by our words we shall be condemned. Our thoughts, our +words, our deeds, will all be taken into account. + +As in our courts there are witnesses, so also there will be at the bar of +God. Our pious relatives and friends will bear this testimony, that they +have prayed with us and for us; that they had a deep concern for our +souls, and that we who are found on the left hand of the Judge, refused +all their counsel, and despised their admonitions. Ministers of the gospel +will testify that they came as ambassadors from the King of kings, and +beseeching you, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled to God, pointing to +the coming wrath, and warning you from that wrath to flee; and yet their +labour of love ye despised, and scorned the message from on high. The +Bible will be a witness against you. Its teachings are able to make wise +unto salvation. It is the chart which is given to guide us through this +wilderness-world, to fairer worlds on high. It tells of the Lamb of God, +who taketh away the sin of the world. It is truth without any mixture of +error, and yet you have despised this necessary revelation, and chosen to +perish, with the Word of Life open before you. God, the Father, will be a +swift witness against you. In the greatness of his love for you, in the +counsels of eternity, he devised the plan of salvation, and sent his only +begotten Son to suffer and die, that you might live, and yet you have +despised that love, and rejected that Saviour. God, the Son, will bear +this testimony, that he came from the shining abodes of glory, where +seraphim and cherubim fell prostrate at his feet, in humble adoration, and +emptying himself of his glory, bore all the ills of life--the persecutions +of wicked men, and the accursed death of the cross, that salvation might +be yours, and yet ye refused it, and trod the blood of the Son of God +under foot, and put him to an open shame. The Holy Spirit, the Third +Person of the adorable Trinity, will bear witness that he often knocked at +the door of your hearts for admittance; that he wooed you to embrace his +love, offering to abide with you for ever, and yet you rejected the offer, +and did despite to the Spirit of grace, till, in sorrow, he took his +everlasting flight. + +The devil is now going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may +devour, and sometimes transforming himself into an angel of light. He is +tempting you to sin, by presenting before your minds the superior charms +of the riches and pleasures of earth, to things that are unseen and +eternal. He has no power to compel you to sin. His evil suggestions are +whispered in your oft too willing ears, and then it remains with you to +accept or reject. He has no power of compulsion. Your sin must be an act +of your own will, or it is not sin. When you consent to the wiles of this +arch enemy, and sin against God, remember that with eager desire and base +ingratitude he will fiercely accuse in the great day of God Almighty, and +urge these very sins of his suggestion as a reason why he should have you +to torment you for ever in the bottomless pit. + +That internal monitor, that light which enlightens every man that cometh +into the world--the moral sense, or conscience--will be a swift witness +against you. By it you have been enlightened and warned; and in the case +of many who have denied a future state of punishment, the goadings of +remorse have convinced them that there is a hell, the kindlings of whose +fires they have felt in their own bosoms. Conscience will compel you to +confess that your doom is just, though for ever debarred from the joys and +happiness of heaven. O! my fellow-prisoners and travellers to the bar of +God, listen to her warning voice to-day, before it be too late, and you +are compelled mournfully to exclaim, "The harvest is past, the summer is +ended, and I am not saved!" The conscience of the sinner will be compelled +to admit the truth of the testimony. In earthly courts, oftentimes +witnesses are suborned, and their testimony false. Not so at the grand +assize. Not a scrap of false testimony will be admitted. The evidence will +be in truth, and the judgment in righteousness. + +After all these scenes have occurred, the Judge will render a verdict, and +pronounce the sentence, which will be irreversible and eternal. With +regard to the righteous, though they have been guilty of many sins, both +of omission and commission, and have no merits of their own to plead, and +consider themselves justly obnoxious to eternal banishment, their +Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom, while in the flesh, they +exercised a true and living faith, will now present them, clad in the +white robes of his perfect righteousness, faultless before his Father, and +they will now hear the welcome plaudit, "Come ye blessed, inherit the +kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." But those on +the left hand, who all their life rejected the mercy offered--the great +salvation proffered without money and without price--will now hear the +dread sentence, "Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for +the devil and his angels!" + +O my dear, impenitent fellow-prisoners! how can ye take up your abode, +your eternal abode, in everlasting burnings? How can ye dwell with +devouring fire? How can ye endure everlasting destruction from the +presence of the Lord and the glory of his power, shut up for ever in the +fearful pit out of which there is no egress except for the vision of the +damned, and the smoke of its torment? Be wise to-day, 'tis madness to +defer. Procrastination is the thief of time. Delay is fraught with awful +danger. Trust not in promises of future amendment. The way to hell is +paved with good resolutions, which are never kept. The future convenient +season never arrives. Like Felix, we may tremble when the minister reasons +of a judgment to come; and like Agrippa, we may be almost persuaded to be +a Christian, and yet come short of the glory of God through +procrastination. Procrastination has populated hell. All the doomed and +damned from Christian lands are victims of this pernicious and destructive +wile of the devil. It is foolish to procrastinate. Though the Bible teems +with rich and glorious promises of a hundred-fold blessings in this life, +and eternal glory in the world to come, to those who break off their sins +by righteousness, and their transgressions by turning unto the Lord, yet +all these promises are limited to the present tense. There is not a single +blessing promised the future penitent. He procrastinates at the risk of +losing all. Behold, _now_ is the accepted time, and now is the day of +salvation. _To-day_ if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. +"Ho, every one that thirsteth, _come_ ye to the waters; and he that hath +no money, _come_ ye, _buy_ and _eat_; yea, _come buy_ wine and milk +without money and without price." "Seek ye _first_ the kingdom of God and +his righteousness." "And the Spirit and the Bride say, _come_; let him +that heareth say, _come_; and let him that is athirst _come_: and +whosoever will, let him _take_ the water of life freely." + +Choose ye _this day_ whom ye will serve. There is no warrant for deferring +till to-morrow the momentous and eternal interests of the immortal soul. +The shortness and uncertainty of life furnish a strong reason why we +should not procrastinate. In the Bible, life is compared to everything +that is swift, transient, and fleeting in its nature. It is compared to +the swoop of the eagle hasting to the prey; to the swift post, to the +bubble on the river. Life is compared in its duration to a year, a day, +and to nothing, yea, less than nothing, and vanity. All these comparisons +indicate that it is very brief and evanescent. We have no lease of life; +we hold it by a very slight tenure; and this is especially true of us in +our present condition. Confined in prison, some of us led to death every +day without a moment's warning, every evening I address some who, before +the next evening, are in eternity. Myself in chains, my life declared +forfeited, ought we not all to be deeply impressed with the necessity of +immediate preparation to meet our God? I feel that I am preaching as a +dying man to dying men, and I beseech you in Christ's stead, be ye +reconciled to God. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and ye shall be +saved. Trust in him for salvation, for he is faithful who has promised. +God has never said to any, seek ye my face in vain. By the love and mercy +of God, by the terrors of the judgment, by the sympathy and compassion of +Jesus, I entreat you, my fellow-prisoners, to seek an interest, a present +interest, in the great salvation! + +I close for the present. We shall never all engage in divine service +together again on earth. We separate--some to go to a distant prison, and +some to death. May God grant that when we are done with earthly scenes, we +may all meet in the realms of bliss, where there is in God's presence +fulness of joy, and at his right hand pleasures for evermore! And may the +love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion of the +Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us, and all the Israel of God, now, +henceforth, and for ever, Amen! + +The following hymn was then sung: + + In the sun, and moon, and stars, + Signs and wonders there shall be; + Earth shall quake with inward wars, + Nations with perplexity. + + Soon shall ocean's hoary deep, + Tossed with stronger tempests, rise; + Wilder storms the mountains sweep, + Louder thunders rock the skies. + + Dread alarms shall shake the proud, + Pale amazement, restless fear; + And, amid the thunder-cloud, + Shall the Judge of men appear. + + But though from his awful face, + Heaven shall fade, and earth shall fly, + Fear not ye, his chosen race, + Your redemption draweth nigh. + +I preached longer than I had intended, having become so fully engrossed +with the subject as to forget my chains and my frustrated plans. My +fellow-prisoners were listening apparently with interest; great solemnity +prevailed, and penitential tears were flowing. It was evident that the +Spirit of the living God was in our midst; and though danger and death +were before our eyes, the consolations of the glorious gospel of the +blessed God caused our peace to flow like a river. The precious seed was +sown in tears. May we not entertain a good hope that he who cast the seed +into this soil, prepared by affliction, shall come again with rejoicing, +bringing his sheaves with him. By my side stood two in chains, who +appeared deeply moved. During the day I had conversed with them about +their souls. They expressed regret that they had not heretofore given this +matter the attention its importance demanded. Since their imprisonment, +however, they had been led to feel that they were great sinners, and had, +as they hoped, put their trust in Christ alone for salvation. I have since +learned that on the morrow they were shot. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +SUCCESSFUL ESCAPE. + + The Second Plan of Escape--Under the Jail--Egress--Among the + Guards--In the Swamp--Travelling on the Underground Railroad--The + Fare--Green Corn eaten Raw--Blackberries and Stagnant Water--The + Bloodhounds--Tantalizing Dreams--The Pickets--The Cows--Become + Sick--Fons Beatus--Find Friends--Union Friend No. Two--The night in + the Barn--Death of Newman by Scalding--Union Friend No. Three--Bound + for the Union Lines--Rebel Soldiers--Black Ox--Pied Ox--Reach + Headquarters in Safety--Emotions on again beholding the Old + Flag--Kindness while Sick--Meeting with his Family--Richard Malone + again--The Serenade--Leave Dixie--Northward bound. + + +After the sermon was concluded, the preparations for my escape were +commenced. The building used for our prison was built with the front +toward the east. The doors were at the eastern and western extremities, +which were the gable ends, one door being in each end. There were also two +windows at each end, the door being between them. The doors and +window-sashes had been removed, to allow the guards stationed in front an +unobstructed view of the interior. At night the apartment was lighted, and +a guard patrolled the floor; it was, therefore, nearly impossible for a +person to escape the observation of the guards, either within or without +the jail. In the North, the houses are usually built with a cellar +underneath; at the South, such a thing is very rare, the houses being +built upon the ground, or upon piles. Our prison was built upon piles, the +floor being elevated about eighteen inches above the ground. The boards +were nailed upon the building perpendicularly, and in some cases did not +quite reach to the ground. Small openings were thus left between the floor +and the ground, through which a person could crawl underneath the +building. Around each door was an enclosure, formed by stakes surmounted +with poles, in the shape of a parallelogram, whose dimensions were about +ten by sixteen feet. In each of these enclosures four guards were +stationed, one of them being seated in the doorway. The rear enclosure was +used for cooking purposes; and into both enclosures we were permitted to +go at pleasure during all hours of the day, and as late at night as ten +o'clock. Only three prisoners were allowed to be in an enclosure at one +time. + +M---- had discovered a hole by the side of the steps within the front +enclosure, by which I could get under the building. I felt unwilling to +make such an attempt, as the aperture was in the immediate vicinity of the +guards. M---- stated that four others would aid me, though at considerable +risk on their part. "I'll take the risk," was the individual response of +all present. M---- selected three, who with himself assumed the perilous +task, in which discovery would have cost them their lives. M----, who had +devised the plan of escape, now instructed us in the respective parts we +were to perform. All promised implicit obedience. At half-past nine, three +prisoners and myself were to go into the enclosure. They would stand up +and converse with the guards, whilst I sat upon the ground by the hole, to +wait for an opportunity to crawl under the building unobserved. This +opportunity we expected to occur at ten o'clock, when the relief-guard +came on duty. The duty of one prisoner was to remain inside and engage the +attention of the guard who sat in the doorway, while the other three would +go into the enclosure, and entertain the other guards, according to the +previously devised plan. At half-past nine o'clock, we placed ourselves in +the designated positions. I readily removed my chain, coiled it up, and +laid it by the side of a little stump. The moon shone with great +brilliancy, revealing the tents which surrounded us on every side. +Officers and soldiers passed hurriedly to and fro. We were in the midst of +the noise and confusion of a great encampment, as there were in and around +Tupelo some fifteen thousand soldiers. Mingled sounds of mirth and +contention proceeded from the surrounding tents. My prisoner friends were +engaged in a fierce argument with the guards as to the comparative merits +of Tennessee and Mississippi troops. This was done to divert their +attention, and I observed with pleasure that they were meeting with +success. I reflected that a few more moments would decide my fate. If +detected, my life must end ignominiously and on the gallows. In the +morning, my anklets would be securely welded. I would also be handcuffed +and chained to a post. Then all hope must end, and soon my corpse would be +borne into the presence of her whose tears were flowing, and who refused +to be comforted because of my ominous absence. + +The order for the relief-guard now came loud and clear. I heard their +hurried tramp, and saw their glittering bayonets in the bright moonlight. +The set time, the appointed moment, big with my fate, had arrived. I +offered an ejaculatory prayer to Him who sits upon the throne of heaven +for protection at this critical moment. The guard stood within ten feet of +me, with their eyes constantly upon me. Just as they were turning to +receive the advancing relief-guard, I crawled backward under the building, +and disappeared from their view. The relief-guard went on duty, and those +relieved retired. The prisoners were ordered into the house, and as the +new guards did not know that four were in the enclosure, I was not +missed. + +[Illustration: "Just as they were turning to receive the relief-guard, I +crawled backward under the building, and disappeared from view." Page +172.] + +I was now under the prison, but there were guards on every side, and the +jail was in the midst of a camp, so that I was still in great danger of +detection. I saw, through the crevices in the floor, the guard who +patrolled the prison. I heard the murmurings and mutterings of the +prisoners, as he occasionally trod upon them in his carelessness. I could +hear, though not distinctly, the conversation of the prisoners. One of my +assistants was detailing to his companions their success in getting me off +unnoticed. The prisoners slept but little that night, owing to their +anxiety for my safety, and I frequently heard my name mentioned, and hopes +for my safety expressed. I occasionally fell into uneasy slumbers, but the +fleas and other vermin were so annoying, that my sleep refreshed me but +little. I could distinctly hear the new guard conversing, and among other +topics, one remarked that he had forgotten the countersign; the other +replied that it was _Braxton_. Well, said the former, I thought it was +Bragg, or Braxton, or something like that. Knowing the countersign +emboldened me, as I could, if halted, give it, and pass on. I soon crawled +to the north side of the prison, and found that there were three apertures +sufficiently large to admit of my egress. Upon reaching the first one, I +found a number of guards, some sitting and some lying so close to it, that +I dared not make the attempt at that point. + +Crawling to the second, I remained till there was comparative quiet; but +at the instant I was about to pass out, a soldier, who was lying with his +face toward me, commenced to cough, and continued to do so, at intervals, +for more than an hour. Finding it unadvisable to run the risk of detection +at this point, I made my way, with considerable difficulty, to the third +and last aperture, near the rear of the building, and not very distant +from the rear-guards. I remained at this aperture till I heard one guard +say to another that it was three o'clock, and that they must soon go on +duty. I felt confident that then was my time, or never, as morning would +find me under the house, and I would be re-arrested in that situation. +Committing myself into the hands of God, and asking him to keep me from +detection, and grant me a safe escape, I arose from under the building, +passed by two sleeping guards, who were lying within three or four feet of +the prison. As it was my first essay at walking without chains, I reeled, +as if under the influence of strong drink, striking my foot against the +head of one of those sleeping guards, who, awaking, turned over, and +uttering some exclamation of disapprobation, took no further notice of me, +doubtless mistaking me for one of his companions. After proceeding a few +steps, I sat down upon the ground among some of the guards. I took out my +knife, and whistling, to appear as unconcerned as possible, commenced +whittling a stump, around which they were collected--some sitting, some +standing, and others reclining. I readily passed for one of them, as I was +wearing a colored shirt, which resembled that worn by the guards. I soon, +however, arose, and wound my way among the various groups, endeavouring +to reach the corn-field, to which I had made my first escape. After +passing the guards off duty, a sentinel arose a short distance in front of +me, evidently with the intention of halting me, if I advanced farther. +Stopping a few minutes, to avoid suspicion, I changed my direction, +bearing southwest, and after a time, got into the woods. Kneeling down, I +returned God thanks for thus crowning my efforts with success, and prayed +for his continuous protection, and that he would choose out my path, that +I might escape detection, and rejoin my family and friends in safety. + +I now pursued my journey rapidly in a southwest direction, choosing that +which led directly from my home, for two reasons. The cavalry and +bloodhounds would not be so likely to follow in that direction, and after +listening, while in prison, to the drum-beat morning and evening, in the +various surrounding camps, I noticed that it had ceased in the southwest +for several mornings; hence I supposed that the camp in that direction had +been broken up, and that, in taking that route, I could more readily get +beyond the rebel pickets, and then I could change my course, and bear +northward, and reach the Federal lines at some point on the Memphis and +Charleston railroad. I hastened on till the sun arose, having passed +through woods and corn-fields, studiously avoiding all roads, when, as I +was rapidly travelling along a narrow path, I met a negro. The suddenness +of our meeting alarmed both. I, in a peremptory tone, addressed him, in +quick succession, the following interrogatories: + +"Where are you going? To whom do you belong? Where have you been? Have you +a pass?" + +"I belong," said the boy, trembling, "to Mr. ----. I have been to wife's +house; am gwine back home, but I haint got nary pass." + +"I suppose it is all right with you?" + +"Oh, yes, master! it's all right wid me." + +Concluding that it was not all right "wid" myself, I hurried on, soon +leaving the path, and turning into a dense woods. Travelling on till +about one P. M., I came to an open country, so extensive that I could not +go round it, neither could I, in daylight, travel through it with safety. +I sought out a place to hide, and finding a ditch which bisected a +corn-field, I concealed myself in that. During the day, negroes and whites +passed near, without discovering me. Becoming hungry, I ate a small piece +of the bread which one of my fellow-prisoners had given me, but it made me +quite sick. On my former escape, I had, just before leaving the house, +traded pants with a fellow-prisoner, without his knowledge or consent. On +my return, he refused to trade back. My reason for trading was, to get a +dark pair, as mine were so light-coloured, I feared the guards would +discover me more readily. Their owner had been accustomed to use tobacco, +and the bread had become tinctured with it. Tobacco being very offensive +to me, its presence on my bread caused me to lose it. + +The day passed away, and the night came. The stars came out in silent +glory, one by one. Fixing my eye upon the pole-star, the underground +railroad travellers' guide, I set out, bearing a little to the west of +north. I soon reached the thick woods, and found it very difficult to make +rapid progress, in consequence of the dense under-growth and obscure +light. The bushes would strike me in the eyes, and often the top of a +fallen tree would cause me to make quite a circuit. Soon, however, the +moon arose in her brightness--the old silver moon. But her light I found +to be far less brilliant than that of the sun, and her rays were much +obscured by the dense foliage overhead; hence my progress was necessarily +slow, laboured, and toilsome. I slept but little during the day, in +consequence of the proximity of those who might be bitter foes, and also +the unpleasant position I occupied, as the ditch in which I had concealed +myself was muddy, and proved an uncomfortable bed. I therefore became +weary, my limbs stiff from travel and from the pressure of the heavy iron +bands. Sleep overpowered me, and I laid down in the leaves, and slept till +the cold awoke me, which, judging from the moon's descent, must have been +an hour and a half. The nights in Mississippi are invariably cool, however +hot the days may be. Arising from my uneasy slumber, I pressed on. My +thirst, which for some time had been increasing, now became absolutely +unendurable. I knew not where to obtain water, not daring to go near a +well, through fear of being arrested. At length I heard some suckling pigs +and their dam, at a short distance from me, in the woods. There seemed to +be no alternative. I must either perish, or obtain some fluid to slake my +raging thirst; so I resolved to catch a little pig, cut its throat, and +drink the blood. I searched for my knife, but I had lost it. I was, +therefore, reluctantly compelled to abandon my design on the suckling's +life. As I went forward, the sow and her brood started up alarmed, and in +their flight, plunged into water. I immediately followed, and found a +mud-hole. Removing the green scum, I drank deep of the stagnant pool. My +thirst was only partially quenched by this draught, and soon returned. As +day dawned, I found some sassafras leaves, which I chewed, to allay the +pangs of hunger; but they formed a paste which I could not swallow. + +I soon after came to an old field, where I obtained an abundant supply of +blackberries, which not only served to check the gnawings of hunger, but +also to allay my intolerable thirst. I reflected that this day was the +holy Sabbath, but it brought neither rest to my weary frame, nor composure +to my agitated and excited mind. Like Salathiel, the Wandering Jew, the +word _March!_ was ringing in my ears. Onward! was my motto; Liberty or +death! my watchword. About ten o'clock I came to an open country, and +sought out a ditch, in which to conceal myself. Here I fell into a +troubled sleep. I saw, in dreams, tables groaning under the weight of the +most delicious viands, and brooks of crystal waters, bubbling and +sparkling as they rushed onward in their meandering course; but when I +attempted to grasp them, they served me as they did Tantalus, of olden +time, by vanishing into thin air, or receding beyond my reach. While lying +here, I was now and then aroused by the trampling of horses grazing in +the field, which I feared might be bringing on my pursuers. And once the +voices of men, mingled with the sounds of horses' feet upon a little +bridge, some twenty feet distant, induced me to look out from my +hiding-place, and lo! two cavalry-men--perhaps hunting for my life!--rode +along. + +When the sun had reached the zenith, I was again startled by voices, which +approached nearer and nearer my place of concealment, till at length the +cause was discovered. Several children, both black and white, had come +from a farm-house, about a quarter of a mile distant, to gather +blackberries along the margin of the ditch. They soon discovered me, and +seemed somewhat startled and alarmed at my appearance. I soon saw them +gazing down upon me, in my moist bed, with evident amazement and alarm. +Pallid, haggard, unshaven, and covered with mud, I must have presented a +frightful picture. + +As soon as the children passed me, fearing the report they would carry +home, I arose from my lair, and hurried on, though I had to pass in sight +of several houses. After travelling three or four miles through an open +champaign country, I came to a dense woods, bordering a stream which had +ceased running, in consequence of the great drought that had, for a long +time, prevailed throughout this section of Mississippi. The creek had been +a large one, and in the deep holes, some water still remained, though +warm, and covered with a heavy scum, and mingled with the spawn of frogs. +I drank it, however, from sheer necessity, tepid and unhealthy as it was. +It did not allay my thirst, but created a nausea, which was very +unpleasant. + +About four o'clock P. M., I was startled by the baying of bloodhounds +behind me, and apparently on my track. Before escaping from jail, I had +been advised by the prisoners to obtain some onions, as these, rubbed on +the soles of my boots, would destroy the scent. They could only be +procured, however, by a visit to some garden-patch, and I feared to go so +near a house. I had left no clothes in prison from which the hounds could +obtain the scent in order to find my track, and my starting in a +southwest direction was an additional precaution against bloodhounds. +Their baying soon became alarmingly distinct. Having heard them almost +every night for years, as they hunted down the fugitive slave, I could not +mistake the fearful import of their howling. I could devise no plan for +breaking the trail. Dan Boone, when pursued by Indians, succeeded in +baffling the hounds by catching at some overhanging branches, and swinging +himself forward. Negroes often destroy the scent by carrying matches, and +setting the leaves on fire. One negro of whom I heard, ran along the brink +of a precipice, and dug a recess back from the narrow path. Crawling into +it, he remained till the hounds reached that point, when he thrust them +from the path. They fell and were dashed to pieces on the jagged rocks +below. + +None of these plans were practicable to me, and I supposed death imminent, +either from being torn to pieces by the hounds, or by being shot by the +cavalry, who were following them. Climbing a tree, I resolved to await +the arrival of the cavalry, and having determined to die rather than be +taken back again to Tupelo, I would refuse to obey any summons to descend. +O, how I wished for my navy repeater, that I might sell my life as dearly +as possible! that I might make some secessionist bite the dust ere I was +slain! I often thought of the couplet in the old song-- + + "The hounds are baying on my track, + Christian, will you send me back?" + +A feeling of strong sympathy arose in my bosom for the poor African, who, +in his endeavour to escape from the Iron Furnace of Southern slavery, +often encountered the bloodhounds, and was torn to pieces by them. "A +fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind." + +I had remained but a short time in the tree, when I ascertained that the +hounds were bearing eastward, and they soon passed at a distance. They +were on the track of some other poor fugitive, and I rejoiced again in the +hope of safety. Coming to a corn-field, I plucked two ears of corn, and +ate them raw, having no matches wherewith to kindle a fire, which, indeed, +would have increased my peril, as the smoke might advertise my presence to +bitter and unrelenting foes. + +Toward night I lay down in the woods, and fell asleep. Visions of +abundance, both to eat and drink, haunted me, and every unusual sound +would startle me. A fly peculiar to the South, whose buzz sounded like the +voice of an old man, often awoke me with the fear that my enemies were +near. As soon as Ursa Minor appeared, I took up my line of march. The +night was very dark, and I became somewhat bewildered. At length I reached +a crossroads, and as I was emerging from the wood, I saw two pickets a few +yards from me. Stooping down, I crawled on my hands and knees back into +the woods. As I retired, I heard one picket say to the other, "Who is +that?" + +He replied, "It is the lieutenant of the guard." + +"What does he want?" said the first. + +"He is slipping round to see if we are asleep." + +After I got a safe distance in the bushes, I lay down and slept till the +moon arose. To the surprise of my bewildered brain, it seemed to rise in +the west. Taking my course, I hastened on, sometimes through woods, +sometimes through cornfields, and sometimes through swamps. Coming to a +large pasture, in which a number of cows were grazing, I tried to obtain +some milk, but none of them would allow me to approach near enough to +effect my purpose. My face was not of the right colour, and my costume +belonged to a sex that never milked them. I travelled until day-break, +when I concealed myself in a thicket of cane, and had scarcely fallen +asleep when I heard the sound of the reveille, in a camp close at hand. +Arising, I hurriedly beat a retreat, and travelled several hours before I +dared take any rest. I at length lay down amid the branches of a fallen +tree, and slept. Visions of home and friends flitted before me. Voices +sweet and kind greeted me on all sides. The bitter taunts of cruel +officers no longer assailed my ears. The loved ones at home were present, +and the joys of the past were renewed. But, alas! the falling of a limb +dissipated all my fancied pleasures. The reality returned, and I was still +a fugitive escaping for life, and in the midst of a hostile country. + +To-day my mock trial would have taken place, and I fancied the +disappointment of Woodruff, who had stated that to his knowledge I was a +spy, and to-day would have sworn it. And Barnes, the mail-robber, +recommended for promotion because of his heroism in re-arresting me, how +sad he must feel, that the bird had flown, and that he would not have the +pleasure of witnessing my execution. I thanked God and took courage. +Though faint and weary, I was still hopeful and trusting, often repeating, + + "'Tis God has led me safe thus far, + And he will bring me home." + +On this (Monday) night, I travelled steadily, crossing swamps, +corn-fields, woods, and pastures. I came to only one cotton-field during +the night. I passed through several wheat-fields, where the wheat had been +harvested; I pulled a handful from a shock, and rubbed out some of the +grain, but it was so bitter I could not eat it. I suspected every bush a +secessionist, though I felt much more secure at night than in daylight. I +avoided roads as much as possible, travelling on none except to cross +them, which was done with great rapidity. The rising sun still found me +pressing onward, and thirst and hunger were now consuming me. To satisfy +hunger, I had recourse to the corn-field; but I could find no water. I +would gladly have drank any kind of beverage, however filthy, so that my +thirst might be allayed. About nine o'clock, when I had almost despaired +of getting water at all, I came to a copious fountain in a gorge of the +hills, and from its appearance, I seemed to be the discoverer. Around it +there was no trace of human foot, nor hoof of cattle. On beholding it, I +wept with joy. I remained by it about four hours, quaffing its cool and +crystal waters, the first running water I had tasted since leaving +prison. I also bathed my body and washed my clothes, drying them in the +sun, and endeavoured to rid them of vermin, in which I only partially +succeeded. I named this fountain _Fons Beatus_, and left it with sincere +sorrow. + +Three o'clock, P. M., arrived, and I felt bewildered. I knew not where I +was. I might be near friends, I might be near bloodthirsty foes. I could +scarcely walk. My iron bands had become very irksome. I felt that I was +becoming childish. I could tell all my bones. I tried to pray, but could +only utter, "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner!" Still I felt thankful +that it was so well with me as it was. + +At that very hour, had I not escaped, I should have been either on the +scaffold at Tupelo, or suspended between heaven and earth, surrounded by +an insulting and jeering army. This reflection made me thankful to God, +even though I should die in the swamps. The sky became overcast, and I +found it impossible to distinguish north from south. I therefore concealed +myself and slept. It was night when I awoke, and the clouds still covered +the sky threateningly, concealing my guiding star, and rendering it +impossible for me to proceed. Thus, when I wished most to go forward, my +progress was arrested, and my distressing suspense prolonged. During the +whole night I was asleep and awake alternately, but could not at any time +discern either moon or stars. Once, while sleeping behind a fallen tree by +the roadside, a horseman passed by. His dog, a large and ferocious-looking +animal, came running along by the side of the tree where I was lying. When +he reached me, I raised up suddenly and brandishing a club menacingly, the +alarmed and howling dog incontinently and ingloriously fled, leaving me +master of the field. + +On Wednesday morning the sun was still obscured until nine o'clock. I was +then sick. There was a ringing in my ears, and I was affected with +vertigo, a dimness of vision and faintness, which rendered me absolutely +unfit for travel. It required an hour to walk a quarter of a mile. I found +a good supply of blackberries, which very much refreshed me. Before me +was a hill, the top of which I reached after two hours' laborious ascent. +I despaired of getting much further. I thought I must perish in the Iron +Furnace of secession, which was heated very hot for me. Feeling confident +that I must be near Tippah county, and knowing that there were many Union +men in that county, I resolved to call at the first house on my route. If +I remained where I was, I must perish, as I could go no further, and if I +met with a Union family, I should be saved; if with "a secesh," I might +possibly impose upon their credulity, and get refreshment without being +arrested. They might, however, cause my arrest. It was a dilemma such as I +hope never to be placed in again. About an hour before sunset I came to a +house, and remained near it for some time. At length I saw a negro girl +come to the door. Knowing that where there were negroes, in nine cases out +of ten there were secessionists near, I left the house as quickly as my +enfeebled condition would permit. Going to another house, I remained near +it till I was satisfied there were no negroes held by that family. I then +went boldly up, knocked, gained admittance, and asked for some water, +which was given me. The lady of the house, scrutinizing me closely, asked +me if I were from Tupelo. I replied in the affirmative. She then inquired +my name. I gave her my Christian name, John Hill, suppressing the surname. +Her husband was sitting near, a man of Herculean frame; and as the wife's +inquisitiveness was beginning to alarm me, I turned to him and said: "My +friend, you are a man of great physical powers, and at this time you ought +to be in the army. The Yankees are overrunning all our country, and the +service of every man is needed." His wife replied that he was not in the +army, nor would he go into it, unless he was forced to go. They had been +told that the cavalry would be after him in a few days, to take him as a +conscript; but she considered the conscript law, base and tyrannical. +Overjoyed at the utterance of such sentiments as these, I then revealed my +true character. I told them that I had recently made my escape from +Tupelo, where I was doomed to execution on the gallows, and that I was +now flying from prison and from death. I then exhibited the iron bands +upon my ankles. Both promised all the aid in their power. The lady at once +proposed to prepare supper, but I was too near the point of starvation to +await the slow process of cooking. She therefore turned down the +tablecloth, which covered the fragments remaining from dinner, and +disclosed some corn bread and Irish potatoes. Though I never liked corn +bread, I must confess I thought that was the sweetest morsel I had ever +tasted. + +After eating a little, however, I became very sick, and was compelled to +desist. It was so long since I had partaken of any substantial food, that +my stomach now could not bear it. The lady soon prepared supper, +consisting of broiled chicken, and other delicacies. The fowl was quite +small, and I ate nearly the whole of it, much to the chagrin of a little +daughter of mine host, whom I heard complaining to her mother, afterward, +in an adjoining room, saying, "Ma, all I got of that chicken was a little +piece of the wing," and "aint that gentleman a hoss to eat?" with other +remarks by no means complimentary to my voracious appetite. + +After supper, mine host endeavoured to remove the heavy iron bands by +which my ankles were clasped. This was accomplished after considerable +labour. I asked him to retain the bands till called for, which he promised +to do. The good lady furnished me with water and a suit of her husband's +clothes. After performing a thorough ablution, I donned the suit, and felt +completely metamorphosed, and was thoroughly disguised, as my new suit had +been made for a man of vastly larger physical proportions. I spent the +night with my new friends, during which a heavy thunder-storm passed over. +Had I been out in the drenching rain in my wretched condition, I must +surely have perished. In the morning my host informed me of a Union man +who knew the country in the direction of Rienzi, the point which I now +determined to reach. This gentleman lived half a mile distant, and my host +accompanied me to a thicket near his house, where I concealed myself till +he brought Mr. ---- to me. Said my friend No. 2, "I am not familiar with +the route to Rienzi, but will go with you to friend No. 3, who I am +positive is well acquainted with the road. He can take you through the +woods, so as to avoid the Confederate cavalry. As I undertake this at the +risk of my life, we must wait till night. I would gladly have you come to +my house, but I fear that it might transpire through my children that I +had helped you to escape. I have a large family, and most of 'em is gals, +and you know gals will talk. You can stay in my barn till I come for you. +I will carry you provisions during the day, and to-night we will go to my +friend's." + +About three o'clock in the morning, he came with two horses, one of which +he mounted, and I the other. The horse I rode was a blooded animal, and to +use my friend's expression, could run like a streak of lightning. I +provided myself with a good whip, resolving, in case of danger, to put my +horse to his utmost speed. A short time after daylight, we reached friend +No. 3, who promised to conduct me to Rienzi. While at his house, I learned +that a Unionist, Mr. N----, had been killed under circumstances of the +greatest cruelty. His sentiments had become known to the rebels. He was +arrested by their cavalry, and refusing to take the oath, they resolved to +put him to death on the spot. He had a large family of small children, +who, together with his wife, begged that his life might be spared. He +himself had no favours to ask of the secessionists. Among his foes, the +only point of dispute was, as to the mode of his death. Some favoured +shooting, some hanging; but the prevailing majority were in favour of +scalding him to death. And there, in the presence of his weeping and +helpless family, these fiends in human form _deliberately heated water, +with which they scalded to death their chained and defenceless victim_. +Thus perished a patriot of whom the State was not worthy. The corpse was +then suspended from a tree, with a label on the breast, stating that +whoever cut him down and buried him, should suffer the same fate. My +companions cut down the corpse by night, and buried it in the forest. May +God reward them! + +My friend No. 3 thought that it would be best to travel in daylight. He +could follow by-paths, and avoid the rebel cavalry. We started about eight +o'clock on Friday morning, and met with no incident worth narrating until +we reached a mill; here we fell in with some six or seven rebel soldiers, +who had been out on sick furlough, and were returning. They scanned us +closely, and inquired whence we came, and whither bound. My friend +specified a neighbourhood from which he affirmed we came, and stated that +we were hunting stray oxen, asking whether they had seen a black ox and a +pied ox in their travels. They replied in the negative; and in turn asked +him who I was. He replied that I was his wife's brother, who had come from +Alabama about three months ago. They said I looked like "death on a pale +hoss," and wished to know what was the matter with me--if I were +consumptive. My friend replied that I had had the chills for several +months; and as there was no quinine in the country, it was impossible to +stop them. + +During this inquisition, I was ready at any moment to put spur to my +horse, and run a race for life, had any attempt been made to arrest me, or +if I had been recognised by any of the soldiers. We were, however, +permitted to pass on, not without some suspicious glances. We at length +reached a point ten miles from Rienzi. My guide now insisted on returning. +It would be morning ere he reached home, and if met by cavalry, he must +invent some plausible excuse for having a led horse. Nor did he dare +return by the same route. Knowing the country, I permitted him to return. +I then set out on foot, and at length reached the Federal pickets, three +miles from Rienzi, where a horse was furnished me; and about ten o'clock I +reached the head-quarters of Colonel Misner in Rienzi. When I gazed upon +the star-spangled banner, beneath whose ample folds there was safety and +protection--when I saw around me the Union hosts--I shed tears of joy, and +from the depths of my heart returned thanks to Almighty God, who had +given me my life at my request, preserving me, amid dangers seen and +unseen, till I now was safe amid hosts of friends. + +Colonel Misner requested me to report all that would be of service to +General Rosecrans, which I did, he copying my report as I gave it. I +reported, so far as I was informed, the probable number of troops in and +around Tupelo, the topography of the country, the probable designs of the +rebels, the number of troops sent to Richmond under Beauregard, &c. The +Colonel requested me to go with him to head-quarters in the morning; but +at the hour specified I was sick, and my physician, Dr. Holley, of the +Thirty-sixth Illinois, thought it would not be advisable for me to go, +even in an ambulance. My report, however, was carried up to General +Rosecrans. + +Through proper treatment I recovered in a few days, so as to be able to go +into Jacinto, the nearest point in the Federal lines to my family. I +called on General Jefferson C. Davis, who was in command of that post. The +General had heard of my arrest, and expressed gratification at my safe +return. I informed him of my desire to get my family within the lines. The +General immediately proffered me all the cavalry at his command, and +ordered them to prepare for the expedition. I thankfully accepted his kind +offer, but after reflection concluded to send a messenger first, with a +letter to my wife; if he were not intercepted, I knew that she would come +in as soon as possible. The order to the cavalry was countermanded until +this plan would be tried. The messenger was not intercepted, and on the +next day I had the pleasure of beholding my wife and child, whose faces, a +short time before, I had given up all hope of ever beholding on earth. + +While here, I called on my friend, Lieutenant Richard Malone, who resides +in Jacinto. On inquiring at his house for him, he heard my voice, and ran +out to the gate to meet me. Grasping my hand, he could not for some time +control his emotions so as to speak. + +Malone gave me his history since we had parted at the outer wall of the +prison. He reached the corn-field at the point designated, and anxiously +awaited my arrival until near daylight, when he was compelled to seek +safety in flight. We had agreed to meet in the corn-field at a place where +there was a garment suspended upon the fence. We think there must have +been two garments suspended at different points, and hence our mistake. We +could not signal loud in consequence of the nearness of the pickets, and +therefore did not meet. Soon after daylight, Malone found himself in the +midst of a cavalry company which had encamped there during the night; they +were making preparations for departure, and the majority of them were +gathering blackberries. Joining them, he passed as a citizen, and when he +reached the rear of the company, he gathered some sticks in his arms, and +started towards a small cabin at a short distance, as if it were his +residence. Before reaching it, he made a detour to the right, and passed +into the dense woods. On the next day, about ten o'clock, A. M., he +reached an open champaign country, through which it would have been +dangerous to travel. To the west, about three hundred yards distant, was a +dense woods, which he hoped to reach without detection. While travelling +down a road for this purpose, four cavalrymen who were in pursuit dashed +towards him, and ordered him to return with them to Tupelo. Malone +replied, that as it was useless to resist, he must submit. He asked for +some water; they had none in their canteens, but went to a house in the +distance to obtain some. Malone was ordered to march before them, which he +was compelled to do, though famishing from hunger and thirst. On reaching +the house, they all went to the well and drew a bucket of water. There +being no dipper, Malone remarked that he would go into the house and get +one. One of the guards followed, and stationed himself at the door with +his gun. Malone went into the house, and immediately passed out at the +back door. The garden gate being open, he passed into the garden, when he +commenced running. Two women in the house noticed his running, and +clapping their hands exclaimed, "Your Yankee's gone! Your Yankee's gone!" +The guards immediately followed, ordering him to halt, and firing at him +with their revolvers. Malone quickly reached a corn-field, and soon after +a swamp, whence he made good his escape, and after various vicissitudes +reached his family in Jacinto, where I now found him. + +I returned to Rienzi with my family, resolved to leave for the North. My +wife, before leaving her father's, learned, through a letter sent by a +rebel officer to his wife, that all the guards who were on duty during the +night I escaped from prison, were placed under close arrest, and were +still in the dungeon at the time of his writing. There were eleven guards +on each relief, and three reliefs during the night; there were, therefore, +thirty-three guards placed under arrest because of my escape. + +On the night previous to our departure from Rienzi, we were honoured with +a serenade, through the politeness of General Granger, of the cavalry, and +Colonel Bryner, of the Forty-seventh Illinois Regiment. Being called on +for a speech, I thus responded: + + GENTLEMEN--I return you sincere thanks for the honour intended myself + and family. In the language of the last tune played by your band, I + truly feel at "home again," and it fills my soul with joy to meet my + friends once more. What a vast difference a few miles makes! Tupelo is + about forty miles south of Rienzi, on an air-line. There I was + regarded as a base ingrate, as a despicable traitor, as an enemy to + the country, chained as a felon, doomed to die, and before the + execution of the sentence, subjected to every species of insult and + contumely. Here I meet with the kindest expressions of sympathy from + officers of all ranks, from the subaltern to the general, and there is + not a private soldier who has heard my tale of woe, who does not + manifest a kindly sympathy. + + I hope that you will soon pass south of Tupelo; but in your march to + the Gulf, may you fare better than I did in my journey to this place. + Green corn eaten raw, berries, and stagnant water, would soon cause + you to present the emaciated appearance that I do. On your route, call + upon the secession sympathizers, and compel them to furnish you with + better and more substantial food. My horse I left at Tupelo. He is a + valuable animal. The rebel General Hardee, in the true spirit of + secession, appropriated--that is, stole--him. However, I did not call + to demand him when I left. Being in haste, I did not choose to spare + the time, and leaving in the night, I did not wish to disturb the + slumbers of the Tupelonians. He is a bright bay. If you meet with him, + you may have him for nothing. I would much prefer that he serve the + Federal army. + + If you take General Jordan prisoner, send me word, and I will furnish + you with the iron bands that he put on me, by which you may secure him + till he meets the just award of his crimes, which would be death, for + destroying the lives of so many Union men. + + I hope that you may soon plant the stars and stripes on the shores of + the Gulf of Mexico, and play the "Star-spangled Banner" within + hearing of its vertiginous billows, after having conquered every foe + to the permanence of the glorious Union. I close with the sentiment of + the immortal Jackson, which I wish you to bear constantly in mind, in + your victorious progress--"The Federal Union--it must and shall be + preserved!" Relying upon the God of battles, rest assured that the + right cause will triumph, and that after having secured the great + object of your warfare, the preservation of the Union, your children + and your children's children will rise up and call you blessed, + rejoicing in the enjoyment of a free, united, and happy country. + + Wishing you abundant success, I beg leave to retire. + +On Saturday, the 2d of August, 1862, we left Rienzi, _en route_ for the +North, in company with William H. Hubbard, Esq., and family, who were also +refugees. From the moment I reached the Federal lines I experienced +nothing but kindness. I could not mention all who are deserving of thanks +from myself and family. I am under special obligations to Generals Nelson, +Rosecrans, Granger, Davis, and Asboth; also to Colonel Bryner and +Lieutenant Colonel Thrush, of the Forty-seventh Illinois, and Surgeon +Lucas, of same regiment, and to Dr. Holley, of the Thirty-sixth Illinois +Volunteers; to Josiah King, Esq., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Dr. +McCook, of Steubenville, Ohio; also Mrs. Ann Wheelwright, of Newburyport, +Massachusetts, whose kind letter will ever be remembered, and whose +"material aid" entitles her to lasting gratitude; and to Rev. George +Potts, D. D., of New York; and Mr. William E. Dubois, of Philadelphia; +Rev. Dr. Sprole, Newburgh, New York; Rev. N. Hewitt, D. D., Bridgeport, +Connecticut; and Rev. F. N. Ewing, Chicago, Illinois; Rev. J. M. Krebs, D. +D., New York; Rev. A. D. Smith, D. D., New York; and Rev. F. Reck +Harbaugh, Philadelphia, and many others. + +Before closing this chapter I would mention the following incident: + +On Wednesday evening, November 19th, I addressed the citizens of +Philadelphia at the Sixth Presbyterian Church, (Rev. F. Reck Harbaugh's.) +A report of this address found its way into the city papers. Two days +afterwards, while in conversation with Mr. Martien, at his book-store, two +soldiers entered, one of whom approached, and thus addressed me: + +"Do you know me, sir?" + +I replied: "Your face is familiar, but I do not remember your name. It is +my misfortune not to be able to remember proper names." + +"I read the report of your address in the newspaper, and through the aid +of my comrade, I have succeeded in finding you. We have met before, at +Tupelo." + +At the mention of Tupelo, I immediately recognised in the speaker the man +who, after labouring with the others in sundering my chain, engaged the +guard, who sat in the doorway, in conversation, while I watched an +opportunity to disappear under the prison. Grasping him warmly by the +hand, I said: "I now recognise you. You are Mr. Howell Trogdon, of +Missouri, late my fellow-prisoner in Tupelo. How and when did you succeed +in leaving that prison?" + +"Being a Federal prisoner, I was removed from Tupelo to Mobile, and there +parolled on the 26th of August last." + +"When was I missed after my escape, and how did the officers act when they +learned that I was gone?" + +"You were missed at roll-call, the next morning, and in a short time, many +officers came into the prison. They were greatly enraged at this, your +second flight. The prisoners were closely questioned as to their +complicity in your escape, but they denied all knowledge of the matter. +Soon all the prison-guards on duty during the night, thirty-three in +number, were brought into the prison in chains. The cavalry was ordered +out in search of you, and directed to shoot you down wherever found. The +mode of your escape was not discovered, and the officers were of the +opinion that you had bribed the guards. _From that time, the officers +became more cruel than ever, and in two weeks, thirty-two of our +fellow-prisoners were taken out and shot!_ We never learned whether you +had succeeded in escaping to the Union lines. We feared that you were +overtaken and shot, or that you perished in the swamps from hunger, +thirst, and fatigue. I hope soon to see McHatten, Speer, De Grummond, and +Soper, who are also parolled, and they will rejoice to learn that you +still live. During the night of your escape, we slept but little, through +fear that _our chaplain_ might be shot by the guards, and I assure you +many fervent prayers ascended to Heaven for your safety." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +SOUTHERN CLASSES--CRUELTY TO SLAVES. + + Sandhillers--Dirt-eating--Dipping--Their Mode of + Living--Patois--Rain-book--Wife-trade--Coming in to see the + Cars--Superstition--Marriage of Kinsfolks--Hardshell Sermon--Causes + which lead to the Degradation of this Class--Efforts to Reconcile the + Poor Whites to the Peculiar Institution--The Slaveholding Class--The + Middle Class--Northern Isms--Incident at a Methodist Minister's + House--Question asked a Candidate for Licensure--Reason of Southern + Hatred toward the North--Letter to Mr. Jackman--Barbarities and + Cruelties of Slavery--Mulattoes--Old Cole--Child Born at + Whipping-post--Advertisement of a Keeper of Bloodhounds--Getting Rid + of Free Blacks--The Doom of Slavery--Methodist Church South. + + +The sojourner in the Slave States is struck with the wretched and degraded +appearance of a class of people called by the slaveholders, "poor white +folks," and "the tallow-faced gentry," from their pallid complexion. They +live in wretched hovels, dress slatternly, and are exceedingly filthy in +their habits. Many of them are clay or dirt-eaters, which is said to cause +their peculiar complexion. Their children, at a very early age, form this +filthy and disgusting habit; and mere infants may be found with their +mouths filled with dirt. The mud with which they daub the interstices +between the logs of their rude domicils, must be frequently renewed, as +the occupants pick it all out in a very short time, and eat it. This +pernicious practice induces disease. The complexion becomes pale, similar +to that occasioned by chronic ague and fever. + +Akin to this is the practice of snuff-dipping, which is not confined +exclusively to females of the poor white caste, though scarcely one in +fifty of this class is exempt from the disgusting habit. The method is +this: The female snuff-dipper takes a short stick, and wetting it with her +saliva, dips it into her snuff-box, and then rubs the gathered dust all +about her mouth, and into the interstices of her teeth, where she allows +it to remain until its strength has been fully absorbed. Others hold the +stick thus loaded with snuff in the cheek, _a la quid_ of tobacco, and +suck it with a decided relish, while engaged in their ordinary +avocations; while others simply fill the mouth with the snuff, and +imitate, to all intents and purposes, the chewing propensities of the men. +In the absence of snuff, tobacco in the plug or leaf is invariably +resorted to as a substitute. Oriental betel-chewing, and the Japanese +fashion of blacking the teeth of married ladies, are the height of +elegance compared with snuff-dipping. The habit leads to a speedy decay of +the teeth, and to nervous disorders of every kind. Those who indulge in it +become haggard at a very early age. + +The _Petersburg_ (Va.) _Express_ estimates the number of women in that +State as one hundred and twenty-five thousand, one hundred thousand of +whom are snuff-dippers. Every five of these will use a two-ounce paper of +snuff per day; that is, to the hundred thousand dippers, two thousand five +hundred pounds a day, amounting, in one year, to the enormous quantity of +nine hundred and twelve thousand pounds. This practice prevails generally, +it says, among the poor whites, though some females of the higher classes +are guilty of it. + +The poor whites obtain their subsistence, as far as practicable, in the +primitive aboriginal mode, viz., by hunting and fishing. When these +methods fail to afford a supply, they cultivate a truck-patch, and some of +them raise a bale or two of cotton, with the proceeds of the sale of which +they buy whiskey, tobacco, and a few necessary articles. When all other +methods fail, they resort to stealing, to which many of them are addicted +from choice, as well as from necessity. They are exceeding slovenly in +their habits, cleanliness being a rare virtue. Indolence is a prevailing +vice, and its lamentable effects are everywhere visible. They fully obey +the scriptural injunction, take no thought for the morrow. A present +supply, sufficient to satisfy nature's most urgent demands, being +obtained, their care ceases, and they relapse into listless inactivity. +They herd together upon the poor sand-hills, the refuse land of the +country, which the rich slaveholder will not purchase, for which reason, +they are sometimes called sand-hillers, and here they live, and their +children, and their children's children, through successive generations, +in the same deplorable condition of wretchedness and degradation. + +They are exceedingly ignorant; not one adult in fifty can write; not one +in twenty can read. They can scarcely be said to speak the English +language, using a patois which is scarcely intelligible. An old lady thus +related an incident of which her daughter "_Sal_" was the heroine. "My +darter Sal yisterday sot the lather to the damsel tree, and clim up, and +knocked some of the nicest saftest damsels I ever seed in my born days." I +once called to make some inquiry about the road, at a small log tenement, +inhabited by a sand-hiller and family. A sheet was hanging upon the wall, +containing the portraits of the Presidents of the United States. I +remarked to the lady of the house that those were, I believed, the +pictures of the Presidents. + +"Yes!" she replied; "they is, and I've hearn tell of 'em a long time. They +must be gittin' mighty old, ef some of 'em aint dead. That top one," she +continued, "is Gineral Washington. I've hearn of him ever sence I was a +gal. He must be gittin' up in years, ef he aint dead. Him and Gineral +Jackson fit the British and Tories at New Orleans, and whipped 'em, too." + +She seemed to pride herself greatly on her historical knowledge. + +One of these geniuses once informed me of a peculiar kind of book "he'd +hearn tell on," that the Yankees had. He had forgotten its name, but thus +described it: "It told the day of the week the month come in on. It told +when we was a gwine to have rain, and what kind of wether we was gwine to +have in gineral. May-be they call it a rain-book." + +I replied that I had heard of the book, and I believed that it was called +an Almanac. + +"You've said it now," remarked the man. "It's a alminick, and I'd give +half I's wuth to have one. I'd no when to take a umberell, and if I +haddent nary one, I'd no when I could go a huntin' without gittin' wet." + +Two of these semi-savages had resolved to remove to the West, in hope of +bettering their condition. One wished to remove to Arkansas, the other to +Texas. The wife of the former wished to go to Texas, the latter to +Arkansas. The husbands were desirous of gratifying their spouses, but +could devise no plan that seemed likely to prove satisfactory, till one +day when hunting, finding game scarce, they sat down upon a log, when the +following dialogue took place: + +"Kit, I'm sort o' pestered about Dilsie. She swars to Rackensack she'll +go, and no whar else. I allers had a hankerin' arter Texas. Plague take +Rackensack, I say! Ef a man war thar, the ager and the airthquakes ed +shake him out on it quicker en nothin'." + +"When a woman's set on a gwine anywhar, they're a gwine. It's jest no use +to talk. I've coaxed Minnie more'n a little to go long with me to +Arkansas, and the more I coax, the more she wont go." + +"Well, Kit, 'sposen we swap women." + +"Well, Sam, what trade'll ye gin?" + +"Oh! a gentleman's trade, of course!" + +"Shucks, Sam! 'sposen I had a young filly, and you a old mar, ye wouldn't +ax an even trade, would ye?" + +"No; it 'ud be too hard. I tell you what I'll do, Kit. Here's a shot-gun +that's wuth ten dollars, ef it's wuth a red. I'll give it and that ar +b'ar-skin hangin' on the side of my shanty, to boot, and say it's a +trade." + +"Nuff sed, ef the women's agreed." + +Home they went, and stated the case to the women, who, _after due +deliberation_, acceded to the proposition, having also made a satisfactory +arrangement about the children, and they all soon went on their way +rejoicing to their respective destinations in that + + "American's haven of eternal rest, + Found a little farther West." + +On the Sabbath after the completion of the Memphis and Charleston +railroad, a large number of the sand-hillers came to Iuka Springs, to +witness the passing of the cars. Arriving too early, they visited a church +where divine service was progressing. Whilst the minister was in the midst +of his sermon, the locomotive whistle sounded, when a stampede took place +to the railroad. The exodus left the parson almost alone in his glory. +The passing train caused the most extravagant expressions and gestures of +wonder and astonishment by these rude observers. It was an era in their +life. + +Once while standing on the railroad-track, I observed a crowd of these +people coming to see the "_elephant_." They came so near, that I overheard +their conversation. One young lass, of sweet sixteen, with slattern dress +and dishevelled hair, looking up the road, which was visible for a great +distance, thus expressed her astonishment at what she saw: "O, dad! what a +long piece of iron!" Soon the whistle sounded; this they had never heard +before, and came to the conclusion that it was a dinner-horn. As soon as +the cars came in sight, they scattered like frightened sheep, some on one +side of the road, and some on the other. Nor did they halt till they had +placed fifty yards at least between them and the track. + +Superstition prevails amongst them to a fearful extent. Almost every hut +has a horse-shoe nailed above the door, or on the threshold, to keep out +witches. In sickness, charms and incantations are used to drive away +disease. Their physicians are chiefly what are termed faith-doctors, who +are said to work miraculous cures. They are strong believers in luck. If a +rabbit cross their path, they will turn round to change their luck. If, on +setting out on a journey, an owl hoot on the left hand, they will return +and set out anew. If the new moon is seen through brush, or on the left +hand, it is a bad omen. They will have trouble during the lunar month. +When the whippoorwill is first heard in the spring, they turn head over +heels thrice, to prevent back-ache during the year. Dreams are harbingers +of joy or wo. To dream of snakes, is ominous. To dream of seeing a coffin, +or conversing with the dead, is a sign of approaching dissolution, and +many have no doubt perished through terror, occasioned by such dreams. +Fortune-tellers are rife amongst them--those sages whose comprehensive +view knows the past, the present, and the future. They seek unto familiar +spirits, that peep and mutter, for the living to the dead. + +They have many deformed, and blind, and deaf among them, in consequence of +the intermarriage of relatives. Cousins often marry, and occasionally they +marry within the degrees of consanguinity prohibited by the law of God. +Perhaps this divine law forbids the marriage of cousins when it declares, +"Thou shalt not marry any that is near of kin." The sad effects on +posterity, both mentally and physically, lead to the conviction that if +the law of God does not condemn it, physiological law does. + +These sand-hillers do not (when no serious preventive occurs) fail to +attend the elections, where the highest bidder obtains their vote. +Sometimes their vote will command cash, and sometimes only whiskey. It is +sad to witness the elective franchise, that highest and most glorious +badge of a freeman, thus prostituted. + +The proverb holds good--Like people, like priest. Their ministers are +ignorant, ranting fanatics. They despise literature, and every Sabbath +fulminate censures upon an educated ministry. The following is a specimen +of their preaching. Mr. V---- is a Hard-shell Baptist, or, as they term +themselves, "Primitive Baptists." Entering the pulpit on a warm morning in +July, he will take off his coat and vest, roll up his sleeves, and then +begin: + + MY BRETHERING AND SISTERN--I air a ignorant man, follered the plough + all my life, and never rubbed agin nary college. As I said afore, I'm + ignorant, and I thank God for it. (Brother Jones responds, "Passon, + yer ort to be very thankful, fur yer very ignorant.") Well, I'm agin + all high larnt fellers what preaches grammar and Greek fur a thousand + dollars a year. They preaches fur the money, and they gits it, and + that's all they'll git. They've got so high larnt they contradicts + Scripter, what plainly tells us that the sun rises and sets. They seys + it don't, but that the yerth whirls round, like clay to the seal. What + ud cum of the water in the wells ef it did. Wodent it all spill out, + and leave 'em dry, and whar ed we be? I may say to them, as the + sarpent said unto David, much learning hath made thee mad. + + When I preaches, I never takes a tex till I goes inter the pulpit; + then I preaches a plain sarment, what even women can understand. I + never premedertates, but what is given to me in that same hour, that I + sez. Now I'm a gwine ter open the Bible, and the first verse I sees, + I'm a gwine to take it for a tex. (Suiting the action to the word, he + opened the Bible, and commenced reading and spelling together.) Man is + f-e-a-r-f-u-l-l-y--fearfully--and + w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l-l-y--wonderfully--m-a-d-e--mad.--"Man is fearfully + and wonderfully made." (Pronounced _mad_.) Well, it's a quar tex, but + I said I's a gwine to preach from it, and I'm a gwine to do it. In the + fust place, I'll divide my sarment into three heads. Fust and + foremost, I show you that a man will git mad. 2d. That sometimes he'll + git fearfully mad; and thirdly and lastly, when thar's lots of things + to vex and pester him, he'll git fearfully and wonderfully mad. And in + the application I'll show you that good men sometimes gits mad, for + the Posle David hisself, who rote the tex, got mad, and called all men + liars, and cussed his enemies, wishen' 'em to go down quick into hell; + and Noah, he got tite, and cussed his nigger boy Ham, just like some + drunken masters now cusses their niggers. But Noah and David repented; + and all on us what gits mad must repent, or the devil'll git us. + +Thus he ranted, to the great edification of his hearers, who regard him as +a perfect Boanerges, to which title his stentorian voice would truly +entitle him. This exordium will serve as a specimen of the "sarment," as +it continued in the same strain to the end of the peroration. + +Where there is no vision, the people perish. Such blind leaders of the +blind are liable, with their infatuated followers, to fall into a ditch +worse than Bunyan's Slough of Despond. This minister had undoubtedly run +when he was not sent, though he "had hearn a call; a audible voice had, +while he was a shucken corn, said unto him, Preach." Though God does not +need men's learning, yet he has as little use for their ignorance. +Learning is the handmaid of religion, but must not be substituted in its +stead. + +The causes which induce this "wilderness of mind" are patent to all who +make even a cursory examination. There is a tendency in the poor to ape +the manners of the rich. Those having slaves to labour in their stead, +toil not physically; hence labour falls into disrepute, and the poorer +classes, having no slaves to work for them, and not choosing to submit to +the degradation of labour, incur all the evils resulting from idleness and +poverty. Ignorance and vice of every kind soon ensue, and a general apathy +prevails, which destroys in a great measure all mental and physical +vigour. + +The slaveholders buy up all the fertile lands to be cultivated by their +slaves; hence the poor are crowded out, and if they remain in the vicinity +of the place of their nativity, they must occupy the poor tracts whose +sterility does not excite the cupidity of their rich neighbours. The +slaveholders' motto is, "Let us buy more negroes to raise more cotton, to +buy more negroes, and so on _ad infinitum_." To raise more cotton they +must also buy more land. Small farmers are induced to sell out to them, +and move further west. For this reason, the white population of the +fertile sections of the older slave States is constantly on the decrease, +while the slave population is as constantly increasing. Thus the +slaveholder often acquires many square miles of land, and hundreds of +human chattels. He is, as it were, set alone in the earth. Priding himself +upon his wealth, he will not send his princely sons to the same school +with the poor white trash; he either sends them to some distant college or +seminary, or employs a private teacher exclusively for his children. The +poor whites in the neighbourhood, even should they desire to educate their +children, have no means to pay for their tuition. Compelled to live on +poor or worn-out lands, honest toil considered degrading, and forced to +submit to many inconveniences and disabilities (all the offices of honour +and profit being monopolized by the slaveholders,) through the workings of +the "peculiar institution," they find it utterly impossible to educate +their offspring, even in the rudiments of their mother tongue. As the +power of slavery increases, their condition waxes worse and worse. + +The slaveocracy becomes more exacting. Laws are passed by the legislature +compelling non-slaveholders to patrol the country nightly, to prevent +insurrections by the negroes. They denounce the law, but coercion is +resorted to, and the poor whites are forced to obey. When their masters +call for them, they must leave their labour, by day or by night, patrol +the country, follow the bloodhounds, arrest the fugitive slave, and do all +other dirty work which their tyrants demand. If they refuse to obey, they +are denounced as abolitionists, and are in danger of death at the hands of +Judge Lynch, the mildest punishment they can hope for being a coat of tar +and feathers. + +The house-negroes feel themselves several degrees above the poor whites, +as they, from their opportunities for observation amongst the higher +classes, are possessed of greater information and less rusticity than this +less favoured class. The poor whites have no love for the institution of +slavery. They regard it as the instrument of inflicting upon them many +wrongs, and depriving them of many rights. They dare not express their +sentiments to the slaveholders, who hold them completely under their +power. A. G. Brown, United States Senator from Mississippi, to reconcile +the poor whites to the peculiar institution, used the following arguments +in a speech at Iuka Springs, Mississippi. He stated, that if the slaves +were liberated, and suffered to remain in the country, the rich would have +money to enable them to go to some other clime, and that the poor whites +would be compelled to remain amongst the negroes, who would steal their +property, and destroy their lives; and if slavery were abolished, and the +negroes removed and colonized, the rich would take the poor whites for +slaves, in their stead, and reduce them to the condition of the Irish and +Dutch in the North, whose condition he represented to be one of cruel +bondage. These statements had some effect upon his auditors, who +believed, from sad experience, that the rich could oppress the poor as +they chose, and might, in the contingency specified, reduce them to +slavery. Labour is considered so degrading, that any argument, based upon +making labour compulsory on their part, has its weight. Even the beggar +despises work. A sturdy beggar asked alms at a house at which I was +lodging. As he appeared to be a man of great physical strength, he was +advised to go to work, and thus provide for his wants. "Work!" said he, in +disgust; "niggers do the work in this country"--and retired highly +insulted. + +This people form a distinct class, distinguished by as many +characteristics from the middle and higher classes of Southern society, as +the Jews are from the nations amongst whom they sojourn. The causes which +brought about their reduction to their present state of semi-barbarism, +must be removed, ere they can rise to the condition whence they have +fallen. They must rise upon the ruins of slavery. When the peculiar +institution is abolished, then, and not till then, will their disabilities +be removed, and they be in reality what they are nominally--freemen. + +Slaveholders and their families form a distinct class, characterized by +idleness, vanity, licentiousness, profanity, dissipation, and tyranny. +There are glorious exceptions, it is true, but those are the +distinguishing traits of the class. The middle class is the virtuous class +of the South. They are industrious, frugal, hospitable, simple in their +habits, plain and unostentatious in their manners. Some of this class are +small slaveholders, but the great majority own none. The gross vices of +the higher class are not found among them. They labour regardless of the +sneers of their aristocratic neighbours. Senator Hammond, of South +Carolina, may call them mudsills; they regard it not, but pursue the even +tenor of their way. The slow, unmoving finger of scorn may be pointed at +them by the sons of pride, yet they refuse to eat the bread of idleness, +and labour with their _own hands_, that they may provide things honest in +the sight of all men. Equidistant from poverty and riches, they enjoy the +golden mean, and immunity from the temptations incident to the extremes of +abject poverty and great riches. + +In the slave States all those born north of the "nigger line," are +denominated Yankees. This is applied as a term of reproach. When a +southerner is angry with a man of northern nativity, he does not fail to +stigmatize him as a Yankee. The slaveholders manifest considerable +antipathy against the Yankees, which has been increasing during the last +ten years. In 1858, the Legislature of Mississippi passed resolutions +recommending non-intercourse with the "Abolition States," and requesting +the people not to patronize natives of those States residing amongst them, +and especially to discountenance Yankee ministers and teachers. In the +educational notice of Memphis Synodical College, at La Grange, Tennessee, +it is expressly stated that the Faculty are of southern birth and +education. The principals of the Female Seminaries at Corinth and Iuka, +Mississippi, give notice that no Yankee teachers will be employed in those +institutions. While on a visit at the house of a Methodist clergyman, +quite a number of ministers, returning from Conference, called to tarry +for the night. During the evening, one of them, learning that I was +"_Yankee born_," thus interrogated me: "Why is it, sir, that all kinds of +delusions originate in the North, such as Millerism, Mormonism, +Spirit-rappings, and Abolitionism?" To which I replied: "The North +originates everything. All the text-books used in southern schools, all +the books on law, physic, and divinity, are written and published north of +Mason & Dixon's line. The South does not even print Bibles. The magnetic +telegraph, the locomotive, Lucifer matches, and even the cotton-gin, are +all northern inventions. The South, sir, has not sense enough to invent a +decent humbug. These humbugs once originated, the South is always well +represented by believers in them. I have known more men to go from this +county (Shelby county, Tennessee) to the Mormons, than I have known to go +from the whole State of Ohio." + +When I had thus spoken, my inquisitor was nonplussed, and the laugh went +against him. + +When a candidate before the Presbytery of Chickasaw, in Mississippi, for +licensure, one of the members of Presbytery, learning that I was a +"Yankee," asked me the following questions, and received the following +answers: + +"Mr. Aughey, when will the day of judgment take place?" + +"The Millerites have stated that the 30th of June next will be the +judgment-day. As for myself, I have had no revelation on the subject, and +expect none." + +"Do you believe that any one can call the spirits?" + +"I do, sir." + +"What! believe that the spirits can be called?" + +"I do, sir." + +"I will vote, then, against your licensure, if you have fallen into this +heresy of the land of your nativity." + +Another then said: + +"Brother Aughey, please explain yourself. I know you do not believe in +spirit-rapping." + +"I do not, sir, though I believe, as I stated, that any one may call the +spirits; but I do not believe that they will come in answer to the call." + +A lady once remarked to me that she did not believe that a northern man +would ever become fully reconciled to the institution of slavery, and that +his influence and sentiments, whatever might be his profession of +attachment to the peculiar institution, would be against it. The cause of +the general opposition to northern men is their opposition to slavery. +Their testimony is against its abominations and barbarities, and hence the +wish to impair the credibility of the witnesses. + +An illustration of the working of the institution may be found in the +following letter: + + KOSCIUSKO, ATTALA COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, + December 25, 1861. + + MR. WILLIAM JACKMAN: + + DEAR SIR--Your last kind and truly welcome letter came to hand in due + course of mail. I owe you an apology for delaying an answer so long. + My apparent neglect was occasioned by no want of respect for you; but + in consequence of the disturbed state of the country, and difficulty + of communication with the North, I feared my reply would never reach + you. Now, however, by directing "_via_ Norfolk and flag of truce," + letters are sent across the lines to the North. In your letter you + desired me, from this stand-point, to give you my observations of the + workings of the peculiar institution, and an expression of my views as + to its consistency with the eternal principles of rectitude and + justice. In reply, I will give you a plain narrative of facts. + + On my advent to the South, I was at first struck with the fact that + the busy hum of labour had in some measure ceased. What labour I did + observe progressing, was done with little skill, and mainly by + negroes. I called upon the Rev. Dr. R. J. Breckinridge, to whom I had + a letter of introduction, who treated me with the greatest kindness, + inviting me to make his house my home when I visited that section of + country. On leaving his house, he gave me some directions as to the + road I must travel to reach a certain point. "You will pass," said he, + "a blacksmith's shop, where a one-eyed man is at work--my property." + The phrase, "my property," I had never before heard applied to a human + being, and though I had never been taught to regard the relation of + master and slave as a sinful relation, yet it grated harshly upon my + ears to hear a human being, a tradesman, called a chattel; but it + grated much more harshly, a week after this, to hear the groans of two + such chattels, as they underwent a severe flagellation, while chained + to the whipping-post, because they had, by half an hour, overstayed + their time with their families on an adjoining plantation. + + The next peculiar abomination of the peculiar institution which I + observed, was the licentiousness engendered by it. Mr. D. T----, of + Madison county, Kentucky, had a white family of children, and a black, + or rather mulatto family. As his white daughters married, he gave each + a mulatto half-sister, as a waiting-girl, or body-servant. Mr. + K.----, of Winchester, Kentucky, had a mulatto daughter, and he was + also the father of her child, thus re-enacting Lot's sin. Dr. C----, + of Tishomingo county, Mississippi, has a negro concubine, and a white + servant to wait on her. Mr. B.----, of Marshall county, Mississippi, + lived with his white wife till he had grandchildren, some of whom came + to school to me, when he repudiated his white wife, and attached + himself to a very homely old African, who superintends his household, + and rules his other slaves with rigour. Mr. S----, of Tishomingo + county, Mississippi, has a negro concubine, and a large family of + mulatto children. He once brought this woman to church in Rienzi, to + the great indignation of the white ladies, who removed to a + respectable distance from her. + + I preached recently to a large congregation of slaves, the third of + whom were as white as myself. Some of them had red hair and blue eyes. + If there are any marked characteristics of their masters' families, + the mulatto slaves are possessed of these characteristics. I refer to + physical peculiarities, such as large mouths, humped shoulders, and + peculiar expressions of countenance. I asked a gentleman how it + happened that some of his slaves had red hair. He replied that he had + a red-headed overseer for several years. + + I never knew a pious overseer--never! There may be many, but I never + saw one. Overseers, as a class, are worse than slaveholders + themselves. They are cruel, brutal, licentious, dissipated, and + profane. They always carry a loaded whip, a revolver, and a + Bowie-knife. These men have the control of women, whom they often whip + to death. Mr. P----, who resided near Holly Springs, had a negro woman + whipped to death while I was at his house during a session of + Presbytery. Mr. C----, of Waterford, Mississippi, had a woman whipped + to death by his overseer. But such cruel scourgings are of daily + occurrence. Colonel H----, a member of my church, told me yesterday + that he ordered a boy, who he supposed was _feigning_ sickness, to the + whipping-post, but that he had not advanced ten steps toward it, when + he fell dead!--and the servant was free from his master. During our + conversation, a girl passed. "There is a girl," said he, "who does not + look very white in the face, owing to exposure; but when I strip her + to whip her, I find that she has a skin as fair as my wife." Mrs. + F---- recently whipped a boy to death within half a mile of my + residence. A jury of inquest returned a verdict that he came to his + death by cruelty; but nothing more was done. Mrs. M---- and her + daughter, of Holly Springs, abused a girl repeatedly. She showed her + bruises to some of my acquaintances, and they believed them fatal. She + soon after died. Mr. S----, a member of my church, has several maimed + negroes from abuse on the part of the overseer. + + I am residing on the banks of the Yock-a-nookany, which means + "meandering," when translated from the Indian tongue. In this vicinity + there are large plantations, cultivated by hundreds of negroes. The + white population is sparse. Every night the negroes are brought to a + judgment-seat. The overseer presides. If they have not laboured to + suit him, or if their task is unfulfilled, they are chained to a post, + and severely whipped. The victims are invariably stripped; to what + extent, is at the option of the overseer. In Louisiana, women, + preparatory to whipping, are often stripped to a state of perfect + nudity. Old Mr. C----, of Waterford, Mississippi, punished his negroes + _by slitting the soles of their feet with his Bowie-knife_! One man he + put into a cotton-press, and turned the screw till life was extinct. + He stated that he only intended to alarm the man, but carried the joke + too far. I have heard women thus plead, in piteous accents, when + chained to the whipping-post, and stripped: "O, my God, master! don't + whip me! I was sick! indeed I was sick! I had a chill, and the fever + is on me now! I haven't tasted a morsel to-day! You know I works when + I is well! O for God's sake don't whip a poor sick nigger! My poor + chile's sick too! Missis thinks it's a dyin'! O master, for the love + of God, don't cut a poor distressed woman wid your whip! I'll try to + do better, ef you'll only let me off this once!" These piteous + plaints only rouse the ire of their cruel task-masters, who sometimes + knock them down in the midst of their pleadings. I have known an + instance of a woman giving birth to a child at the whipping-post. The + fright and pain brought on premature labour. + + One beautiful Sabbath morning I stood on the levee at Baton Rouge, + Louisiana, and counted twenty-seven sugar-houses in full blast. I + found that the negroes were compelled to labour eighteen hours per + day, and were not permitted to rest on the Sabbath during the rolling + season. The negroes on most plantations have a truck-patch, which they + cultivate on the Sabbath. I have pointed out the sin of thus labouring + on the Sabbath, but they plead necessity; their children, they state, + must suffer from hunger if they did not cultivate their truck-patch, + and their masters would not give them time on any other day. + + Negroes, by law, are prohibited from learning to read. This law was + not strictly enforced in Tennessee and some other States till within + a few years past. I had charge of a Sabbath-school for the instruction + of blacks in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1853. This school was put down by + the strong arm of the law in a short time after my connection with it + ceased. In Mississippi, a man who taught slaves to read or write would + be sent to the penitentiary instanter. The popular plea for this + wickedness is, that if they were taught to read, they would read + abolition documents; and if they were taught to write, they would + write themselves passes, and pass northward to Canada. + + Such advertisements as the following often greet the eye. + + "_Kansas War._--The undersind taks this method of makkin it noan that + he has got a pack of the best nigger hounds in the South. My hounds is + well trand, and I has had much experience a huntin niggers, having + follered it for the last fiften year. I will go anywhar that I'm sent + for, and will ketch niggers at the follerin raits. + + "My raits fur ketchin runaway niggers $10 per hed, ef they's found in + the beat whar thar master lives; $15 if they's found in the county, + and $50 if they's tuck out on the county. + + "N. B.--Pay is due when the nigger is tuck. Planters ort to send fur + me as soon as thar niggers runs away, while thar trak is fresh." + + Every night the woods resound with the deep-mouthed baying of the + bloodhounds. The slaves are said by some to love their masters; but it + requires the terrors of bloodhounds and the fugitive slave law to keep + them in bondage. You in the North are compelled to act the part of the + bloodhounds here, and catch the fugitives for the planters of the + South. Free negroes are sold into bondage for the most trivial + offences. Slaveholders declare that the presence of free persons of + colour exerts a pernicious influence upon their slaves, rendering them + discontented with their condition, and inspiring a desire for freedom. + They therefore are very desirous of getting rid of these persons, + either by banishing them from the State or enslaving them. The + legislature of Mississippi has passed a law for their expulsion, and + other States have followed in the wake. The Governor of Missouri has + vetoed the law for the expulsion of free persons of colour, passed by + the legislature of that State because of its unconstitutionality. + + Were I to recount all the abominations of the peculiar institution, + and the wrongs inflicted upon the African race, that have come under + my observation, they would fill a large volume. Slavery is guilty of + six abominations; yea, seven may justly be charged upon it. It is said + that the negro is lazy, and will not work except by compulsion. I have + known negroes who have purchased their freedom by the payment of a + large sum, and afterward made not only a good living, but a fortune + beside. It is said Judge W---- of South Carolina gave his servants the + use of his plantation, upon condition that they would support his + family; and that in three years he was compelled to take the + management himself, as they did not make a comfortable living for + themselves and the Judge's family. In reply, it might be said that the + negroes had not a fair trial, as no one had any property he could call + his own, and they were thrown into a sort of Fourierite society, + having all things in common. In this state of things, while some would + work, others would be idle. White men do not succeed in such + communities, and for this reason it was no fair test of the industrial + energies of Judge W----'s slaves. + + The question is often asked, is slavery sinful in itself? My + observation has been extensive, embracing eight slave States, and I + have never yet seen any example of slavery that I did not deem sinful. + If slavery is not sinful in itself, I must have always seen it out of + itself. I have observed its workings during eleven years, amongst a + professedly Christian people, and cannot do otherwise than pronounce + it an unmitigated curse. It is a curse to the white man, it is a curse + to the black man. That God will curse it, and blot it out of existence + ere long, is my firm conviction. The elements of its abolition exist; + God speed the time when they will be fully developed, and this mother + of abominations driven from the land of the free! The development of + the eternal principles of justice and rectitude will abolish this + hoary monster of fraud and oppression. Slavery subverts all the rights + of man. It divests him of citizenship, of liberty, of the pursuit of + happiness, of his children, of his wife, of his property, of + intellectual culture, reserving to him only the rights of the horse + and ass, and reducing him to the same chattel condition with them. Not + a single right does the State law grant him above that of the + mule--no, not one. The chastity of the slave has no legal protection. + The Methodist Church South is expunging from the discipline everything + inimical to the peculiar institution, whilst I observe that the Church + North is adding to her testimony and deliverances against the sin of + slaveholding. The Church South refused to abide by the rules of the + Church, and hence the guilt of the schism lies with her, and you are + henceforth free from any guilt in conniving at the sin which the + founder of your church, the illustrious Wesley, regarded as the "sum + of all villany." + + Remember me kindly to Mrs. Jackman and family. Hoping to hear from + you soon, I beg leave to subscribe myself, + + Yours fraternally, + JOHN H. AUGHEY. + + To Mr. William Jackman, + Amsterdam, Jefferson Co., Ohio. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +NOTORIOUS REBELS.--UNION OFFICERS. + + Colonel Jefferson Davis--His Speech at Holly Springs, Mississippi--His + Opposition to Yankee Teachers and Ministers--A bid for the + Presidency--His Ambition--Burr, Arnold, Davis--General + Beauregard--Headquarters at Rienzi--Colonel Elliott's + Raid--Beauregard's Consternation--Personal description--His + illness--Popularity waning--Rev. Dr. Palmer of New Orleans--His + influence--The Cincinnati Letter--His Personal Appearance--His + Denunciations of General Butler--His Radicalism--Rev. Dr. Waddell of + La Grange, Tennessee--His Prejudices against the North--President of + Memphis Synodical College--His Talents prostituted--Union + Officers--General Nelson--General Sherman. + + +COLONEL JEFFERSON DAVIS. + +In 1856 I heard Colonel Jefferson Davis deliver an address at Holly +Springs, Mississippi. The Colonel is about a medium height, of slender +frame, his nose aquiline, his hair dark, his manners polite. He is no +orator. His speech was principally a tirade of abuse against the North, +bitterly inveighing against the emigrant aid societies which had +well-nigh put Kansas upon the list of free States. He advised the people +to employ no more Yankee teachers. He had been educated in the North, and +he regarded it as the greatest misfortune of his life. Soon after Colonel +Davis visited New England, where he eulogized that section in an +extravagant manner. He was pleased with everything he saw; even "Noah +Webster's Yankee spelling-book" received a share of the Colonel's fulsome +flattery. On his return to the South, "a change came o'er the spirit of +his dream," and his bile and bitterness against Yankee-land returned in +all its pristine vigour. The Colonel was making a bid for the Presidency; +but New England was not so easily gulled; his flimsy professions of +friendship were too transparent to hide the hate which lay beneath, and +his aspirations were doomed to disappointment. + +Though Colonel Davis is often called Mississippi's pet, yet he is not +regarded as a truthful man, and his reports and messages are received +with considerable abatement by "the chivalry." His ambition knows no +bounds. He would rather "reign in hell than serve in heaven." + +Had Jefferson Davis been elected President of the United States, he would +have been among the last instead of the first to favour secession. Had he +been slain on the bloody fields of Mexico, his memory would have been +cherished. History will assign him a place among the infamous. Burr, +Arnold, and Davis will be names for ever execrated by true patriots. The +two former died a natural death, though the united voice of their +countrymen would have approved of their execution on the gallows. The fate +of the latter lies still in the womb of futurity, though his loyal +countrymen, without a dissenting voice, declare that he deserves a felon's +doom. An announcement of his death would suffuse no patriot's eye with +tears. What loyalist would weep while he read the news-item--the arch +traitor Jeff. Davis is dead. + + +GENERAL G. T. BEAUREGARD. + +I met General Beauregard under very peculiar circumstances. I had gone to +Rienzi for the purpose of escaping to the Federal lines for protection +from the rigorous and sweeping conscript law. When I arrived, I found the +rebels evacuating Corinth, and their sick and wounded passing down the +Mobile and Ohio railroad to the hospitals below. General Beauregard had +just arrived in Rienzi, and had his headquarters at the house of Mr. +Sutherland. A rumour had spread through Rienzi that General Beauregard had +ordered the women and children to leave the town. Many of them, believing +that the order had been issued, were hastening into the country. In order +to confirm or refute the statement, I called upon General Beauregard, and +asked him whether he had issued such an order. He replied, "I have issued +no such order, sir." Just at that moment a courier arrived with the +information that the Yankees had attacked the advance of their retreating +army at Boonville, that they had destroyed the depot, and taken many +prisoners. The General told the courier that he must be mistaken; that it +was impossible for the Yankees to pass around his army. While he was yet +speaking a citizen arrived from Boonville, confirming the statement of the +courier. Beauregard was still incredulous, replying that they must have +mistaken the Confederates for the Yankees. In a few minutes the explosion +of shells shook the building. The General then thought that it might be +true that the Yankees had passed around the army; but on hearing the +shells, he stated that General Green (of Missouri) was driving them away +with his cannon. The truth was soon ascertained by the arrival of several +couriers. Col. Elliott, of the Federal army, had made a raid upon +Boonville, had fired the depot, and destroyed a large train of cars filled +with ammunition. The explosions of the shells which we heard was +occasioned by the fire reaching the ears in which these shells were +stored. The Colonel also destroyed the railroad to such an extent that it +required several days to repair the track. + +General Beauregard is below the medium height, and has a decidedly French +expression of countenance. His hair is quite gray, though a glance at his +face will convince the observer that it is prematurely so. The General is +regarded as taciturn. His countenance is careworn and haggard. During the +winter of 1861-2, he was attacked with bronchitis and typhoid pneumonia, +and came near dying; and had not, at my interview, by any means recovered +his pristine health and vigour. His prestige as an able commander is +rapidly waning. For some time his military talents were considered of the +first order; now a third-rate position is assigned him. He is still +regarded as a first-class engineer. When General Sterling Price arrived at +Corinth, General Beauregard conducted him around all the fortifications, +explaining their nature and unfolding their strength; but no word of +approval could he elicit from the Missouri General. At length he ventured +to ask what he thought of their capacity for resisting an attack. General +Price replied, "They may prove effective in resisting an attack. These are +the second fortifications I ever saw; the first I captured." He had +reference to Colonel Mulligan's, at Lexington, Missouri. Sumter and +Manassas gave Beauregard fame. Since the latter battle his star has +declined steadily; and if the Federal generals prove themselves competent, +it will soon go out in total darkness, and the world's verdict will be, it +was a misfortune that Beauregard lived. + + +REV. DR. B. M. PALMER. + +Dr. Palmer has done more than any non-combatant in the South to promote +the rebellion. He was accessory both before and after the fact. His +sermons are nearly all abusive of the North. The mudsills of Yankeedom and +the scum of Europe are phrases of frequent use in his public addresses, +and they are meant to include all living north of what is more familiarly +than elegantly termed in the South the "nigger line," although the North +is the land of his parental nativity. + +A few years ago, Dr. Palmer wrote to a friend in Cincinnati respecting a +vacant church, in which he gave as one reason, among others, for desiring +to come North, that he wished to remove his family from the baleful +influences of slavery. That letter still exists, and ought to be +published. + +Dr. Palmer's personal appearance is by no means prepossessing. He is small +of stature, of very dark complexion, dish-faced. His nose is said to have +been broken when a child; at all events, it is a deformity. He is fluent +in speech, has a vivid imagination, and has a great influence over a +promiscuous congregation. + +After the reduction of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and the capture of +New Orleans, Dr. Palmer came to Corinth, where he preached to the rebel +army. His text was invariably General Butler's "women-of-the-town order," +which we fully believe he intentionally misconstrued. The conservation and +extension of slavery is a matter which lies near the Doctor's heart. He +urged secession for the purpose of extending and perpetuating for ever +the peculiar institution. His views, however, must have undergone a +radical change since the writing of the Cincinnati letter, as he then +regarded slavery with little favour. Love of public favour may have much +to do with his recently expressed views, for no true Christian and patriot +can wish to perpetuate and extend an institution founded on the total +subversion of the rights of man. + + +REV. DR. JOHN N. WADDELL. + +Dr. Waddell is a man of considerable talent, but his prejudices are very +strong against the North. He cordially hates a Yankee, and his poor +distressed wife, who was a native of New England, was compelled to return +to her home, where she mourns in virtual widowhood her unfortunate +connection with a man who detests her land and people. Dr. Waddell's +sermons are very abusive. The North is the theme of animadversion in all +the published sermons and addresses I have seen from his prolific pen. He +has prostituted his fine talents, and his writings are full of cursing +and bitterness. As President of La Grange College, Tennessee, he might +wield a great influence for good--an influence which would tend to calm +the storm aroused by demagogues, rather than increase its power. His +memory will rot, for the evil which he has done will live after him. + + +MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM NELSON. + +I met General Nelson frequently at his head-quarters at Iuka Springs, +Mississippi. Though the General was quite brusque in his manners, yet he +always treated me with kindness and marked attention. Once while seated at +the table with him, several guests being present, the following colloquy +ensued. + +"Parson Aughey, I suppose you are well versed in the Scriptures, and in +order to test your knowledge, permit me to ask a question, which doubtless +you are able to answer." + +"Certainly, General, you have permission to ask the question you propose. +I am not so sure, however, about my ability to answer it." + +"The question I desire to propose is this--How many preceded Noah in +leaving the ark?" + +"I am unable to answer, sir." + +"That is strange, as the Bible so plainly and explicitly informs us. We +are told that Noah went _forth_ out of the ark; therefore _three_ must +have preceded him." + +The General's wit "set the table in a roar." As soon as the mirth had +subsided, I addressed the General: + +"It is my turn to ask a question. Do you know, sir, where the witch of +Endor lived?" + +"I did know, but really I have forgotten." + +"Well, sir, she lived at Endor." + +The laugh was now against him, but he joined in it heartily himself. + +Knowing that General Nelson had visited every quarter of the globe, I +asked him whether he had ever seen any of the modern Greeks. + +"I never saw any of the ancient Greeks," was his curt reply. + +General Nelson was regarded as a brave and skilful officer. He has done +good service in his country's cause. At Shiloh his promptness and +efficiency contributed greatly to retrieve the disaster which befell +General Grant on the first day of the battle. His rencontre with General +Davis, which resulted in his own death, is greatly to be regretted, though +his own ungovernable temper and inexcusable conduct caused his tragic end. + +I once visited his headquarters late in the afternoon. On my arrival, he +informed me that I would confer a great favour upon him by guiding a +company of cavalry on an expedition to the south-eastern part of the +county, to which I consented. I rode in front with the officer in command. +When we had reached a point beyond the pickets, my companion informed me +that we would meet no more Federals; if we met any soldiers while outward +bound, we might take it for granted that they were rebels. After riding +about an hour longer, we encountered a company of cavalry, and were +ordered to halt by the officer in command. My companion, stating that they +must be rebels, rode up and gave the countersign. I felt somewhat uneasy +at the head of that company at this time, not knowing the moment that +bullets would be whistling around us. They proved however to be Federals, +returning from an extended scouting expedition. I conducted our company to +the house of a Union man, whom we aroused from his bed; and learning that +we were Federals, he took my place, and I returned to General Nelson. The +General now desired me to go as a spy, to obtain information as to the +number of troops stationed at Norman's Bridge, which spanned Big Bear +Creek. I replied that I had ridden sixty miles without sleep, but that I +would send two Union men of my acquaintance in my stead. This was +satisfactory, and my Union friends returned with accurate information as +to the number of rebel troops stationed at the bridge, and the best points +of attack. The attack was made on the next day after receiving the +information, and the rebels were surprised and totally defeated; but few +escaped death or capture. + + +GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN. + +On the day that General Sherman reached Rienzi, I supped with him at the +house of a friend. At table the following dialogue took place between us. + +"Are you the person from whom Sherman's battery took its name?" + +"I am, sir." + +"Many gentlemen in this county," said I, "and among them my father-in-law, +have pipes made of the fragments of the gun-carriages of Sherman's +battery, which was captured at Manassas by the Confederates." + +"Sherman's battery was not captured at Manassas," replied the General. + +"The honour of capturing Sherman's battery is generally accorded to the +second regiment of Mississippi volunteers, which went from this county and +the adjoining county of Tippah, though several regiments claim it, and +many of my friends declare that they have seen Sherman's battery since its +capture." + +"I assure you, sir, Sherman's battery was not captured--so far from this, +it came out of the battle of Manassas Plains with two pieces captured from +the enemy, having itself lost none." + +At this moment Colonel Fry, who killed Zollikoffer, rode up for orders. +While receiving them, the horses attached to a battery halted in front of +us. "There," said the General, "is every piece of Sherman's battery. I +ought to know that battery, and I assure you there is not a gun missing." + +The pipes, canes, and trinkets supposed to be made of the wood of +Sherman's battery, if collected, would form a vast pile; and were you to +inform the owners of those relics that they were spurious, you would be +politely informed that you might "tell that tale to the marines," as their +sons and their neighbours' sons were the honoured captors of that battery; +a fact, concerning the truth of which they entertained not even the shadow +of a doubt. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +CONDITION OF THE SOUTH. + + Cause of the Rebellion--Prevalence of Union Sentiment in the + South--Why not Developed--Stevenson's Views--Why Incorrect--Cavalry + Raids upon Union Citizens--How the Rebels employ Slaves--Slaves + Whipped and sent out of the Federal Lines--Resisting the Conscript + Law--Kansas Jayhawkers--Guarding Rebel Property--Perfidy of + Secessionists--Plea for Emancipation--The South Exhausted--Failure of + Crops--Southern Merchants Ruined--Bragg Prohibits the Manufacture and + Vending of Intoxicating Liquors--Its Salutary Effect. + + +The following is the substance of addresses delivered by me on October 22d +and 25th, 1862, at Cooper's Institute, New York, and before the Synod of +New York and New Jersey, at its session in Brooklyn. + + I will confine myself to rendering answers to various questions which + have been asked me since my escape to the North. I have viewed the + rebellion from a southern stand-point; have been conversant with its + whole history; have been behind the curtains, and have learned the + motives which impel its instigators in their treasonable designs + against the Government. + + Slavery I believe to have been the sole cause of the rebellion. It is + true that the slaveholders of the South were becoming strongly + anti-republican. Rule or ruin was their determination, and they would + not have listened to any compromise measure after the election of Mr. + Lincoln; but this feeling, this opposition to republicanism, and lust + of power, is the offspring of slavery. In 1856 I heard Jeff. Davis + declare that the people of the North and the South were not + homogeneous, and that therefore he advocated secession. The reason he + assigned for this want of homogeneousness was found in the fact that + the South held slaves; the North did not. + + Men accustomed to exercise arbitrary power over their fellow-men, will + not cease their encroachments upon the rights of all with whom they + are associated, politically or otherwise, and a temporary suspension + of the control of the government is regarded by them as a _casus + belli_. Slavery may therefore be justly regarded as the parent of + secession. Whilst this cause exists, the South will be the hot-bed of + treason. Slavery has produced its legitimate fruit, and treason is its + name. With slavery intact, no compromise, if accepted by the South, + would prevent another outbreak in a few years. + + The question has been asked, is there any Union sentiment in the + South? I reply that there is a strong Union sentiment, even in + Mississippi. This sentiment is not found amongst the slaveholders, + for, as a class, they are firmly united in their hostility to the + Government. The middle and lower classes are not only opposed to + secession, but also to slavery itself. Eleven years' association with + the southern people has enabled me to form a correct opinion, and to + know whereof I affirm. I make this statement without fear of + successful contradiction, that the majority of the white inhabitants + of the South are Union-loving men. The slaveholders have long ruled + both the blacks and the whites in the South. When the rebellion was + determined upon, the slaveholders had the organized force to compel + acquiescence upon the part of those who favoured the Union, yet wished + to remain neutral. Their drafts and conscriptions swept them into the + army, and when once there, they must obey their officers upon pain of + death. To desert and join the Union army, was to abandon their homes + and families, and all their youthful associations. Yet many have done + it, and are now doing good service in their country's cause. + + The rebels punished with death any who declared himself in favour of + the Union. In my presence at Tupelo, they were taken out daily and + shot for the expression of sentiments adverse to the rebellion. If the + Union troops at any time occupied a place, and the people expressed + any favourable sentiments to their cause, upon the evacuation of that + position, those who sided with the Union troops were cruelly treated. + All these causes, and many others which I might mention, have + prevented the full development of the true sentiments of the people. I + could name many localities within the rebel lines where the great + majority of the people bitterly denounce the Southern Confederacy and + all connected with it. I could name many individuals who have declared + to me that they would prefer death to a dishonourable compliance with + the conscript law. I could name localities within the rebel lines + where armed resistance to the conscript law has been made; but the + safety of those loyal citizens forbids it. + + I know that there are some who assert that there is no Union feeling + in the South; but they are mistaken. The author of "Thirteen Months in + the Rebel Army" found but little. His situation was not favourable for + its discovery. He informs us in his work, that after he had been + compelled to _volunteer_, he regarded his oath (an oath much more + honoured in the breach than in the observance,) of such force that he + sought to obtain information, rather than to desert. He passed from + one post of preferment to another, till at length he was on duty under + the eye of Breckinridge himself, who complimented him upon his + alacrity in bearing dispatches; and this was truly great, as he rode + at one time sixty miles in seven hours, and at another, fourteen + miles in less than fifty minutes. He also exhibited a guarded zeal for + the secession cause. Who would have gone to an officer who was + apparently aiding and abetting the rebellion, ably and assiduously, to + communicate his Union sentiments? Any who would thus betray themselves + could not be sure that they would not be shot in twenty-four hours. + Had Mr. Stevenson been with me in Tupelo, and looked upon those + seventy or eighty prisoners who were incarcerated for their adherence + to the Union--had he witnessed the daily execution of some of them who + preferred death to _volunteering_ to defend a cause which they did not + hesitate to denounce at the peril of their lives--had he been with me + while in the midst of a host of Union citizens of Mississippi, who at + the noon of night had assembled in the deep glens and on the high + hills, for the purpose of devising means to resist the hated conscript + law--he would have come to a far different conclusion. I have seen the + cavalry go out to arrest Union men. I was at a Mr. William Herron's, + in South Carroll, Carrol county, Tennessee, and while there, several + companies of cavalry came up from Jackson to destroy the loyal + citizens of that vicinity, and they did destroy some of them and much + property. They passed within two hundred yards of fortifications + hastily thrown up to resist them, and would have been fired on had + they come within range. Before completing their mission, a messenger + came to inform them that Fort Henry was beleagured. They hastened to + the fort just in time to take part in the action. After the surrender + of the fort, they retreated to Fort Donelson, and were all captured at + the reduction of that fort, to the great joy of those Union citizens + whom they had driven from their homes, and whose property they had + destroyed. + + The slaves add greatly to the strength of the rebellion. Slave labour + is extensively employed in the military department. They are the + sappers and miners, the cooks, the teamsters, the artisans; and there + are instances where they are forced to shoulder the musket and go into + the ranks. I have seen and conversed with slave soldiers who have + fought in every battle from Manassas to Shiloh. + + Many strong secession counties send more soldiers to the rebel army + than there are voters in those counties. The slaves who remain at + home, labour to raise provisions for the sustenance of the families of + the soldiers, and a surplus for the army; hence every white man is + available for service in the field. Were this slave labour diverted to + some other channel, the result would follow, that a great proportion + of the rebel soldiers would be forced to return home to care for their + families, or those families must perish. In order to divert this + labour, it would be only necessary to encourage the negroes to leave + their masters. Wherever the Federal army has advanced in the + southwest, the slaves have crowded into their lines by hundreds, and + only desisted upon learning, much to their regret, that they would not + be received, many of them being tied up and whipped, and then sent + southward beyond the limits of the Federal army. Some who had + travelled seventy miles upon the underground railroad, to reach the + Union army, being asked by their fellow-servants upon their return, + how they liked the Yankees, replied that "General Nelson sort o' + hinted that he didn't want us." Upon being urged to be more explicit, + and to state more fully what was the nature of the hint which led them + to infer that General Nelson did not want them, their spokesman + replied: "Well, if we must tell, we must. General Nelson tied us up + and gave us fifty apiece, and sent us off, sw'arin' he'd guv us a + hundred ef we didn't go right straight back home to our masters. He + said this wa'n't no war got up to set the niggers free." + + The Kansas Jayhawkers liberate all the slaves with whom they come in + contact. I passed four regiments of their cavalry last August, on + their way to Rienzi, Mississippi. They had about two thousand slaves + with them, of every age and sex. Those slaves groomed their horses, + drove their wagons, cooked their victuals, and made themselves useful + in a variety of ways, leaving every white man free to go into the + battle when the hour of contest arrived. + + Slavery is a strong prop to the rebellion. Four millions of labourers + are able to furnish supplies for eight millions. Subtract that vast + resource from the rebellion, add it to the support of the Government, + and its stunning effect would be speedily demonstrated in the complete + paralysis of the Southern Confederacy. In order to supply the loss of + the slaves, half the soldiers in the army must return, or famine would + sweep both the army and the families of the soldiers from the face of + the earth. One cause of the long continuance of the war is, that the + Union army has endeavoured to conciliate the South, rather than crush + the rebellion. They have guarded the property of the rebels; they have + returned promptly their fugitive slaves; they have put down servile + insurrection with an iron hand, and in every possible way have shown + clemency instead of severity. But their kindness has been abused, + their clemency regarded as evidence of imbecility, and the humane + policy of the Government totally misconstrued. Captain John Rainey, of + Cambridge, Ohio, while on duty at Corinth, Mississippi, received an + application from a notorious secessionist for a guard to protect his + premises, which was obtained for him from the colonel, three soldiers + being detached for that purpose, who proceeded to the station assigned + them. About four o'clock in the afternoon they saw the owner of the + premises they were guarding, mount his horse and ride off. Supposing + him to be going on some ordinary errand, they took no further notice + of it. About nine o'clock, one of the guard who had strayed into the + orchard, some three hundred yards from the house, heard an unusual + sound, as of cavalry approaching. Concealing himself, he saw, by the + bright moonlight, this secessionist ride up with seven or eight rebel + cavalrymen, who, seizing his two companions, rode off with them as + prisoners. The ingrate who committed this base and perfidious act then + went into his house and retired to rest. As speedily as possible the + third picket returned to his company, and informed them of the + occurrence. Fired with indignation, twenty men volunteered to visit + summary punishment upon the perpetrator of this villany. Hastening to + his house, they aroused him from his slumbers, and in a few minutes + suspended him by the neck between the heavens and the earth. On their + return they reported to their companions what they had done, and, + through fear of punishment, took every precaution to prevent the act + reaching the colonel's ears. It was reported to the colonel, however, + whose reply to his informant was, "Served him right!" This policy of + guarding rebel property by Union troops must be abandoned, or the war + will never terminate. The Union army has been attacked by the rebels + when large numbers of the soldiers were absent as guards to protect + the plantations and all the interests of secessionists. Such gingerly + warfare must end, or the days of the Republic are numbered. Carrying + the war into the enemy's country has thus far proved a mere farce. The + retreating rebels destroyed tenfold more property than the pursuing + Federals. I would not counsel cruelty. I would not advise the + unnecessary destruction of life or property, for all wanton + destruction tends to weaken rather than to strengthen the cause of + those who perpetrate it. Vandalism is everywhere reprehensible. The + proper policy I believe to be this: Let the Union army be supplied + with provisions, so far as practicable, from the territory occupied. + Let the slaves find protection and employment on their arrival within + the Union lines. Despise not their valuable services. Let it be + proclaimed that for every Union citizen of the South who is slain for + his adherence to the old flag, a rebel prisoner shall be executed, and + that the confiscated property of Union men shall be restored, at the + cost of rebel sympathizers in the vicinity. Let these necessary + measures be carried out, and no well-informed person can doubt that + the war will cease before the end of six months. With slavery, the + rebels are powerful; without it, they are powerless. With slavery, + every white man between the ages of eighteen and sixty is available as + a soldier, and vast supplies are procured by servile labour. Abolish + slavery, and the army would be immediately reduced one-half, and + supplies would be diminished to a destructive extent. Slaves armed + and drilled would make effective soldiers. With a perfect knowledge of + the country, with an intense desire to liberate themselves and their + brethren from bondage, with an ardent hatred of their cruel masters + and overseers, (and the majority of them are cruel,) they would render + a willing and powerful aid in crushing the great rebellion. After the + war is ended, give them as much land as their necessities require, + either in New Mexico or Arizona, and they will furnish more sugar, + rice, and cotton, than were extorted from them by compulsory labour in + the house of bondage. + + The desire for freedom on the part of the slaves is universal. It is, + according to my observation and full belief, a rule without exception. + These aspirations are constantly increasing as the rigours of slavery + are increased, and the slaves are as well prepared for freedom as they + would be a hundred years hence. The _Iron Furnace_ of slavery does not + tend to the elevation of its victims. There are better methods of + elevating a race than by enslaving it. The moral elevation of the + slave is no part of the reason why he is held in bondage; but the + convenience and profit of the master is the sole end and aim of the + peculiar institution. All attempts on the part of the slaves to obtain + their liberty are resisted by the slaveholders, by the infliction of + appalling and barbarous cruelties. Thirty-two negroes were executed at + Natchez, Mississippi, recently, because they expressed a determination + "to go to Lincoln." Six were hanged in Hoxubee county, and one burned + in the streets of Macon. The southern papers state that Hon. Mr. Orr, + of South Carolina, attempted to drive his slaves into the interior, to + prevent their escaping to the Yankees, and upon their refusal to go, + he ordered them to be driven at the point of the bayonet, and in the + execution of the order, fifty of them were slain. There are instances + in which the slave is greatly attached to his master's family, but his + love of liberty is greater than that attachment. It often transcends + his love for his own family, which he abandons for its sake, risking + his life on the underground railroad, and enduring the rigours of a + Canadian winter, that he may enjoy his inalienable rights. + + The southwest is already nearly exhausted. The troops which first went + into the service were well supplied with clothing, provisions, and + money; but the conscripts were poorly clad, and received their wages + in Confederate bonds, which have so depreciated, that ten dollars in + gold will purchase one hundred dollars of the bonds. Great suffering + is the consequence, and desertions are of daily occurrence. While I + was in prison at Tupelo, eighty-seven of the Arkansas infantry + deserted in a body. One hundred cavalry were sent to arrest them, but + they defeated the cavalry in a fair fight, and went on their way + rejoicing. Tennesseeans and Kentuckians could not be trusted on picket + duty, their proclivity for desertion being notorious. They suffered no + opportunity to escape them, and often went off in squads. Many of them + being forced into the service, did not consider their involuntary oath + binding. + + The wheat crop of 1862, in the southwest, was almost totally destroyed + by the rust, and the corn crop by the drought. Salt could not be + obtained at any cost, and every marketable commodity had reached a + fabulous price. Southern merchants feel that they are ruined. At the + commencement of the war they had made large purchases in the North, + mainly on credit. The rebel Congress passed a law that all who were + indebted to the North must pay two-thirds of the amount of their + indebtedness to the Southern Confederacy. This the merchants did. They + then sold their goods, taking cotton and Confederate money in pay. The + cotton was destroyed by order of Beauregard, and the Confederate scrip + is worthless, and the Federal generals are enforcing the payment of + Northern claims. This fourfold loss will beggar every southern + merchant subjected to it. + + At the commencement of the war, strong drink was abundant, and it was + freely used by the soldiers. Drunkenness was fearfully prevalent. This + vice increased to such a degree that the army was rapidly becoming + demoralized. A large amount of grain was wasted in the manufacture of + liquor. At this juncture the rebel government wisely prohibited the + manufacture and sale of all that would intoxicate. Soon the wisdom of + this measure was apparent. For a time this contraband article was + smuggled in, yet it was only in limited quantities, and at the present + time a drunken soldier is a _rara avis_ in the army. At the first + promulgation of the law, a cunning countryman perforated a large + number of eggs, withdrew the contents, filled the shells with whiskey, + closed them up, and carrying them to the camp at Rienzi, sold them at + an exorbitant price. Others resorted to filling coffee-pots with + whisky, stopping up the bottom of the spout, filling it with + buttermilk, and if asked by the guards what they had for sale, would + pour out some of the milk in the spout, and by this deception gain an + entrance to the camp, and supply the soldiers with liquor. But all + these tricks were discovered, and since the manufacture, as well as + the sale, was prohibited, the supply on hand became exhausted, and + drunkenness ceased. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +BATTLES OF LEESBURG, BELMONT, AND SHILOH. + + Rebel Cruelty to Prisoners--The Fratricide--Grant Defeated--Saved by + Gunboats--Buell's Advance--Railroad Disaster--The South + Despondent--General Rosecrans--Secession will become Odious even in + the South--Poem. + + +BATTLE OF LEESBURG. + +The battle of Leesburg was fought on the 21st of October, 1861. The +southern accounts of this battle were so contradictory, that I will not +give the various versions. One statement, however, all concur in--that +when the Federal troops retreated to the river, after being overpowered by +superior numbers, and had thrown down their arms, calling for quarter, no +mercy was shown them. Hundreds were bayoneted, or forced into the river +and drowned. The rebels clubbed their guns, and dashed out the brains of +many while kneeling at their feet and imploring mercy. I saw one ruffian +who boasted that he had bayoneted seven Yankee prisoners captured on that +occasion. + + +BATTLE OF BELMONT. + +The battle of Belmont was fought on the 7th of November, 1861. I have +heard repeatedly from southern officers their version of the events which +occurred on that occasion. General McClernand, for the purpose of breaking +up the rebel camp at Belmont, attacked it in force at an early hour, and +completely routed the enemy, pursuing them to a considerable distance. +Returning, he destroyed completely the camp, but delaying too long, large +reinforcements were thrown over the river from Columbus, and the Federals +were compelled to retreat precipitately to their boats, not, however, till +they had fully accomplished the object of their mission. A scene occurred +on this field which exhibits one of the saddest phases of this internecine +strife. The incident was related to me by Mr. Tomlin, a lawyer of Jackson, +Tennessee, not unknown even in the North, who was personally acquainted +with the actors. Colonel Rogers, of an Illinois regiment, led his command +into action early in the contest. A Tennessee regiment opposed him with +fierceness for some time. At length they began to waver and exhibit +symptoms of disorder. At this moment their colonel, who had been unhorsed, +mounted a stump, and by an energetic and fervid address, rallied his men. +Again they began to falter, and again his burning words restored order. +Colonel Rogers believing that the safety of himself and regiment depended +upon the death of the Tennessee colonel, drew a pistol from his holsters, +rode up and deliberately shot him through the brain. The Tennesseeans +seeing their colonel fall, fled precipitately. On the return of the +Illinois troops, Colonel Rogers, impelled by curiosity, dismounted, and +scanning the features of the colonel whom his own hand had slain, +recognised his own brother. As the tide of battle had rolled past for the +moment, he ordered the corpse to be conveyed to a transport, on which it +was brought to Cairo, and thence borne to the stricken parents, who +mourned over and buried the remains of their brave but erring child, who +had met his fate at his brother's unconsciously fratricidal hand. + + +BATTLE OF SHILOH. + +On April 6th, 1862, the sun rose clear; not a cloud was discernible in the +sky; it was truly a lovely Sabbath, even for a southern clime. Early in +the morning I took a walk with my little daughter, a child four years of +age, in whose prattle I was taking great interest. We had gone about one +hundred yards when my child exclaimed, "Pa, we must go back! it's going to +rain; don't you hear the thunder?" The sharp and stunning reports I soon +recognised to be the sound of cannon on the field of battle. The +cannonading continued incessantly during the day. The whole country became +intensely excited, and many citizens hastened to the battlefield, the +majority bent upon plunder. On Monday the battle still raged with +increasing fury. On Sabbath, General Grant had been completely surprised, +and would have lost his whole army but for the gunboats in the river. +These gunboats shelled the pursuing rebels, checking their advance, and +saving the discomfitted Federals. Buell arrived with his division on +Sabbath night, and on Monday the rebels were driven at every point during +the whole day, with great loss. When I heard the rebel officers state that +the gunboats lying in the Tennessee river had checked their pursuit, and +had committed great havoc amongst their troops, at the distance of nearly +three miles, I supposed that the rebel army had continued the pursuit till +they came in sight of the gunners on the boats, who then threw their +shells into their advancing columns, and my mistake was not corrected till +I saw the scene of action. A plateau extended from the river, where the +gunboats lay, to the hills, a distance of about one-quarter of a mile. The +hills rose to a considerable height, and were covered with a large growth, +and on their frowning summits the lofty trees seemed to intercept the +passing clouds. Grant's discomfitted and shattered army had taken refuge +on the plateau. Some had even thrown themselves into the river, and swam +across. Such was the position of affairs when the gunners threw their +shells over those lofty hills, and beyond them a distance of two miles, +into the midst of the rebels, checking their advance, and destroying them +by scores. Couriers constantly passed to and fro to give information of +the position of the enemy. All night long their shelling continued, +causing Beauregard to change his camp thrice. Thus, + + "Bombs bursting in air, + Gave proof through the night + That our flag was still there." + +On Monday morning Buell's division advanced, and the tide was turned. The +rebels were driven from every position, and their loss was fearful; and +had pursuit been continued to Corinth, their whole army must have been +annihilated. General A. S. Johnson fell about three o'clock on the +Sabbath. The tibial artery had been severed--a wound not necessarily +fatal; but he remained in the saddle till he fainted from loss of blood, +and when borne from his horse by Governor Harris and others, survived but +twenty minutes. On Sabbath night Beauregard occupied, for a time, an old +Presbyterian church--a rude log edifice. The church was named Shiloh; +hence both Beauregard and General Grant, in their dispatches, named the +engagement the battle of Shiloh. I was in Rienzi as the wounded passed +down on the cars to the various hospitals below. They passed continually +for a month. On the 18th of April I went down to Macon, in Noxubee county. +A large number of wounded were on the train. A lady from the Female +Seminary in Aberdeen had been placed under my care. When we reached a +point six miles from Crawfordsville, I noticed a young man looking out in +an excited manner, and immediately after he jumped out and rolled down an +embankment. I was much surprised at his conduct, but soon the crashing of +the cars explained the cause. The train had been thrown from the track, +and was rushing down an embankment. Jumping from the cars now became +general. My lady friend arose, declaring that she also would leap from the +car. I caught and held her till the danger was over, and thus prevented +perhaps serious injury to her person, as all who jumped from the train +were more or less injured. On extricating ourselves from the debris of the +cars, an appalling sight met our view. The sick, wounded, dying, and dead, +were scattered promiscuously in every direction. Their groans and piercing +shrieks were heart-rending. The heavy fragments of the broken cars were +thrown upon their mangled limbs, and in many instances this disaster +completed what Shiloh had commenced. As we came down, I passed through the +train amongst the wounded. Some had lost an arm, several an upper lip, as +many an under lip. Through the body of one six balls had passed. They were +wounded in the feet, the hands, the head, and the body; and some who had +not been touched by ball or bullet were paralyzed by their proximity to +the exploding shells. Truly every battle is with confused noise and +garments rolled in blood. I remained some time at the destroyed train, +aiding in extricating those buried beneath the ruins. The extent of the +damage and destruction of life, I never accurately learned. It must, +however, have been great. The catastrophe was occasioned by a stick of +wood falling from the tender before the wheels of the adjacent car, which, +being thrown from the track, precipitated the whole train down the +embankment. + +For weeks after the battle of Shiloh, little was done by Federals or +Confederates. The rebels firmly believed that Corinth could not be taken. +Its evacuation discouraged the people exceedingly. Nothing but disasters +had befallen them since the year commenced. Zollikoffer had been slain, +and Crittenden defeated, at Fishing Creek. Roanoke Island had been +captured. Forts Henry, Donelson, Pulaski, St. Philip, and Jackson had been +reduced. Island "No. 10" was taken, and New Orleans had fallen. The bloody +field of Shiloh had proved disastrous; and now, even Corinth, the boasted +Gibraltar of rebeldom, fortified by the "best engineer on the continent," +and defended by the whole army of the southwest, had been evacuated. What, +under these circumstances, could resist the progress of Halleck to the +Gulf? Many saw the cause of these disasters in the fact that the rebel +generals had made their attacks upon the Union troops upon the Sabbath; +and all history confirms the truth that the army attacking on the Sabbath +is almost invariably defeated. Universal gloom and an all-pervading spirit +of despondency, brooded over the whole southern people. Had the rebel army +been crushed at Corinth, or had Beauregard been vigorously pursued, and +forced to fight or surrender, the war in the southwest would have been +terminated. General Rosecrans informed me that they could have crushed the +rebels at Corinth, and on my asking him why it was not done, he replied: +"It would have been done at the cost of many lives on both sides, and it +is not our desire to sacrifice life unnecessarily. Let Beauregard go down +to the swamps of Mississippi; he can do us no injury. It is not probable +that he will ever return to Corinth to attack us, and they must starve out +in a section which never produced enough to sustain its own population." +But Beauregard did not remain long in the swamps of Mississippi. He took +the flower of his army and hastened on to Richmond, to reinforce General +Lee, who immediately gave battle to McClellan, and drove him from the +Peninsula. Halleck should never have suffered McClellan to be compelled to +fight both Lee's forces and Beauregard's, whilst his own army was merely +protecting rebel property and consuming rations. I think General +Rosecrans, had he been in chief command, would not have thus acted; and +his statement to me was a mere apology for the conduct of his superior, +for his policy has ever been vigorous, and the rebels dread him more than +any living man. The lamented Lyon also inspired a similar wholesome dread. +I saw much of General Rosecrans. He is a genial, pleasant gentleman. He +seems desirous of accomplishing his end by the use of mild means; but if +these will not effect the object, the reverse policy is resorted to. The +rebels dread, yet respect him. He will do much to oblige a friend. I +desired at one time to go with my family beyond the Federal lines. General +Rosecrans went in person to General Pope to obtain a pass; but Pope's +orders were that no passes should be issued for a specified time. General +Rosecrans then asked and obtained permission to send one of his aids with +us, who conducted us beyond the pickets, a distance of five miles. This +act, the General remarked, was in consideration of the kindness I had +shown himself and staff while in Rienzi. The Federal generals committed a +great mistake in desiring to overrun the country without destroying the +rebel armies. A physician who drives a disease from one limb only to +appear in a more aggravated form in another, accomplishes nothing. And +when a general permits a hostile army to change its location as a +strategic movement, he has accomplished nothing, except giving aid and +comfort to the enemy. The rebels estimated their forces at the battle of +Shiloh at eighty thousand. Though considerable accessions had been +received, yet in consequence of sickness and desertion, their number was +about the same at the evacuation of Corinth. They lost about eleven +thousand, slain, wounded, and prisoners, in the battle. + +War has a tendency to engender great bitterness of feeling between the +belligerents. The secessionists hate the northern people, but not with the +intensity of hatred which they exercise toward the Union-loving citizens +of the South. In South Carolina, in the days of nullification, the +nullifiers and Union men were very bitter in their hostility against each +other. After the suppression of nullification by General Jackson, the +cause being removed, the enmity ceased, and in a short time, the odium +attached to nullification became so great, that few would admit that they +had been nullifiers. Let the supremacy of the law and the Constitution be +enforced, and a few years hence, few, even in the South, will be found +willing to admit that they were secessionists. The descendants of the +Tories carefully conceal their genealogy; the descendants of the +secessionists will do the same. Slavery and secession will perish +together; and the classes of the South who have been fearfully injured by +both these heresies, will be fully compensated for their present distress +by the vast blessings which will accrue to themselves and posterity by the +abolition of an institution which has degraded labour, oppressed the poor +white man, opposed progress, retarded the development of the country's +resources, taken away the key of knowledge, caused every species of vice +to flourish, impoverished the people, enriched a favoured class at the +expense of the masses, caused woes unnumbered to a whole race--in short, +has been the prolific parent of fraud, oppression, lust, tyranny, murder, +and every other crime in the dark catalogue. + + "We are living, we are dwelling + In a grand and awful time; + In an age, on ages telling, + To be living is sublime! + + Hark! the waking up of nations, + Gog and Magog to the fray; + Hark! what soundeth--is creation + Groaning for its latter day? + + Will ye play, then? will ye dally + With your music and your wine? + Up! it is Jehovah's rally! + God's own arm hath need of thine. + + Hark! the onset! will ye fold your + Faith-clad arms in lazy lock; + Up! oh, up! thou drowsy soldier, + Worlds are charging to the shock! + + Worlds are charging; heaven beholding; + Thou hast but an hour to fight; + Now the blazoned cross unfolding, + _On!_ right onward _for the right_. + + _On!_ let all the soul within you, + For the truth's sake go abroad; + Strike! let every nerve and sinew + Tell on ages,--tell for God!" + + + + +SEE TO YOUR INTEREST!! + +AMSTERDAM, _Jefferson co._, Ohio, _January 1, 1863_. + +The undersigned tenders his thanks to his customers for their liberal +patronage in the past, and respectfully solicits its continuance. + +He has recently made considerable additions to his stock of + +DRY GOODS AND GROCERIES, + +and he will endeavour to make it the interest of the citizens of Amsterdam +and vicinity to deal with him; nor will he permit his competitors to +surpass him in the cheapness and quality of his goods. + +The _highest price_ will be paid for PRODUCE OF EVERY KIND, and _Cash_ +will not be refused in payment for goods. + +A word to the wise is sufficient. + +DAVID AUGHEY. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Iron Furnace, by John H. 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