Sunday, July 3, 2011

Seeing the Prisoners Under Difficulties

A young man, in his anxiety to get a good sight at the prisoners on Saturday, followed them, fell to the rear of their long line, and marched with them through the big gate at Camp Morton.  But his curiosity got the better of his judgment, for while marching with the prisoners he got mixed up with them in such a manner that the guards refused to let him go, and actually held him prisoner with the others until Sunday.  In vain did he persist that he was a Union man, a citizen of this place, and only there out of motives of curiosity.  They would not believe his story, and he was marched off to quarters.  When rations were served out, he was so mad that he would not take his share or eat anything.  But when night came upon him he quieted down and bunked with a secesh.  In the morning he succeeded in getting the ear of the officers of the post, and through the influence of some of the leading citizens outside, who vouched for the truth of his statements, he was released. – Indianapolis State Journal.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 6, 1862, p. 2

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