An Austrian among the Confederates--his confinement in Libby prison.
Baron Rudolph Wardener, formerly an officer in the Austrian service, who was captured with
Gen. Stoughton, at Fairfax Court House on the 9th of March last, and taken to the
Libby prison, in this city, and shortly afterwards released, has recently arrived
North.
He gives the following account of his capture and subsequent treatment while in
Richmond:
As he was not in the military service of the
United States, he, as well as the other citizen prisoners, were, by an arrangement between
Commissioners Ould and
Ludlow, released from the parole which they at first gave previous to their release.
After their capture they were taken to the headquarters of
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, and were treated very kindly both by him and by
Capt. Mosby.
On their arrival in
Richmond, however, they were thrown into the
Libby prison and treated very harshly.
Soon after reaching
Richmond he wrote to
Gen. Winder demanding his release, as he was not a citizen of the
United States and not in the service of the United States Government and asking for an interview with him that he might explain his position more fully Receiving no answer to this application, he then wrote to the rebel
Secretary of War to the same effect; but this was also not noticed.
Finally, he applied to
Mr. DeVoss, the
Austria Consul, who called on
Gen. Winder in regard to his case.
Getting no satisfaction from him, he then called upon the
Secretary of War who said that there was great suspicion a vain
Baron Wardener, as he had been with
Col. Wyndham, and was suspected of being a commissioned officer upon Col
Wyndham's staff.
He finally referred his case to
Judge Baxter for examination.
He was sent to the
Judge, with four deserters, under guard.
The
Judge questioned him very closely as to his business in the camps of their enemies.
The Bar on explained to him that he was by profession a military man, and was visiting and examining the camps and military organization of the United States cavalry as a matter of professional interest.
The
Judge expressed regret that he had been so unfortunate as to be captured.
He further said to him that if it was his desire to see the military operations as a matter of professional interest the Confederate Government would invite him to examine their side.
To this the Daron replied that he had already been fourteen days in the
Libby prison, and that he had seen enough of their side of the contest.
At a second interview with
Judge Baxter he informed
Baron Wardener that unless he would sign a parole they should not treat him either as a citizen, soldier, or officer, but as an inciter of insurrection among the slaves.
To this he replied that they could treat him as they pleased; but that he thought the
Austrian Government would demand satisfaction.
At this the
Judge became greatly excited, and jumped up from his chair, saying, 'What do you say about your Government?
What do we know about your Government?
We have never acknowledged your Government.'
Finally, after consultation with a number of Union officers who were in prison with him, as to what course he had better take under the circumstances, by their advice he signed the parole under protest, and was released, as before stated, although he had previously repeatedly refused to do so.
Judge Baxter said that
Colonel Wyndham, when in the Austrian service, might possibly have been a gentleman, but that he was now a robber, murderer, incendiary, &c, and they would hang him and his staff altogether if they should catch them.
The treatments of the
Union officers at the
Libby prison is most outrageous.
They are confined in the garret of the prison, most of them without even wooden boxes to sleep in, and only filthy blankets for bed clothes.
The fifth is most disguising, and the whole place alive with vermin.
There are nearly 250 officers confined there.
The bread supplied to them is decent, but the meat is decayed and stinking — much of it mule meat.
Capt. Turner, the
Provost Marshal, who has charge of the
Libby prison is a perfect brute in human shape, who delights in heaping abuse upon the unfortunate victims who fall into his hands.