December 21st, 22d, 23d and 24th
Our prison circle has been thrown into a state of feverish excitement by the perpetration of one of the most brutal and cowardly outrages ever inflicted upon unarmed, helpless, wounded prisoners of war and brave, honorable gentlemen and soldiers.
Lieutenant Morgan, of
North Carolina, and
Lieutenant Hudgins, of
Virginia, were apprehended in a very daring
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and reckless attempt to escape from the
Point, by seizing a small boat fastened to the river bank and rowing to the
Virginia shore.
Both of these officers had been wounded, and
Hudgins was still on crutches, and the probabilities are, if they had not been swamped and drownded during the dark blustering night, that the terrible cold and piercing wind would have frozen them to death, clothed as they were, before they could have reached the
Virginia shore, said to be over two miles distant. It was a very hazardous attempt, but they preferred risking the danger to longer bearing the insults and cruelty they daily suffered.
While
Morgan was striking at the chain which fastened the boat, the noise was heard, and he and his bold comrade were arrested and closely confined all night in a guard room, without fire or blankets.
They were afterwards clad in a peculiar felon's suit, made of blankets, sewed up before and open behind, the close-fitting body being joined to the covering for the arms and legs, all being one garment.
They wore blanket caps running to a point, with tassels; a ball and chain, attached only to condemned criminals, was fastened to a leg of each.
This infamous and barbarous treatment of gallant Confederate officers, honorable prisoners of war, under no parole whatever, was a shame and disgrace to the authorities who ordered its infliction, and certainly no injury nor shame to the brave men sought to be insulted and dishonored.
The punishment was intended to insult us all, and to humiliate us as much as possible, but they degraded and debased themselves by their utter want of chivalry and magnanimity, and their harsh, unsoldierly and cruel treatment of helpless prisoners.
These men had violated none of the laws of war, had broken no pledges, were guilty of nothing unbecoming officers and gentlemen, and were merely trying to exercise a divine and inalienable right to take care of their own persons, and to escape from durance uncommonly vile, if possible.
In the felon's garb mentioned, and with ball and chain attached to their limbs, these gentlemen were sent back to their quarters during the day to be remanded to the chilly guard room at night.
Their clothing had all been taken from them and retained, when they were forced to don their present degrading garments.
We were all justly very indignant at the palpable insult offered us, and a committee composed of
Colonel Hinton,
Major Hanvey and
Major Taylor, was sent to remonstrate against the gross indignity.
Major Brady was interviewed, but showed himself anything but a high toned gentleman, falsified promises made, and did not repudiate the charge
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of harsh and unsoldierly conduct towards prisoners of war, nor remove the cause of complaint.
His whole course is a reproach and scandal to himself and his Government.
He brands us “Rebels,” and treats us as if we were criminals of the lowest type.
We should be proud of the noble name “Rebel.”
It is borne by those dead heroes,
Generals Albert Sydney Johntson,
Stonewall Jackson,
J. E. B. Stuart,
Leonidas Polk,
R. E. Rodes and
T. R. R. Cobb, by
Colonels R. T. Jones and
B. B. Gayles, of my own beloved regiment, and by hosts of other gallant officers and no less brave privates, who have been transferred from the Confederate army to that glorious encampment where the white tents of the just are never struck, and where the laureled soldier bleeds and dies no more.
The great
Captain of us all has promoted these Rebels to higher rank.
and given them more honorable and exalted commissions.
George Washington,
Francis Marion,
Israel Putnam,
Thomas Jefferson,
Patrick Henry and “Light horse”
Harry Lee (father of our beloved
R. E. Lee), were all Rebels.
The glorious name is the patronym of all the mighty dead of this land.
Almost every name held in honor is that of a Rebel: Rebels give names to our universities and colleges, to our charitable institutions, to our counties, cities and streets.
The greatest and noblest of our dead, the purest and most honored of our living, bear the grand old names of Rebels.
No efforts of
Lincoln,
Seward,
Stanton, Beast
Butler,
Provost Marshal Brady and others of that ilk, brought into dishonorable notoriety by the accidents of war can make the noble title “Rebel” odious.
We, who share the illustrious title in common with
Jefferson Davis,
Robert E. Lee,
Joseph E. Johnston,
Braxton Bragg,
Wade Hampton,
Jubal A. Early, A. P. and
D. H. Hill,
M. F. Maury,
Raphael Semmes and thousands of other true-hearted patriots, will never blush at its application to ourselves, but our eyes will grow brighter, our steps firmer, our bodies more erect, and our hearts will beat more exultingly, as we listen to the proud and glorious appellation.
Our martyred Saviour was called
seditious, and I may be pardoned if I rejoice that I am a Rebel, a Rebel against tyranny and oppression.
I have as my Rebel comrades the best, brightest and bravest of my native South, men whose names are garnered up in her heart, whose valor sheds unfailing lustre upon her arms, and whose fame is among the jewels of her crown, and over the hero dust of many of whom her most precious tears have been shed.
