All night long the guards talked over their adventures. Generally they praised their own bravery to the skies, but occasionally one who had arrived since the affray, would suggest that it was not very much to their credit to let unarmed men snatch their guns from them; but these hinted slanders were always received with the contempt they deserved, and the work of self-glorifying went on! One wondered at the speed of the Yankees, who had been kept in prison so long; another accounted for it by saying that they had received so much practice in that line, in all the battles they had fought, that it was no wonder if they were fleet of foot. This sally was received with prodigious applause.
I heard some confused sounds of distress from the room of the Tennesseeans, and on inquiring what was the matter, learned that Barlow had broken his ankle. He had gone down into the yard with our party, but in jumping from the wall, had received this very serious injury. Here he was found by a guard, who at first threatened to shoot him; but on being persuaded not to do that, ordered him to get up and lead the way into the jail. Barlow tried to do so, but fell down again. Then this inhuman guard punched him with the bayonet, and made him crawl, in all the agony that pain could produce, back to his cell, and as he went, kept hurrying him along by the sharp admonition of the bayonet! When here, his companions asked for surgical aid for him, but the Confederate authorities refused it, saying that he had caused the injury himself, and that they rather preferred that it should kill him! Their wishes were gratified. For months he lingered on in the greatest pain, until, finally, the leg mortified, and terminated his life. He was quite a young man--only eighteen--and had just been married when he was arrested. Thus died, in darkness and dungeon, one other East Tennessee martyr!
Despair and Hope--Bitten Finger--Removed to Barracks--Greater Comfort--Jack Wells--Cruel Punishment of Tennesseeans--Story of a Spy--Help Him to Escape--Virtue of a Coat--A Practical Joke--Unionism--Sweet Potatoes--Enlisting in Rebel Army--Description of a Day--Happy News--Start for Richmond--Not Tied--Night Journey--Varied Incidents--Lynchburg--Rebel Audacity Punished--Suffering from the Cold--Arrival in Richmond.