there was an unpleasant probability that some of the
chivalry themselves would have to suffer in retaliation. Besides, I
reflected with a glow of hope, the first I experienced since I fell
into their hands, that our government held a number of rebels, who had
been taken in Missouri on a similar expedition. All day and night I
mused on these things, and endeavored to come to such a decision as
would be for the best. When I heard of the capture of many of our
party, and the announcement of the regiments to which they belonged,
showing that they had been influenced by the same considerations I had
been revolving, I at once determined to rest my fate on my claim as a
United States soldier. I believe that this decision ultimately saved
my life.

All this time I was not in loneliness. Throngs of Georgians came in to
see the caged Yankee--both ladies and gentlemen. Many were the odd
remarks they made, criticising every feature, and not a few adding
every possible word of insult. The whole day they crowded in, and I
was glad when the approach of night put an end to the annoyance.

The coarse food the jailor brought was eaten with such a relish as
hunger only can impart. I was fortunate in respect to quantity, for my
companion was not well, and could not eat much; but I atoned for his
shortcoming by eating both of our allowances without difficulty.

In the morning, they took me before a self-constituted committee of
vigilance. These committees were very common in the South, and still
more summary in their modes of administering justice, or rather
vengeance, than were the celebrated vigilance committees of San
Francisco, in the early history of the gold mines. They were prepared
with a board of the most eminent lawyers in the vicinity, and no doubt
hoped to entangle me still more deeply in the meshes of contradiction
than they did the day before. But I cut the whole matter short by
saying:

"Gentlemen, the statements I gave you yesterday were intended to
deceive you. I will now tell you the truth."

The clerk got his pen ready to take down the information.

"Go on, sir; go on," said the president.

"I am ready," said I, "to give you my true name and regiment, and to
tell you why I came into your country."

"Just what we want, sir. Go on," said they.

"But," I returned, "I will make no statement whatever, until taken
before the regular military authority of this department."

This took them by surprise, and they used