and volunteered suggestions. Said Brown, "Be very humble to him, Pittenger. We can take all back, if we get out." Buffum raised quite a laugh by saying, "Tell him, Pittenger, that 'all we ask is to be let alone.'" This was an extract from one of Jefferson Davis' own addresses. But it did not go in the letter. The following is a copy of the document, obtained from the Confederate archives: "ATLANTA JAIL, August 17, 1862. "TO HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS, "President Confederate States of America. "RESPECTED SIR,--We are United States soldiers regularly detailed from our command to obey the orders of Andrews. He was a stranger to us, and we ignorant of his design, but, of course, we obeyed our officers. You are no doubt familiar with all we did, or can find it recorded in the trial of our comrades. Since then, Andrews himself and seven of us have been executed, and fourteen survive. Is this not enough for vengeance and for a warning to others? Would mercy in our case be misplaced? We have already been closely confined for more than four months. Will you not, sir, display a noble generosity by putting us on the same footing as prisoners of war, and permitting us to be exchanged, and thus show that in this terrible war the South still feels the claim of mercy and humanity? "If you will be so good as to grant this request we will ever be grateful to you. "Please inform us of your decision as soon as convenient." Signed by all the survivors,--eight of the Twenty-first Ohio, one of the Second, and five of the Thirty-third, all of Sill's brigade, Mitchel's division. This paper was forwarded from one officer to another in an ascending grade, and the indorsements on it, and the correspondence which followed, shed much light upon the position and fortunes of our party. But this light did not come to us until long after. The letter was marked (erroneously as to its address), as follows: "Petition from the survivors of Andrews' party, who took the engine on the Georgia State Railroad in April last, to Major-General Bragg, commanding Department No. 2." The first indorsement is that of Colonel Lee, provost-marshal at Atlanta: "Respectfully forwarded to General Staughton. "G. W. LEE, "Commanding Post." "HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT NO. 2, "CHATTANOOGA, August 21, 1862 "ADJUTANT-GENERAL C. S. ARMY, Richmond, Va. "SIR,--I have the honor to inclose herewith the petition of W. W. Brown and others, soldiers of the Twenty-first and Second Ohio Regiments, U.S.A., and to request information in the matter. I am, sir, very respectfully, "Your obedient servant, "BRAXTON BRAGG, "General Commanding." The next indorsement shows a favorable disposition--at least in part: [Indorsement.] "Respectfully submitted to the President.