There were fourteen white men in the room beside myself, and one negro. I wonder what those tender soldiers, who consider it derogatory to their dignity to fight in the same army that blacks do, would think if they were confined with them so closely that there was no possibility of getting away. But we endured too many real evils to fret at imaginary ones; and besides, Aleck was so kind and accommodating, so anxious to do everything in his power for us, that he soon became a general favorite; and when he was taken out to be whipped, as he was several times, to ascertain whether he was telling a true story or not, we could not help feeling the sincerest sympathy for him. The Southern method of catching stray negroes is about this: When one is found traveling without a pass, he is arrested, taken to the jail, and severely flogged. This usually brings some kind of a confession from him, and he is advertised in accordance with that confession. If no answer is received in a limited time, it is taken for granted that he lied, and he is whipped again, in order to bring a new confession. Thus they continue alternately whipping and advertising, till the close of the year. If a master is found before this, he can pay the costs and take his property; if not, the negro is sold to pay the jail and whipping fees. No trial is ever allowed at which the negro might prove himself free. When once arrested his doom is sealed, and in this way many free negroes are enslaved. Aleck had been in this prison seven months, and was to remain five more, with no other prospect than that of being sold into perpetual bondage! Every society has its aristocrats, and here I soon found that the eminence was given to those who were charged with the most daring deeds. The spy--there was but one so accused, and he was blind,[3]--was considered much above the ordinary Union men. I was charged with the greatest adventure of any confined there, and, of course, was treated with becoming deference. [3] The rebels thought he was counterfeiting blindness, but I believe it was real. I was not long the only one of the _engine-thieves_, (by which name we were known during our stay in the Confederacy,) who was confined in this dungeon. Soon the trap-door again opened, causing a stream of comparatively cool air from the room above to rush down. It was an inconceivable relief--a _luxury_ that none could appreciate who had not, as we had, been deprived of that greatest blessing God has given to man--pure air. We wondered who was coming next, as the feeble glimmering of a candle above revealed several forms descending. The Tennesseeans cried out: "Don't put any more down here! We're full! We'll die if more are put down!" which did not seem improbable. But these remonstrances produced no effect. Down they came, and I, stationing myself at the foot of the ladder, spoke something indifferently to them, and heard my name called in return.