of seventeen preachers and some of the principal officers of the army presided; arose and said that neither himself nor his brigade should have any hand in the shooting that it was nothing short of cold blooded murder and left the court martial and ordered his brigade to prepare and march off of the ground.” This was probably the reason why they did not carry the discinon [decision] of the court martial into effect. It was finally agreed that we should be carried into accordingly on the third day after our arest the army was all paraded we were put into wagons and taken into the , Our families having heard that we were to be brought to that morning to be shot. When we arrived a scene ensued such as might be expected under the circumstances. I was permitted to go alone with my family into the houses. there I found my family so completely plundered of all kinds of food that they had nothing <​to​> eat but parched corn which they ground on <​with​> a handmill. and thus were they sustaining life. I soon pacafied my family and allayed their feelings by assuring them that the ruffians dare<​d​> not kill me. I gave them strong assurences that they dare<​d​> not do it, and that I would return to them again. After this interview I took my leave of them, and returned to the wagon got in and we were all started off for . Before we reached the a man came riding along the line apparently in great haste. I did not know his business. When we got to the came to me and told me that he wanted us to hurry as had arived from with a message from Genl ordering him to return with us to as he was there with a large army, he said he would not comply with the demand but did not know but might send an [p. [16]]