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.
"I recommend that they be respited until further orders, and detained as hostages for our own people in the hands of the enemy.
"G. W. Randolph,
"Secretary of War."
The Secretary of War seems to have had the impression that we had been also tried, and that sentence of death was pending over us. Under such circumstances a respite would have been a valuable boon.
But President Davis is inflexible:
[Indorsement.]
"Secretary of War, inquire whether there is anything to justify a discrimination between them and others who were executed for the same offence. J. D."