Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-06-28
The Right Way 70 Treat Traitors--
u Gen. Prentiss Doing Goad Vgerk.

The Right Way TO Treat Traitors
i1 Gen. Prentiss Doing Good W0rk.
Gen. Prentiss. the commander at Cairo, has
just giTen the rebels in that vicinity salutary
warning that their treason will not 90 unDnn-
! isheli, and the country at large evidence that
he is the right man in the right place. On
Monday be received information that recruit
| ing for the rebel army was going on in Miss
issiPPi county, Missouri. and the peaceful cit
izens were being driven out by the traitors. -
lie instantly sent over detachment Of troous
who captured eighteen Of the most violent Sc
eessionists-s They were mostly farmers, there
being also schoolmaster among the number.
They were duly examined by Gen. Prentiss in
person. The schoolmaster, the most guilty Of
them all, aud one Wisrman, lied terribly TO
provo themselves innocent; but snys the cor
respondent of the St. Louis Democrat, il was
no go. The fact that they had made Seces-
sion speeches, and denounced the Federal
Government and troops, was fully proved.
After the examination had been gons
through with, each one was asked if he would
take the oath Of allegiance 10 the United
States.
they all declined, except three young men,
who bad been enticed into bad comy5anv.-
These were Daniel HUrrigRn. Geo Horrigan
and Milton Grissams who were discharged
Refore dischargiug them, Cen Prentiss made
few forcible remarks TO them: "Go home
said he, "raise to morrow morning the flag of
the Union of your country. Load your wea-
pons and shoot the first man that tries 10 null
it down. Have nothing 10 do with traitors
dor fnN
come and viii give it TO you. Loyul citizens
shall be protected. As for these traitors, they
will be set Tomorrow to work wheeling dirt,
and shall be kept at it until l get the balance
OF the witnesses; then shall send them to St.
Louis TO be tried for treason" 1t was aston.
ishing what effect this declaration had on them.
OLe butternHt-coatsd individual said he
thought they would all take the oath--that
they did not understand what it was before.
Ebe General pleasantly rem arked that the
prospect Of wheeling dirt had suddenly con-
Vihced them of the duty they owed to the
country that protected them, but it was now
too late. He would no; take tho oaths of such
men, who would only take it for the fear of
punishment.
The schoolmaster, VI, Pheson, became sud
oCuty 4nSpIEe4 Win Union elUQ0Guce and
love, and was Launching out to prove that he
and all his comrades were and always had been
Union men, when he was suddenly checked
by witness, who reminded him that the day
after the capture Of Camp Jackson, he had
made violent secession speech, denouncing
the United States troops as murderers and
id Dutch, and urging the people to Hy to
arms. -sr.- t
Cen Prentiss told him that he should make
up his mind that he had TO wheel dirt, and TO
learn lessOn never yet taught in his books
He and Wiseman should not be released until
they were by due course of law, He had
acted the traitor and now wanted to lie himself
out Of it. 2iEs
These men now finding themselves in the
iron grasp Of Uncle SAM, are terribly fright.
ened, and would gladly take the oath; but when
the trial commenced were boldly defiant, and
had the ideA that they would be released with
out any pledge.
forced expatriation from their families,
for some time at least, they will undergo and
If they get off with their necks safe they may
be thankful.