Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-08-22
Rebel Barbarity.

much labor TO both the physical and spirit
ual wants of the sufferers in Camp Drnni-
son, the Rev. MIR. Clayton, an earnest Meth
odisi, formerly of the Bethel in this city,
has been prominent All the sufferers there
have learned to lock for bis visits with anx-
iety. In the language of The Dutch doc
tor there, IF preacher Clayton amt a
Christian, then faint wort tam to pc
Christian"
Few things are more interesting than the
results Of his visits through the various
wards, bull shall confine myself to some
notes lave of conversations OF his with
the wounded rebels, OF whom we have 81
there. They are all from somewhere in
the Southwest, and have all applied to the
government for perus;ssion TO take the oath
and be released thereon. No answer TO
their united petition has been received.
Among those with whom Mr.. Clayton
held long conversations was a Baptist
preacher from Tennessee, MIR. Neil. He
asked him how he CHANGED to be there
Oh, they came the scare on me" was his
reioinder, and be told story of the hor-
/ rible treatment of Union men in his neigh
borhopd which brought upon him "a spirit
of fear" One of the number, who was ev-
identity near his end, gathered up all tie
strength he had and told his story as fol-
lows: He had been postmaster in small
town in Van Buren County, Tenn. A day
was appointed to take vote on the seees-
sion ordinance, and in that precinct they got
seven votes for it; dissatisfied with that
they appointed another day and got six +;
they tried third time and got one. They
then began the system of persecution and
| lynching. " That you may judge how this
was carried on" said the man, " will give
you one case. 1t may seem incredible to
you, but as you see, am not far from the
grave, and | would not appear before my
Maker With a lie in my mouth. There was
in Van Buren county an old Methodist
preacher Of great deal Of ability named
determined Union man, aud as his iufuenee
IN the county was great, they determined
10 make an example of him and get him
cut of the way. SO they took him out oi
his house, put a rope around his neck, and
setting him upon horse, led him out into q
forest. They then told him that unless he
would publicly renoLnce his UnioHism they
would hang him. Cavender replied, $ GOO
gave me my breath to bear witness to His
truth, and when ] must turn it TO the work
of lies and crime, ii is well enough to yield
it up to Him who gave it, They then
asked him if he had any parting request
He said he had no hope that they would
attend TO anything he might ask" They
said they would. He then requested thai
they would take his body TO his daughter
with request that she would lay il beside
the remains OF his departed wife. They
then said: I" Its time TO go to your prayers.
He replied, +" I'm not one OF The sort who
has to wait until rope is round his neck
to pray" They then said, "Come, old man
no nonsense; if you don't swear TO stand
by the Southern Consederacy you'll have tc
Lang" at the same time tying the rope to q
branch. The old man said, +" dang away
One then gave blow with whip 10 the
horse upon which Cavender sat--the horse
] sprang forward, and the faithful servant o.
God and his country passed into eternity
You will remember that they said they
would fulfill his last request. Hell thes
cut the flesh off has bones and hreso IL 10 hc
hogs; has heart scas csr out and lag IN pub
he place till It rotted. Can it be wondered
ii few are strong enough to resist hese
the only legitimate arg 'ments for re-
belllou p Cor. Of The Tribune.