The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-13
Freua q. Ieuis. !

There are many amusing, strange ana anece-
ing incidents occurring in connection with the
extensive Provost Marshal system of Missouri
the chief head quarters Of which are located On
narrow street leading into Fourth. There, at
al hours Of the day, may be seen an anxious,
waiting and impatient crowd Of men, women
and children, whose mission is as. various -
there are different persons Some come to visit
friends OF relatives who are confined in the
military prison for disloyal practices-some to,
try and secure the release Of q son, husband,
father or brother, who has been serving in the
Rebel army, but At last overtaken in bis erring
course. has been handed over to the custody Of
loyalty. Some come with evidence proving the
innocence Of the imprisoned party, bringing
dozen long, brown. visaged back woodsmen ss
witnesses, and perhaps pale, thinly-clad. anx-
ious wife snd two or three ragged children -
I" additional evidence" 40 the Lawyers would
say. Some come, laggardly, to take the oath Of
allegiance, and get back property (which
property" chiefly consists Of human beings
who became seized Of the strange idea that they
ought to enjoy the proceeds Of their own labor.
Happening to be in the Office few days since,
I was witness of . scene that I shall not soon
forget An old lady, well dressed, of evident
refinement and intelligence, came in and took
seat near the desk Of the principal Clerk to wait
her turn for attention. Her face betokensd
deep trouble and suffering. Feeling an interest
in what could be her mission waited to hear
Presently the clerk turns around and inquiries
politely the object of her visit 1t is to see an
only son, confined in the Gratiot street prison
for what cause she has never learned, and she
c,nnot believe in the goodness Of her motherly
heart that her son has done anything which
could bring upon him such disgrace The clerk
,urns to the record, and there reads :-"-
-, guilty of treason to his country, and
of killing or causing to be killed, three Union
men in 49, county" To this, there is the tes-
timony of number of witnesses, citizens of
that county, under oath, and the clerk added:
81 fear it will 60 very hard with your son." 1t
would be impossible to describe the anguish and
suffering which this shock sent to the poor
mothers heart. "A rebel and murderer-it
must have been sorrowful scene when she vis
tied him in the prison. Such scenes are not un.
frequent. 1s5 sast
Yesterday another incident, of different
character occurred. rather good looking lady
came to head quarters and wanted to get her
slave girl "Sally."'s This girl had strangely
enough gone of to see her husband, who was
sick and refused TO come back-to the great dis
gust of Mrs. --, whose husband is rank
secessionist, has been Captain in the Rebel
army, but is now here in Gratiot street prison
This lady had apparently sincerely repented Of
any disloyalty she might ever have been imbued
with, and was soreiy troubled at the condition
of her husband. Gen. Fisk, to whom she made
her complaints, replied that he could not under
take to bring Sally back-he wished she was
in Heaven With all the rest of her race--that
she, the lady, Ought to go and persuade her
husband to take the oath Of allegiance, come
out, and renounce the world, the flesh and the
devil, and JEFF Davis, who embodied and per-
sonated all three, and henceforward 60 to serv-
ing his country. That whatever might be the
result of tie war, Missouri could never 60 out
of the Union---she was to day almost q free
State and largely in favor Of Emancipation--and
that she, her husband, and all other rebels, ought
| to be convinced Of the wickedness Of their ways
and turn from them" In snch q strain as this,
be went Oh, much to the amusement OF the :" IN.
dersiened,n and much to the discontinue Of the
Door lady who laid it all on the "viie Abcli-
tionists." Sally" is probably to-day bestow-
ing her care upon her husband, who is Q free
man--and the probability il that she will not be
disturbed any more. e
y The wealthy secessionists here are bitterly op
4 posed to Gen. Curtis and his administration o.
affairs in this Department. And this opposition
comes not alone from avowed secessionists, but
from many politicians who are, or pretend to b'
lin favor of the Union. Take for example, Mr.
Phelps, the Military Governor of Arkansas
Gov. Phelps hes for long time represented th'
Springfield District in this State in Congress
: For fifteen years or more be has given his infu
ence in favor of slavery. At Washington b
was known IS one Of the leaders of polite Soutl,
ern circles, and sympathizing largely with thei
!, projects. At the breaking out Of the rebellion
|, after considerable wavering, he got down off Q
( the fence ON Uncle Sans aide In fact hi
Union sentiments may have been mistaken q
the time. But the idea Of preserving the Unto
without troubling the slave or slave holder, wa
tine difficulty which he stumbled over. SLAYER
! must be protected at all hazards. And th
seems to be the key to his action. He cannt
y consent to do anything which seems to strike
blow at slavery. 1t was for this reason that,
It the recent election, his old district, which BIZ
t changed its sentiments, refused to re- elect hi,
| .o Conprass And tn CIV phelns mo,o nar