Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-27

OBrRLIs, Aug. 25, 1862

0BERLIE, Aug. 25, 1862.
EDS. LEADER Saturday last was great
day in Oberlin. In the evening a tele-
gram was received from Captain shurtlefR
Of the Ohio Seventh, who has been, as your
readers know, confined year in Southern
prisons, stating that he would be in Ober-
lin on the o'clock train in the evening,
During the whole day every Countenance
was beaming with joy. Other arrange
ments for the evening we're universally
abandoned, and preparations were made
for giving the Captain a "warm recep-
ton
And a warm reception it was The on
ly parallel to it was the occasion year or
two ago when Oberlin proudly received
back its "Rescuers, victors in the long
struggle with governmental oppression
In fact the scenes and associations of the
day reminded many very strongly of that
occasion.
AT THE DEPOT.
When the train arrived, a crowd Of a
thousand people were gathered to greet
the returned sufferer and hero. Here,
however, there were no reception exercises.
Capt. shurtleff was placed in carriage,
with Capt. Cross and Lieut.. Baker, who
were his first and second Lieutenants at
the time of the Cross Lanes fight, and who,
by a strange coincidence, were both in Ober-
lin to meet him on his first return, and
driven amid the ringing Of bells, and the
shouts of welcome, to the big church.
AT THE CHURCH,
an audience Of over three thousand had
already crowded all available sitting or
standing room within the walls. Mr.. J.
NJ. Fitch took the stand and announced
amid the widest applause the safe arrival
of the Captain. Mr.. Fitch was chosen
chairman for the evening. AT this point
Captain Shurtlef appeared on the stand,
escorted by Capt. Cross, Lieut.. Baker and
Others and was greeted with most enthu-
siastic and unrestrained cheers, shout after
shout of wild applause, giving welcome to
one who had deserved it all so well. The
Musical Union, under direction of Prof.
Baker, gave us a glad song of greeting
Prof Morgan offered up to the Deity most
fervent thanks for the safe return to Ober-
lin of her loved son. Mr.. Fitch then ad-
dressed to the Captain, in behalf of the cit
izens, an eloquent speech of welcome.
Captain Shurtleff came forward to re-
spond. Perhaps you would like to take q
look at the hero of Cross Lanes, and Of
trials more severe than the battlefield, en-
countered in that year of Southern prisons.
He has changed since he laid aside the text
books, certainly. The student look has
not entirely disappeared, but there. is added
to it a soldierly and martial bearing, rem
dered still more striking by his huge mil
itary moustache. The hardships of a
twelvemonth have left their melancholy
marks on his thin, bronzed face and wasted
form. But it is shurtleff still-the same
that we used to admire and love when we
had him here, and whom we love and ad-
mire yet more, now we have him in the
field. The fire is still in his eye and the
ring in his true voice
He began by saying that while he had
been in the South, amid the barbarities
which the rebels delighted in, he had come
sometimes to believe all men hard-hearted
and unfeeling. But if he had ever in
dulaad IN snnb haliaf, IL rzas,rA4h- -Af
this nights greeting, had assured him that
there were noble men on earth, and had
at the same time taught him the heaven
side difference between the North and the
South. He proceeded to give brief mar
rative of his experience as a prisoner, be-
ginning with an able and soldierly account
of the Cross Lanes fight and giving a
mournful and exasperating account of pris-
on life in Secessia, and the inhumanities
performed on our soldiers by the rebels
The Captain closed with startling an
nouncement. Said he: "This nation is
labOring under frightful misapprehen-
sion of the strength of the South. I may
be thought lDigd, but state it as my eoEVic-
ton that there are four hundred thousand
rebel soldiers ,Oithin sirty miles Of Richmond.
All men at the South are under arms-all
not absolutely disqualified by physical dis
abilities. They are fired with bitterest
hatred and hottest zeal. They will live
comfortably on food that our soldiers would
mutiny on. The danger now is not only
that we cannot subdue them, but that they
will subdue us. The next sixty days will
determine. Meanwhile only strong re-
Inducements and able generalship will
save us"
The Captain was detained an hour after
the close of the meeting by the rush Of
welcoming friend 8. Each man, woman
and child seemed determined to give per-
sonal greeting to their common friend. At
last the audience dispersed, sincerely glad
that the last of Company C's boys had es-
capped from the death-in-life of Southern
prisons. LANCELOT.