The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-11-29

Mr.. EDIToR:-I regret that circum-
stances beyond my control has effectually
debarred me from replying to the sour
rilous article in reference to me in your
edition of Nov. It'll. The article alluded
to states that "much Indignation has
been expressed by loyal citizens of this
place, that the rebel prisoners brought
here on Monday, after being placed in
jail, were taken out and kept at the
Washington House, under guard, and
that some of them were escorted around
town by Captain Gaines, while his own
men were neglected, &c.
Now, Mr. Editor, what are the facts
in the case? Simply, sir, that On my
arrival in your city, in charge of eleven
prisoners, who were placed in Jail, when
l called on the Quartermaster, and re-
quested for my men transportation and
ratiuns; with the former l was provided;
in reference to the latter, | was told to
quarter my men on the different hospi-
tails of your city. After Gas l had sup
posed) had complied with the Quarter
masters request, l then proceeded to
the Washington House, where, soon
afterwards, my men called upon me and
stated that the Hospital Stewards re-
fused tn accommodate them
Under these circumstances / solicited
the proprietor of the Washington House
to entertain, for the night, my prisoners
and guards. He replied that of course
he would accommodate the guards, but
desired to have nothing to do with the
prisoners-they were already in jail, and
that was good enough for guerrillas" l
then told the gentleman that no provis-
ion had been made for the guards at Ev-
ansvilIe-that we anticipated making
connection with the morning train but
was lowing to the fog) unavoidably dis
appointed, and proposed that if he would
entertuin both the guard and guerrilIas,
/ would collect the whole amount of the
bill from the guerrillas (the guards hav-
ing no money! and liquidate the charges,
which he agreed to do, and consequently
furnished us with two rooms in the fourth
story-one occupied by the guards, the
other by the guerrillas The guards eat
at the table with the boarders-the guer-
rillas after every one else was done
In regard to my escorting prisoners
around town, to some extent am guilty.
The circumstances are these The pris-
oners were nearly naked, and asked my
permission to go to clothing store, to
which consented, and escorted one at a
time under guard to make these pur-
chases
One prisoner, blacksmith from Madi.
sonville, informed me that he was in.
debted to hardware merchant on Water
street and desired to see him, to which
place l accompanied him and back tc
quarters.
That was frequently on the street is
correct That | was accompanied by
rebels, Except on the above occasions,
is false. Mr. Ray and Mr. Rout, Of
Spencer county, Mr.. Obey, merchant in
Gentryville, Mr.. Hancock, of Kentucky
and others, whose company l enjoyed
that evening, viii bear witness to the
truth of this assertion. No doubt but my
friends above were recognized that even
ing by the indignant citizens of Evans
vile as guerrillas.
Now, sir, while freely acknowledge
that the public acts of officers should be
Justly scrutinized, nevertheless feel the
writer of your Indignation Article
should first know that he can be sustain
ed, and then have the strictest regard fol
truth No man in his intercourse witt
the world, or even in his own esteem, car
stand well ifhe feels himself deficient in
this attribute. L. Y. GAINES,
Captain.