Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-11-05
THREE DEMOCRATIC SOLDIERS TALKING.

zen PRENrISS. Coi. LYNCH ana Oapt URkGG,
all of whom have been prisoners since the bat
tie of Shiloh until within few days, ADDRESS
ed the immense audience. Gen. Prentiss gave
a long and deeply interesting narrative of the
sufferings OF himself and companions in cap
tivity, and of the meanness aud barbarism of
the rebeIs-more fully stated, but substantial
" the same that he gave in his speech in
| Washington.
| Gen. Prentiss gave his sentiments on polit-
ical matters as follows:
Lest Imay be misunderstood let me tell YOU,
Republicans, ain no Republican. Democrats,
| am no Democrat. am a soldier of my
country: tProdigions cheering.] | hold in
| my hand an Augusta paper, one of some thir-
| ty or forty others have in my possession,
with articles similar to this one. [Cries ::
Read it - 'srcad it'll This is the Augusta
| Daily C. nsfitufionaIist, published in Augusta,
GA Ii is the oldest paper in the Southern
! States, the one which has the greatest circu-
! lation, and is looked upon, next to the Rich
mond Enquirer, as the organ of the Sonfeder-
acy. 1t is studied effort OF these people to
/ divide us here in the North, to have the West
! separate from the East. They continually
talk about this. They say, ssWe like you Wes-
tern men, for you fight better than them Gus
I sed ankees; We know We can't whip you. but
I L
article is headed The Great West," and if it
/ hurts any of you. don't blame me, for you ro-
| ted that | should read il.
! s-There is however. evidently in the West
sspart icuiary in Ohio, Indiana. and Illinois,
.sstroBg opposition to the present war upon
''the South. The tone OF the press in those
| estates, the public meetings, and The Demo-
sscrdfic COnreations, all prove this conclusive
.sly. This feeling does not display itself as
s'boldly opposed TO the war per Sc, but assumes
s'the form OF opposition TO abolitionsm. coer-
SCION and subjugaton. 1t would not be safe
.'to exhibit it otherwise, for in that event the
| ''indiv vidualS giving expression to it would
sisoon find themselves ncarcerated within the
s'walls of some Yankee Bastile. and their oppo-
| s'sition thus speedily and effectually crushed
''out. But by protesting devotion To the u
s'nion, the Constitution, and the Adninstra-
'-tion Of Abraham Lincoln, they can organize
.tboroughly for work ,and thus secure "a way to
s.triumph in the approaching fall elections
That article proceeds 10 the length of a col
umn in the same strain, alludIng-for | Will
mention the names-to Carlisle of Western
| Virginia, Vorhees of Indiana. Richardson of
| Illinois, and Vallandigham OF Ohio. TSensa-
| tion-I Their papers are full OF it, They look
upon you tender footed souls traiters to
your country. Do yon want to help these men
to murder yonr brothers and break up this
Government IL so, in the name of Heaven.
let us know il, and the Shiloh prizoners will
send you down South where you belong. We
came home fully determined to take all men
by the hand who think and feel do, that
this reheI Ilion should be crushed.
We are going to our homes in this State and
We will tell the Government, the candidates,
and the voters, how we have been tire tied. 1t
may be denied in some quarters. | care not
We are determined to tell the truth Here
| around me many of these men, my com
| rades, Republicans, and Democrats some of
whom went South as apologists for these men.
Some Missourians and shareholders We're with
nre in prison. We all came home. Well, call
us aboltionists if you please, or anything else.
[Applause tell you the slaves in the South
| that We saw are better posted than the butter
| nut gentry. Every little act of kindness that
these men received We're from slaves. ICheers.1
We have come home ready to use every pow
er that God hath given us, to put down this
| rebellion. [Cheers.J To take their proper
ty. to take their negroes, to take everything.
[Great and long continued applause.l
Col. Lynch spoke with great earnestness
We give short extract:
| hardly need tell you that l have always
been strong, uncompromising Democrat. [
have been an apologist for the Southern peo-
pie. pronounced the stories of their cruel
ties to be gross fabrications. | considered the
Abolitionists and Republicans the enemies of
the Union. / ,cW not say so nop.
| While was confined in the Madison prison
the officers were allowed bnt two rations per
| day. those rations consisting of four ounces of
/ pork and certain quantity of corn or -four
| bread. This bread was made of meal and wa
| ter mixed and roasted. 1t was first roasted on
| one side and then on the other. 1t was very
hard on the outside, (iaughter) and very soft
on the inside. We used to pitch quots with
these cakes. (Renewed laughter.) They
| pronounced that gentlemany treatment
| These men had haep fsfp linz
the men l apologized for, the men treated in
gentlemanly manner at Doneson. l never
suffered so much, however, during my whole
| Imprisonment, / did when | arrived at
| Washington and found that there were men in
| the North sympathizing with the rebels. The
rebels are our open enemies. We know where
10 find them. These Northern enemies are
ripers. They sting US and cannot find
them to crush them. NJ only platform is 81
| love my country" /, you all know, have
never been an Abolitionist. | have turned ne
| groes who came into my camp over to their
rebel masters. | cannot say that like a ne
| gro now but if il should be necessary to save
| this glorious Union, uouid take a regiment of
negroes and march INFO Dirie (Immense ap
| pianse.) Every party now should be merged
into Que. There should be no Republicans
no Democrats. Every man should sacrifice his
| personal feelings. | was opposed 10 Abraham
| Lincoln; | am opposed to every man who
/ opposes Abraham Lincoln
Captain Gregg was equally emphatic. We
give single paragraph:
The war must be carried on differently This
/ Union must and shall he preserved whether
the s'nigger" is preserved or not Immense
applause.l Why, the rebels spit upon your
Constitution. hear it said up here ssyou
| must stand by the Constitution Why. the
rebels won't take that Constitution. If YOU
should hang Wendell Phillips and all other