Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-10-19
2 Ohio 9tatesnra,r
'TELEGRAPHIC.
10 For latest Tslegrsphic Nevs, see Sd Page.
Morning and Noon Reports.
FROM WASHINGTON,
Speech OF Cen Pron,,,,

speech or Gen. PronIIss
WASHINGTON, Oct. l7.-Gen. Prentiss tonight
was complimented with serenade. He graph
ically described the scenes through which he
and his fellow soldiers, taken prisoners at Shi
lob, passed. He said he had come To use harsh
language when speaking of the demons of the
south, whose conduct toward our troops was
characterized with murder and barbarity. Col.
Jordan, Assistant Adjutant. General to Beaure-
gard, was the only rebel from whom they re-
oeived the least courtesy. So help him Heaven,
those who prosecuted his comrades should never
escape retaliation In full at his hands. The
negroes are the best Union men in the South.
The returning Shiloh prisoners who had sufi-
oient clothing to completely cover their naked
ness do not number fifty. Nothing IN the way
Of garments Was furnished them by the rebels
Besides this, they were supplied with the most
disgusting food. After fully describing the un-
Kind and Offensive treatment they received, he
inquired Of his many listeners what they now
thought OF the boasted chivalry. The people
OF the South are determined. There is a DER.
fect reign of terror, and every sentiment for
peace or compromise 10 instantly stifled. He
said he found Union men bearing arms against
our government, but they were compelled 70 do
80 at the bidding of their masters. The white
race to-day in the South is in worse condition
than were the blacks before the war.
The rebel Government has more men in arms
than the North think. They fight we'll. Their
cause is desperate. They do not ask for trans.
portation and for comfortable supplies. They
are compelled to take the field with or without
food. 1t is time we should 20 to work without
gloves. We punished them more at Antietam
than many Of us supposed. The prisoners had
opportunities OF seeing the large numbers of
wounded who were carried south on the trains.
besides the stragglers. As to the Libby prison.
II was palace compared to the ones in which
they were confined. General Prentiss hoped
there would be no halting till we crush the re-
Deilion' hang the leaders and grant amnesty to
the deluded victims. Some one in the crowd
inquired what they think OF Lincon's Emanci-
patton reclamation. Many Of the officers with
whom he conversed, blasphemously Condemned
it, saying 1t was damnable and never oould he
enforced; but he (Prentiss) responded to them.
If you say you never can be conquered, and tbat
you are bound TO whip us, what harm can the
proclamation work2 He would declare every-
where that the proclamation would do more to
end the rebellion than all the battles fought =
He was applauded throughout his remarks.
The Times says our special correspondent at
Harper's Ferry sends the following dispatch: (:
To-day at noon the forces who started from here
on reconnaissance toward Winchester, and
whom our dpatches last night left quietly en-.
camped at Charlestown, returned 10 Bolivar
Heights, the object of the expedition being full
ly carried out.
Our special correspondent at sharpsburp
sends the following received from the forces
which crossed Black ford yesterday on a re-
cohnoissance: Small squads of the enemy were
encountered all along the way, but they retire
ed without Offering any serious opposition. The
principal force which the enemy opposed to us
was two regiments of cavalry and two pieces of
artillery. During the advance, we had one man
killed and three wounded. -Four dead rebels
were discovered on the wsyside. The impress
sion prevails that the rebels have evacuated
Martinsburg, and perhaps the entire section of
country in this vicinity. IL seems clear we have
not much to fear from any forces that the rebels
may have posted near the opposite bank of the
river. The force sent over Blackford's ford
will return tonight,
The Government is preparing q remonstrance
addressed to the rebel military authorities, on
the subject OF their infamous treatment Of our
prisoners OF war. IL is said that the speech
made here tonight by Gen. Prentiss received
the sanction of Government, and Ia TO some
extent an indication of the views il intends to
hold,
A special to the Herald says: An Impression
prevails here that there is some truth in the
runnor that, while In Maryland, the rebel Gen
Lee forwarded to this Government oyertures of
peace, which leading Southern men believed
would be accepted. If such proposition was
made, there ia no doubt that II has been declined
by the Federal Government. OIL. a. -.-...'- :
IL is believed in the Navy Department. that
several OF our gunboats are in pursuit of the
rebel steamer Alabama, or 29O, This vessel
never has been In American waters, but only in
British waters, or upon the high sea. This fact
may lead to reclamation by our Goyernmept
upon that Of Great Britain for the acts of a yes-
British. II ''''