Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-05-23
Arrested for telling the truth.


M. M. Pomeroy, editor Of the La Cros-
Sc Democrat, who has for some time been
army correspondent of the Milwaukee
News and Chicago Times, has been order.
ed to leave the Department of Gen, Prem
tiss for giving the facts as he saw them,
without gloss or transformation. 1t is only
necessary to say that Mr.. Pomeroy has
been of the "war Democratic stripe," and
a strenuous supporter Of "war for the
Union
Commencing en- his arrest and exclusion
from the lines, Mr.. Pomeroy says: "Our
offence was simply this; we had told the
truth. After months of observation and
close investigation, we determined to give
our readers facts leaving lies to be spoken
by official reports Of victories never won,
by commanding officers like Prentiss, and
the telegraph. The idea of writing facts,
startled, as with the sting oflightening, the
willing tools of the Administration, and it
should not be allowed.
The truth of our letters-the existence
Of evils and wrongs still greater than any
we have written of, is still in the army
We asked Gen. Prentiss if we had writ
ten word which was not truth simple and
uncontrovertible. We dared him to deny
it-gave him proof to substantiate the ar
IL I,ot nj "
was this "Mr. Pomeroy, | want you to ur-
derstand that the truth shall not be written
from this district to dice courage the people
of the North, so long as 1 am here"
So long as we remained silent to the
dishonesty and corruption among officers
in the army, we we're prince Of good fell
lows. So long as an editor endorses every
move of the administration, or writes up a
hero of every ignorant, theiving and cow
ardly General, cursing the army with his
presence, and the country with his exis-
tence, it is all right. Just SO long as we
, see fit to remain silent and see poor peo-
pie plundcred-men deprived of all their
legal or political rights-the flag Of the
, North marking the depository of stolen
goods-G enerals stealing cotton; Coloncls
= stealing horses Captains stealing mules
Chaplains stealing negroes, and private;
stealing laccs, jewelry, clothing, bedding
r pictures, and loved mementoes of friendship
t from innocent women and children, with
e out our writing word ofprotest and de-
: manding that such damnable vandalism be
stopped. So long as we could witness the
g persistent efforts in the army to crusf
: Democrats rather than the rebellion
t could see the Union residents of the Soutl
y robbed and insulted by the men they once
6 prayed to God might reach them quickly
So long as we had daily evidence CLEANED
from picket post, camp fires, suttlers' te nts
and hospitals, that the army was becom
: ing demoralized, and the men that were
not afraid to speak, weary and disgustet
{ with the life of plunder and idleness they
II were leading, and mention it not, we were
: a loyal citizen. Nine months since Hele
J ma was occupied by Federal troops
'' Thirty FIVE thousand men pitched thei
j. tents there in the rich cotton county o.
g Philips, and the work begun. In min,
months eight changes of commanding off
GERS over that post have shown the unsta
IS bleness of the government, and tended tc
!. demoralize the troops. Six out Of the eigh
v commanders there have made Independent
u fortunes in cotton, mules, and othe
:. speculations, but the enemy has never beef
,Soti