Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-05-07
Army correspondence.
CARTHAGE, Tenn, April 9l, 1858.

| OEAh IlAhPEks--l DC JOuT0di OF the
10Th, received last evening. conveyed
to me the first intelligence of Nsjor
John R. Blessings death. To say that
l was surprised is but feint des,rip-
tion; l was thunder struck. One more
good man gone to his reward; one more
life offered up on the shrine of our Dm.
mon country; one more for which
traitors North and South, will have to
render an account to the Ruler o. the
Universe. Their skirts hang heavy
with the blood of good and loyal men.
Patriotism alone, and that of the very
highest order, sent Major Blessing int o
the field to battle. and if necessary, to
die for his country. He is gonel The
nation has lost a patriot, Gallia county
one Of its best citizens, and his family a
devoted husband, lovisg father, and an
I affectionate son. The writer hereof
has seen Major B. in all the relations of
life, at home and abroad, and a more
kind hearted, unselfsh, and honest m an, =,
never lived. Many can truly say tha.
they are better off. for the life which
has just closed. May "He who tenn
pers the wind to the shorn lamb" pre-
tect and shield from the storms of
life, the widow, and fatherless childta.
Let me make this a gloomy letter
while am at it, by giving you sone
incidents of life in rebeldom, with he
remark that they are strictly true. I
mention only such as l have herd
from the parties interested, and Tor
whose truth and veracity there is no
question or doubt.
Near New Middleton, Eve miles soith
of Carthage, lives a man by the name
of Mason, who is near sixty years Of
age, and an uncompromising and IN
fiinching lover Of the Union. The rehls
might steal his horses, plunder his
house, destroy his property and threaen
his life. but they could not change bis
devotion, or cause him to falter for me
moment, in his allegiance to the CIV
eminent of his fathers. Last wek,
MONDAY evening, April 18th, fifty
rebel (Cavalry) came to his house md
inquired for him. He was sitting on
the piazza, and acknowledged himself
to be the man for whom they inquied.
They took him and tied his hands be-
hind his back, at the same time thresen-
ing to gag his wife if she made anydis-
turbauce. They informed Mr.. Mlson
that they had been told he had, secrted
about his house, three thousand dollars
in gold, which be could deliver to hem
or forfeit his life. He assured thea in
the most earnest manner, that he had
not single dollar In gold, and al he
had was about two hundred dollas in
q. s. Treasury notes. The rebels i'm
mediately slipped a rope around bis
neck, and the last thing he remembers
was becoming dizzy and falling b the
ground. They choked him until they
nearly killed him. How long he re-
manned in this condition of unconscious
ness he is unable to say. When I've re-
covered sufficiently to stand upnght,
they made him give up all the upney
he had, threatening to kill him and his
wife if they remained in. the country;
calling him by such name as Cd d-n
Yankee s-n of a b-b, and tthers
equslly refined and chaste. l had the
particulars Of this affair from Mr.. Ma
sons own lips. These rebels bel,uged
to Gen. Wheeler's command. Obi ye
dirt eating traitors Of the North how
do you like your Southern masers?-
You want peace on n-any-terms with our
chivalrous and erring brothers of the
South? You want to lick the Spite off
the feet of these cut.tbroats, murierers,
thieves? A secessionist is all this and
more too.
Last Sabbath evening aboutsundowu.
an old negro woman, travel stained and
nearly broken down, came into our
camp. crying bitterly with sorrow too
deep for uttersnce. Her whole cry was.
"dey hab stole my four gals" She
lived but a few miles from here, higher
up the Cumberland. The night be-
fore, twenty rebels came to her log
cabin, siezed her four grown girls. and
carried them of. To save herself and
two sons, they fed from the house into
the woods. and started Tor this camp.
which they reached Sunday evening.
after travelling over the hills all day.