Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-07-29
HOW THE REBELS BEHAVED IN PENN.
SYIVANIA

doW The REBELS BEHAVED IN PENN
SYLVANIA
The Franklin Repository describes at length
the career Of the rebels in the Pennsylvania
border counties. Their freaks, humors and
prejudices, along with number of their out
RACES upon property and life, are told graphi-
| cally
! Even intelligent rebel officers insisted that
Lincoln was fugitive in Boston, and dare
not occupy his capital, and the rank and file
were RECALLED with that and equally absurd
falsehoods. Others declared that he was hab-
| itually Intoxicated, and unable to attend to
his official duties because OF his intemperance
Those men were evidently taught to regard
President Lincoln as brutal and barbarous in
an eminent degree, and they were amazed to
IND the loyal of all parties alike respecting
him and the government.
Rev. Mr.. Pryor, father of the clustering
General Roger A. Pryor, who didn't fight
Potter when in Congress, was with Lee as
| chaplain, and seemed to have a general super
vision Of the piety of the army. He repre-
sented the progress of religion as eminently
satisfactory, and seemed to regard the rebels
as perfectly Cromwellian in morals. True,
they would steal negroes and from negroes,
and anything else, from penny nail to a six
horse team; but they were nevertheless
model army. according to Pryor, in all the
attributes OF Christian character. Our people
generally thought that the scale of Zion must
be very low down South.
The discipline of the rebel army was admi-
rable. No private or subaltern dared to dis
regard an order in the presence Of his superior
or where his superior officer was likely to be
advised of it. When the rebel CO olumns filed,
through Chambersburg they marched with
the utmost order and decorun, and laughing,
talking loudly or singing was not indulged in
Some of the border States, and most of the
more Southern rebels, had rather peculiar con-
ceptions of the Pennsy lvania Dutch. Quite a
number were astonished to find our people
speaking English, as they supposed that the
prevailing language was the German. At
first, when they attempted derisive remarks
they would initiate the broken English Of the
Germans and judging from Ewell's demand
for twenty barrels of sourkrout at sea-
son when it is unknown in any country, even
the commanding officers must have considered
our people as profoundly Dutch. 1t would
require intensely Dutch community to
supply sourkrout in July. Our farm build
ings and especially our large and fine barns
all through the valley, at once excited their
astonishment and admiration. Quite a num-
Der of officers visited the barn of the editor as
a matter of curiosity, although there are many
in our valley much larger aud quite as we'll
f1ished. The private soldiers generally con-
large denomination in this community and
the out buildings about it., such as chicken
house. hog pens, carriage house, &C., were
generally supposed to be servants houses,
and very neat ones.
Mr.. Strife, peaceful and inoffensive citi-
zen, was cruelty murdered by some of the reb-
ell soldiers of HIPS corps, on his farm, ioca-
ted near the Greencastle road three miles from
town. He was standing in his yard when
three of the Williams approached him and de-
manded his money. He immedia lately surren-
dered it. Soon after two more men came to
him making similar demand. The murder
ers buried his body in a dung heap, and then
fled. Mr.. Strife leaves large family. The
shocking manner of his death occasioned the
most profound indignation wherever it became
known.