Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-03-01
F1EEDKHH's CAN, MnRH1s, /
FebfuArv Ia 1884.

Of some Of its causes I wish TO lay before
Jour readers.
Last June 9 man and his wife left their
master, q DR.. Wheaton, living In the suburbs
Of Memphis, and went to Colonel Morris
regiment, the 2lst Missouri infantry, whose
headquarters we're close to DR.. W.'s residence,
and made complaint to tho Colonel that the
woman had been most numerically whipped
By her master. Colonel Morris referred the
matter to the Provost Msrshal, and the lat
ter referred it again to the Post Superintsn-
dent Of COntrabands st Memphis. From
the investigation it appeared that DR.. Whsa-
.sn was rank sscsssioniTt, that he had fur
nished a substitute to the rebel army, and
that he had kept this very woman long
tiuz at work in making clothing for that
army, and ct that very time he was boarding
a rebel Oficer who was . psrOled prisoner,
and who alternated with him in guarding
his premises to prevent the escape Of his
slaves
It should be slatsd that tho above man and
wife were parents Of three children who
were left at DR.. WhsatOn's and they wished
to get them away.
As the result Of this investigation, Mr..
Hay (noW Captain Hsy) was directed to go
and get the children and their clothing. But
the doctor refused to let the children go,
stating that he would bring papers from
Generals HurIburt aud Veatch, showing his
authority for keeping them. He did SO, and
-
The father and mother have been in this
camp ever since without being permitted to
see their children, though they are not now
more than 3 mile and half from thsm, the
doctor having had his premises guarded for
the last year By the 2lst Missouri infantry
until q few days since when they
left with the sixteenth army corps to go
down the river. After their departure, and
the premises of the old master were left with
out guard, the father thought his time had
come TO get his children. BE therefore went
while Dr. W. was absent from home, taking
two other soldiers with him. They climbed
the half prison wall fenoe, took each Of them
child and brought them to the camp.
In about two hours after their arrival st
camp, DR.. Wheaton came in great pomp, In
splendid carriage, with Lieutenant BHsSe,
one Of General Buekland's staff, socompa-
nisd by three sergssnts on horseback, who
rode through the camp, lookiny for the miss
ing property.
The parents were apprised Of what was 60
ing on by sort of telegraphic system, known
TO the blacks Of this country, and forthwith
they hsstsned out of camp, and went outside
of the picket lines, Whero fire was made and
the mother and children, including young
babe, remained all day yesterday, although,
excepting the frat week of the year, it was
among the coldest days Of the winter,
and it was not until after dark that she ven
tured TO come in.
As DR.. Wheston had an order from Gsner-
al Buoklsnd to get the children, Captain
Hay permitted him to search for them. But
after Wearying themselves the returned and
reported to Captain Hsy that hey could not
find theml Every Welt" replied the Cap
tain, coOlly, and dismissed the subject. And
finding that they were not likely to get any
material consolation from that source, they
left for town.
Soon after this occurrence a sergeant csme
from General Buoklsnd's headquarters with
an order for Captain Hay to report there i'm
meiiatsly. He obeyed the order, and as he
entered the Office, he found General Buckland
and DR.. Wheaton seated and smoking cigars.
Without asking Captain Hay to be seated
OEs W Q6aLOu QuhEkou DIN VIII 0ou-
eral Buoklsnd's order with oon, ,empt. This
Captain Hay denied, and persisted in so doing
After some decided talk the doctor called
General BuckIand aside and had an inter
view with him. When he returned, he gave
Captain Hay g verbal order to report there
with the children by 9 O'Clock the next morn
ing, or failing to do 80, he would put him In
close confinement.
Afler due confederation, It was thought
best by Colonel Phillips and Captain May,
that the children should be given up. But
the parents were not apprised of the dscis-
len until the next morning. Captain May,
however, refused to return them In person
and sent to General Bueklsnd the following
note
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENTS OF 7TH AND
9TH LOUISIANA INFANTRY,
February Is, '64.
GENERAL: have the honor to report those
children Of John and Pauline Christian
(cOlOrsd), claimed by one DR.. Wheaton, as
sIaves, found and are held subject to orders.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient serV't,
HKERT S. MAY,
Captain Commanding Detschmsnts and Su.
psrintendent of Camp Holly Springs.
To General R. P. Buckland, Commanding
Post at Memphis, Tennessee,
After short time, Lieutenant Busse re-
turned with q coach, bearing the following
order, written on the back Of the note sent
by Captain May;
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT MEMPHIS,
February 1s, 1854. J
The within named children will be de-
Iivered to Lieutenant Busse, A. A. G..
Rv or6ar of GRuVRaT RuoEIAEn
@. ". DUsTAN, A. A. G.
By fOrtunant occurrancs the Adjutant of
General Thomas was in the camp on an Of
hoisl tour Of inspection, when these thin IS
wsre going on, and he has promised
And It would be no marvel if General Buck
land should soon retire to private life as are
ward for the doings Of this present work.
When the officers came to take the children
the feelings Of tho parents may be imagined
but not by language described. They were,
of course, excited to the highest point. The
mother deelsred that shs wished they had
never been born, and the father was Eilling
to risk his life in rssJRing them. He ex-
claimed with all the yearnings that q fathers
.eart would prompt. "Whatia mans life
to him If he cannot have his children {? q"
The mother said, They are my children, and
to take them away Is like taking away my
own lifs." She thought that If she could sec
the General, and tell him that they were her
children, and that their father i0as a soldier,
he would give them up." So great WAS her
anguish that she said she could not see them
when they went away, and loading their
hands with such things as she had to give,
some cheese and some apples, and begging
Mrs. Hsy to give them some books, she took
her leave Of them and went to her cabin, that
she might not witness their foreible abduc-
tion.
AS they were taken into the carriage the
father stopped down and kissed them, while
the tears rolled from his eyes; and he bade
them an sfsetionats farewell.
There Wss great excitement throughout the
camp; and much sympathy was expressed
for the parents, not only by the colored peo-
pie, but by the ofaserE and missionaries iu
CAMP.