New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-13
WHH CONsCRIPT QUAkEHS Vh
NORTH CAROLINA.
csssorsi Correspondent.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. J, 1904
Shortly otter the battle of Gettysburg, you
,fsheA letter from this city giving the outlines OF
osse of several North Carolina Friends who had been
Arcea into tho Rebel army. The msn facts were cor
pesx,y stated, but many interesting particulars were
sver,ooked Since then the parties themselves have
SyittAu narrative Of their portoss adventures ana
SsHversp<e. which must possess much interest 10 thc
3ar~e numbers Of the Society who read The TRIBUNE rs
m A. ia the ewes of oil others who conscentiousy
serupulous against bearing sIDs therefore send yos
IN particulars.
Four of these Friends Thomas Hinshaw. aged 80,
As brother Jacob aged 2a. Cyrus Barker aged 22 and
NJ brother Nathan, aged 20 were residents OF Gunord
bounty al farmers and az married except tie last
Samed. In October is62. al armed guard came TO
Thomas Hinshaws house while his wife was getting
eskfset and notwithstanding the entresties OF the
litter tie guard forced him away to camp with scarce
any opportunity prepare Cox his absence or - take
ksvc Of his family. Jacob va, taken out OF bed q;
Ssht and carried of Ia the same basty and unteelng
ksnner, Cyrus and Nathan Barker were treated In
be Same summary way. On reaching camp an onicer
ordered them TO procure conveyances 10 take them 70
Ashborough Is miles OIL where the conseripts were 70
l. BE- eounenancns war. they told the officer ths. they
v themselves TO be prisoners brought there and held
for their own Constrained trsnsporta0n 70 the
q MAT but ns's
% S e. e. Ssoss e 'sf 5. ss
s s : ,: ss En- ss's e. guards ~ ssssa
81 Is 4 ssss osssss& Some Il them .vss sssssa
Is doing 90. Their simple promise wac then takeI
hat they would report themselves at specified time
cd they wsrs siIosed 70 return home where they re
ssads in great aals.ion shsy tore sSem:slTs: away
Here they Joined By seventy ether conscrips and
Ssre sent to Raleigh Two whom they thus met were
Erands by right OF membership One was discharged
reason Of feeble health, but the other being Of Little
Sifh paid his ESQ Communication, and won't his way.
The four Friends could not In conscience pay snytne
g avoiding what they believed to DO an ev and pre-
rrcd 70 suffer relying on Gcd for protection anc sup
bort through the trying scenes tha. awaited them.
From Raleigh they were taken TO BlsskTater' va.
tttle food and no water for "a hours. They were
SSsgned to the SOD North Carolina Regiment Col Mar
On being rsca 70 csSss rh s, tssI
SriRoplss forbid their engaging in any military service
= to choose any company. They again refused TO pay
- communication money though tempted b. the promise
Aat IL should DO applied 10 civil purposes only. The
not Of other Friends having paid the Communication a
brown upt them but while the weakness Of these fellow
members only increased their distress they continued TO
oscline all part in the war. Col Marshall finding he
could not In any way induce them to comply. pat them
nto Capt. Kneaids company. This officer proved very
friendly TO them. He knew nothing OF Friends Of
Aeir peaoe-lOvDg principles but coucIlsted
~ their quiet and consistent conduct Tho First Lieu
6nant was harsh, Ieqairng them 70 draw tntpsask.
~ for guns and did not expect TO carry any they
Asd testimony against fighting. They argusd this
Question with bin quoted Scripture and so oonfuted
% the grounds be took 10 drive him to the weak de-
vice Of saying that the Scriptures translated by
Zen who did not understand the language In which
hey written. He Ieft them however. much dis.
ooDtented saying there was way " force them.
The next day the Lieutenant ordered them to clear
= ground for new -encsmpment. but they declined
giving reasons why. He became excited ordered his
ben 70 compel them Hish The bayone but the soldiers
6ere unwilling TO 90. The men, though obliged np
psrsny to obey orders did hurt the friends much
icing the doay W" tSof td sho aid. fofcd
be use off:her force end told the Friends they might
IeIDaD quiet where they we're. This very trying
|est Of faith and trust lkod but these peace LOVING
zen were strengthened " maintain thsir religious
principles with unshsscn frn0ess. The taIrb Lieae
eant bocame 40 soiteDed tg their patient endurance
hat when Yrgris Friend 70 ask permission 70
IKE EN- 70 hi, house By, he pleaded with Col
ashsl ~ gIsn. T. II twas granted, and under IL they
I1sited other Friends ct blsckwa.sr. and stteaded
Decttng Tor worship
To overcome the sturdy religious cony lotions OF the~e
oen the Rebels Piled them with offers Of employment
COOKS nurses and wsgoBsrs: also with bounties
hat they believed to be the Sn1isan Ching Tbsv de-
ans ,h AL YET neither Captain Dor Lieutenant would al
hat something must be done and thai tb.y s,onH o.
oto service Hereupon they began to reason with bin
ne , xss soi dipped TO .gae ordered hi.
lined a. before. The soldiers triad 70 compel them
hanging. drowning, hbAotng while son.
Pere ordered to bsyonet them Bnf tho Friend, remsin
Pc quiet and calx they received tut little iu,ury Yet
hey were tied tos wagon tail and driven tLros uil.s
nroaeh mud and water 70 the fodder, aud again Or
Isred to help In loading but again decsng thsy ver.
'ot forced Stu tied 10 The wagon they we're driven
Ack 10 camp
Though often sharply threatened ster this, vet no
Rrther coercion was psed. and they wel merely re-
stred % keep up with this army but not march In
he ranks. Their food wss soanty, 40 bsd a. TO be
ardly eatahe, willis they suffered all mngner OF o.
psure during long Winter. Tho profanity and
tcksdness around them was especially trying 20 them
January, 1863 they obtained furlough 10 ys their
aiiSs. On the back Of their furiougL Gen. pe.grew
r0te that "they Of no manner Of use N the
n.y." and Gen. Hill added the additional compliment
ct they were not worth . straw TO the army"
othing could more strongly prove thar fidelity TO Mo
tpciples they protested
gain, on the 18th Of March, they ware compelleS
undergo tho trial Of parting from their miles and
turning to camp After this the regiment frequently
aDged position. At Fredericksburg they witnessed
horroS VI battlefield and thence. through terri
marches, they taken 10 Gettysburg. They were
p In the rear until tho last day OF that memorable bat
when orders came for every one 10 advance and al
the tbinnnd ranks Of the regiments which had been
ragged. All the officers Of their regiment from cap. o
~ up TO oolonels bad been killed or wounded Tie
sDds did not advance. and were arrested In conse
moe Taken before an officer. they explained ~ him
b. religious scruples. and though DO told them to
their regiment yet no intimated TO the guard that
need not be forced, Tie harsh Lieutenant before
'tsened, Wa BOW u eonnaad Of tho regiment % Y