The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-05-07
More sAe1t a cid Matter.
aga DENMARK. Aprjl %. 1864.

O4NAAAAy APA1A 90 ISSHs
Mr.. EDIToR:- have been reading ar
editorial published in the Cote CITY, refer
ring to what the editor calls "venomous'
attack upon Major Bruce by Mr.. G.. G.
Eaton. The ''venomous attack" was q
q fair statement of facts connected with the
arrest and court-martial Of four privates
belonging to Company E., 18th lows, sub
stantiated by numerous letters from men
belonging to the same Company. Mr.. Ra-
years, - an upright and truthful man and
q highly respectable citizen, and it 10 In
vain for even the"pure and spotless Bruce
or any of his friends, to try to impeaoh his
veraoity. Rio 0rande says, in vfndication
Of the "Maj0r," that 'sceftain of the mutt
neers were court -martialed," and think 4
brave work they made Of it, when seven OF
they helped release Fer9us0n and would do
% again under similar circumstances, and
all but four were sent back 70 csnmp with
no punishment, while Charley Paulk and
others were court<martialed and punished;
Charley receiving sentence for punish
ment scarcely preferable to death itself-a
horder sentence than was pronounced upon
the arch traitor Vallandigham.l II outing
the rope Wa mutiny, was not loosing tho
marching with guns and bayonsGs up to
the guards and Commanding them % fall
back, and assisting those who did cut the
rope, just - much mutiny - cutting the
roper The Major says that he does not BE-
Geve that Charley would have been guilty.
Of such . thing II he had not been led into
y BY others. "a Are not the leaders in . ease
Of mutiny jplte - guilty as one led by themS
Major Bruce claims that he has done ali he
could for G. Paulk-has made the punish
n1ent az light AZ possible. He was TIE cause
Of the. boys being court-martialed, while
three or four, contrasting to be guilty 81. us
same, were released and sent back 60 candn.
II Major Bruce did nothing but his dutt rs
having four Of those who were arrested tried
and one sentenced to two years exile
and hard labor on some island, without
pay ana . dishsnorable discharge, II he
could do no less, ask how he could recon.
Gle 1t with duty to release . part Of the
boys who confessed that they helped % take
him down, and would do % again under
similar circumstances. am not sorrv. /
Sm glad that part of the boys were not
punished. Perhaps t" the MaiorN would
say that it was " Necessary that one man
suffer for the people," have 40 doubt
put thet mild punishment would have
oeen All IN order and their friends would
nave made NO complaint II such had been
the case. As it is, il it wrong that Mr..
Eaton should feel Indignant and expres:
nus feelings and sympathy for the boys.
publicly and is It strange that the friends
and relations Of the boys should feel iust A.
indignant, and most assuredly they do.
appeal to any parent who has a son n this
war, one who has given up home with ali
lts comforts, has sacrificed the society az
friends, to protect the dear old flag, would
you feel less indignant were they vour
sons than does Mr.. Eatonf
One who enlists to fight for his country
mas given far more than it is possible for
any OF us TO give who stay at home. IAN
that q man hath will he give for his life,
n s.s .. N, r, JUDsoN,