Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-03-09

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the reception and address of Col HARRISON
C. HOBART of the 2Ist Wisconsin, recently es-
capped from Libby Prison, Richmond. The
Hobbies and gallery, as well as the floor of the
Hall were densely packed. Hon. LEVI HUB
BELL, of Milwaukee, presided. hen Col
HoBART appeared in the Speakers desk, ne
was greeted with long and loud applause.
Judge HU8BELL said ne had very great
pleasure in introducing, on this occasion, a
gentleman known 10 very many present.
known honorably in the civic history of this
State-One who, at an early day in the pres
eut struggle, volunteered III the ranks who
as a Captain in the Attn Wisconsin, participa-
ted in the capture of New Orleans, and who
had risen, by his own merit to the second in
command of another regiment. Ia the great
and terrible battle of Chickamauga he had the
misfortune to be taken prisoner, and was
thrown into a Ioathsome dungeon at Rich
mond by the providence of God he had es-
capped from that dungeon and returned to his
own State, among his friends. Any man who
had suffered and endured so much in behalf
of the country, was entitled to be received
with honor. But the speaker said the audi
cuce were already aware of these things. and
IN regard to his experiences in the South, the
gentleman, Ike St Paul, was able to speak
for himself Applause
Col HOBART, after the applause had sub
sided said He had had an opportunity of
seeing the enemies of the country since the
war commenced, but he did no know that he
had ever been more abashed than at the pres
ent time. He thanked the gentlemen of the
two Houses of the Legislature for the kind
manner they had referred TO him, and said he
knew that those expressions were not for him
personally but for the soldiers of our army
lie should eudeavor, by giving in brief the
story Of his own experiences, 20 Illustrate in
some degree the treatment which our soldiers
experience when prisoners in the hands Of
the enemy Last September, on the 10th of
the month"; he was on the Tennessee river in
command OF his regiment. An order came
10 cross the mountains and proceed to the
relr of Chattanooga, in order to get in pos
session Of that important point One of the
first men 70 cross the river was that gallant
gentleman, Col. Heg- Applause.
Col Hobart then went on TO give sketch
q the movements just antecedent to the bat
re Of Chicaamauga with graphic account
at the engagement He described the build
ing Of low breastwOrks Of logs on the Satur-
day night before the terrible Sunday battle,
and the attempt OF the rebels TO carry them
ga the following day. Our soldiers were vet
GRAMS The rebels came ON in vastly superior
numbers. Again and again they were repuls-
el The sharp orders OF rebel officers could
He heard Carry those Yankee breaStwOrks.
You must take thcml Forward and again
they would charge, To be again repydsei with
terrible loss. Ii was not till near sunset that
the rebels succeeded in thanking the works
4 part OF the regiment were cut off and sur
rounded He stepped into a thicket of fir
trees To avoid a cavalry charge and found
himself confronted bv au advancing line of
rebel infantry. He say At once that his use
iulness to country was for the time at an end
/ rebel officer advanced and ook him bv the
1aud. giving him an invitation TO go and see
Gen Claiborne. which under the circumstance
IS p. lid not feel like declining. lI.aughter.)
tie WAS taken soon after 10 the tent of the
General in question and introduced 90 him
Tie General asked Where were vou fight
lu- Right there i" Col. H. replied
Claiborne answered - our men have fought
Ike brarn men, Sir-that line has given Us
the main trouble of the dav.
Col H.. as be was taken to the rear, saw
,ae rebel dead. and learned that they had
suffered terribly, and that their troops were
broken and scattered. Yet they had sue
eae3ej in defeating Ms. The conduct Of Gen
Thomas and his troops that day deserved the
l5-b concentrations bestowed ON them. But
t was his impression thaE it was not Gen.
Thomas alone that saved our army. 1t was
Geu Thomas and shutdown together.
Col Hobart and his companions were that
.ht taken ten miles to the rear, without
food. The prisoners had no clothes except
those worn when they were captured In
tie morning about 1000 OF the prisoners
were gathered together, of whom several
hundred were officers. The next day they
we're marched twenty-five miles 10 Tunnel
He'll There they were given a little raw In
dian meal ANA very little meat. From
thence they were taken IL cattle cars, via
Atlanta, to Richmond Ia passing through
Georgia the Car0lluas and lrLInIa, he kept
his ewes and ears open. The country was
uac wide scene of dc-olation-tar greater
than he suspected. The farms were unculti-
vlted. Where men were engaged in labor,
Il was IN connection with the military opera
lions of the country An other business was
suspended The whole country had given all
Is energies to the war. You may ask if I
saw any evidences of Union sentiments He
saw MANY such evidences He talked with
many of the soldiers, and took every ocCa-
-5au 70 ascertain their views. He had OPP
0ar,anities of speaking with them when no
officers were present. They told him-most
ot thcm-that they had been in the army i
long time, and that they had an impression
-a.tt We wanted 10 take away their southern
gifts. But most of them had only a vague
Impression Of what they meant by the phrase,
IS very few Of them have any slaves They
s8d they wanted the war 10 end, A. they
wished to 20 home. Many Of them had not
been home since the beginning Of the war,
and were anxious about their families. The
officers are mostly from wealthy families
Taev feel differently They are defiant, and
declare that to sustain the institution OF
avery they must fight TO the bitter end. II
successful, they know that slavery is dead.
Iarv VIII fight as long a there IS a hope OF
-aeees-. But the private soldiers did not
share in these feelings.
Tae minor officers taken prisoners were
treated VEL till they reached Richmond, but
tbs private soldiers had indiguities hcapet
apau them that he had never heard of being
praeusaa on our prisoners st Tunnel Hill
they had their rubber blankets taken from
them 40 Atlanta they were put In an en-
closure and tuelr gther blankets and over
coats were taken from chem. (cries Of shame.
That night, wal,awas cold. the men slept OF
the naked ground, With nothing q
protect them from Jae iugleaeacv of th,
elements On reaching Richmond tie officer
we're put IN Libby prison; Hoo officers wer,
confined III SIX rooms. These rooms wcr,
-av ana dia-v. and 100 feet by 30, in diueu
SONS. Thus nearly 100 men were shut Up Il
each room They were not allowed u Z