Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-06-04
A Federal General Speaking to a Rebel Audi
eDee,

Gen. SEYMOUR, who was taken prisoner by
the rebels in the battle of the Wilderness,
made speech to large crowd of gaping
"secesh" at Charlottesville, who had turned
out to see the Yankee prisoners as they
marched through the town.
The Richmond papers at the last accounts
were in state of prOfuse indignation that
the rebel guard should have permitted such
an impropriety. The Examiner calls it the
most preposterous exhibition" of the war,
and would regard it as incredible" but for
the authority Of trustworthy gentleman
who avouches " the fact that by some unac-
countable but most culpable cOnnivance OF
the officers of the guard, this creature (Gen-
SEYMOUR was actually permitted to make
speech to the citizens of Charlottesville. p
And worst of all, such a speechI The Err
anainer says it was to the following effect;
"Gen Lee may possibly defeat Gen. Grant
and the Union army; but what OF that! l
trust if he defeat him he may follow up his
success by taking Washington and burning 1t
TO the ground. And let him not stop there !;
advance on Philadelphia and burn that. Then,
at last, we shall have united NORTH, and
shall begin TO shoe gou lohGt Scdr IS"
To appreciate the wrath of the rebel lead
ers, we must consider that they are const4I :
ly assuring the people that if GRANT can only
be beaten back, the war will be at an end,
and the independence of the South recog
We lL,- ~,
alleged that if GRANT were whipped, Wash
ington, Baltimore and Philadelphia captured
and burned, the North would only just begin
to make war in earnest and strike with its
full power. The Examiner assures it's readers
that this was a new piece of {" Yankee brag-
gadocio," but it evidently feels a little IN
comfortable over ii. Two things it declares
past its comprehension; one is why the pris-
gagged" the other why his auditors, with
that delicate regard for the right of free
speech, for which the Southern people are no
torious, did not " boot and pelt" him Neither
was done, however. But most lamentable of
of all, from the rebel point of view, the
speech seems 10 have made no slight impress
sion on the pOpulAee. The Examiner, with an
indignant frankness, no. a little ludicrous,
making the following admission:
yet We have heard Confederate citizens,
apparently sane, absolutely compliment the
spluekr and dash of this misereant's har-
angue-
s'Our people, nnhappily, have such dis
eased appetite for oratory, are so resolute
TO have every man define his position are
so easily duped BY the show Of everything
spirited and plucky On languagel, that they
wiz even listen 70 the impudent rant of q
despioable being like this. If he cannot
fight, he can at least talk; his tongue Is
sharper than his sword if he cannot advance
10 the burning, and plumber of ChArlottes-
vile; at the head Of his brigade, be can AZ
least eleetrify the citizens thereof bv s small
TRADE of defiant phraseolOgyI
''on the whole, this whole scene : the
GesRs Of absurd improperly. The guard who
permitted il deserved punishment; and if
such speeches are 80 become permanent
institution, We do not see the use Of buck
and gag"