The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-18

ARRIVAL OF FEDERAL OFFICERS FROM
DIxIE.-Four Federal officers arrived here
near Millen, between Augusta and Macon,
Georgia. Their names are Capt. Wilkins,
1l2th Illinois; Capt. Murray, "a East Ten
nessee Infantry; Lieut.. Jones, of the same
regiment; and Lieut.. O'Connor. 59th Ohio
Infantry. These officers, with several hun.
dred others, were being transferred from
Libby Prison to Macon, to proven: their
capture by Grant. They escaped by ma
king saw ont Of the back Of a common
table-kniie, and saving a hole in the side
OF the car. They jumped out when the
cars were running at the rate of ten miles
per hour. The following officers escaped
in the same way, and are expected here ev-
cry day: Capt. Warren, 5th East Tennes-
see Infantry; Lieut.. Crawford, % East
Tennessee Infantry; Lieut.. Clifford, Lieut..
Smith, and Lieut.. Ewing, 10th U. 8. In
fantry. The officers already mentioned as
having arrived here, were about twenty
days reaching the Federal lines.
We wish some Of our pro. slavery con-
sentative friends would take the trouble to
look at these gentlemen and lecture them
on the negro question. They have too
appreciation Of the negroes unconditional
Unlonism-for the good of conservatism
Why, they actually say that they applied
to negroes on the road for provisions, and
they report, too, that the black rascals, in
every instance, befriended them. The
fool negroes at times actually refused to
divide with these Yanks but actually in
sisted on their taking all Of their scanty
allowance for a day! These officers were
bountifully fed by the negroes until they
arrived in South Georgia, where there are
comparatively no negroes, and then they
were fed by the poor white trash" who
are not deeply enough interested in slavery
to turn them against their Government Tor
1t. Here we have an i'm pOrtant lesson which
itwould be well perhaps to study as we pass.
In Central Georgia, where negroes are plen-
tiful, the whites are all rebels, and the blacks
are the only loyal citizens, and as you ad-
vance into Northern Georgia, where there
are only few slaves, there are consider
able number Of white Union men. What
is the cause Of this? What is there about
this thing slavery, that where we find
slaves, we ind traitors? Why is it that il
you want to know how many traitors there
are in community, you can approximate
the number by ascertaining the number OF
Shareholders? If slavery breeds treason
rhustit not be wrong. and should il not be
abolished? We think 30.
Capt. wilkins and the officers with him
were in terribly destitute condition when
they arrived, SO far as regards clothing
They had Confederate money. but the poor
white folks nor negroes woIlld have moth
ing to do with it.
They report the woods and hollows full
of citizens in North Georgia, who are well
armed, and vow they will not join the re-
bel service. They shoot those who attempt
to arrest them. Capt. Wilkins escaped
once before, with Col. Straight,) but was
recaptured when out six days.
Major Ge10ral Steedman, commander of
this post, very kindly assisted the party to
better rigging than that in which they were
clothed when they arrived Chattanooga
Gd-ette.