The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-05-07

among the SelectlOnS iTOu All AuUoSIaPu
album OF the Brooklyn (Long Island Fair,
AUBURN, CULPEPPER COUNTY, VIR-
GINA, February II, 1Sia.-DEAR MADAM
You must not infer, from the time that
has elapsed since your letter was received,
that have been either uEmindful Of its
objects or Indifferent to the success Of your
undertaking; your letter was accidentally
mislaid, and had forgotten your address,
which / hope will be received as sufficient
apology for my apparent inattention.
happen to know something Of the val
ne of the United States Sanitary Commits
sion, and of the arduOus and Christian du-
ties that devolve upon them; as for the last
twelve months have lived in the midst OF
battle. 800 81 81
From the portico Of my house and my
family have seen nins battles fought on my
own fields, and just before my own door,
between hostile troops, who but yesterday,
as il were boosted Of common descent, q
common history, q common nationality,
and common destiny. u-4s ri VI IN
This is not the time nor the occasion to
inquire low, by whom, or for what pur-
pose this heavy calamity has been brought
upon our beloved country; it Is enough TO
say. that if we had had no selfish, aspiring
political demagogues in the land. who pre-
ierred their ow n Interests to the interest Of
their couutry, we should have had no such
war. t4.' 6s a@h.0t- AZ
have been an eye witness to many hor-
rible atrocities committed upon the woun-
ded, the dying and the dead by ferocious
combatants, whose passions were excited
to the highest intensity, and who were in
no frame of mind to listen TO reason or re-
monstrance. / have had taken up and
brought To my house TO be nursed and ca
red for as many as four aud twenty badly
wounded and neglected soldiers OF the two
armies at tn e satne time, taken from the
field Immediately before my door, who
were suffering for those attentions and
comforts which it is the purpose Of the
Sanitary Commission to supply, and which
have on many occasions been SO freely and
humanely administered. !! -"
When ! have seen q wounded soldier on
the field, have not stopped to ascertain
whether he wore q blue jacket or gray;
| It has been enough for me to know that be
was . disabled and suffering fellow crea.
ture to secure for him my sympathy and
such comforts as could bestow; and such,
believe, have been the instincts Of the
| United States Sanitary Commission. With
the experience derived from personal OBJ
servatiOn, can not but appreciate the
Renerous, noble and Christian-like objects
| 70 be effected by the Association Of which
yoa are IN organ, and, therefore, it ad0rda
me pleasure 70 comply with your request
i Ny o9uOs09 SAA0 HVvA S~Ass sssssvAA =. yvs4N
autograph letters, concluding with the
earnest prayer that the present year may
put an end to . conflict which 10 not only
|demoralising the whole country-bringine
grief and misery to the hearthst0ne Of mil.
lions. and seriously affecting the interests
Of the world at large-but which ID diere-
putable to civilization and humanity, ~
we'll - to tho age In which we live. @b6l
i comply with your request by Omitting
your name in this letter, but am, neverthe.
lest, most respectfully, your obedient ser.
want, sais Rd1 JOHN M. Bolts.
RErAIrAr1oN.-The Springfield Mass,
/ Repwblicnn, discussing the law and prac.
Ties of retaliation, furnishes the following
historical parallel: a. o.ss pooU 4.
During the war Of 1872, there was NO in.
stance 81 retaliation by the inf1iction Of
death, though the right was repeatedly rs.
serted in the strongest terms. The m0st
noteworthy instance was when, after the
battle Of Queenstown. the British selected
Twenty three 1rish prisoners to Be sent t0
| ENGLAND and tried for high treason. Scott
threatened retaliation, and IN equal num-
Der of British prisoners were Get apart t.
await the fate of the. Irish. The British
thereupon imprisoned forty-six sAmeri.
cans, and forty-six British officers were
| Immediately selected and held as hostages
for their safety and restoration. The mat.
ter finally subsidized, with no executions on
either side. 8
a. ~ \ a A.