Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-03-31
Correspondence betHeen esu. butler
md > EemInInf sefeaslenlsf.
L.osrsr-rrrg. AocoWg Co. Va
M.vnL IN

1n1 Et@lAAAI 1-I-s@tE4E@ts
Losrsr-I-rz. Accowe Co. Va -
March 10 ! {
Gen b. r. Butler
SiR-Mv school has been closed since /
Christmas, because, Is / aEdcrssaud, Tie !.
oath required Of Us, could not consei- +
entiou.Iy take It Having heard since !
then that one Of yohs officers explains /
the oath as meaning Simply that re con +
sent to the acts Of The United States ]
GoveFuuent, ana pledge passive zo5ess- /
euce 10 The same. / fake the lioeriy 81
addressing this to yen afascertaiD { Ye1
so construe the oath | cannot Badc
stand how a woman eau support, pro-
tect aud defend The Union" except b
speaking OF wiising ~ favor oftbe pres
emf war, which could never do, Because
nv sympathies are With the South II BIZ
those words yoa understand merely pas
sive Submission, / am ready 70 take the
oath, and abide By it sacredly. asa -
Yours, respectfully,
MARY S. GRAVES
Headquarters. 18th Army corps.1
Dept Of yirziDia and North Car0linas
FORTRESS Monroe, March l.
Ny DEAR MADAME am truly sorry
that any Union officer OF mine has at
tempted TO fritthr awaf the effect Df the
oath Of allegiance to the Government
of the United States. and svs.aform you
that it means nothing more ban passive
obedience 10 the sanegfo Of Tana
That officer is equally mistaken. The
oath Of allegiance means fealfy pledge
Of faith to, love, affection and reverence
! for the Government, all comprised iE the
word patriotism, IN It's highest and trnest
sense, which every true American ieels
for bis or her Government.
: You say, :. ! cannot understand how
woman can suppoft, protect aud de-
feDd the Union, except By speaking CT
writing in favor Of The present war,
which could never do, because my SYM
pathies aFs With The South 10 aT =
That last phrase, madam, shows Why
you cannot andsrsand hOw woman
can support, protect and defend the
Union.
We're you loyal II 4ksart, yoa would
a. once understand The Southern NO
men who are rebels understand vel
how to support, protect and defend
! the Confsderacy, without either speak
. ing or writing. Some Of them act Al
spies, some smu9gle qninine 10 Their
underclothes, soms smuggle information
Though the lines in their dresses, SONS
4 tend to the sick soldiers for the Confed
2 eracy, some get up subscriptions FOL
. rebel gunboais.
, Perhaps il mag alI be comprised il
the phrase, "where there j. a win there i
; a way.
. Nov, then, you could support, pro
tect and defend the Union, by teaching
the scholars OF Jour school to love aui
reverence the Government. to be prou,
Of their country. to glory in It's flag, an
= 70 be true 10 its Constitution. Bat, q
you don't understand that yourself. yol
can't teach i 10 them, and, therefore,
am glad 70 learn from your letter tia
) your school bias been closed since Christ
: mas, and With my consent, until yol
/; change your sentiments and are a leya
, woman 10 heart, It never shall be open
ed
would advise you, madam, forthwith
i to 20 where your "sympaibies' are.
}, anu ouly doubtful whether IL i moi ~
duty 10 send YOU. Naatns @
/ have the honor to Be, view ~ spees
7 fully, your obedient servant
!. BIZ BUrlsm
/. Major General Commanding
: TO Mrs. MARY l. GRLvEs, Locustyille
Arcomae Ca.tu4R Eirgfnia