Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-10-26
A STARTLING DEVELOPMENT.

refusing to obtain the release of our prison
ers in the rebel States, alleging that this re-
fusal was caused by the fact that they were
known to be for Mcclellan and Pendleton
They claimed that sixty thousand soldiers
who would vote for Mcclellan were thus de-
tanned in the south as prisoners through the
act of the National government, although
they knew from rebel statements that there
were not thirty thousand of our soldiers al
together held as prisoners The mysteri-
Gus persistence in this charge, coupled with
the sudden efforts OF the rebels to release on
parole Or effect the exchange of portion of
our unfortunate soldiers held by them as
prisoners, has led to an inquiry into the mat
ter, and as the first fruit of the investiga-
ton we present our readers with the sub
joined affidavit:
Montgomery County. IS.
Personally appeared before me, j us
tIcc OF the Peace in and for said county,
Franklin Schwenk, Of Upper Providence
township, Montgomery county, and State Of
Pennsylvania, a private of Company H. 18th
regiment Pennsylvania cavalry, who on his
solemn oath deposeth and says, that on the
9th day of March, 1861, he was taken pris-
oner near Bristo Station, Virginia, and CON
yeyed to Belle Isle Prison and from thence
to General Hospital No 2l, in Richmond,
that on the lat day Of August, 1864, the
Director Of said Hospital waited Oh him and
proposed to parole him and to permit him
to return homejf ne Would promise to vote
for George B. Mcclellan at the approaching
eleCtion that he, the said Franklin S}chwenk,
in op,iay. 70 Ill
atrocity did make said promise. and therefore
was paroled. The said Franklin Schwenk
further says, under his solemn OATH that all
prisoners of said Hospital who frankly and
positively said that they would vote for Abra-
ham hlnc0ln were not paroled, but retained
IN said Hospital. ''ERANKLIN SCHwENK.
Witness present DR.. Warren Roger,
Samuel Pennypacker.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this
10th. day of October, 1864
HENRY W. KRAFT, Justice ofthe Peace"
Here we have indisputable proof that by
some secret means these copperhead friends
Of Mcclellan at the north must have man
aged to communicate with the rebel COM
manders and authorities at the south this
charge about the imprisoned Union soldiers
being held there because our Administration
knew them to be in favor of Mcclellan. To
prevent these votes from being lost to their
friend Little Mac the rebel authorities ap-
pear to have sent agents among them offer
ing freedom to all who would promise to vote
for Mcclellan. It appears that many pris-
oners, in order to escape death by starva-
tion did make that promise and were re-
leased, among them beiEg the man who
makes this sworn statement It further ap-
pears that the men were not asked who they
were for, but were merely offered freedom
on condition that they should vote for Nc
Clellan. 1t also appears that many Repub-
licans among the prisoners frankly said that
they were for Lincoln for President, and
they were not released. These men prefer
red death by starvation rather than sacri-
fee of their principles These statements
do not rest upon hearsay testimony. They
are made by a soldier under oath, who was
one of the prisoners, and personally saw and
heard all he speaks OF. They exhibit the
intense anxiety OF the rebels for the election
of Mcclellan. They also show the intimate
relations which exist between the rebels
in arms and the northern copperheads. This
charge against the national government a.
bout the detention of the prisoners has
scarcely appeared in print here before we find
the rebel authorities applying the matter
practically by offering freedom to all prison
ers who would promise to vote for Mcclellan
We have in this affair fresh proof of the
immense exertions now being made to cheat
the Union men at the approaching election,
and secure the election of copperhead
President by any MEANS however nefarious.
The men who have managed this traitorous
arrangement with the rebels, whereby they
keep in rebel prisons all our soldiers at the
south who will not vote for copperhead
President, are base enough to attempt any
scheme. They are mere rebel janlzaries,
devoid of national pride, patriotism, or high
principles of honor Look out for them,
Union men. The conspiracy is worse, far
worse. than you have been supposing. We
have now the proof that they are in collu-
sion with the enemy. and we ask all who
have friends in rebel prisons to bear in mind
that this testimony shows them to be held
there through copperhead influences, because
Of their refusal to pledge their votes for
copperhead President
Hon GEORGE H. PENDEToN, while a
member of Congress, voted against the reso-
luton of thanks to General Mcclellan for
L.