Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-02-27
FREEpxRS's CAMr, II
MrNpurs, Feb. 18th. 1854.


excitement, and one that may not be easily al
layed The history oi some Of its causes
wish TO lay before your readers.
Last June a man and his wife left their mas
ter, DR.. Wheaton, living in the suburbs OF
Memphis and went to Col More's Regt the
2lst Mo. Inf, whose quarters we're close by DR..
W's residence, and made complaint TO the Col.
onel that the woman had been most unmerci-
fully whipped by her master. Col. More re.
ferred the matter to the Provo Marshal, and be
again referred il to the Post Supt. of Freed
men at Memphis From the investigation
which was had it appeared that DR.. Wheaton
was q rank secessionist that be had furnished
a substitute to the rebel army and that he bad
kept this very woman for long time at work
n making clothing for rebel soldiers. and that
at that very time he was boadrug rebel officer
who was parolled prisoner; and who aternat-
ed with him in guarding bis premises to prevent
the escape of his slaves.
1t should here be stated that these parents
had left three children behind that they wished
to get away. AS the result of this investga-
ton, Mr.. Hay, (now Capt. Hay) was direct
ell to go and get the children and sone Of their
clothing. But the DR.. refused to let the child
rem go, stating that be would bring papers
from Genls. Veatch and Hulburt showing his
authority for keeping, which he also did, and
there the matter rested
The father and mother have been In this
camp ever since, without being permitted to
see their children though they are not more
than one and half miles from them; the DIR.
having had bis premises guarded for the last
year, by the 2lst Mo. Inf, until few days
since. when they lett with the 10th Army
Corps to 60 down the river. After their de.
parture, and the premises of the old master
were left without guard, the father thought
his time had como to get his children. He
therefore went while DR.. w. was absent from
home, taking with him two other soldiers
They climbed the half prison wall fence, took
each of them a child, aud brought them to the
Camp.
| 10 about two honrs after their arrival al
Camp, Dr. Wheaton came in great pomp in q
splendid carriage, with Lieut.. Busse, one o
Gen. Buckland's staff, accompanied by three
Sergeants on horseback, who rode through the
Camp looking for the missing property. But
the parents were apprised OF what was going
on by sort of teegraphic system known to
the blacks of this county, and forthwith they
FASTENED from the Camp and went outside the
| picket lines, where fire ives made, and the
mother with her children, including young
babe remained all day yesterday, although ex
cepting the first week of the year, it was
among the coolest days of the winter. And it
was not until after dark that she yeutered to
come in.
AS DR.. Wheaton had an order from Gen
Buckand for the children, Capt Hay permit
ed him to search for them. Bnt after worry
ing themselves 10 their vain search, they re
turned and reported TO Capt. Hay that they
could not find them i! Very WE'LL" replied the
Captain, coolly, and dismissed the subject; and
finding that they were not likely TO get any ma
! terial consolation from that source, they left
fUr town.
! Sooa after this occurrence, Sergeant came
from Gen. tHnckland's headquarters, with an or.
der to report here Immediately. He obeyed
the order, a2d as he cotered the Office Gen. B
aud DR.. W. were seated, smoking cigars; and
without asking Capt. lay to re seated, DR..
WheatO,. charged him ,cih treating the order
Of Gen.. .Buekldnd triM contempt! This Capt.
Hay denied, aud persisted in SO doing.
After some decided talk, the Dr. called Gen.
Buckland aside and had an interview with him.
When he returned he gave Capt Hay a verbal
order to report there with the children by 9
o'clock, the next morning. On failing to do SO
he would put him in close confinement.
After due consideration, it was thought best
by Col Phillips and Capt. Hay, that the child
ren should be given up. The parents, however.
were not apprised of the decision until the next
morning. Capt Hay however, refused to re-
turn them in person, and sent to Gen. B. the
following note:
HEAD QUARTERS, Feb. Is, 1864.
General-l have the honor to report those
children of John and Pauline Christian( colored
claimed by one DIR Wheaton, as slaves, found
and subject to your orders.
Very respectfully, your obt servt,
HENRY .. hay,
Capt Comm &C. and Supt Camp Holly Springs
To Gen. r. P. Buckland, com. Post Memphis
After short time, 1t. Busse returned in a
coach bearing the following order, written upon
the back OF the note Of Capt Hay
The within named children will be delivered
to Lieut Busse, A. d. G.
| By order Gen Buckland.
G. w. Dustan, A. A. G.
By fortunate occurrence, the Adjutant o.
Gen. Thomas was in the Camp, on a tour of in
spection, when these things were going on; ant
ne has promised to report the whole affair a
Washington. And it would be no marvel i
Gen. Buckland should soon retire to private life
as reward for the doings of this present week
When the officers came to take the children
the feelings of the parents may be imagined
but not by language described. They were G
course excited to the highest point. The moth
er declared that she wished they had never bee
born; and the father was willing TO risk his Lii
in rescueing them. He exclaimed with all th
yearnings that fathers heart would promp
''What is man s life to him if he cannot hav
his chiIdren pr The mother said seTbeu a,