Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-04-14
Gen. Butler Talking to a Rebel
CLERGYMAN.

clergyman.
The Norfolk New Regime, Of March 29,
publishes two column report Of the ex'
animation Of Rev. George D. Armstrong,
of that city, by Gen. Butler. This is the
same clergyman who was recently sentenced
to imprisonment at Fort Hatteras for his
Rebel sentiments. An aid Of Gen. Butler
conducted the FIRST examination, but the
General himself aiterward made careful
personal Investigation, cross-questioning
Mr.. Armstrong very sharply. Tho follow
ing are extracts from the report Of tho in
tsrview:
General Bntler--I perceive that in your
| former examination you declined answering
this question: "Do you call yourself loyal
man 10 letter aud spirit to-day"
Mr.. Armstrong; do not decline to an-
swer now; if were to put my own inter
pretation upon it, | should say am, but /
don't know, sir.
General-Well, sir, perhaps can teach
you. Now, sir, what is the name of that
gentleman who had taken the oath, and
while coming out of the Custom House
With you made the remark that he would
| ike to spit upon the Northern Yankees"
| Mr.. A.-Mr. Chas Reid. | declined to
answer on my former examination because
! | had not his consent to tell, sir but since
that fhave seen him, and he has given me
his consent TO mention his name.
General-Where is Mr.. Red2
Mr.. A lie is in Norfolk
Generality an aide Telegraph to
Colonel Wheldon, Provost Marshal, Nor.
folk y to arrest Mr. Charles Reid and send
him here. He lives on Main street.
General-lIe stated that as he came out
fren taking the oath.
Mr. A.-Yes, sir.
', Gencral--With the oath fresh on his lips
and the words hardly dry in his mouth, he
said he wanted to spit in the face Of the
Northern Yankees? ?"
Mr.. A.-Well, General he took it will
the same view as | did
General--l agree to that, sir.
Mr. A meant to say
General stop, sir, don't like to be in
suited. You said, sir that that inferna
secessionist wanted to spit in the faces o
loyal men Of this Union, and that you tool
the oath with the same view as he did, o
rather he took it with the same view tha
3 you l;d-t makes no difference which.
! agree, sir, that you did. have treated you
: sir, during this interviey, with prophet.
aud courtesy up to this moment and Ye
you, sir, here tell me. in order to clear thi
vile wretch, who shall be punished as h
deserves that you took the oath to my Gov
ernment with tho same view that he did
Mr., A.-Well, sir, it was q mortityin
! fact to confess that VIC were q conquere
i people, and il was the irritation growing
? out Of that fact.
I, General-You have not helped it, sir. -
y = You had not better go on in that directio
! any further sir, for your own sake. Now
= = sir, while you did preach very viruler
! sermon upon the Victory of Manassas,
!, at the recommendation of the Confederat
,, Congress, have you ever since preached i
your pulpit a sermon favorable to the Unio
!, cause, or one that would be likely to plea :
!. the loyal and displeasc the disoyal2
After some further questioning, the es
animation was continued as follows:
General-You said you looked upon tn
> hanging Of John Brown as just and right
u because he interiered with the peace {
the country.
y Mr.. A,-Yes, sir.
IT Genera--Very good, sir. Now, the
1t would you look upon, the hanging of III
:; prominent rebels, Jefferson Davis, for il
" stance, as just and right. You know ii
: rebels have intcrered with the peace of Il
u, country, and have caused rivers of blood
J., flow, where john Brown only caused pint
~ What do you say to that?
H. Mr.. A. Il would not, sir
IL General-Are your sympathies with Il
80 Union or the Confederate cause?
10 Mr. A.-With the Confederates.
- The examination concluded with the fo
70 lowing order from the General:
u Make an order that this man be commi
y ted to the guard house, in close cenin
" ment, there to remain until he can be col
! signed to Fort Hatteras, there to be kept
i solitary confinement until further order
!. aud send a copy of this examination to Il
>, officer in command there.