Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-06-06


We, the undersigned feel under obligations
to correct false statement made by Mr. Ga.
brel burst in the Dayton Daily Journal. We
bad no intention whatever to throw q STUN.
blingbock in his way, or iDjure his business.
But as he has made the first advance, and has
said that all was false in regard to his shame
full treatment OF prisoners while 10 the South,
we feel 10 order to do justice to ourselves and
the public, to state all we know of the cir
oumstanoes, and what we learned from other
sources While he was acting in capacity OF
Steward in the hospital at Danvile, Va we
learned that be appropriated o greater portion
OF the delicacies, sent by the United States
Sanitary Commission TO the patients ia the
hospital, to his own use When we were re.
moved from Danville 10 Andersonville, Ga :,
we became more intimately acquainted with
him, and then saw his brutal treatment of
those around him. After being in Anderson
vile some time he started in business, selling
beer, beans, vegetables and almost every ar.
ticle, thus making considerable greenbaeks.
He could have alleviated the suffering ofthose
around him had he been 80 disposed. There
was one whom we wish TO speak particularly
of now, knowing the facts Just as they we're
The one whom we wish to speak of, is the
late Mr. Miller. Mr.. Miller was of the same
regiment as Mr.. Durst and while being thus
confined 10 prison, contracted disease, and
having no one to care for him, be wished to
tent with Mr.. burst, but he refused
him admittance Mr.. Henry Smith
tented with Mr.. burst and disired him
to have compassion on Mr.. Miller and
take him in the tent, but at first be was deaf
to all entresties After much importantly on
the part of Mr.. Smith, he reluctantly consen
ted, aud Mr., Miller was removed to his tent.
The food we received at that prison was not
hit for those who were sick, and he (Mr. Mil
ler) not being in fit condition for eating such
food often asked Mr.. Durst to get him some
vegetables, or other light diet, but he seemed
not to heed, but left the poor man thus pros.
trated with disease, and covered with filth to
his fate, and was cut making more Green.
backs while in one corner Of his tent were
plenty OF Potatos, Onions, Rice &c, which
he could have given him, but would not. We
give him little ccedit, however, as he would
once and while give him little rice after
he would plead with him, but at the same
time he would take the ra;ions drawn by Mr..
Miller to pay for it. Mr.. Miller daily grew
worse, and he often implored him to help him
as he had it in his power, telling him at the
same time that he had wife and two chill.
u'Su NO W IlN6 anu see, at the
same time offering 10 reward him literally if
he would either give him something to cure
his disease, or give him money, but he refused
as in all other cases. Thus he was left by
one of his own Regiment, who ives surround.
ed with plenty, to die, who should have done
all in his power to alleviate his suffering, aud
restore him to health.
In the piece written TO the Dayton DAILY
Journal, BY Mr.. Dnrst that he could prove
that he had treated those around him with
as much kindness as the circumstances
would permit, we doubt. That he can
bring those who will aequissce in any
statement he may make, we doubt
not, as he had those around him, who were of ,
the same band as himself, aud had received /!
some small faVors from him, that will Join in |
with him, and make as plausible statements
as they can. II he would listen to the voice |
OF conscience, and speak from the heart, he !
would acknowledge, that all we have written
in respect to him is true. He also states that
certain interested parties have produced these
slanders to ipjure his business; be it far from
US, we had not made it public, but had only /
spoken OF it in private, and it seems 10 us
that it must have gone home with force, and
sent conviction to his heart or else he would
not have thus made it public. He can blame
no one but himself il it hurts his business
We felt 10 duty bound to ourselves and to the
public mind, to make the plain statement Of
the facts as we saw them, and heard from
those who suffered from his hands Many of
those whom .heFhus treated shameful are now
lying in southern soil, and cannot speak for
themselves, but many others are yet left to
tell Of his actions, We could state many other
circumstances in regard to his treatment of
his comrades, bnt why any more. We havo
been under the painful necessity for writing
more of his actions, and exposing them to the I
public than we wished, but as he was aot sat.
is6ed with hearing Of them in secret but must
be the frat to make it known, and then try
aud lay it to US, and to show that we do not
wish to hurt him publicly or privately, we have
thus stated the circumstances 70
WM. HENRY SMITH,
Late member and lst Sergt OF Co. K
4th o. v. Cav. /
HnHav AouNuFpnu