The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-03-31

little difficult, but that you knew all the
ropes, and that money would do It." Win;
out denying that be said that. he then SAID
"he hadn't put any Eve dollars nor one dol
lar In his own pocket" Nothing having
been said about .'his o,cn pocket" thought
It was very singular, II not significant re-
mark. ..l = ~.
I then lett him and wrote to my boy to
know how he understood the matter :-"For
what purpose WINS Mr.. Calef asked to pay
him five dollan?" His answer came back,
"It was to get mo into Bakers Cavalry-ior
that purpose and no other. I have written
letters to him, but shall do % no more
What lie says proves him to be liar, and !
kno,o that he isa-." could easily
write word for that dash, but | prefer to
Lot those who know what It ought to DO,
supply IL in their own minds .,
Shortly after this Mr.. C.lef conversed with
Mr.. N. D. Kendall, who was in the Provost
Marshal's Office, and asked him II money
had ever been demanded by any clerk Tor
making out papers. Mr.. K. was understood
to reply that no money had ever been taken
in that Office on any such account, and thnt
no clerk had ever been turned away. twill
be perceived that make no charges against
Mr.. Mason. have stated what know OF
his share in the matter with as much nccu
racy as possible, and shall now leave him and
the public to make the most OF 1t.
next wrote to Capt. Doughty. asking
why my son was not put In Bakers Cavalry
He wrote me in reply very polite but very
unsatisfactory answer. saying "that he was
very sorry-that he had no control over the
matter, and that must remember that ne
was under the orders OF q superior officer,
and when no had orders could show no to.
yors TO soldiers" That was the substance
of 1t, thus shifting the responsibility upon
some indefinite PERSONS shoulders. Well.
what next? The battle Of Stony Greek oc.
Cured on the Both Sept. ] felt no anxiety
particularly about my son, because he had
lust previously written us that ne had not
vet received musket. I thought OF course
that he could not have boen in that light.
He wrote US letter on the seventh OF Octo.
ber and It was ticenty days before It reached
.s. He told us that when the fight cou-
menced those who had no guns were not or.
dered back out of danger, but were just be-
hind the lines of battle, 30 near that shot
and shell fell among them and several were
wounded. Thinking that he might as well
be In the fight, he went upon the field, pick
ed up musket and managed to get twenty.
five rounds of ammunition. and soon found
his way to the front line and fought behind
some low breastworks ull night until his
cartridges were all gouo Others to their
credit did the same, among them Frank Sta
pies. Of Biddoiord. So.
Now I wish to ask persons having the CON
mon ideas of right and wrong. and colnnon
notions of humanity and decency, 1t 1t was
not infamous, simply because boy was
substitute to deny him every privilege. to
send him directly to the front before giving
him the least military instruction, ,-beiore
he had ever in his life shouldered musket
and gone through with the manual. lnla.
nous? 1t WIS damnable. and the men who
could bring 1t about ought to be placed IN.
der fire too, and have the most undoubtlng
belief that they will be sooner or later. But
need not call anything down upon their
heads, because there is u just God.
Any one would reasonably suppose that
the raw recruits would be sent to Some camp
of instruction, and be there taught some OF
their duties before being sent to the front.
But this was not done in this case, and here
werc mere boys. without any drilling. thrust
into the very mouth OF danger. Three
months are not enough to make an ettcient
soldier. The only inference to 10 drawn is
that either tho officers who ordered such
course were ignorant imbeciles, or infamous
ly heartless monsters.
Aside from this. however. much OF the sv
II springs from the missrable system OF high
bounties and the Substitute brokerage. Here
il temptation for mercensry scoundrels To
practice all kinds Of frauds and deceptions
for the sake oil putting money in. their pock.
cts Bounty jumping has become q trade.
That being the case the authorities look up
on every substitute as u bounty;jumper and
he Is guarded as II he were wild beast.
Lot nothing may say be construed rs dis
couraging enlistments; und here take oc
casion to say that think my son died glo-
rious death, fighting right nnd just principles,
and that In spite NJ his loss u had ten moro
sons they should have my permission to en-.
list, but nsper as substitutes. shall discour-
age that kind OF enlisting hpnceiorth with
all my powers. say earnestly to oil, never
90 as u Substitute, never allow your sons to
90 as such. There is u stigma upon the
name not only among the officers but among
the privates. A soldier position is not com.
Portable under the best conditions; but II he
is q substitute, In the present condition OF
things he Is more cruelty treated siare than
any black In the South. He is looked upon
with suspicion, and is denied every privilege,
and shut out from all hope OF advancement.
Sooner than allow your sons to 60 as substi-
tutos advise them TO commit petty larceny
and have them sent to hard labor in tho pen.
itentiary where this position will be infinite
" moro honorable than in tho army.
The fatal thing In my sons enlistment was
his becoming substitute. But none of US
could anticipate what il would lead to. il
was only after the thing was done that the
truth began to develope itself. II lost him
q clerkship for which hs was fitted and want
cd. and It sent him TO the front D b under
fire before he was equipped and before he had
been In his rsgim 'nta fortnight. But must
draw this article to close.
In conclusion, let no person who does not
believe in tho justics OF this war say 10 inc
with an hypocritical expression ofsympsthy.
that 'it is very sad" IL 10 my grcatest con.
solation that no fell fighting for the princi.
pls of universal freedom. That. ~ ono Of
his comrades tells u.e, "hs was u good col
der and beloved we'll in every particular. ("
That hs answered his oountrys call und
wont bravely into danger, while many. older
than no. hide their oowardioe, or want Of
brains to comprehend the position. under tho
plea of n desire for peace, and thus 'actuallv