Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-07-19
rALSTArr OUTDONE.
JeH Thompson has n "Fam-
lly Talk"With his Horde
Of RNga mum ms.


When JEFF. Thompson's men had been
assembled at Jacksonport. Alabama. to be
paroled. few weeks since, the redoubtable
hero Of the white plume mounted whisky
barrel and spoke to them after this wise:
Gentlemen, have come here to have a
little family talk with you. us this will be
the last time may ever meet YOU together
have come here to tell you the news
Many Of you don't know that Wick sburg
has fallen, and many Of you don't know
that Lee or Johnston have surrendered, but
I tell you it is oil true. Many Of the 5000
men now see around me, very many OF
you, have been skulking for the last three
years in the swamps, within n few miles OF
your own homcs-skulking duty-and dur
ing that time have not seen your own child.
rem. see many faces about me that have
not been seen bv mortal man for the last
three years, and what have you been doing
al that time Why, you have been living
in the swamps until the moss has grown
six inches long on your backs, and such
men call themselves "chyalrous." 4 few
weeks ago, General Reynolds sent flag of
truce to my headquarters. and sent to
gather up respectable force to meet those
officers, and not one Of you responded .
few days later. when Col. Davis and Capt.
Bennett of General Dodge's staff bore dis
patches to me from that General, again
attempted to call about me enough of Won
to make respectable show, and how many
OF these brave 5000 men reported At the
ealls Zone sore eyed man with green cog
gles." But you rally like brave men around
Uncle Sans Commissary stores, and now
come to surrender you aud hope you will
make better citizens than you have soldiers
Voice from the crowd, ''General talk to us
like gentlemcn.'l Now just dry up until
l get through, and then you can get upon
this barrel and talk. know there are
some gentlemen here. and know there are
more ID sneaking, cowardly dogs
who shave never done nothing on nary
side." and am going to talk to you all.
In the first place, l want to say this to
you The Federal officers who have come
here to parole and feed you, have acted as
gentlemen, in good faith. They have not
cp'ed about your camps to see If you were
secreting your arms, but they have treated
you as gentlemen; but tell you that YOU
have not acted in good faith. Those Of Won
Who had arms, with very few exceptions.
have left them At home, and those who had
government horses have failed to rcpor,
them here. Now let me say to you, one
and all, those Of you who have retainer
your arms. as soon rs you get home take
tnem TO the nearest military post and deli
Yer 'nem up, or burn them, or get rid of
tnem IN some manner, for as sure as there is
s0cds IN heaven If they are found in your
HOUSES, just SO sure will your houses be
burned to the ground, and hope to God
svery one Of you who keep good arms or |
property Of any kind in your houses will |
oe hanged, and you will TOO. ~
NOW l want you to go home and vorl
~ axe caro- Of your familes-vork early
~ 'ate and get up at night and see II von,
csCpc are growing. Above all things .vo;a
eo:'s'cai discussions. II anv nan s.wa
9lgger' to you, swear that ron navs. .ays
ef14s enc in all your life. We have .s .MeS
eoees the niggets TO- forty Years ana s- hs
800 Rns.talked; We have fought sen, ~. ,...s
~ the nieges and hsve been ia
ehipPed, and now il is not ..your nut Z
t1esxaakees have won the Niger. and I'll,
9 what they please with him, and you have
aeskt 10 TIE matter; II they want him they
YIN take him, and ifthey aay that you must
sseP him, yop nust d i end No lnistake.--