The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-18

order. He came to this country in 1849,
when 50 many of the gallant spirits Of Ger.
many sought refuge, in this land of freedom,
from the expressions of their town govern
ment. He landed in New York, but soon
went to New Orleans, where he was engaged
in literary pursuits, his articles being pub
lished in several German newspapers and
magazines, bots in this and other countries.
He was, to the day of his death, a strong an
h-slavery man, and, among other works writ.
ten by him, was one entitled "The Impend-
ing Crisis-or Revolution and abolition"
which was published in the German Ian
guage. at Gotta, Germany.
In 1856 ne went to Havana, where he re-
manned for some years, returning to New
York shortly before the election of Lincoln,
in 1860. He Immediately espoused the re-
publican cause, and rendered efficient sery-
ice for Lincoln, in that memorable campaign.
We have before US a report of a speech made
by him, during that campaign, before the
wide Awake Club" in the 10th Ward, in
New York City.
When the rebellion broke out he was
among the first to volunteer to help put it
down, ana was commissioned a first lieuten-
ant in the celebrated regiment of Col. Blenk-
er. When Blenker was made a general, Git
terman was attached to his staff, as inspector
general, aud, under Mcclellan, he endured
| all the hardships and dangers of the celebra-
| ted campaigns of 1861, 1862 and 1868, re-
eeiving several wounds In battle the last of
which was through his lungs, and from which
he never recovered. Alter being long time
| In the officers hospital in Georgetown, near
Washington, he was transferred to the Inva-
lid Corps, as captain of the l36th company,
which was ordered to Rock Island Barracks.
During the troubles in Coles county, in this
state, Captain Gitterman was ordered to take
his company to Chariestown, the county seat
of that county, and preserve order in that
community. He proceeded at once to exc
cute the order, and In the honest and consci-
entlous discharge of his duty he found that
the blame for the riots there was nos all up
on one slde-iu fact that certain violent lead
! ing abolltionlsts were as much at fault as
anybody else, and he arrested some of that
party for aiding in the disturbances. This
SO offended she higher authorities OF the par
| ty IN. power, that they procured an order for
ditterman to leave his company and report
at Rock Island, where he was summarily dis
missed the service, upon the frivilous plea of
drunkenness" but really because he was a
friend of Mcclellan and freely uttered his
opinions of those in authority. This treat
ment of Captain Gitterman was a piece OF
petty malice towards brave man who de-
served well of his adopted country.
Captain Gitterman made several speeches
for McClellan, in ths county, snd one at the
German Theatre, Ia Davenport. bus when the
cold weather came on he grew worse, but
fingered until about the LIST OF March last, at
the residences of JOS. Schmid, Esq, when ne
died. Such was the brave and accom- plished
soldier whom, in his grave, this man johnson
attacks as "a drunken brute who exhausted
what was left of him in two short months in
the service of the copperheads and then
crawled up in the garrett of lager beer brew
cry and there rot;ed to death, uumourned
and uncared for"
Captain GItterman's wants were provided
for, principally by Mr.. Schnid. g wealthy
and humane counirymeu of his-but his
"loyaI" comrades in arms, at the leland, to
their shame be it said paid him no attention
in his dying hours, simply because he wss a
"McCleiian man" Their treatment Of him
was bad enough, but il was left tor this man
johnson TO so down into New Jersey and, to
show what he had done, and try to make 8
little political capital for the radicals, there
make hyena attack upon dead soldier
which is unparalleled for its coarseuess, bru
shame and iufamy upon the man who made
it.