Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-10-03
LET EVERYBODY READ,
Brutal Treatment Of Sisters Of Char
ity by John w, Geary,

intellect and bigotcd nature, we have
no doubt, made most acceptable
member of that infamous political or
ganization which prescribed men on
account of their birth or religious be-
lief. His hatred of Catholics did not
end with the short-lived triumph of
the Know Nothing party. 1t ad.
hered TO him, and was afterwards dis
PLAYED in the most offensive manner
possible.
One of the most intelligent, wealthy
and respectable citizens of Frederick,
Maryland, sends us the following state
ment of an occurrence, which shows
in its true light the bigoted and tyran-
nical character Of the vain npstart
who is the Radical candidate for Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania. We give the
facts in his own language
To THE EDITORS or THE INTELL1-
GENcER Dear SirS 1T occurs to
me that justice demands that the rude
and brutal manner in which some Sis
ters of Charity were treated by John
w. Geary, should be known, in order
that the Catholic citizens Of Pennsyl-
vania may understand the character
and the spirit Of the man who appeals
to them for support at the coming
gubernatorial election The facts will
be sufficient without any comment,
though you are Of course at liberty to
use them as you see fit.
In the fall of 1861, under protection
of pass from General Scott, some
four or five Sisters of Charity left the
st. Joseph's House at Emmitsburg on
their mission to nurse the sick and
wounded soldiers of both armies.
They had permission to visit any point
along the line Of contest from Win
chester to Richmond, as their services
might be needed. While travelling on
the cars Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, under permission from the
commander-in. chief at Washington to
go where they pleased in discharge of
the duties of their sacred mission,
they we're arrested at Point of Rocks
by Col. John w. Geary. In rude
manner they, with their baggage, were
removed from the cars and left among
crowds of soldiers and rough camp
followers, sitting without shelter on
their trunks by the roadside 1t was
not until after repeated solicitations
that Col. Geary consented to grant an
interview to the principal sister, a
lady Of education and refinement, as
were her associates. Finally this
military dignitary gave orders to have
her led into his august presence by a
guard.
In vain did she explain fully the
charitable character of her holy mis-
sion; in vain did she exhibit the gen.
eral unrestricted pass given her by
the Commander-in-C Chief at Washing
ton, authorizing her to go, with her
associates, wherever their holy mission
might call them, or wherever they
might be needed to nurse the wound
ed, console the dying f; in vain did she
beg to be allowed to proceed as several
parties Of Sisters had been allowed to do
unmolested before, over the same
route in vain did she speak of the
crying wants of the wounded, the
sick, the dying soldiers of the Union
army, to relieve and succor whom
was great part her mission in vain
did she assure this petty tyraht( Geary)
that she had nursed the sick and
wounded soldiers of a parties in the
Crimean war, without molestation or
hindrance, receiving from Turk and
Russian no less courtesy and kindness
than she did from Frenchmen and
EngliFhmen in vain did she protest
with fearful entreaties against such
usrge in her native land, after having
Travelled on a similar mission all over
Europe unmolested John w. Geary,
bigot by nature and petty tyrant
in his position, thrust her and her
companions into the cars and sent
them back TO Frederick City, on their
way to the House of st. Joseph, from
which they came
The Surgeon General at Frederick,
a high-toned gentleman, and a native
Va Nil"uNi lihid, uNhilllS VI but llduuCl
in which the Sisters of Charity had
been treated by Geary, and fearing
the damaging effect which such bru-
tai conduct would have upon the
many thousands of Catholic soldiers
who were fighting in the front ranks
of the army, at once dispatched an
orderly to General Banks, at head
quarters near Poolsville, with letter
containing a statement Of the conduct
of General Geary, which letter will be
found officially recorded on the books
of the medical Director. The Adiu-
tant after riding all night, returned
to Frederick with an imperative order,
commanding General Gcary to escort
in person and place safely on the
southern side of the Potomac the said
Sisters of Charity, and to give TO them
every assistance to aid them in the