North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-10-03
GEARY'S HUMANITY


statement of authentic facts
BRUTAL TREATMENT OF SISTERS OF CHARITY
BY JOHN w. GEARY.
John W. Geary, with his narrow intel
lect and bigoted nature, we have no doubt
made most acceptable member of that
Infamous political organization which pro-
scribed men on account of their birth or
religious belief. His hatred OF Catholics
did not end with the short-lived triumph
of the w-Nothing party. 1t adhered
to him, and was afterwards displayed in
the most offensive manner possible.
One of the most intel igent, wealthy,
and respectable citizens of Frederick, Ma
ryland, sends up the following statement
of an occurrence, which shows in its true
light and tvranical character of the vain up
start who Is the Radical candidate for Gov
ernor eff Pennsylvania. H'e give the facts
in his own language
TO The Editors of The MteAigencer.
DEAR SIRs 1t occurs TO me that JUS
tice demands that the rude and brutal
manner in which some Sisters of Charity
were treated by John ". Geary, should be
known in order that the Catholic citizens
of Pennsylvania may understand the char
acter and the spirit cf the man who ap-
peals to them f'r support at the Ginning
GuhcrnatoriaI election. The facts will he
sufficient Without any comment, though
you are, of course, at liberty to use them
as YOU See fit. .... ..... s..
In the fall of 1864, under protection of
pass i ON General Scott, some four or
five Sisters of Charity left the st. Joseph'S
House at Emmitsburg, on their mission 10
nurse the sick and wounded soldiers OF
both armies. They had pc mission to Wis
1t any point along the line of contest from
Winchester to Richmond, as their services
might be needed Willie travelling on
the cars of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road, under permission from the Com
mander-in- Chief at Washington to go
where they pleased in discharge OF the du-
ties of their sacred mission, they were ar
rested at Point of Rocks by Colonel John
w. Gearv. In rude manner they, with
their hargare, were removed from the cars
and left among crowds of soldiers ard
rough camp followers, sitting without
shelter on their trunks by tho roadside. IT
was not nntil after repeated Solicitations
that Colonel Geary consented to grant an
interview to the principal sister, lady of
education and refinement, as were her as
sociatcs. Finally this military dlgnltary
cave orders TO have her led INTO his august
presence bv guard.
Tn vain did she explain fully the char
table character cf her holy msslon; IL
vain did she exhibit the general unrestrlct-
Cd mass given her by the Commander-ln-
Chief at Washington, authorizing her to
90, with her associates. wherever their no
IL mission might call them, or wherever
thev might he needed to nurse the wound
ed and console the dying; in vain ca she
beg TO be allowed to proceed as seVerai
parties of Sisters had been allowed TO DO
unmolestpd before, over the same route;
in vain did she speak of the crying wants
of the wounded the sick, the diving SOL
diers of the Union army. to relieve and
succor whom was great part of her mis-
son: in vain did she assure this petty tyrant
(Gparv) that he had nursrd the sick and
wounded soldiers Of all parties in the Cri-
mean war. without molestatIon or him
drance. receiving from Turk and Russian
no less courtesy and kindness than she did
fIom Frenchmen and Englismen in vain
did she protest with fearful entreaties
against such usage in her native land, after
having travelled on similar mission all
over Europe unmolested, John W. Gea-
rv. bigot bv nature and a petty tvrant in
his position. thrust her and her compan-
ions into the cars and sent them back to
Frederick CITY. on their wav to the House
of St. Joseph. from which thew came
The Surqeon-General at Frederick. a
high toned gentleman, and a native Of
Philadelphia. hearing of the manner in
which the Sisters of Charity had been
rtoatcd nv Grarv, and fearing the damaging
effect which such brutal conduct would
have upon the manv thousands of Catholic
soliiers who were fighting in the front
ranks of the army. at once dispatched an
orderly to General Banks at headquarters
near Poolsvillr with letter containing a
statement Of the conduct cf General
Gea,v. which letter will br found offic; ;allv
recorded on the hacks of the Medical Di-
! rector. The adintant. after riding all
night. returned to Frederick with an i'm
perative order, commanding General Gea-
j rv to escort in person ard place safely on
the southern side Of the Potomac the said
Sisters Of Charity. and to give to them ev-
erv assistance to aid them in the discharge
of their sacred mission of mercv. With
what grace he eonld after his brutal con-
duet, Gearv did escort them beyond the
Potomac, after having endcavored to sci
himself mp as superior to the Commander
in Chief. -a t
! Anv soldier who was under Geary al
Point Of Rncks at the time alluded to will
remember his treatment of these Sisters o
Charity. He will not dare to denv one
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