Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-06-22

SECURE saIe position on Courts Martial,
his sickness was unattended by any fatal
symptoms, and he soon recovered. He
now spent the time very pleasantly and
with profit to the government, as he filed
the place OF some men, who, in all human
probability, possessed larger share of
that element known by phrenologists as
'combativeness" than himself. Conse-
quently, did Major Ben. never, during all
those long months of siege and carnage,
show himself at the front.
AS our armies were marching back.
north from Atlanta, he made his appear
ance at Rome, Ga, and in an hour was
off again on the cars, having succeeded in
procuring a pass, by solelnnly promising
to rejoin the regiment at Chattanooga, to
which point the troops were en-route by
rapid marches. The regiment was engag-
ed in the battle of Nashville, but no Maj
or Ben. showed his face, and therefore
could boast that he did not show the enc
my his back. Once, or more, on the At
lantic campaign, owing to sickness of the
Colonel and Lieut.. Colonel, the command
devolved on the ranking Captain, the Ma
jor lurking in the rear. After the regi-
ment was transferred to North Carolina.
and the war was ended, vacancy occur
red in the regiment, which made room for
a promotion to a Lieut.. Colonelcy, and
Major Ben. having been duly apprised Of
his chances, had taken such steps as in
sured the wished for honor. Some time
after the commission had reached the com
mand, the "Bummer" made his appear
ance. During the interval between the
promotion of Lieut.. Col. Cummins, -and
the arrival at the front of his commission,
and the aspirant from the far-away rear,
steps had been taken by the officers of the
regimentto to prevent any further promotion
of the gallant" Ben. and his commission
was revoked, and another worthier, though
beneath him in rank, was promoted to
fill the vacancy over the head of Major
Ben. 1t appears that he did not altogeth-
er relish this ungrateful treatment, for he
again left his regiment and while staying
at Salisbury, N. c., he did not stay with
his command, but sought more congenial
friends. He boarded with the rebel Ma
jor Meyrs, the eommisary who starved our
prisoners, and the rebel General Bradley
johnson, (who dragged the Stars and
Stripes at the heels OF his horse, through
the streets of Fredrick city was his boon
companion.
Here ends the history of that ''brilliant"
military eareer-a coward in the first fight,
slulker through most of the three years,
and rebel sympathizer at heart it but
further demonstrates ''the eternal fitness
of things" that a convention goverened
and controlled by Vallandigham should
nominate him to the highest office which
could be offered at this time, as a reward
for his valuable services.
The last promotion as Brevet Brigadier
General was undoubtedly procured thro'
political influence, that the copperhead
party might have a soldier on their ticket,
in the hope of securing the votes of such
soldiers as are not acquainted with the
antecedents of the man.
He now avows boldly that he supported
Vallandingham in the army. Several Of
his former comrades tell us that when in
the army, he denied casting his vote for
the 'illustrious martyr" He is a man of
narrow mind and limited education-has
not even the merit of being able to make a
speech, but is possessed of powerful
sneaking qualities, which properly entitle
him to position on the copperhead tick
ct. Next fall we will write his political
obituary.