Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-08-14
From the Cincinnati Commercial. Sd inst1
Judge Thurman and the Reb-
Ell PrlsOners at Camp Chase.

ell PrlsOners at Camp Chase.
"a LANCASTER, July SO, 1867.
Eds Com. My attention was called,
by q friend, toThe Ohio Statesman's de-
nunciation-a nd denial of a statement Of
Mr.. Grey in relation to the conduct of
Judge Thurman and wife during the con-
hnement OF rebel prisoners at Camp Chase.
l can not believe, from what 1 know of
the parties, that either the Judge or
his wife, would deny any statement
showing their sympathy and aid to
these prisoners.
! was appointed Provost Marshal Of
Camp Chase in September, 1862, and
continued in that position until Au-
gust, 1868, and during that period, or
until Order No. 3S was issued, Mrs.
Thurman visited the prisoners at least
twice a week. She never came after
the issue of said order. She brought
delicaoies in the shape of cakes, pies,
jellies and butter ; and in reply to my
question why she did not visit the hos
pitals in Hhich-ou soldiers were treat
ed, and supply them? she said she was
q Southern woman. l. s bra d.
This was demonstrated by her ae-
tions, and she wal a great faEorite with
the rebels, held frequent conversations
with them, gave to and obtained from
them information, and appeared will
ling and anxious in any way to aid and
comfort them. 70 3fls4 "
Judge Thurman was frequently spo-
ken of by the prisoners, and they said
he was their friend. His wife was the
most prominent visitor, and was always
by them.
In the discharge of my duty, a part
of which was to be present at converse
tions between rebels and their friends,
I was frequently complained of by Mrs.
Thurman to Governor Todd, and Capt.
Bunker was called on by the Governor
to know if discharged my duty. She
had g general correspondence with the
South in relation to the prisoners, and
brought from the Governor a spe-
cial permit to see q prisoner named
and from him obtained names
of others.
From what l saw of Mrs. Thurman, |
and heard at the time of Judge Thur
mans kindness to the prisoners, 1 can
scarcely believe either of them now
thank any editor to deny their
sympathy with the rebels or their de-
to their cause during the war,
and thus / deem it my duty to sustain
Mr.. N. A. Gray from the attacks of edi-
tors. t17 st5H ,gz1Hu52 sgI
My assistants, Robert Dean, Samuel
Winset, Tiffany, Alexander Sharkey,
Evans and ThrappJof the Sew
enty-fourth Ohio, and myself, held
frequent conversations on this subject,
and they all will remember the saffee-
and reciprocal regard of Mrs.
and the rebel ,prisonerss and
her kindness and attention in bringing
Whatever was needed by them, and her
open and bold aToWsl of hersentiments,
md we never expected to live to see the
in which either she or her husband
would deny, OF allow others to deny
or them. thatin the great controversy
IF the past six years their every hope
md eyery1desire was for the success of
he Southern rebels. so o. md
Actions speak louder than words,
md whatever Judge Thurman may now
or his friends for him, the facts de-
allied here and by Mr.. Gray, were so
notorious that it viii take more than
,hree years to EeHace them from the
memory of the officers End men in
Camp Chase. They both sympathized
With the REBEL cause and exhibited
heir sympathy as did Union men and,
women in aiding Union soldiers in
hospital and in prison. Let the truth
% told; and as in shat mighty contest
here were people North who desired
'ebel success, and worked to secure it,
claiming the right thus to act, so let
he soldier of the Union and his friends
'emember with gratitude every express
ion and aid from whatever source, and
iorget and forgive ali who, by sympathy
md aid to the rebels, protracted the
truggle, or commented the fight but
ghen the facts are called for, be as
in their defence as they were in
defending our glorious Union. 1t is too
DON for Northern sympathizers with
ebels to deny their sentiments and
as agrest many soldiers now
nryive who remember what passed,
md are not afraid to tell it. veId w
Tgv gnls ]. C. HENLEY, i.
Tofa HopfoSn Nn A QQfb n II