The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1867-08-15
Judge Thurman and the Rebel
Prisoners at Camp Chase.


We give the following letter, TO the
Cincinnati Commercial, Of last week,
corroborating some of the statements
Of Mr., Gray's speech, in regard to the
sympathy manifested by Judge Thur.
man aud family, for tho rebel soldiers
at Camp Chase, during the robcllion'
LANCASTER, July 20, 1867.
EDS. CoM.-My attention was
called, by a friend to the Ohio
Statosmaa's dcuunciation and denial
of statement Of Mr. Gray in rola-
ton TO the conduct Of Judge Thur.
man and wife during the confinement
of rebel prisoners at Camp Chase.
can not believe, from what | know OF
the parties, that either the Judge or
his wifo would deny any statement
showing their sympathy and aid to
these prisoners.
was appointed Provost Marshal
of Camp Chase in September, 1862,
aud continued 10 that position until
August, 1868, aud during that period
or until order No 3S was issued, Mrs.
Thurman visited the Prisoners--at
least twice o wook. She never came
after the issue Of said order. She
brought dnlicacics in tho shape Of
pics, cakes aud jellios, and butter;
and in reply TO my question, why she
did not visit tho hospitals in which
our soldiers were treated, and supply
them? she said, she was Southern
woman.
This was demonstrated by her oc-
tions, and she was great favorite
with the rebels, held frequent conver.
sotions with them, gave to and OBJ
tainod from them information, and
appeared willing aud anxious in any
way to aid and comfort them
Judge Thurman was frequently
spoken Of by the prisoners, and they
said ho was their friend. His wife
was the most prominent visitor, aud
was always welcomed by them.
In the discharge of my duty, part
ofwhich was to be present at conver.
sations between rebels aud their
friends, was frequently complained
of by Mrs, Thurman TO Governor
Todd, aud Captain Bunker was
called on by tho Governor to know if
| discharged my duty. Sho had a
general correspondence with the
South in relation to the prisoners,
and often brought from the Governor
special permit to see prisoner
named therein, aud from him obtain
ed names of others.
From what | saw Of Mrs. Thurman
aud hoard at the time of Judge
Thurman's kindness to tho prisoners
| eau scarcely believe either of them
now would thank any editor to deny
their sympathy with tho rebols or
their devotion to their cause during
the war, and | thus deemed IL my du.
ty to sustain Mr.. N. A. Gray from
tho attacks of editors,
My assistants, Robert Dean, Sam
uol Winset, Tiffany, Alexander,
Sharky, Drake, Evans and Thrapp,
Of tho Seventy. fourth Ohio, and my.
self held frequent conversations on
this subject, aud they all will romem-
Der tho aileetionate aud reciprocal re-.
gard of Mrs, Thurman aud tho reb-
ol prisoners, aud her kindness aud
attention to bringing whatever was
needed by them, aud her open aud
bold avowal Of her sentiments, and
wc never expected to live to see tho
day in which either she or her hus-
baud would deny, or allow others to
deny for thom, that in the great con-
troyersy Of the past six years their
every hope aud every dosiro was for
tho success of the Southern rebels.
Actions speak louder than words,
and whatever Judge Thurman may
now say, or his friends Tor him, the
facts detailed hero, and by Mr., Gray,
were SO notorious that IL will take
more than three years to elfaoe them
from the memory Of tho officers aud
mon in Camp Chase. They both
sympathiaed with the rebel cause and
excited their sympathy as did Union
men and women in aiding Union sol
diors in hospital and in prison. Let
tho truth be told; and as in that
mighty contest there were people
North who desired rebol success, aud
worked to secure it, claiming the right
thus TO act, SO let the soldier Of the
Union aud his friends remember with
gratitude every oppression aud aid
from whatever source, aud forget aud
forgivoall who, by sympathy aud aid
to the rebels, protraeted the strug
gle, or commenced the fight; but
when the facts arc called for, he AZ
valiant in their defense as they wer,
in defending our glorious Union, |
Is too soon for northern sympathiEer
With rebels to deny their sentimentt
aud conduct, as a great many soldier
now survive who remember what pas
sed, and ara not afraid 30 tell il.
j o. HENLEY,
Late Captain Co. A, SSth o. V, L.
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