The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-08-08
Letter from Captain Henley, of
Lancaster,
From the 5inolnnah Commercial.
Judge Thurman and the Rebel
Prisoners at Camp Chase.
LANcAsrEn, o, July 20, 1ss7

Prisoners at Camp Chase.
LANCASTER, O., July 2s, 1867.
EDS. CoM.-My attention was
called, by a friend, to tho Ohio
Statesman's 8 dennnciation and deni.
al ola statementot D[r. Gray in re-
lation to the conduct of Judge
Thurman and wife during the con.
irement ofrebel prisoners at Camp
Chase. cannot believe, from what
| know of the parties, that either
the Judge or his wife would deny
any statement showing their sym,
pathy and aid to these prisoners.
| was appointed Provost Marshal
Of Camp Chase in September, 1862,
and continued in that position un-
til August, 1863, and during that
period, or until Order No. 38 was
issued, Mrs. Thurman visited the
prisoners-at least twice a week.
She never csme after the issue OF
said order. She brought delicacies
in the shape Of cakes, pies and jel.
lies, and butter; and in reply to my
question, why she did not visit the
hospitals in which our soldiers were
treated, and supply them ? she said,
she was Southern woman.
This was demonstrated by her
actions, and she was o great tavo.
rite with the rebels, held frequent
conversations with them, gave to
and obtained from them informa
ton, and appeared willing and anx-
ious in any way to aid and COM
fort them.
Judge Thurman was frequently
spoken of by the prisoners, and
they said he was their friend, His
wife was the most prominent visi.
tor, and was always welcomed by
them.
In the discharge of my duty,
part of which was 10 be present at
conversations between rebels and
their friends, l was frequently com
planned of by Mrs Thurman to
Governor Todd, and Captain Bunk.
or was called on by the Governor
to know if l discharged my duty.
She had a general correspondence
with the South in relation to the
prisoners, and often brought from
the Governor special permit to
see a prisoner named therein, and
from him obtained names of others.
From what saw of Mrs. Thur
man, and heard at the time Of
Judge Tburman's kindness TO the
prisoners, can scarcely believe
either of them now would thank
any editor to deny their sympathy
with the rebels or their devotion TO
their cause during the war, and !
thus deem it my duty to sustain
Mr.. N. A. Gray from the Attacks Of
editors.
My assistants, Robert Dean, Sam
uel Winset, Tiffany, Alexander,
Sharkey, Drake, Evans and Thrapp,
of tho Sevcnty-fourth Ohio, and
myself, held frequent conversations
on this subject, and they all will
remember the affectionate and re-
ciprocal regard Of Mrs. Thurman
and the rebel prisoners, and her
kindness and attention in bringing
whatever was needed by them, and
her open and bold avowal of her
sentiments, and wo never expected
to live to see the day in which Ell
ther she or her husband would de.
ny, or allow others TO deny for them,
that in the great controversy of the
past six years their every hope and
every desire was for the success OF
the Southern rebels
Actions speak louder than words,
aud whatever Judge Thurman may
now say, or his friends for him, The
facts detailed here, AMI by Mr..
Gray, were so notorious that il will
take moro than three years to offace
them from the memory of tho off
GERS and men in Camp Chase
They both sympathized with the
rebel cause, and exhibited their
sympathy as did Union men and wo-
men in aiding Union soldiers in
hospital and in prison. Let the
truth be told; and as in that mighty
contest there were people North
who desired rebel success, and work.
ed to secure it, claiming the right
thus 10 act, so let the soldier of the
Union and his friends remember
with gratitude every expression
and aid from whatever source, and
forget End forgive all who, by SYM
pathy and aid to the rebels, pro-
tracted the struggle, or commenced
tho fight; but when tho facts are
called for, be as valiant in their de-
fense us they were in defending our
glorious Union. IL is too soon for
Northern sympathisers with rebels
to deny their sentiments and con.
duct, as great many soldiers now
survive who remember what pass
ed, and arc not afraid to tell it.
J. G. HENLEY,
Late Capt, Co. A. 8Sth o. V. I.