The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-03-05
National HOnOrs to Rebel Dead
LOhn COvOde DO Gov. FentOn.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE, I

|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, !
WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. II, 1868. {
To Coz. Reuben E. FentOn, Albany, N. y:
SIR: | have read with sorrow and
astonishment your letter recommending
national bonors to the rebels whose in.
vasion Of the North was stopped by
death in battle Oh the field of Antietam.
You say:
"a strong local and individual feel.
ing in the neighborhood of Antietan
and other parts of Maryland, naturally
engendered by the invasion, may have
created some indifference in regard to
the Confederate dead, and an indisposi-
ton to see them buried side by side
with those who died in defence of our
nationality. But it is confidently be-
lieved that no such feeling pervades the
breasts of the American people, or the
surviving officers and soldiers of the
Union armies.
"When we recall the generosity and
moderation that marked the conduct ot
the people, the Government, and the
army during the war, and the magma
nimity that presided at its close; when
we recall the generosity and moderation
that marked the conduct of the people,
the Government and the army, during
the war, and the maguanimity that pre-
sided at its close; when we remember
that our countrymen are now engaged
in the work Of reconstructing the Union
on the basis of universal freedom, and
with an earnest desire to restore to the
Southern States prosperity infinitely
greater than that which slavery and re-
bellion eonspired to destroy, it is i'm
possible to believe that they would
desire to make an inv dious distinction
against the Wondering remains of the
Confederate dead, or that they would
disapprove of their being carefully gath
cred from the spots where they fell and
laid to rest in the National Cemetry, on
the battlefield of Antietam.
"Conquerers as we were in that great
struggle, our stern disapproyal Of the
cause in which they fought need not
forbid our admiration of the bravery
with which they died They were
Americans, misguided, indeed, and
misled, but still our countrymen; and
we cannot remember them now either
with enmity or unkindness.
l have read these paragraphs twice
and thrice, hut a dlmness, other than
the film of age, obscures them to my
vision. 1t is in vain that have wiped
the spectacles of an old man, and en-
deavored deliberately and clearly to see
in your words a justification for the
recommendation they make. Two forms
come between me and the printed page.
They stay there, and will not move away.
One of them is the figure of my eldest
son, the Colonel of the Fourth Penn
sylvania Cavalry-as brave, devoted,
and generous boy as ever filed faith
er's heart with pride, and made mother
happy. He covered with his regiment
a retrOgrade movement of a column of
our army under Sheridan, in June, 1864,
fighting every rod of his way. He fell
badly wounded. His men endeavored
to carry him off; but, hotly pursued
several of them were killed or disabled.
He told his major to leave him and save
himself and the command, and try to
make a stand on the next height, and
there gain time for the great wagon
train ahead to escape to the James river.
My son was laid upon the grass beside
the highway, his men obeying his orders
to return to their ranks, and leave him
with the dead and wounded of his reg
iment to await capture.
The rebels soon came up, and, as /
have been told, shot him again when he
lay helpless on the ground, stripped
him of his sword, money, watch, boots
and clothing, and left him naked to die.
And old colored woman, living in the
Reighborhood, brought him water to
lrugink while he was dying. The next
rER's be was buried in her garden,
s5oH Fenton, the figure of this mur-
pdered boy so comes between my eyes
and the text of your recommendation
of national honors to the rebel dead,
that I cannot see in it reason from
which fathers and mothers who love
their children should not shock patriots
who have loved their country and have
made sacrifices for it.
There is, sir, another figure which
makes filmy reading through my old
spectacles. My youngest son, a private
in the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry,
who entered the army before he was
fifteen years of age, was captured at
Sulphur Springs, when Meade fell back
to Centreville, with one hundred and
fifty-six of bis regiment, one hundred
and forty-two Of whom afterwards per-
ished in prison. Twenty-tour of those
who died went out in the Covode cav
- c.A.,. 49, -, ad;ntn mach hbn1.h ao1