Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-11-06
NUMBER NINETEEN.

AN9-As was, Alutt It1I0lit1 OF al ne lal
was then put into the trenches.
Z. Il. Smith, a young man from Massachu
sets, who had for several years been in th
south, was published as g Yankee thief, - bt
cause he did not volunteer to JON the rebel al
my. The mob got after him and ne was secrete
l by Capt. L. Merchant, resolute old Union man
/ VINO, thongh seventy years old, stood up like Al
iron-cad to his principles and dared them to at
tempt to break into his countiug-room. By hi
I heroic conduct the mob was checked long energl
for the Provost Marshal to come and take then
both to prison. Merchant was released after II
days but Smith. who still refused to bear arm
for the Confederacy, was kept in a filthy eel
until he was mere skin, bones, filth and vermin
By the aid Of Merchant and others he was fnall,
got out and run through the lines to the Fedora
camp.
Geo. W. Boyd, partner Of Merchants, a gen
tleman Of fine education, splendid business ta
lents, and socially one Of the finest men in III,
country; a warm hearted Union man, wa,
obliged to secrete himself upon a blockade run
ner, in order to escape from the Confelerac,
when the war began, as he was liable to be fore
ed into the rebel army.
Asa F. Cochran, formerly of Massachusetts
for % years merchant Of high standing il
New Orleans, was forced 10 leave there when th,
war commenced, and did not dare to return un.
til the place was captured by Gen Butler.
/ have mentioned these cases as examples
there are thousands Of others I have selected
these because they are well known as men o
high standing and Of unimpeachahle LOYALTY.
In Mobile there was a little band Of Union
men who used to assemble in the counting room
Of L. Merchant x Co., and talk over the affair,
Of the week They used to steal in by the bach
way and sit without lights in the interior Office
They were all old men; the fire Of youth had
long since died out OF their veins; but they kent
the fire Of patriotism burning still. There va.
Leander Merchant. an old sea captain who had
for twenty-five years faced the stormy Atlantic.
and by his energy and industry had accumulated
q large fortune. This grand Ola man with tho
fr0st9 Il seyenty-tw0 winters upon his head
openly and boldly defei the coming storm Of
rebel wrath and hatred Then there was the
more timid. but no less patriotic Geo ". Tarle-
ton; who, though lie was over sixty years Old.
chose 10 suffer Imprisonment rather than 10 sub
scribe TO the Rebel Loan. There were MANY
more such men-G taaf Of thirty real heroes
Among them the enquiry was. every time they
met" My God, my God Will the Union troop.
never come The noisy shouts Of the retei-
over reports Of victories were sad sounds for
these oil men 20 hear. They were hated cursed
robiel and rlundered without a chance f,r
relless
L. Merchant q Go. hal two steamers and two
bsr.cs The rebels took them for theiioy,u u.s
T4r.etou haI a lar-c amount Of fsur the Con.
f-lerarv usuucaI urm IL. and flung him a few
Confederate notes IN return
Nerchlut Is Go had .ucceelle,i.i in ..,ip,, ant
of their large fortune. few hundred baIe. el
cotton. .ecrdtaI ur th. country. v-bere neither
rebel nor Union raider could faI +, Cptc1
from all communication with the North not
really knowing how far rebel rcuarts of sIc,s.-
e.ulI Dc believed. they had onlr tbe-~ eitl IN
the Justice OF the Union cause In .he,r Thorn ir
,he darkest DAYS Of their lives They reasoned
from fhc eternal il--fee of Col and fin .tr.
that sooner OF h..- be v-ovld nur l1y.r ~
v4uutiu- host. who yre-s fryiur w. ts.r 5.,r,
the TEMPLE Of Liberty. tb.tcp- NJ i+s .;r,,1s,.
-her m--f- fgnI mare .-ror.,,. d.. ,.-,.--.,
.rlrl ,uJ Slave reD
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