The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-10-11
Gen. Sloc,tn, to Gen. Burnside.
The Soldiers of the War Not Yet Under Orders In
the Field.


GEN A f. BURSsIDE-DeGr General:
7 have read with great interest your ad-
dress to the soldiers and sailors who served
in the Union army and navy during the
late war AS was one of the soldiers al
IuCied to, l trust you will mot be displeased
If | say a few words In response thereto.
You tell us that you and others, as cur rep
rcsentatives, met at Pittsburgh and adopt
cd Il series of resolutions which we have
already seen. You complain that Mr.
Greeley has expressed the opinion that you
assembled for political purposes, and that
you hoped to accomplish these purposes by
reviving the animOSities and hatreds en-
gendcred by the war. You further say
that these remarks of Mr. Greeley and his
entire lack of courtesy toward the soldiers
and sailors serve to confirm you i'll the opin-
ion that he is quite unfit to be trusted in
any position whore loyalty to his Govern
ment, a just regard to the feelings OF others,
and All abnegation of self isrequired. You
then proceed to inform us, in conclusion,
that it only remains for you to urge Us to
organize in harmony with the regular Re
publican organizations, and do all in our
power TO re-elect Gen. Grant.
The first thought that occurred to my
mind on reading this address was, ''What
was there in Gen. Burnside's military ca-
reer that justifies him III telling the hun
drcds of thousands of soldiers who served
during the late war what they should do in
time of peace ?'' Did anything occur at
the first Bull Run, at Roanoke Island, at
fredericksburg, in East Tennessee, or at
the mine explosion in front of Petersburg,
which entities him to assume command of
all of us in time of peace, and order us to
the front to fight in behalf Of political
party?
My second thought was: sis it credita-
BILE to the soldiers of the late war that one
of their number should be permitted rs
their pretended representative to spread
broadcast over the land a document charg-
ing Horace Greeley with disloyalty p
The truth of the saying that ''the pen is
mightier than the sword" is coming year
by year to be more generally acknowl-
edged. In view of the election of Gen.
Grant TO the Presidency, and of the fact
that he is a candidate for reelection, there
are probably some men in the country who
doubt it's truth. If, however, we were to
add to the saying the proviso :hat the pen
should be handled by Greeley and the
sword by Burnside, all doubters would
disappear. You and /, General, know full
well that while we were in the field fight
ing for the Union Hr. Greeley was welding
IN behalf of the same cause weapon far
more powerful than those uscd by either
of us. We know, too, that long after we
had sheatiAed our swords he kept up the
fight, and continued il until every object
WAS accomplished for which even the most
ardent Abolitioniss Lad ever prayed. He
did not cease the fig until the Union was
restored, slavery abol-hed, the blacks en-
franchised, and all their civil and political
rights solemnly guaranteed to them by
amendments to the Constitution. And
yet, General, you have the harGihood of
charging this man with oisloyalty, and are
uttering this foolish charge in your assumed
capacity as the representative Of all the
Union soldiers in the land.
You say he has been guilty Of lack of
courtesy toward us. In my Judgment any
man who, eight years after the close of a
bloody civil war, will ask soldiers to ASSEM-
BILE in convention with view of controlling
their action in political matters is dema-
gogue unworthy Of courtesy at the hands
of hr. Greeley or any other person. When
at the close of the war we laid down our
arms, we became citizens, and We have no
interest to-day except those we have in
common with all other citizens. Why,
then, should any one aek US, in our char
acter as soldiers, TO assemble in political
bodIesT Why should you extend to us
such an invitation, unless it is with the
hope that from your former connection with
us IN the army you may influence our iude-
ments upon matters of public policy in
time OF peace? Do you not think, Gener-
al, that these assemblies of soldiers for the
purpose Of perfecting our elections have be-
come slightly nsuseating to the public
Did 1t ever occur to you that, as a rule
the officers most active in work of this
nature were most unsuccessful in the field?
Permit me, in conclusion, to cay that l
do not believe that in your action at Pitts
buTSh, or III the sentiments of the address
which | ha al IaH ~,
sense Of the word a representative of the
real soldiers of the army. On the contrary,
feel that very many of them unite with
me III the hope that this political campaign,
in which you seem to have assumed the
position of commander, may prove to you
and to the troops of your command an
other Fredericksburg. Very truly yours,
II. W. SLoCUM
Brooklyn, Oct. 4, 1872.
AN ELoPENENT.-A Nan of Fifty Dis