The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-14
GheGmteHiqetrft
A Soldiers Views Of Rebel t I.s
Ous..MF. Davis LETTER. l,i me
neSIy Bill and What II sho"e"'
MOUNDsvILLE, Fe6FUaFy w

Mo6NpsvrLLE, February 10.
Editors Of the Intsiiigrner
| have Just read Tor the second hme
the letter Of JED. Davis, and after read
inc Il INV mind naturally went back
waive wears 10 the time when was try
inc 10 do nv duty as commander oil a
compnnv In the Union army. l thought
hoi biIried all resentment, but when !
tbought Of FIVE brave boys who were
captured by the enemy in the very best OF
health, and saw but one OF them return n
wear after a mere skeleton, the other four
having died in the prison at Anderson
vile. must acknowledge that some OIL
the Old feeling still exists. This may PC
wrong, but wien the ex-President OF Ins
Confederacy, who Of all menliying shouIu
keen his lips sealed forever, has seen III
10 tFy 10 apologize for the atrocitieS COM
mit,ed at Andersonville, how can u Cn mon
soldier who has the least ieehng OF iove
for his country in his BOSOM or sun re-
members The loved comrades who Per,
;aSoJ ,Lorc help feeling indignant. Well
naU NJ DAVIS wish these things 10 rest
~ 3bI;rion. Well may any one blush to
,%;DE such scenes ever TRANSFERRED as were
enacted in the Southern prisons. Oh,
Int they are exaggerated and were exag.
gpratcd at the time, say some. wish l
had the pen TO describe the
HORRORS OF ANDERsoSvILLE
rs | heard them related by those who
spent six months or year there. Take
this as an instance as told by one who
spent six months there in the latter-part
Of 1864. He had ncither hat nor coat
when taken. His boots were taken from
his feet before being admitted to the pris.
on pen. Without hat, boots orcoat he
spent all these dreary months with the
hot scorching sun fairly broiling the life
ont OF him. Not tree nor shrub was
within the enclosure. The stumps and
even the roots OF the trees which had
been there, but which were cut down for
fear the poor fellows would have some
shade, we're dug from the ground for fuel.
They prayed for The poor privilege OF
going to the pine forests-hundreds OF
acres Of which we're in sight-to cut brush
for shelter, but it was denied them. Their
food was dry corn meal and small black
peas. No cooking utensils being furnish
ed they we're forced TO eat II raw. Humid
reds and thousands died from the fact
that they were unable TO crawl to the
stream Of stagnant water that ran through
the enclosure. Many prayed TO be killed.
For time hundreds died daily. They
were hauled by the wagon load to trench
outside and thrown from the top Of the
wagons TO the trench and thus buried.
This same man told me that along with
some fifteen hundred men he was taken to
Camp Chase for exchange, and when they
saw the rebel prisoners there in their nice
barracks and drawing and eating the
same rations that our own soldiers drew,
it so enraged them that they tried to seize
the arms at the arsenal to take the whole
camp. To think, he said, OF what they
had suffered for six months and then to
see those for whom they were TO be ex'
changed SO well cared for it was more
than they could bear. This was wrong o.
course, but it shows how exasperated mCr
would become under the circumstances
APOLOGIES WILL NOT SUFFICE.
But Mr.. Davis is not content with try
ing TO show his own innocence, but mus
try to apologize for those who committed
the great crimes-even intimating the
horrors OF their prisons we're not to bC
compared with those of Northern prisons
Now heard it from the lips Of Confed'
crates themselves, who spent months in
Northern prisons, that they were well used
while there-as well ut least as they could
expect to be used. He charges too that
Mr.. Blaine's whole aim is partizan, and
that he is trying to open up the old
wounds so nearly healed on both sides
We do not apologize for Mr.. Blain, We
think him able 10 take care OF himself
but | do say this, that he is man that
has endeared himself to all good I'm
ion men for having the nerve,to press his
amendment, and make the Contedrate'
show their colors, and also to open the
eyes Of good loyal men everywhere
to the fact that we still have
a dough faced Democracy at the
North who are ever ready to bow
to their masters-the chivalric sons d
the South, lit has no other effect it viii
teach us that we have been too lenien'
with the leaders OF the rebellion, and thai
it isnot saiejust now at least,to give ovei
the reins OF government tothem. 1t vii
be better to wait until another generation
takes the place Of those who would now
be at the helm. for one am willing to lc
all these dead issues resi-, but don't ask me
iOfoget them.
PATRIOTISM STILL ALIVE.
Don't ask me to forget the dear friend
that persisted in Libby, Andersonvill'
and Salisbury, ioplly murdered by thu
practicing Of cruelties atwhich a sayag'
nation would blush. And above all don
ask mo to lend my influence or give IN!
vote to elevate 10 power any oil those WIN
were responsible for these atrocities. Bu
when in the right spirit our brethrel
show themselves worthy and act tho par
of good citizens, then and not till then lie
them be trusted. i,
And now word concerning the Repuh
lican party, and am done. | don't pre-
tend to say that it has always done RICH
nor do l claim that il has made no mis-
takes, but l do say that it has never com
mitted crimes in which Il glories. /
saved the country once and it can HM pre-
~rrs Il. However much il may be re
GREETED that the debate on the amnest,
Bill should have been sprung just now, i
shows the animus. OF the minds OF tn
rebels whom we have admitted TO tn
council Of the nation. It has shown u
that the same hate exists and the SAINT
fire burns in their hearts that did in '6l
when the torch was applied TO our temple
oiliberty that kindled the flame which |
took the blood Of millions TO extinguish
1t has awakened q whole nation OF free
men to this startling fact, and Union mel
everywhere will joih together at the mex
election to hurl these, men from power
The Republican party; learning useful
Lesson from the few past years, won't ALLOW
side issues TO divide its ranks,i will com,
upin solid phalanx to the music OF H.,
Union and give an overwhelming MAORI
Y for freedom and equal rights to all