Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-01-14
4 STORY OF THE War.
How the Late General Burnside
Failed to Court.M Martial Clar-
ence Prentice.
How Lincoln saved His Friends
Son.

San Francisco ~ChrOniclel
The death of Gen. Burnside, Sena-
tor from Rhode Island, recalls an
incident in his military life which had
probably long passed from his memory,
but which can never be forgotten by
some who we're deeply concernedi in it.
Before President Lincoln became a
Republican he was a Whig-always a
Wing up to the death of the party,
which may be said to date from the
death Of its great leader, Henry Clay,
in 1852. Around Henry Clay such
men as Thomas Corwin, John j. Crit
tenden, Horace Greeley, s. s. Prentiss,
Of Mississippi, and George D. Prentice,
of Kentucky, TevolVed as satellites,
forming the most brilliant c~onstella.
ton known to the politics OF America.
Among all the host Of bright names
so lovingly associated with that OF the
illustrious sage of Ashland none shone
with brighter luster than that Of
George D. Prentice, the witty, elo-
quent, enthusiastic editor and founder
of the old Louisville Journal, now
known as the Courier Journal. The
eloquence of Clay and the journalism
OF Prentice, working together, held
Kentucky as firmly together to the
Wing cause as State ever was held to
any cause, and it remained Wing till
the dark shadow of treason and rebel
lion fell upon the State, an event
which the kindly hand of death kept
from the sight of the great champion
Of the cause. Prentice lived to see
the cloud break, lived to see his best
beloved son, Clarence, forsake the
Union cause, for which the father had
lsbored so long and earnestly, to take
up arms against it.
When General Burnside had com,
mand OF the department of the Ohio
this SON of George D. Prentice was a
Major, fighting in the Confederate
army in Georgia. His battalion was
composed of Kentuckians, mostly
from Louisville. 1t wa a brave and
dashing body of men, and the young
Major bad earned a distinguished
reputation for dash and boldness. In
a short time the battalion was not
merely decimated, but merely cut
down to a small fragment of its origi-
nal force, and Major Prentice CON
ceived the rash idea Of working his
way alone through the Union lines
back to his home in Louisville to re-
cruit from among his friends enough
fresh men to fill up his command. On
the route he fell in with a gentleman
of his acquaintance, who inquired:
Where are you bound?'
For home"
"0n parole as a prisoner"
mo"
what them"
II am going to recruit in Louisville
for my command"
The gentleman, as a lawyer, and a
thorough one, was as antonished at
this information, and replied with
energy: DO you know the danger
you are running? You will be ar
rested as a spy, sir"
II know that | may be, but | am re.
solved, and you know what that
means" answered Major Prentice.
He did not know what it ment He
knew that such was the frmness Of
this mere boy in years, no persuation
could change his once set resolution.
Prentice was in citizens dress, and
his friend remarked it, adding; DO
you know, young man, that you arc
running your head into a halter with
that dress? If you must take this dead
J ly risk, at least do it in the military
uniform Of yoar party, and then, il
/ you are taken, by military law, you
will be tried and condemned as a spy
but they will shoot you, and not hane
you"
The young man did not know this.
He was l Fitting, not a reading sol.
der. Frightening up at the question,
he said, after a moments thought:
us that so? Is that military law?'
Yes, that is military law. If you
are taken as Major Andre was, in cit.
zen's dress, thev will hang you. If
you are taken in the military uniform
OF your army they will shoot you, and
the disgrace of the halter will not sully
the family history"
And so they parted. Young Prem.
tice went on to Louisville, to his
fathers house. Tho old journalist
still remained at his post of duty in
the Journal Office; and, true TO the
Union. Major Prentice had not beer
an hour in the city, then held by
Union soldiers, till it was known 10
that part of the army which was com
posed OF Kentuckians and Louisville
recruits.
1t was one Of the darkest phases O.
that terrible conflict that brothers
we're often found fighting on op.
posing sides and schOolmates crap
ping each other in the death strug
gle. At Pea Ridge an old man il
blue was bayoneted by a youth in graz
when the latter recognized his fatbeI
as his victim. and instantly killed
himself. Major Prentice was spotted
by all old schoolmate, who, subordi
mating friendship to the stern demand
of military duty, reported him and wa
detailed to arrest him as a spy. H
was closely Swallowed and tracked t,
his fathers house. This was ate
nightfall, and arrest was put off till L
o'clock next morning, but a compan.
Of Union soldiovs was drawn aroun,
the house to prevent excape. AT |
next morning the schoolmate Oaptai
entered and found Major Prentice il
the parlor in full, new Confederat
uniform.
How are you, John2 Glad to Sc
/ you. Had your breakfast VIVA
brings you here at this hour?" sal
Prentice.
81 have had breakfast and, Clar
ence, you know what has brought m
here. have come to arrest YOU as