Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-02-11
A STORY OF THE WAR.
How the Late General burnside
Failed so COurI-NartiaI CIar-
emce Prentice.

a SEOAN OF W AK.
How the Late General burnside
Failed so COurI-Martial CIar-
emce Prentice.
san Francisco Chronicle.
The death of Gen. Burnside, Sen
ator 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 were deeply
concerned in it. Before President
Abraham Lincoln became Repub-
lican 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
CLAW, in 1852. Around Henry Clay
such men as Thomas COrwln, john
J. Crittenden, Horace Greeley, >.
5. Prentice, of Mississippi, and Geo.
ID. Prentice, of Kentucky, reVolVed
as satellites, forming the most Drill
liant constellation known 10 the pol
itIcs of America. Among all the
host of bright names so lovingly as
ISOLATED with that of the lllustrlous
sage of Ashland none shOne with
brighter luster than that of George
d. Prentice, the witty, eloquent,
enthusiastic editor and founder OF
the old Louisville Journal, now
known as the Courier Journal. The
eloqunce of Clay and the journalism
of Prentice, working together, held
Kentucky as firmly together to the
Wing cause as a State ever was
held to any cause, and it remained
Wing till the dark shadow of trea-
son and rebellion 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-belUved
son, Clarence, fOrsake the Union
cause for which the father had la
bOr-1 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 ID. Prentice
was a Major, fighting in the Con-
federate army in Georgia. His
battalion was composed of Ken
tuckians, mostly from Louisville.
1t was brave and dashing body of
men, and the young Major had
earned q distinguished reputation
for dash and boldness. In short
the battalion was not merely de-
eliminated, but merely cut down to
n small fragment of its original
force, and Major prentice conceived
the rash idea of working his way
alone through the Union lines back
to his home in Louisville to recruit
from among his old friends enough
fresh men TO fill up his old COM
mand. On the route fell in with a
gentleman of his acquaintance, who
inquired:
Where are you bound ,"
"FOr home"
"On parole as prisoner >"
"NO.D
"What then?"
al am going to recruit in Louis
vile for my cOmmaud."
The gentleman, as a lawyer, and
thorough one, was astOnished at
this information, and replied with
energy: "DO you know the danger
you are running? You will be ar
rested as spy, sir"
al know that L may be, but am
resolved, and you know what that
means" answered Major Prentice.
He did not know what it meant.
He knew that such was the firm
ness IF this mere boy in years, no
persuasion could change his once
set resolution. Prentice was in cit
liens dress, and he remarked it,
adding: ado you know, young
man that you are running your
head into a halter with that dress ?
If you must take this dreadful risk,
atleast do it in the military uniform
Of your party, and then, if you are
taken, by military law, you will be
tried and condemned as a spy, but
they will shoot you, and not hang
you"
The young man did not know
this, He Y As fighting and not IA
reading soldier. Frightening up
at the question, he said after mo-
ment's thought:
AIS that so? Is that military
law?"
"Yes, that is military law. If
you are taken as Major Andre was,
in citizens dress, they will hang
you. If you are taken in the mill
taTy 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 10 Louisville, to his
fathers house. The old journalist
still remained at his post of duty in
the Journal office; AMI, true To the
Union. Major Prentice had not
been an hour in the city, then held
by Union soldiers, till il was known
in that part of the army which was
composed of Kentuck ians and Louis
willie recruits.
1t was one of thedarkest places of
that terrible conflict that brothers
were often found fighting on oppOs-
ing sides and schOOlmates graphing
each other in the death struggle.
At Pea Ridge an old man in blue
was bayoneted by a youth in gray
when the latter recognized his ia
ther as his victim, and instantly
killed himself. Major Prentice was
spotted by an old SchOOlmate,
who, subOrdinating friendship to
the stern demands of military duty,
reported him and was detailed to
arrest him as a spy. He was close
Nv Swallowed and tracked to his ia
theirs house. This was after night
fall, and arrest was put off till 10
O'Clock next morning, but COM
pany of Union soldiers was drawn
around the house to prevent escape.
At 10 next morning the schoolmate
Captain entered and found Major
Prentice in the parlor in full, new
Confederate uniform.
How are you, John? Glad to
see you. Had your breakfast +?
What brings you here at this hour?"
said Prentice.