davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
An Ex.SoIdlnr,s Defense of Grant.

To The Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In your issue of the 18th ult ] see a great many
trying to slur the illustrious patriot and soldier,
General Grant. ! would most respectfully invite
them to n second reading of the text from which
they so bitterly preach. ! was a veteran soldier
and am proud Of It. voted for the great and good
Lincoln, and for every president that has been
elected since. and have few regrets for having
voted for Grant any of them and proud of
that too. / fail 10 see anything in General Grants
remarks on the $40 bill that any honest pensoner
can object to- fail TO see where he casts any slur
which is Just and right Taking these criticisms all
in all. think they fall very fiat, and the out
groupings of indisuretion, bad taste and viii he
of no good to the old soldier. j not copper
head enough TO join in with the traitors of this
country in vifying and abusing the very who
laid the plans that successfully knocked the last
prop out from under the rebellion, and the great
est living to-day upon all Gods inhabitable
earth Why did not some of General Grant s
critics crawl to the top of that ladder when they
had equal chances to do SO? IL is misrepresenta-
ton of the facts to say that General Grant looks
referred to. Having been private soldier know
how to sympathizc with the common soldiers who
left comfortable homes and endured the hardships
and privations OF camp-le, and offered their lives
a bleeding sacrifice upon the alter of their country
that this Nation might be and inseparable, and
American institutions would love to every
soldier who deserves a pension have if. | believe
IL 20 be eight for this Nation to honor its defenders
by legislation and otherwise, but don't believe it
right the part of WISDOM for the old soldiers 10
denounce such men as General Grant simply be-
cause he, in his Judgment saw fit and proper as
the President of the United States, to veto the
equalization OF bounties bill. am still for Grant,
and in tho words of that good old hymn, "Shall be
till die. J. II. AXToN.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
The Priee of Liberty at AndersonvIlls.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:


In former letter gave faint outline of my ex-
periencc III Andersonville prison. Looking back
now, 1t seems miraculous that any human being
could endure what did for five months and survive
it. Though starved to a state of emaciation, my
teeth on the point of falling out my feet swollen
| could scarcely stand, never despaired. Twice
liberty seemed certainty, only to prove mirage
but remained hopeful and always on the alert,
watching for an opportunity to get away. The
long-looked for opportunity finally came in an un-
expected manner. Wandering around camp met
cousin, Leonard Parish, of the Sixteenth Seven
teenth Iowa Il forget which), who had not been in
long and while conversing with him on the situa-
ton noticed he still retained his watch; asked
him if he would give it for liberty. He answered: :
Gladly" told him that we could both get off for
that watch. He handed it to me, saying: Go and
try" hobbled away to find the sergeant. Find
ing him easy to trade with, demanded the liberty
of three men for the watch. ''Al right said he,
" if enough d Yankees who are booked for to-
morrows exchange die tonight, I'll pass you and
your friends in their stead.'' ALL how certain the
vacancies but alas, for the brave boys whose ears
would be deaf to to-nOrrow's call to the freedom
they had longed and prayed for, AT the appointed
hour Parish myself and an Illinois boy Il forget
his namel found ourselves, with hundreds Of 9th
ers, on our way for Savannah, and the next day the
glorious old Stars and Stripes foated above US, and
we felt that we had been through the valley and
shadow of death" have forgotten the exact date OF
release, but it occurred sometime between the
10th and Goth of December, 1864.
Though the "frosts and blooms" of eighteen
years lie - between now and then" the horrors of
Andersonville, Savannah and Milen have never
been absent from my mind single day. In the
silent WOod or crowded street, UNCONSCIOUS OF sur
roundings, hear again the hollow groan of the
dying comrade; with dry eyes and dull heart
ache listen more to his babble of home and
mother till his voice is hushed in death. Again,
hear the crack of the cruel musket, which told us
that some poor boy crazed by the fevertire in his
veins has sought and found rest across the dead
line" / see gaunt shadows of men, eaten with ul-
GERS tormented by verrnin, and enduring in an
aggravated form every species of evil, that the Re-
public might live Yes, these are the sights and
sounds that will haunt me while memory lives.
NEW Ross, Mo. JAMES ii. BURK.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
THE OTHER SIDE.
4 Nebraska Papers Vigorous Reply to Attacks on
the soldier.
Let Scheming Politicians Bewarel
IFronl nie OsceoEa lNeb.l Record.l

Admitting that there are occasional frauds per-
pelTaed, Is that just cause why the ex-soldier Of
the Nation should be constantly insuted and mis-
represented by every varlet who happens to own
control a printing press!
The fact is. the Nation owes to its soldiers every
dollar II pays, and more. Gratitude will never
bankrupt the American Republic.
The reason why the soldiers are just now made the
sCapeEOgts upon which every political vulture
hopes unload his political sins is partly because
like too many others, the soldier has forgotten his
former allegiance, has not voted as he shot," has
supposed that the issues of the war were dead
Cyhcu, instead, they only simulated Sleep and has
been IN too great haste TO clasp hands with his old
time traacheFous enemies
Let schcming politicians beware When they
cCsnt upon the soldier vote l. hopelessly divided
yCit they think that, Dcah like they have shorn
the locks of ~amson's strength. they may suddenly
awake ijid, especially the great Northwest
that they have rcclloned without their host, and
the eDdicrs will become a solid plaaux mar
slai:,i again. strengthened by the sons they have
T,.r-d "a march TO peaceful victory AT the polls
10 the discontinue of the ingrates whose chief
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
WHERE FAMINE STALKED.
The Struggle for Existence in Southern Prison
Pens.
To the Editor NATIONAL. tribune:


was captured near Guntown Miss. the 10th day
of June, 1854 and was initiated into the horrors Of
AndersOnvl.le ten days thereafter. When / entered
AndersOuvilie was one of the strongest and most
vigorous Of our soldiers. I had never known
sick day in my past life, and my average weight
was 800 pounds. When came cut l weighed but
S5 pounds, and my fine constitution broken
and ruined. Since then and down to the present
day have not seen single well day 1t was un-
dOubtedly the design of those in authority at Ander
sonvil!e to leave nothing undone that would tend
to propagate diseases in those forms which insure
death by slow, lingering and agonizing process.
The more wretchedness, suffering and misery they
could in the ranks of the prisoners the more
their vindictiveness was gratifed. l well remem
Der one poor fellow who was wasted to mere sl<e-
etOn by long and painful disease when at last he
was unable to longer move around, he retired to
his buTrow in the ground, and without hat coat or
vest lay down there and in his miserable louse-n-
tested kennel resigned himself to die. Being un-
able to partgl1e of one mOrscl Of the coarse and un
wholesome food dealt out to the prisoners he well
coined death rs the means OF ending forever ms
miserable existence. But death slow to
swer the summons. And thus ne lay day after day
in q semi-cunatOse condition, too weak to move
either hand or foot while the lice flies and mus
Qutoes could be seen crawling from his nostrlls,
his ears and his mouth. Each morning for many
days his comrades would go to his burrow expect
ing TO find that death had closed the scene; but on
their near appnDach, his stertorious breathing
would announce 20 them that life was still there.
II not till after the vermin had actually eaten
into his flesh. creating great where InnuIner-
bic Gaggots found burrOw, did his spirit take lts
flight. The amount of human suffering endured
in that pTisou-pen can be fully realized only by
those who have had personal residence there dur
ing the period of which ! write One of your corre-
spondents-ias referred to that squad OF prisoners
who were taken from Andcrsonville to Lake City,
Florida in the spring of 1868, and turned loose the
last of April to seek our lines by way of Jackson
yille j belonged TO the squad Of which COmTade
Nawter speaks. How well / remember my gaunt
and feeble appearance and the tottering steps with
which / plodded on my way TO the Union lines
along the railroad. Often was obliged to sit down
and rest, and was afraid my strength would not
hold out; But under the stimulus OF freedom l
succeeded at last in reaching the lines On my
arrival, a sympathizing soldier at once gave me a
cup of black coffee and loaf of white bread.
believe that moment was the happiest in my whole
life. / soon obtained new clothing and shed my
filthy and densely populated rags. With Comrade
Vawter, say from that day to this have never
seen anything that looked like prisoner of war.
HENRY DEyILIIZ.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
How We Treated Rebel Prisoners.

"As there has been call for the other side
that is to say, experiences of rebel prisoners in
Union prisous-I venture to tell you what know
about it. was on detached service at Camp Doug
lass, Chicago, for some fifteen months during the
war, and ut one time seven thousand rebels,
chiefly from Arkansas were confined there. Dur
ing the winter of 62-3 they camcSD rapidly that
the camp was not in condition 10 receive them,
and for "a few days there some loss OF life by
cold weather but the Government soon furnished
them with proper clothing and blankets stoves for
their quarters, aud plenty Of wood and coal, and
theywerc made Just as comfortable their guards.
Their ratious were fully as good those issued to
our soldiers. They received thTcc-quarters OF
pound OF pork or twenty ounces Of beef one
pound of hard bread or twenty-five ounces of soft
bread, three and half ounces of sugar, two and q
half ounces of coffee and were permitted in addi
ton to draw Coru-meal and molasses, uxUries
which were denied to soldiers. No
strction placed upon their movements within
the limits Of the camp, and no punishment was in
fcted, except for attempts to escape r. T. Slack,
Chelsea, VT.
In your issue of January 4th I noticed an in
qury to the treatment of Confederate prisoners.
| can speak for one prison at least, Fort Delaware
The quarters in which the prisoners were confined
were good as the barracks of the Union soldiers
and they drew the same rutions and received the
same treatment when sick. In fact they had Gov
eminent hospital accommodations and when they
were in need of new clothing could draw from the
Government stores."-E. l.. b. Hill, Baden, Pa.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
The Soldiers Rainbow of Promise.
or. NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

10 the LUItOr. NATIONAL
recall conversation once had with soldier
who had been prisoner for some months during
the late war. He recounted many incidents of his
prison life which impressed me deeply and aroused
my greatest sympathy. But there one which
made a vivid and lasting impression on my mind.
1t was told with o mingling of pathos and joy, an
idea of which even, cannot hope to convey in cold
written words. After telling of the deeeptions
pecticed upon the prisoners by their guards say
ing that they were about to be exchanged, when in
fact, as it afterwards appeared, they were only
being moved from one prison to another, he said
they were finally taken aboard steamer in river
the name of which have forgotten He then con-
tinued as nearly as | can remember as follows:
I've had been deceived often that we did not
believe them when they told we were going to
be exchanged. Still there was a faint hope that it
might be true As we turned a bend in the river
there lay, to our great surprise, one of our gum
boats with the Stars and Stripes waving and droop
ing over the bow, almost, if not quite, touching
the water, and seemingly welcoming or beckoning
us onward. My own sensations and those of my
fellow prisoners too, doubt, Were strange and
understandable. We did not give vent to our great
joy in cheers words, but stood silent, tremb-
ling and with streaming eyes, looking at the flag
and then at another, if to say, is it real or
only dream? Lips moved but nobody spoke.
never knew till then how much loved that SYM
Dol. Oh il was d beautiful sight, and how many
memories and hopes and scenes clustered around
it," tn: CHARBERAY.
SANTA BARBARA, CAL.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
THE HUE AND CRY.
Another Collection of Newspaper Attacks o
the Soldier.
Opposed to More Pension Bills.
I Fy1p5yl fbs (If-0fgn Times I

The Senator'S, Representatives and the Executive
Will do well to bear in mind that the people have
had enough pension bills To pass another may
make trouble. There WAS not much complaint
about bills for the improvement of rivers and har-
bOrs for several years. People generally know
that they were frauds but they not very large
or very apparent frauds. The time came, how
ever when all convinced that a sufficient sum
had been squandercd rivers that existed only in
name and on harbors that had never been visited
by ship. The Taxpayers expressed their opinion
o The matter at the last election. Several members
OF Congress discovered that their constituents
thoroughly III earnest in regard TO this form OF
robbery. The people have had enough of plunder-
ing pension bills. congressman who vote for an
other viii perhaps share the fate of those who
voted for the last river and harbor bill.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
W. J. BYERBY.
The Flag in the Skies.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
l have read with great interest Free Lance's and
Little Red Caps accounts of prison life at Ander
sonvie. They both refer 10 many events of which
l was an eyewitness, but there are several very
interesting incidents they fail to speak of ask my
comrades of that prison if they recoect seeing one
day, the glorious old Stars and Stripes in the sky
just little to the south of the prison, and how our
had heen defeated, and the rainbow was the sign of
a glorious victory for the Union arms. Another
little incident also occurs to me, and that was find
ing spider-web fast to old tent early one morn
ing before the sun had begun to shine. Itwas of as
pretty red, white, and blue as ever saw and how
starving boys did shout when they once more
beheld the glorious emblems of liberty.
TYLER CO. w VA ISAAC N. SUTTON.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
Life at CahaWba Prison.

I was for six months an inmate of the prison at
Cahawba Ala, and l remember that during q
freshet in the Alabama River were compelled
to stand waistdeep in the water for four days and
nights. Many Of US did not get morsel of food
during the whole time, and afterwards we were
put half rations for four days longer, because
some of the prisoners had attempted to escape.
The rebel authorities thought they could starve
into revealing the of the leaders of the plot
did turn inforner and those who had taken part in
the conspiracy were at once removed to dungeon.
Our sufferings at Cahawba were much the same as
those experienced by prisoners in other pens The
nights were cold, and our feet were frequently
frost-bitten. After our release misfortune seemed
to follow US, for we were put aboard the unlucky
Sultana, which blew up above Memphis Those of
us who survived the explosion were picked up the
next morning by the steamboats, and taken back to
Memphis where we remained until the arrival of
another boat.
EBENEzER, TENN. W. j. BYERBY.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
business seems to be to cover the name of "pen
sioner" with shame.
The Grand Army,s Title to Respect.

IIIV't Vtt -'tW 1IuUtE I7HFtB UHtVF'I
The Grand Army of the Republic, as shown by
the reports of the State Encampmcnts now being
held, is increasing rapidly all over the country and
the increase during the year ending next june
promises to be enormous. The Springfield Repub-
cdn gives the reason for this in the following: On
casual thought might seem strange that the Grand
Army of the State should show growth nearly a
OF years after the close of the in which It's
members saw service; but thereare reasons enough
why this should be so. Each year adds to the
honor in which the veterans are held by the pco-
pie, and II Is only natural that the soldiers should
more generally unite in this formal organization as
the years rccede More and Will the fact of SER
vice for the Union become adistnction in which
men may properly glory. The Grand Army o:
the Republic has proved its freedom from politi-
cHl complications and its title to popular respect
and the support of our veteran citizen-soldery."
The National tribune., 1883-02-15

original of the petition of the Continental Con-
greSs to the King, endorsed by its presiding
officer, Henry Middleton, and marked as hav-
ing passed through Franklin's hands on Octo-
Der 26, 1T74. Another gem is the earliest auto
graph Of Franklin, the manuscript of his " Ar
ticles of Belief and Acts of Religion" dated
172s. There is letter BY Franklin to Cad
walladar Golden, earnestly advising him to
marry, and giving many reasons why q man is
likely to become worthless and unhappy unless
he is husband. Moral and other consider
ations are mingled in the most amusing way.
An argument is even made in favor of marry
ing old women" they are so grateful"
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
An Amendment to Senator Beck,s giU.

''I would offer the following amendment to the
bill introduced by Senator Beck in regard to post
ing the names of pensioners:
"Aad be il further enacted, That under each name
shall be given full and accurate account of all the
dangers and privations said pensoner or claim
ant underwent, together with full history of his
many weary marches through mud and sleet and
ms many coic ana sleeplesS nights on picket as
hail, together with an estimate of about how much
our country would be worth at the present date
were it not for the services rendered by him and
such as he."-William IL. Roy, Marquette, Neb.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
Some Curious Manuscripts.
[Erom The Ne,p York S,ln.l

The collection of papers relating to Benjamin
Franklin which Henry Stevens has been max
ing for many years in London, and which has
been purchased by the United States, is said
by correspondent of the Cincinnati CONNER
cial- Gazette to be invaluable. Some of the
manuscripts were found in a tailor's shop,
where they had remained seventeen years.
One was cut into pattern for sleeve, and an
other was crossed with the figures of Gus
TONER'S measurements. The papers have been
carefully mounted, and bound in sixty vol
umes The most curious and valuable is the
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
Uncle Sans Navy.

In communication published in the Army
and Nary Journal Commander J. B. Coghlan
T. s. N, states that the consultations of eminent
naval and other surgeons respecting his
rheumatic attack, failed TO afford him the
slightest relief By advice of Dr. Hoyle he
used st. Jacobs Oil, which wrought complete
and, as he says, wonderful cure. John Carr
Moody, Esq, lawyer at Vallejo, CAL, was like
wise cured of severe joint trouble.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
Tough Times at Salisbury.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
l noticed in late number of THE TRIBUNE an
inquiry as to how the prisoners Jared at Salisbury
N g. 1 have two prison diaries in my possession
one kept by j. W. Steigelman and the other by
J. W. King-and will quote some of their state
ments On October g. 1864, when they went into
Salisbury prison it contained nine thousand eight
hundred prisoners, and out of that number five
thousand three hundred died up to February %
1860. [ also notice they had very cold winter at
that place Sleet and snow were quite frequent.
On December 9, 1864, at ten m, it began to hail
and snow and the storm continued the next morn
ing -Four inches of snow fell. On November 25,
1854 the prisoners made attempt to break out Of
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
4 Remlni.csnee Of Tyler Prison.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
was for thirteen months a wounded prisoner OF
war in the Southwest Tyler, Tex. During that
time | once succeeded in making my escape but
was reCapturcd by blOodhouuds. As "a punish
ment, | was thrown into an underground cell with
t,venty-nine other recaptured prisoners. The cell
was only sixteen feet square. and our sUf}cTings
were indescribablc, pcnt ny as We were in that
horrible hole. " hen / was taken out, on the sth
of May, 20 be sent home, was weak that could
hardly stand.
WEST LIBERTY, IA. CTAs. ID. GIBSON.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
Another Scarecr0w.
TFi-o3a The RgfUoDd (VI Herald I

fthis equalization act passes, we shall then have
an act oi special bounty 10 those who in rebel
prisons and the door will be again opened wide to
fraud. No government on earth can stand the end
less drain ol debt that shall impose ourselves
and our children, if we do not stop short in this
bounty business The Nation will be fly blown by
a swarm of claim agents and sucked TO death by
army shirks.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
Should Have Been left to the States.
[Trom the n. 7. !Snn.l

IFOfn he Y. 7. sun.
Let Congress enact that all claims not presented
prior to this enactment shall be payable only from
date OF fling the declaration. No one will be in
jurcd, for al acts passed since the not in
tie OF contracts, but charitable grants.
The old claims were matter of right and law.
u for nothing else than 10 destroy the monstrous
power growing out of tine increased Importance OF
tac Pension Bureau, this step ought to be taken.
j Is pity the whole business Of pensions had not
been left to the States, where it belongs.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
Give Us the Names.
[From the Bristol (R. H. Phenfr.l

tHTon iHe DFtStOt tn ~ iNTfilJ.l
It is well known that our present list embraces
large proportion of pensioners vino annually
delraudiug the Government, and bringing disgrace
upon the honest soldier who merits the substantial
recognition OF the country. In this and in every
community there are cases of pensioners who
more entitled 10 pension than the smallest school
boy who runs in the street. All sorts of frauds
pcrpetrated upon the Pension Bureau which would
be promptly brought TO light were the names of the
pensioners published in full. The plea of decacy
l. simply ridiculous.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15

prison. The rebs fred five rounds OF grape and
canister and killed twelve and wounded forty-five
prisoners. The latter killed five and wounded
eleven rebels. The outbreak created quite
element the time and brought ont from the sur
rounding country old men and young boys with
ali sorts of guns 70 defend the place
SHREK ANSTOwS Pa. ISAIAH SrElGELMAN.
The National tribune., 1883-02-15
The "GoIden Bloom of Youth.

may be retained by using DIR. Pierce's "Favorite
Prescription aspecifcfor female complaints"
By druggists.