The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-12-24
BLOODY-SHIRT PAPERS!!
NUMBER Y.

NUMBER X.
1t was dark, gloomy day, on which a
! command of men were marching along a
certain road in Tennessee, and there were
scattered along the wayside innumeTable
evidences of distress, for somewhat dis
tinguished Democrat by the name of
Hood had passed that way but a short
time previously, in considerable haste. In
fact he had travelled so fast that many of
had fallen in much confusion to the
muddy earth. Here and there gun, a
knapsack, canteen, or other evidence of
military life, was silent witness of the
haste, while at certain points were OBJ
served the rigid bodies of brave men
friend and foeman-Who had closed in
the death-struggle, and lain down their
lives for some great purpose Moving
still further on, and in the road, half
buried in the mud, laid what at first
seemed to be an old suit of clothes, but
what upon closer inspection proved to be
human form. "There's another dead
manw observed one of the men. But the
speaker was somewhat startled to see
the miserable creature turn his head and
cast glance toward him. 1t was per-
haps the last glance he ever cast at any
man, for he was dying. A more desolate
picture could scarcely be painted. This
was Confederate soldier. His comrades
were flying for their lives, but many of
them had already fallen by the way-side.
This man was dying in the mud and
rain, miles away from any human habita-
tion, without friend or relative to speak
a kindly word at the last moment, no
gentle hand to render the last moment
less terrible. But this picture must be
passed by, for the force of the battle is
soon to be felt in other localities, and the
scattering dead and dying men are but
drifting leaves, scattered by the force of
the blast from the sturdy branches that
brave the deadly storms.
At the close of the day, there was a
silent bivouac-silent save where an oc-
casional shot marked the location of the
picket-line. Along toward the middle of
the night there was brought in from the
picket-line youth who was seeking dis
tinction by attempting to bushwhack the
picket-guard He was an enthusiastic
advocate of the cause which he had es-
poused, and seemed to regard it as
sacred duty to bear arms against the
cause of his country. Placed under guard.
he was permitted to reflect until morning
over the manner in which he had been
deceived and mistaken. At the first
streak of dawn appeared an elderly man
riding upon mule The old man cast
anxious glances about the camp until at
last he espied the son for whom he had
passed night of such bitter anxiety. The
youth was downcast and ashamed for
the moment.
"Well," said the old man sorrowfully,
"you thought you were smarter than I,
but you have found out your mistake, 1
suppose, by this time" Then the father,
on being assured that his son would be
treated kindly, though sent to the rear as
a prisoner of war, sat down and detailed
the cause of the boys foolishness, as he
was pleased to term it. The boy had been
carried away by the heated harangues of
the political leaders, just as many of his
neighbors had been. Cali the death, and
suffering, and sorrow" said the old man,
"was caused by the politicalleaders. The
whole horrible work was criminal all the
way through. The Southern people had
been led to believe, with comparatively
few exceptions, that it was solemn duty
to declare war against the Government
of the United States, and to wage that
war to the bitter end. And this old
farmer, away back in the hills of Ten
nessee, understood. thoroughly, that all
the misery entailed by the war was the
result of the Democratic party going into
open rebellion against the Government
because that party was defeated at the
polls. Such has ever been the character
istic of that party. 1t comes with loud
professions of virtue, and seeks to i'm
press upon the people it's beauty and its
usefulness. 1t has neither. There was
always more of conspiracy than principle
in the methods of that party. 1t is a
harmless thing as long as it is permitted
to have its own way. But once threaten
it with defeat, and there is no depths of
too degraded to tempt the mon
ster. It's character is bad its history is
bad. The only safe thing to do with such
a monster is to kill it.