National Republican., 1886-09-08
COL. W. IT. SWALLOW
Sends Out His History from tho Fred
ericItsburg Jail.


Col. Swallow, with q number Of aliases,
recently arrested in this city on the charge
Of embezzlement and forgery, gives the
following history Of himself to the editor of
the Fredericksburg Lance;
desire to correct some errors in circula-
tion about me.
The statement that was born In Massa-
chusetts Is incorrect, as i never was in that
state in my life. My family are originally
from the valley OF Virginia, and was born
in northern Maryland, within twenty miles
OF Gettysburg. Some years before the war
] resided In Missouri, and IN April, 1861,
Gen. M. jeff Thompson, Col. Slayback, and
myself organized one of the first confederate
regiments for the Missouri state guard,
under Gen. Sterling Price. We we're with it at
Springfield, Mo-, August, 1861, and at Lex
ington In September following. remained
with Gen: Price in the west until the spring
Of 1868 when Joined the army Of northern
Virginia and continued with Il to the close
OF the war; was twice severely wounded,
and twice q prisoner Of war at Fort Della
ware. At Gettysburg | was shot through
the body, and returned 10 Fort Delaware In
October, 1868.
AT the close Of the war, the government
OF state, upon which my family had con-
ferred distinction, and TO preserve whose
water on the battlehelds Of the south, ex-
lied me TO a foreign land. remained IN
exile in Canada over year-from Septem-
Der, 1865, TO November, 1866. What service
/ rendered to suffering and dying confede-
rates at Fort Delaware in the fall OF 1868
and the winter Of 1864 needs no comment
from me. Hun lreds Of those poor fellows
still live-from Virginia TO the gulf-so
does the commander at Fort Delaware,
Gen. A. Schoepf, aud It's principal surgeon,
DIR. Mcclellan, Of Philadelphia, brother Of
the general. Some Of the greatest sufferers
were of Gen. Rody's command. They were
literally without clothing and barefooted in
the winter. Hundreds died from exposure.
Confederate prisoners at Fort Delaware at
that time Of still alive), will remember
those sad scenes. The Democratic Manbat-
tan Club, OF New York city, OF which the
late Gen. Seymour was president at the
time, furnished the required assistance,
while that friend Of humanity, Hon. Gerrit
Smith. OF Peterboro, N. Y, the strongest
personally in the Republican party of the
north, on my earnest and repeated inter-
cessions, induced Mr. Lincoln to let the re-
quired goods be delivered against the
bitterest opposition Of Stanton.
Over thirty years ago l taught school In
some OF the most highly respectable fami-
lies OF King George county, Va. At the
same time read law under the direction Of
the gifted and lamented Judge Eustace
Conway, Of Fredericksburg, whom 1 at
tended In his last illness at Barnum's Hotel
In Baltimore, and upon whose certificate
was admitted to the supreme court OF Mis-
souri, In 1857. Many OF these good people
have passed away, but their sons and
daughters, who were my school children,
still live in our midst. From the beginning
Of my trouble at Washington expressed
the wish to come to Fredericksburg, for l
knew that the case Of Father Donahoe was
the only case In the world they had against
me, any statement to the contrary notwith-
standing.
Gen. Early has communication In tho
| evening State, In which he informs the
| public that never served on his staff. /
will here state once for all that never at
any time, nor at any place, nor to any per-
son, stated that did serve on Gen. Early's
staff during the war. do not even know
Gen. Early personally, nor do know how
the statement originated, any more than
| the other numerous statements flying about
In the papers with respect to me; would
| scorn to notice them.
My writings on the Gettysburg conflict
were hastily writted for the BiUOudc; was
not ignorant Of their imperfectlons, and
| depended on personal recollections Of the
battle and my knowledge OF the ground oc-
cupied by the contending armies, as was
|
eighteen miles from Gettysburg. did not
| even consult a confederate or federal re-
port. The only paper ever read OF Gen.
Early was reply to Gen. Longstreet IN
the Virginia Historical Society papers.
On the movement of Stuart to the federal
rear, condensed from written statement
of his adjutant general, Maj. II. b. Nc
Clellan, q number Of facts which incor.
porated into my first paper on Gettysburg,
In defense Of the gallant young commander
OF the cavalry.
The North american RcvietV and other
leading periodicals of national reputation,
have for many years, published and paid
me well for my papers on literary, politi-
| cal, and historical questions.
| To know that during long and bloody
struggle, in which my whole heart and soul
We're enlisted, did my whole duty is now,
| in my old age and feeble health, cheer
ing consolation; a consolation l would not
exchange for all that high honor which q
few small men have gained at Washington,
| by misrepresenting my character and de.
flaming my reputation. Yours, truly,
w. II. SWALLOW.