The National tribune., 1890-03-27
HIRELINGs AND JAILBfRDs.
The Former immaculate Compared 10 The Latter

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The Can.
noDeer is, without doubt, one Of the most vivid
delineators of battle scenes aud war incidents
generally to be found among the writers OF
military history. He's a daisy. aud nobody
cares how he votes. Besides, we know he ia
absolutely truthful, or c0nscieutiousy trying
TO be, even If he did draw tho long bow a
little on the jolly tars of the transport James
Greene, AZ he so charmiDgy tells us.
desire, however, 10 mildly criticize one OF his
statements made in Chapter XXX issue OF Feb
q, in which il is asserted that in the last wear
OF the war IT was the Southern people against
Northern hrelings, etc. This broad assertion
IN my Judgment, Is not sustained by facts and
IL misleading specially TO the Younger read.
crs Of Tue NATIONAL TRIBUNE. II seems To
emit faint political odor. aud TO that extent
mars the beauty of the Cannoneer's magniti.
cent narrative. it would perhaps be better TO
say that in the last year Of the war the contest
WAS partially between Northern drafted mon
aud Southern jailbirds aud sealawags This
would not include. nor would IL omit the
good men aud true that still formed the
bulk OF both armies.
just after the capture of Richmond. another
comrade and myself, who were exploring the
city, found ourselves near tho Capitol, and lost
40 time IN getting into the hall of the confed
crate Congress; but Congress had adjourned
leaving everything in dreadful confusion
However, We went on through the rooms. wad
ing knec-dcep in public documents, all begin
ming, " BE IL enacted by the Confederate Con.
gress," etc Out Of this mass selected a boIkv
volume which caught my fancy, as ID was n
detailed account by old Gov. Wise. of Virginia
giving the name and crime of each convicted
criminal he had pardoned out of the penitan
taTies 10 swell the ranks Of the Confederate
army. As have said, the volume was bulkv
containing from 600 to 1000 pages, and from
beglnningt to end was composed entirely Of such
paragraphs as these:
John Taylor. Highway robbery. sentoueea
Tor 10 years. Evidence on which he was con
yicied not being positive, aud having sirnifed
his Willingness TO enter the Confederate serv.
Ice, be was pardoned." Dato given here
William Smith. Arson and manslaugbter
Sentenced for 10 years. Having expressed a
desire TO enlist III the Confederate army. he
was pardoncd." Date.
Thomas Coy. Ux0ricide. The evidence
showed he was intoxicated when the crime
was committed, and being very DESTROYS IN an.
list IN the Confederate army, he was pardoned. y
Date given.
And SO ii went all through volume as Iaroa
as one OF our Agricultural Reports. The COZ
ernors of the other Confederate States were ro
doubt, required 10 make similar reports, Now
ali these immense hordes OF criminals were
grated into the various commands of tbe
Southern army.
In view OF these facts the phrase used by the
Cann0neer-' Southern people against North
crn hirelings"-is. as | said before. some,sha,
misleading In November, 1864, / had the
pleasure OF night ride on one OF those boats
that were carrying recruits from WASHINGTON
to City Point. 1t may have been tho same an
he refers to, and agree with him that the bows
were ngiy and tough; but they were veritable
clergymen and Sunday-schooi teachers com
pared with the jailbirds and animated eycra.
lions forced into the Confederate army dnrino
the war.-lsAAc ii. TURREL, Co. /, s1th Ind
aud First Lieutenant and Adjutant Tooth q. 8
q. T., Cincinnati, o. -