The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-07-27
C0ME nOWN. MARY ELLEN!


Union army during her speech here Friday even
ing. Il has been almost two years since she was
known to tell this on the platform Ths LAST
time she told it on the stump was tW0 years
ago, in a southern Kansas town, when man
arose 10 the audience and stated that he had
worked as hired man for Mrs. Leases father
back IN the eOs during the civil war, and that he
knew her famlly for some time, and that her
father not only was not killed In the Union army
but that he never enlisted IN the same, but
STAYED at home and worked his farm. The
hired man also stated she did not have any broth
ers old enough to enlist In the army at the close
OF the rebellion. The statement made BY the
gentleman who called Mrs. Lease down on thiS
matter two years ago was fully SubStantiated
later on BY afidavits which were extensively
published. She must have been little short Of
campaign thunder this season II she had TO re-
hash exploded hash OF 1899 TO Interest her hearers
Ie may do for Georgia, but Kansas people are
little more intelligent, as rule, even In Atchl-
scn.-AtohlsOn Champion. july 10, 1892.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THB
ATCHIsoN "cHAMPION."
DEAR S1R:-On last Thursday, July 8,
had the honor to speak In your city,
and addressed great, lntellent audience
for more than two hours on the living Is
sues of the day. You have not attempted
to deny an argument or cOntrovert q
statement made In regard to the political
situation, and this Is most flsttering to
the principles which / advocate, and
surely indicative of the fast falling pow
ers of the forlorn political party you rep
resent But evidently feeling In duty
bound to cay or do something valiant,
and with 'the ruling passion strong In
DEATH" you accuse me Of falsehood in re-
gard to my soldier father and brother. l
herewith enclose the name, regiment and
companies Of each, that you may, by
writing to the adjutant general, assure
yourself Of my veracity. My father, Jo-
seph P Clyens,of Ceres, Allegheny county,
N. Y, was q private In Company B, One
Hundred and Forty-seventh New York
volunteers, enlisted, / think, in May, '69.
Was taken prisoner at the second days
battle of the Wilderness, while giving
water to Gen. Wadsworth, who lay
diving on the field; was taken TO Sails
bury, N. G., afterwards to AndersonVille,
Ga, where he starved to death the fol-
lowing August. II you will write to
John Holcolmb, Amin Creek, Mexican
county, Pa, (hls fellow prisoner) ne will
tell you Of the dying message sent by
that we'll loved father to his little chill
dren In their far away home. He will
tell you, too, that while he WAS yet speak
ING, the dead cart" rumbled through
the yard, and my father, while ye'
breathing, was added to the ghastly load
and carried away.
Nv eldest brother, Patrick Henry
Clyens, not quite seventeen, enlisted IN
April, 81, in the famous "Bucktail" regi
ment Of Pennsylvania sharpshooters; he
was shot through the heart while charg
ing up the bloody slopes OF FrederickS
burg on the morning of December 13, '62
If you have any curiosity In regard tt
him, l can show you the testament
stained with his life blood, and q mimic
rife ball taken from the dead boy on th'
battlefield by comrade and sent to hi
mother; also letter TO that mother from
his commander, ColgKane, in which hi
said, mo Drawer soldier ever facet
DEATH"
My adopted brother, Daniel Greer