Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-23

~NN1IH a singularly interest
W\I WIN II ing, not to say dra-
rH III matte letter, written
E&HNSfS over thirty years ago
" W. by that famous and
eccentric editor. Geo.
D. Prentice, to President Lincoln. On
piece Of soft newspaper, while evidently
laboring under the strongest emotions and
acting on the impulse of the moment. with
his editorial pencil Mr.. Prentice hastily
wrote the following impassioned appeal to
the President Of the United States:
LOUISVILLE, April % 1858.
President Lincoln.
Dear Sir: 1t is long since wrote to you.
In some things 1 have differed with you.
I think you know have differed with pain.
with great pain. I have tried to serve my
country. 1 know that I have served it. i
will not undertake to say how much. Mr..
Lincoln. have a great favor to ask Of you.
Hear me. My only child. Clarence ]. Prem
tice. God help him, is a major in the con-
federate service. A few weeks ago he came
to Kentucky, and being cut on from his
command. he came by night to his home to
see me and his mother and his baby. He
was seen coming. and in a few hours ar
rested He is now at Camp Chase. and bis
mother at Columbus. He desires, I know
to serve no longer in the war. He would be
a great loss to the confederates. for he has
been one of their most effective officers. /
do not suppose. Mr.. Lincoln, that you can
parole my boy upon his taking the nom
combatants oath to remain in the United
States, though I should be most happy If
you could But / fervently appeal to you to
let him Co. upon his taking the simple oath
anywhere outside Of the United States and
Of the rebel confederacy. 1 know his plans
His mother will go with him, and he will
never bear arms against us again. will be
surety for this with fortune and life. I have
written to Gen. burnside to let my son re-
main at Camp Chase till hear from YOU
Please let 1t be soon for I am most un-
happy. Ever your friend
GEO. d. PRENTICE.
This letter recalls one OF the saddest
phases of the great civil war; in partially
illustrating its effects upon society In the
border states, and especially in Kentucky,
where 1t not only separated friends and
neighbors. but created deadly feuds and
breaches in families. 1t IL a queer fact
that the President of the United States ana
the president of the confederate states were
both kentuckians. Geo. d. Prentice long
a resident Of Kentucky, but born in Com
necticut, was Union man within nmita-
lions. whereas his only son Mt the very out
break Of the rebellion cast his fortunes with
the confederacy. John ]. Crittenden, the old
Senator and distinguished publicist himself
a Union man, howbeit much given to COM
promises in the interests of peace was the
head Of divided family. One Of his sons.
Thomas l.. Crittenden, was a CONSPICUOUS
Union major general. while another son.
Geo. B. Crittenden. educated at West Point
held a major generals commission in the
confederate service, and was the personal
friend of Jefferson Davis. Both brothers by
ambition. In his first battle, fought by a
strange coincidence on his native Kentucky
soil. at Mill Springs. where he commanded
the confederate army. Geo. B. was badly
worsted and routed by the Union general
Thomas. and thereafter fell into disrepute
with his government. On the Union side.
Thomas l.. practically disappeared after lis
uhaccountable disaster at Chickamauga.
An Old Kentucky Family.
The Breckinridges are another illustrat ion
of how Kentucky families were split I'D in
the war time. The greatest Breckinridge of
them ALL Robert j., was an uncompromisine
Union man, whose vast personal influence
was largely potential in holding Kentucky
nrm. His nephew, Hon. John c. Breckin-
ridge. the ex-Nice President was from the
beginning leading spirit of the confeder-
acy, both in council and camp, commanding
troops as major general in many battles,
oftentlmes successfully, and going down in
the final wreck it's secretary of war
He, too, was popular Breckenridge in Ken
lucky, but he failed to carry any consider
Some
or the younger Breckinridges were also fac
ing each other from opposite sides of the
III es. President Lincoln's brother-in law
Ben Hardin Helm of Kentucky, was a con-
federate brigadier, and killed in battle
An appeal like that of Prentice's seldom
failed of a ready response in Mr.. Lincoln's
heart. The masses knew him.
and to him direct the entreaties and petit
always went. Immediate movements in
behalf of young Prentice are apparent in
the records although no personal order or
Endorsement of the President concerning
this case is found. Mr.. Stanton, the Sec
rotary of War, was a man Of entirely dir
ferent mountaineering and inf1exible In
the prosecution of rigorous measures for the
suppression OF the rebellion. even in their
application to individual cases. He viewed
every confederate as an actual criminal.
and had very little compassion for those in
limbo. And they seldom appealed to him
FOR clemency. But he understood the good
PRESIDENTS womanish weakness in the
presence OF human suffering. and Welded
his own Judgment to Mr. Lincoin's personal
requests or orders In behalf OF prisoners or
other unfortunates in the hands Of the mil
itary.
The Judge Advocates Report,
An inquiry as to the status and previous
history Of young Prentice was directed by
the Secretary to the Judge advocate gen.
eral Of the army. This was Joseph Holt,
Mr.. Buchanan's last Secretary Of War
another kentuckian, with a stiff unfiinch-
ing Union backbone. and one. too, having
an Intimate knowledge Of the various rami-
ncdtionS or blue Grass pouUcS, VINO, unune
MT. Lincoln, was not wiiung to be deceived
by emotional appeals. sucn as that Of Mr..
Prentlce In benait or an only SON. In an
sN. er, the stern old judge advocate general
bieo the foiiowing cauStic statement, which
is a bit of history in itself:
JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERALS
OFFICE. Nav III 1StS2
The Secretary Of War:
Clarence }. Prentice, born and residing in
Kentucky. at the breaking out Of the rebel
lion left his home and en- tered the military
service of the rebels, where, by his zeal and
efficiency as an officer, he attained the rank
of major, which position he now holds. lie
Joined in the recent military invasion of his
native state. and having by some means not
explained become separated from his COM
mand he availed himself of the opportunity
to make clandestine visit to his fathers
house in Louisville, where he was captured
The authorities have not thought proper to
proceed against him as spy, but have
treated him a prisoner of war; and as
such he is now confined at Camp Chase
His father. speaking Of him in a letter to
the President, says he desires, / know, to
serve no longer in the war, and In consid-
GRAFTON OF this seeming WEAKNESS Of the
crime in which he has been engaged he asks
that on his taking the simple oath Of a nom
combatant he may be allowed to 60 any,
where outside of the United States and OF
the rebel confederacy.