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

enter the rebel military service. Doubtless
investigation would show that the treason
of many oficers and soldiers in the rebel
armies Is palliated by the pressure Of an
excited public sentiment, and by the mil
itary despotism to which they have been
subjected. Such. however, was not the case
Of Clarence J. Prentice He left his home
IN state then and still loyal, and volun-
tarily and wantonly banded with traitors
Tor the overthrow Of the gvernment of his
country. 1t Is for the Secretary to deter
mine whether the established policy which
has prevailed in the treatment of prisoners
OF war shall be modified in his favor.
]. HOLT,
Judge Advocate General.
But en- the 18th, in fact, three DAYS be-
fore Judge Holt wrote to Secretary STAN
ton, Prentice had already, through the in
terposition Of Mr.. Lincoln, been sent from
Camp Chase to City Point for exchange
On the elder Prentice's representations Mr.
Lincoln's first plan was to let Mai. Prentice
take the oatn and quietly go abroad but
this offer he declined. choosing rather to
rejoin the confederate army, despite the
fathers earnest protestations of his de-
sire to serve no longer in the war-that he
would never bear arms against us again"
thus tustifying the cold but keen discern
ment Of Judge Holt.
Done I'm Good Faith.
This had somewhat the appearance Of
double dealing on the part of Geo. ID. Prem
tice. The fact is he was very much fright
ened for the personal safety of his son,
for whom he appears to have borne an al
most frantic affection. Some vindictive
Kentucky unionists. whom in the past he
had most likely dashed with his bitter
editorial pen, were DESTROYS to ''even up"
with their old enemy by having his son
tried and shot as spy. 1t may well be
imagined, under this pressure Of fear and
impending disgrace, that the pleadings of
his father, and perhaps mother and wife,
probably wrung from the son some half
hearted. quasi promises to desert his cause,
which were greedily seized upon and thank
fully hurried off to Mr.. Lincoln as a peace
offering. Clarence soon became satisfied
that he could not conscientiously and hon.
orably make these promises good. No
doubt the elder Prentice acted in the ut
most good faith.
However all this may be. the fathers
prayer was granted and for q time all
went well again. But 1t was not long ere
his influential Union father again, this
time on both sides of the line In Septem-
Der, 1864. by consent Of the Richmond au-
thorities. Geo. d. Prentice was permitted
to pass through the confederate lines to
Pound Gap in the Cumberland mountains,
TO visit his son. who was there stationed
This visit was probably occasioned by some
serious difficulty into which Maj Prentice
had FALLEN. the nature Of which is not made
apparent in the correspondence Returning
nome via Richmond and Washington. in
which capitals he held consultations with the
leading men OF both sides. we find him
again appealing for the aid of President
Lincoln In behalf of his son as follows:
LOUISVILLE, January q, 1865.
Mr.. President Lincoln: Mr.. Presi-
dent. you were very kind in your assur-
ances as to what you would do when I
could give you the necessary Information as
to the witnesses desired in my sons case
on trial for his life at Abingdon. Well one
witness. and an all-important witness is
capt X. II. Baptist. a prisoner of war at
Coll
been an invalid for the past year. NY SON
is innocent. ana Capt. Baptist, as honor
able an officer as the confederates ever had
can establish his entire innocence. So ask,
MIR. President, not simply in my own
name. not only in behalf Of abb
stract justice, but also in behalf
of very gallant young boy exposed
Improperly to mortal peril. that you parole
capt X. II. Baptist from Johnsons Island
to the southern confederacy. Most respect
fully yours. GEO. d. PRENTICE.
What steps, If any. Mr.. Lincoln took in
behalf OF this last request is now unknown,
but from the weil-known generosity and
patience Of his character it is morally GER
tain the boon was granted. And whatever
the peril. the son eventually passed through
1t unscathed to surrender at the end Of the
war. for after all was over he speedily turn
ed up at Chattanooga, a suppliant for per
mission to return to his home and resume
the pursuits OF peace. There was some
sucking on the part Of Secretary Stanton
ocooe eiiS dpphCdliotis anu COnSlQeraDle tel
egraphing to and fro before the matter was
nnaiiy adjusted, for meanwhile his former
friend. President Lincoln, had been murder
ed, and there was a vengeful disposition in
certain quarters at Washington to make an
example Of some Of the late southern SYM
pathizers. But at length the privilege of
renewing his allegiance to the United States
was granted to young Prentice through
Gen. Thomas, then commanding at Nash
Vile. about May IL. 1855, after which he re-
joined his family in Louisville. OF his SUBJ
sequent career 1 have no account George
D. Prentice. the father. died In 1870, aged
sixty-eight years. LESLIE J. PERRY.