The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-29

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
The Journal reproduced from the Wash
ington Star an interview with Congressman
Tarsney, of Missouri, under the line, An
other in His Grave" wherein Mr.. Tarsney
gives some "reminiscences of his life while
a prisoner of war at Andersonville. Gen.
Tarsney since the war has conducted him
manner that if he could have been Ouried
at Andersonville in a honorable soldiers
grave it would have been much better for
his reputation amongst his fellows. Hold
ing the views and using the language he
does would forever bar him from being a
to Missouri, where his ISLANDERS OF his late
comrades are appreciated, and he becomes
a Congressman. While in Congress he OPP
posed a bill to pension the Union ex-prlson-
ers of war and made a very bitter attack
upon them. In a letter to Amos j. Cum
mings (who is of the same stripe as
ia TaTzne ! maze .sThe sne a lUsio meh who saw
nothing bad about the place, but they were
the pets of the rebels, their spies, agents
and informers, and / haveno doubt but that
Tarsney was one of that class. and that he
came out of there sleek. fat and with
money in sI nis p wnp1d so s n9Iie f inoug his OWEN OWEN
lips, indorse what 1 then said about him.
Tarsney states that he was only In Ander-
sonville a few weeks until he was appointed
on the police. Now, every old prisoner
knows what that means. The police at
first were a benefit to the prison., but in a
S1OTl tlIlt Ill lcl lnNO tht hohN VI NhC
Tarsneys of the pen. and then it became
an instrument Of tyranny and oppression
TO the helpless prisoner. Inc police nad
extra privileges and extra ratiOns, and by
the poor, weak prisoners were looked upon
as persons in authority. What a story ne
tells about finding the poor comrade desert
ed, and how he aided him before he died,
but, mind you, IL was for a consideration
and tina was that he was TO assume the
mans name when dead and get out or
prison. Every ex-prisoner knows there Is not
one word of truth in his story. No men
were found in out-of-the-way places in
Andersonviile. simply because there were
occupied. That comrade has some comrade
TO watch over him and care for him, and
he was not left alone to die. as Iarspey
ing a policeman. bullied the comrades OF
that man into letting him represent the
dead 6e1I1.a m sSe se He aa% of the nS %an!s b snnd ne
and If he could do that he could do the
other. Tarsney says: Il rustled about and
coffee to make him a few spoonsful." The
story about the fire is bad enough. and not
true. But. in the name OF God: where did
he get the coffee? What pull did he have
70 he able 10 get coffee. and where did il
come from? What "A monstrous lie. known
TO be such by every man that was In An
Confederacy at that time. His story VIII
be ridiculed by all comrades. and especially
all ex-prisoners. II is an insult 70 the
Michigan men. and 1 hope they Will take
steps 10 have the true story of John Fran
cis's death told. If such "A person really
died in prison. and / submit that steps
poor comrade placed on that headboard
instead of Tarsney's. as II is too much
honor conferred upon him by having II
believed that he died at Aldersonvil,e. But
he has taken no steps To have the correc-
ton made. and John Francis's memory
has to bear the e., dtssracs OF Tarsney's
Indianapolis. May q.