Evening star., 1895-06-08
THE SWAMP ANGEL.
\ War Newspaper Issued by the
Union Soldiers at Morris Island.

SGiu1erS AT MOTIFS
Quite curious relic of the late war has
come to hand. 1t Isl a we'll preserved copy
of the Swamp Angel a newspaper printed
and published by the Union soldiers sta
toned at Morris Island, S. c., during the
war 1t bears the date of May %. 1864.
The Star is the only Washington news
paper quoted, showing that the present
practice of many out-of-town papers of
drawing on the columns of The Star for
much of their news was done to advantage
thirty-one wears ago, and far south as
Morris Island.
Everything about the Swamp Angel bears
evidence of the difficulties surrounding it's
publication. The name on the title page,
very evidently the work of an amateur, has
been done with an ordinary claspknife, but
being plain and Iegible, answers the pur-
pose excellently.
On the editorial page the most striking
thing to the eye is a picture of a cannon,
over which are the significant words: Our
Peacefnaker." But this aggressive and
warlike introduction is followed by an
editorial that is as good as any sermon ever
preached. 1t breathes spirit that Is
crown of glory to the men for whom it
spoke Bear in mind the time and the
place, and that it was written when the
horrors of the Fort Pillow massacre and the
Plymouth victory of the southern forces
was still fresh in the minds of everyone.
The editorial is given in full:
THE country has recently been thrilled
and horrilied by recitals of the massacres
of Fort Pillow and Plymouth, and no
events have occurred during the war which
throws a clearer light upon the character
of the rebellion Or tend more to justify the
soldiers OF the Union, white and black, in
deeds of retributory vengeance. Strike
back and stronger might seem the proper
motto to adopt in regard to such cases, and,
nd 10 M
pulses would prompt US to deeds which, If
we lived under the old Mosaic dispensation,
might be considered just and righteous; but
in this enlightened and more Christian age
the eye for eye and tooth for tooth doc
tire, even in warfare, is looked upon as
partakng somewhat of barbariSm, and is
Lever upheld save by those who take coun
sci of their excited passions and prejudices
ra ther their better reasonings. Why should
we psrpetrate horrors, because the brutal
followers of a reckless leader have done so?
Why should We render less black the in
fanny which attaches to the cause that at
tempts to sustain itself by such atrocious
acts, by copying the bloody example?
These things will live in history-to be read
and meditated upon, when the eXcitements
of war no longer distort the Judgment nor
rouse the passions-and how much better it
will appear to find the defenders of the
Union placed on the living record as sol
ders who did not unite brutality with
bravery, carnage with victory-who,
spurning the traitors method of warfare,
withheld the vengeful bayonet from the
PROSTATE foe, and retaliate deeds of blood
by offices of mercy. The brave and chival-
rous soldier cherishes no cruel resentments.
Mindful of his country's glory. as we'll as
her success, he will do nothing in the en-
counter and clash of arms to tarniSh the
luster of her victories or give weight to the
arguments of the aSSailantS; but fearless
as an old crusader in the strife when tie
foe Is overcome, and victory achieved he
offers his hand to the vapquished and
stanches the blood his trusty weapon has
caused to flow. Vincet. qui Sc vincetr
At the top of the editorial column is this
explanatory notice:
"The Swamp Angel, printed by the post
printers, will appear semi-occasionaly, as
circumstances may offer themselves"
The project of issuing this little sheet
was the happy conception OF Col. Davis,
then stationed at Morris Island, but who
was unfortunately transferred after the is
suance of its first number.
Among the items credited to The Evening
Star is one headed: "Skedaddlng officers
to be reduced to the ranks" 1t states that
about 400 officers, who had come to Wash
ington under pretense of being wounded in
the recent battles. were to be reduced to
the ranks and compelled to serve out the
remainder of their time as privates, a
statement which the Swamp Angel greets
with JOY, adding this: They will not find
their lot very much improved by the cow
ardly and disgraceful course they have
pursued
An item of particular interest to Wash
ington is this, also from The STAR THE
number of printing presses now in opera
ton or ready for use in the treasury build
ing is so large that if placed in line they
would extend a quarter of a mile"
This Interesting reminder of bloody past
is the property of Mr.. R. E. King of the
treasury branch of the government printing
office. AS the Swamp Angel appeared but
a few times and as but a few copies were
printed of each issue. Mr.. King thinks his
copy is probably the only one preserved