The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-04

result that followed Lincoln's inaugu-
ration, and although he had married
a most estimable lady in a prominent
New York family, he did not hesitate
one moment in deciding what course to
take, and therefore was the first to re-
sign. The sketch referred to also states
that Gen. Walker was appointed a
major in the First Georgia Regulars
by Gov. Brown. My impression is that
Gen. McLaws and E. R. Harden were
majors of that regiment, and Gen.
walker was appointed colonel of the
second Georgia Regulars, but this
regiment 1 think, was not put into
service.
Senator's and representatives in Con-
gress who delight in abusing Gen.
Fred Funston, u. S. A, and belittling
MS capture of Aguinaldo, charging him
with grossly deceiving this modern
Georgia Washington" ought to read
Miss Lucy Hooper's famous poem on
"Oseeola." 1t appears in the Com
pendlum of American Literature
1S59-with this foot note: This was
the noble Seminole chief who. in the
Second Seminole war in 1887, being
found invincible in open battle, was
decoyed, by orders of Gem Jessup
(Jesup), into a conference, under the
white flag of truce held sacred by all
nations, and then surrounded by our
troops, disarmed, and made a captive
"a transaction which should ever COW
er the officers name with lasting in
fanny" Lucy Hooper also calls it 1.-The
bitter stain that from our countrys
banner may not part" Rev John
Pierpont, the distinguished poet, like
wise sided with Osceola, and con-
demned the breaking of a truce and
dishonoring a flag that Tartar hordes
lie 6o H-rIo of
the great-hearted, broken hearted Os-
ceola" to bear witness" In 1888, I
think, Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, con-
gresham from Ohio, published his
hot roast" on crimes committed by
our government" in Florida, entitled
1.-THE Exiles of Florida There are
other old publications of a similar
character that Funston's defamers
should read.
AS to the orders of Gen. Smith to kill
and burn, the history of the Mexican
War will show ten gross outrages of
this kind to one in the Philippines. Gen.
Taylor himself in a dispatch to the
Secretary of War, in June, 1S47, re-
ferring to the outrages committed by
his volunteers, said: There is scarce
ly form of crime that has not been
reported to me as committed by them"
Ill DOlIiDdIQlilB ClIleSi III Ildlly cases,
women and children were slaughtered
by the hundreds and their homes de-
stroyed. But we need not go back to
the Mexican War for orders to kill
and burn" When it was reported that
Gen. w. T. Wofford, c. S. A, who was
in command in North Georgia in April,
1865, proposed to cut off Gen. Thomas
railroad communication, a telegram
was sent by Gen. George H. Thomas,
u. S. A., to Gen. Steedman, in these
Smithlike words: II wish you to send
out a flag of truce to Gen. Wofford,
with the information stated in general
terms, and tell him that we are pre-
pared, and if he makes the attempt I
will so despoil Georgia that fifty years
hence it will be a wilderness" The
same month at Mount Sterling, Ky,
the commanding officer of the Union
forces telegraphed his superior officer
this "kill' message: I'VE have seven
guerrillas, some of them very bad men.
If they could be hung at this place it
might do some good"
But Gen. Thomas sent out more than
one bowling wilderness threat. On May
2, 1865, he telegraphed Gen. Hatch as
follows: Send, under flag of truce,
summons to Forrest to surrender.
= Inform him, at the same time,
of the rumors which have reached you,
and that you are prepared for him, and
if he attempts such a reckless and
bloodthirsty advance he will be treated
thereafter as an outlaw, and the states
of Mississippi and Alabama will be so
destroyed that they will not recover
for fifty years" And these kilograms
were inspired by orders from Gen. U.
S. Grant in supreme command. Orders
were sent to Gen. Steedman in regard
to North Georgians in these words:
Pursue and destroy all guerrillas and
robbers who refuse the terms offered
them" 1 suppose destroy" meant to
kill" Gen. Hobson, U. S. ", at Lex
ington, KY, on April II, 1865, tele-
graphed his superior officer: capt.
Penn, under my orders, moved from
Lebanon on Friday, with instructions
to kill and capture Marion and his
guerrilla band. Marion was
killed Yesterday" Now, in conclusion.
let it be understood that 1 am no apol-
ogist for Gen. Smith, nor for Gems.
Grant. Thomas or Hobson; but l pro-
test against the attempt to make Gen.
Smith the "only pebble on the beach.
would also recommend to the dis
sruntled congressman, as an eye
onener" to what kind of hell has
characterized war IN all ages, lIldI pup
ular novel. "Alice of Old Vincennes,
by the late gifted Maurice Thompson of
Georgia. The crueltiest and barbara
ties of the war there depicted throw
the Philippines horrors far into the
shade. Then it would be good plan
to follow up that book with "Recol-
lections of a Private Soldier" by Frank
Wilkeson, later lieutenant in the reg
ular army during the Civil War. His
accounts of tying on the spare Wheel
of artillery caissons, insubordinate SOL
diers in our army beats the water
cure" method "all hollow" But worse
than this, was tying them on the rack"
of the battery wagons, or hanging them
lid by the thumbs. Men who had to
suffer these tortures" were gagged
in order to suppress their groans of
agony and cries for relief. And these
were not bloody insurgents in rebel
lion. but soldiers of the regular United
states Army. Congress will find that
it has opened up a pandora box of
worse cruelties than Smith or Waller
committed Sidney Herbert.
PICNIC OF THE BLUES.