The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-12-10
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECITALS OF CAMP AND BAT.
TILE INCIDENTS.
Survivors Of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Fora&.
ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.


than anything else. The general CON-
manding an army in the field is sup
posed TO be limited by certain regula-
tions, laws of Congress, and orders
from superior authority; but when ii
comes to the actual test, it is not easy
TO find any practical limit to what a
general in command may or may rot
do. l am not writing just now of the
sub 'ect of this sketch: l am merely
introducing it by some striking exam
pies of military severity, to show how
tremendous an engine this almost alb
soiute military power can be. Thus,
spies and guerrillas are supposed TO
be entitled to trial by military COM
mission before they can be punished;
but all soldiers of active campaigns
know that when an army is moving
and fighting. the most summary kind
of justice is dealt out to such people
when caught. Most Of our army saw
the dead body of man hanging to
tree near Frederick. Maryland, in
the first days of August, 1864, and
were told ON inquiry that he had been
identified as spy and hung BY
do not now remember what general.
Guerrillas in the Shenandoah valley
charged with ''bushwhacking" our SOL
diers. were hung. l think Gen. Custer
treated half dozen Of them in this
fashion near Front Royal that sum-
mer. The act of course, led to bloody
reprisals Gen. Hunter, in the pre-
vious spring, moving far up the valley
with an army, found at Lexington
proclamation from Ex-Governor Letch-
er, calling OH the people to carry on
guerrilla warfare against the invaders
which so incensed the General, that
be burned the house and buildings of
Letcher, who had prudently absented
himself when the invaders appeared.
In retaliation for this, Chambersburg,
in Pennsylvania, was in July following,
burned by the Confederate General
McCausland, and hundreds of unoffend-
ing women and children rendered
homeless.
In the last of September, 1854, when
our army moved up to Harrisburg, Va,
Lieut.. Meigs, of Sheridan's staff, was
shot and killed at a distance from the
troops. 1t was believed at the time
that this was the work of guerrillas,
and Sheridan believed, though the C3n
feierates afterward insisted that the
man was a regularly enlisted soldier
On a scout. 1t was most harshly av-
enged by whomsoever committed.
Sheridan ordered his cavalry to burn
every house within an area of five
miles, and the order was executed.
Such examples of suffering by persons
ignorant of any direct offense. as are
furnished by this and the Cumber
land incident. are enough to make us
revolt from the very idea of war.
These instances have called to show
what a. terrible thing is the absolute
power of the military commander. l
have not criticised them; they have
been variously treated by the military
critics. depending largely On which
side of the conflict had their SYM
pathies.
And 1 do not mean to put these
things under the head of military tyr
amy. l wished more particularly to
speak of the War Department, and of
the manner in which the great Sec
retary sometimes exercises his vast
power.
This is rather delicate subject to
treat of to the American reading pub
lie, thousands Of whom are full of ad-
miration for the mans sterling pa
triotism and sturdy honesty. That
Mr.. Stanton had these lofty qualities
none will deny. But he had also a
most bitter and vindictive disposition
toward those who had offended him.
and he was capable of pursuing such
with his anger as long as he could
reach them.
In July, 1863. there came to the De
partment of the Gulf to act as Banks
chief of staff, tall, soldierly looking
man, whose hair and mustache were
plentiful streaked with gray, and
whose fine face showed signs of acute
mental suffering. He was Gen. Chas.
2. Stone. l remember seeing him at
Port Hudson after the surrender, and
that l was deeply impressed with his
appearance and bearing. He had bee;
sent there i'll answer to the urgent re-
quest of Gen. Banks. He was fine
soldier, a West Point graduate, and in
late years was known as the engineer
of the construction of the pedestal for
tie statue of Liberty, in New York
harbor. At the outbreak Of the war.
his services at Washington in the or
ganiZation Of troops, was invaluable
He was placed in command of dis
trict along the Potomac, and the dis
aster of Balls bluff happened to part
of his command. He was not respon-
sible for 1t. but the press demanded
a victim, and Gen. Stone was selected.
Just what the preteXt was upon which
he was arrested and confined in a mil
itary prison is not known to this da
He was so confined six months. duri
which time not the least attention Wa
paid to the repeated demands of the
unfortunate man and his friends for
court of inquiry. No charge in writ
ing was ever preferred against him, nor
was he released until an act of Con-
gTeSs was passed providing for the re-
lease of officers who had been in con-
tinement sixty days without charges.
When compelled by law TO free him,
Secretary Stanton did so. but not the
least explanation was given him.
Gen Stone served with zeal and dis
tinction in the Red River campaign,
at the close of which he was ordered
to Cairo, Illinois. In that unattrac-
tice locality no duty was given him
and after awaiting for several weeks
and sending repeated requests to
Washington TO be ordered TO duty.
he concluded that he was a marked
man and sent in his resignation in dis
gust. Upon this being received he
was ordered to duty with the army be-
fnro pefn-Sbrlro He went fhore tOO,,