The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-05-25

the defense) a man would be OF great
er value to them than one man would
be to the Union force, therefore, the
government saw fit not to make any
exchanges, but to allow the prisoners
| to remain prisoners rather than In
crease the forces Of the Confederate
army. The prisoners understanding the
| situation, suffered in that capacity un-
told horrors without murmur or COM
plant, but stood loyal to the country
and its cause. In fact, the Confeder-
ate government made that as an argu-
ment to the prisoners through their of
ficers, II they would enlist in their
ranks end take the oath of allegiance
to their government, they would be
placed in their ranks and treated as
their own soldiers. To the credit of
those men who were on the eve OF
starvation, death staring them in the
face with a few exceptions), refused
and spurned the offer.
Such were some Of those who were
lost in that disaster. 1t was when
their hopes were. at the highest, that
in a few days they would meet their
friends and loved ones. this calamity
came and they were called into etern'
ity-all through the carelessness Of the
officers at Vicksburg In placing three
times the number Of people on the boat
that the boat could safely carry.
The river on that memorable morn
ing was at it's height &C sering the
country for miles around. The rise
was from the Missouri and the upper
| Mississippi Rivers, and as cold as II
naturally would be at that season of
the year and the source from which II
came.
Few Of the bodies Of those who met
their death were ever recovered, but
| floated on down the river and were
buried in the sand or went on down
and out into the gulf. 1t is with sad
ness that we look back in our memory
at that trying hour and are reminded
of the fact that our comrades who
were unable to stem the current and
went down to death and their mortal
bodies were left to the elements, that
destroyed them, to despise at its will
Sentiment has great deal to do
with life. Our government has done a
great many sentimental things and
practical things, likewise. The Sol
diers' Monument, and all monuments
are in a sense sentimental, and at the
same time practical. 1t speaks as a
remembrance of the actions of men OF
nations. A soldiers monument instills
patriotism in the citizen and love OF
country. While the country has done
a great many things for those who
participated in the Rebellion, l be.
lieve that there is one thing left un-
done. That is, they should have taken
a practical notice of that event, of the
loss of the Sultana, by placing suitable
remembrance Of that disaster as a me-
mortal in a notable place in the coun
try, and by way Of suggestion l would
say Arlington Cemetery at Washington
City.
The government took notice of it or
April So, 1865, Hon. E. Nj. Stanton
Secretary of War, instructed Brevt
Brigadier Hoffman, Commissioner
General Of Prisoners. to inquire into
the circumstances of the destruction OF
the steamer referred to. The officer
on May 10, 1865. made a report and
amongst other things he said: Upon
a careful consideration of all the facts
as presented in the testimony herewith
submitted, / am of the opinion that
the shipment of so large 4 number OF
troops 1S66) on one boat, under the
| circumstances, unnecessary, unjustif
able. and great outrage on the troops
and that there were four officers (nam
| ing them who were responsible fol
the number of troops on an unsuitable
vessel" To my knowledge, that was
the only thing that has ever been done
by the government in that matter, and
at this date, l believe 1t would be wise
and just that such a notable event OF
the war should be recognized and
placed in its proper place in the an
nails of our country.
JOSEPH T. ELLIOT,
indianapolis,
Late Second Lieutenant Company C
124th Regiment of Indiana Volunteer
Infantry"