Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-11-06
Clement L. va1landigham.

Clement L. Va1landigham.
In the month Of May, 1868, as Pri-
vate s. F. Nunnelee of the Fifty-frst
Alabama regiment was on picket about
FIVE miles from Murfreesboro, Tenn. a
Federal officer, entirely unattended and
carrying a flag Of truce, rode up and
inquired for the officer in command,
and through him for the colonel of the
regiment. Col ]. D. Webb was on
the line, a couple Of miles to the rear,
and Private Nunnelee was sent to in
form him that the Federals were desir-
Gus Of passing the noted Clement L..
Vallandigham within the Confederate
lines, as per order Of the Secretary of
War. This move had been anticipated,
as Vallandigham's sentence had been
promulgated, but the Confederate gov
eminent had no desire to accept him.
Had he come as a recruit for the ranks
he would have been welcome, but as a
banished politician he was guest
whom no one cared to entertain. Col.
Webb took his time about riding to the
front, and as he got there Nunnelee
was sent down the highway to investi-
gate q second white flag This was
waving above a vehicle drawn 10y one
horse and occupied by Federal lieu
tenant and Vallandigham. The officer
was driving, and the banished politi-
clan was sitting very stiff and erect
But few words were passed as the Off
Ger drew rein. He said to Nunnelee:
Here is Vallandigham, sentenced to
punishment
And to the great politician he said:
Come, have no time to spare"
81 protest against this outrage-sol-
EMMY protest" answered Vallandig-
ham.
"Yes, but hurry up. I'll take your
trunk off Jump down, now-good
day."
And the officer sprang into the vehi-
Gle, turned the horse around, and went
off at a fast trot, leaving Vallandlgham
and the Confederate soldiers together
on the highway. Previous to the war
Mr.. Nunnelee was editor of a paper
at Eutaw, and Vallandigham was one
of it's readers. AS they stood there the
private soldier introduced himself and
the politician gave him hearty shake
of the hand and said:
what on earth are you doing here"
'rIn the ranks"
ND flUhtlnp
the ranks of the Confederate army!'
Thousands of u.s."
"Then that settles 1.-THE North can
never conquer you"
After some further talk the soldier
carried the politicians trunk into de-
serted negro cabin quarter Of a mile
away and then went for his Colonel.
Webb came slowly up and as he dis
mounted at the hut the banished north
erner said:
"Col. Webb, am Clement L. Val
landigham, citizen of Ohio and the
United States, imprisoned, vilif1ed, and
banished from my country for my love
of liberty and free speech"
i
"Mr. Vallandigham, as a citizen of
Ohio and the United States, you are
my enemy. AS one banished for his
love of liberty, for which the South is
fighting to-day, 1 bid you welcome to
the Southern Confederacy."
They then entered into a general con-
versation lasting about half an hour,
at the end Of which Private Nunnelee
secured a conveyance and Vallandig-
ham and his baggage were received in
side the Confederate lines. The Incl
dent made quite a stir at the picket
post, and could the men have had their
way they would have headed the man
for the Federal lines and obliged him
to return, as they counted far more
on muskets than speeches to win their
cause.