Year: 1863

Rebel persecution OF Quakers.


The Philadelphia North American
says that among the rebel prisoners ta-
ken at Gettysburg, were number of
Quaker conscripts from North Carroll
ua, who have since been released from
Fort Delaware by the President on
learning the facts in their case.


AT Gettysburg they we're subjected
to great eruelties. One of them, whom
we will call Friend B., will serve
as an illustration. Before Meade over.
took Lee, the Quaker refused to obey
prders His captain reported to the
Colonel who informed him that he might
adopt whatever measures be desired -
The captain called a squad of twelve
men to shoot the conscript. The mus
kets were distributed among the men,
six loaded and six empty. All the
company loved the man, who at all times
would deny himself for their sake; who
returned not reviling with reviling, aud
who at every step returned good for
evil. The twelve men, when the order
was given, refused to fire. The cap
tain, enraged at this refusal, called up
the rest Of the company, and posting
them around the squad first called up,
gave them five minutes to execute the
order, or themselves receive the fire OF
their comrades.


The Quaker conscript, kneeling be-
side the rise of ground that was to be
scraped down over his body, called up
on the squad first ordered to fire upon
Bhim, and then reverentially folding his
hands, raised them to Heaven with the
words: "Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do" The words
of the dying Savior upon the cross, ut
tered by the lips Of man whose godli
ness of life was appreciated even by the
canaille Of the rebel army, smote upon
the hearts of the executioners. Al
though the hand of the Almighty were
exercised, the whole company simultane.
ously threw down their arms and re
fused to fire.


With horrible oaths, the captain dc.
clared that he himself would kill him
He leveled his revolver at him, but the
caps we're wet and refused to explode
Again uttering fearful irnprecation n,
he spurred his horse upon the kneeling
Quaker, The latter closed his eyes, his
hands still placidly folded but shrunk
not from tho horrible death impending
Three times the rebel captain drove his
horse over tho mans body, and each
time the Quaker conscript escaped with
but a slight bruise. lie was knocked
down, but as though God we're protect,
ing him, the hoofs Of the horse were set
down between his arms and his body,
or between his limbs. That he escaped,
however, was because at this moment q
column of Federal cavalry, whose ap-
proach was not seen, came charging
upon the rebel regiment. A tromen-
dous rush was made by the rebel horde,
and soon the grass was slippery with gore
and brains. Some scores of Union and
rebel soldiers spilled their blood upon
the spot, and many of those remaining
were taken prisoners. The quaker con
script was among the number.


Throughout North Carolina hundreds
like him are hiding in the swamps and
in the mountains, from impressment
into the rebel army. The rich arc
comparatively free from annoyance,
but the poor, whose greatest bane is
Slavery, are the class that must fight to
defend it. Copperheads affect to call
this exaggeration, distortion, or at best
an exceptional case. Philanthropic
gentlemen, confirm statements even
still more grievous.