Confederate
Gen. Samuel G. French, a New Jersey native, related after the war that
in addition to invading the South, the North “had to suppress rebellions
caused by people who entertained Southern opinions in New York,
Chicago, Cincinnati, and other cities; muzzle the press, prohibit
freedom of speech, banish prominent individuals, arrest men without
warrant, and imprison them without charges made known to them; and
violated nearly every resolution and pledge made in the beginning
relating to the South; they cast aside constitutional law, and
substituted martial law, under which the South became a scene of
desolation and starvation.”
Bernhard Thuersam, Chairman
North Carolina War Between the States Sesquicentennial Commission
"Unsurpassed Valor, Courage and Devotion to Liberty"
"The Official Website of the North Carolina WBTS Sesquicentennial"
A Petty Trick of Surrender
“When
the Yankees first went to my plantation, in five minutes a company of
about thirty men marched into the garden, formed line, fixed bayonets,
and, marching abreast, probed the ground until they struck a box that
was buried there containing silver tableware . . . in this case I am
sure “old Aaron,” a house servant who buried it for mother, betrayed her
confidence in him and told the Yankees where it was. These are small
matters, but I mention them to show how the [Northern] men, by the
connivance of officers, if not by participation, became an army of
thieves generally.
In
a day or two authenticated information was received that both Lee’s and
Johnston’s armies had been surrendered on terms of agreement, and as I
was included in the latter army, I went to Columbus and obtained my
parole. The terms of the surrender were that we were not to be molested
by the United States authorities so long as we obeyed the laws which
were in force previous to January, 1861, where we resided.
On
my part, I was sworn “not to bear arms against the United States of
America, or give any information, or do any military duty or act in
hostility to the United States, or inimical to a permanent peace,” etc.,
and thus the war with the musket ended.
On
reading my parole I discovered what seemed to me a petty trick, for it
read “not to be disturbed by the United States military authorities,”
leaving me at the mercy of the civil authorities to be indicted.”
(Two Wars, Autobiography of Gen. Samuel G. French, Confederate Veteran, 1901, pg. 309)
Love these articles Brock, thank you and keep them a coming.
ReplyDeleteThey are much appreciated.
Thank you for reading, Sir. :)
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