Part One
Cyrus Pringle.
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29th. (9th -month.) - On the evening of the 26th the Colonel came to us apologizing for the
roughness with which he treated us at first, which was, as he insisted, through ignorance of our
real character and position. He told us if we persisted in our course, death would probably follow;
though at another time he confessed to P. D. that this would only be the extreme sentence of
court-martial. He urged us to go into the hospital, stating that this course was advised by Friends
about New York. We were too well aware of such a fact to make any denial, though it was a
subieet of surprise to us that he should be informed of it. He pleaded with us long and earnestly,
urging us with many promises of indulgence and favour and attentions we found afterwards to be
untrue. He gave us till the next morning to consider the question and report our decision. In our
discussion of the subject among ourselves, we were very much perplexed. If all his statements
concerning the ground taken by our Society were true, we seemed to be liable, if we persisted in
the course which alone seemed to us to be in accordance with Truth, to be exposed to the charge
of over-zeal and fanaticism even among our own brethren. Regarding the work to be done in
hospital as one of mercy and benevolence, we asked if we had any right to refuse its performance;
and questioned whether we could do more good by deavouring to bear to the end a clear
testimony against war, than by labouring by word and deed among the needy in the hospitals and
camps. We saw around us a rich field for usefulness in which there were scarce any labourerss and
toward whose work our hands had often started involuntarily and unbidden. At last we consented
to a trial, at least till we could make inquiries concerning the Colonel's allegations, and ask the
counsel of our friends, reserving the privilege of returning to our former position.
At first a great load seemed rolled away from us; we rejoiced in the prospect of life again. But
soon there prevailed a feeling of condemnation, as though we had sold Our Master. And that first
day was one of the bitterest I ever experienced. It was a time of stern conflict of soul. The voice
that seemed to say, "Follow me," as I sought guidance the night before, kept pleading with me,
convincing of sin, till I knew of a truth my feet had strayed from His path. The Scriptures, which
the day before I could scarcely open without finding words of strength and comfort, seemed
closed against me, till after a severe struggle alone in the wood to which I had retired, I consented
to give up and retrace my steps in faith. But it was too late. L.M.M. wishing to make a fair,
honest trial, we were brought here -- P.D. being already here unwell. We feel we are erring; but
scarce anything is required of us and we wait to hear from Friends.
Of these days of going down into sin, I wish to make little mention. I would that my record of
such degradation be brief. We wish to come to an understanding with our friends and the Society
before we move, but it does not seem that we can repress the up-heavings of Truth in our hearts.
We are bruised by sin.
It is with pleasure I record we have just waited upon the Colonel with an explanation of our
distress of mind, requesting him to proceed with court-martial. We were kindly and tenderly
received. "If you want a trial I can give it to you," he answered. The brigade has just marched out
to join with the division for inspection. After that we are to have attention to our case.
P.M. There is particular cause for congratulation in the consideration that we took this step this
morning, when now we receiveid a letter from H. D. charging us to faithfulness.
When lately I have seen dear L. M. M. in the thoroughness and patience of his trial to perform
service in hospital, his uneasiness and the intensity of his struggle as manifested by his silence and
disposition to avoid the company of his friends, and seen him fail and declare to us, "I cannot stay
here," I have received a new proof, and to me a strong one, because it is from the experimental
knowledge of an honest man, that no Friend, who is really such, desiring to keep himself clear of
complicity with this system of war and to bear a perfect testimony against it, can lawfully perform
service in the hospitals of the Army in lieu of bearing arms.
10th mo., 3d. -- Today dawned fair and our Camp is dry again. I was asked to clean the gun I
brought, and declining, was tied some two hours upon the ground.
6th. AT WASHINGTON. -- At first, after being informed of our declining to serve in his hospital,
Colonel Foster did not appear altered in his kind regard for us. But his spleen soon became
evident. At the time we asked for a trial by court-martial, and it was his duty to place us under
arrest and proceed with the preferring of his charges against us. For a while he seemed to hesitate
and consult his inferior officers, and among them his Chaplain. The result of the conference was
our being ordered into our companies, that, separated, and with the force of the officers of a
company bearing upon us, we might the more likely be subdued. Yet the Colonel assured L.M.M.,
interceding in my behalf, when the lieutenant commanding my company threatened force upon
me, that he should not allow any personal injury. When we marched next day I was compelled to
bear a gun and equipments. My associates were more fortunate, for, being asked if they would
carry their guns, declined and saw no more trouble from them. The captain of the company in
which P.D. was placed told him he did not believe he was ugly about it, and that he could only put
him under arrest and prefer charges against him. He accordingly was taken under guard, where he
lay till we left for here.
The next morning the men were busy in burnishing their arms. When I looked toward the one I
had borne, yellow with rust, I trembled in the weakness of the flesh at the trial I felt impending
over me. Before the Colonel was up I knocked at his tent, but was told he was asleep, though,
through the opening, I saw him lying gazing at me. Although I felt I should gain no relief from
him, I applied again soon after. He admitted me and, lying on his bed, inquired with cold
heartlessness what I wanted. I stated to him, that I could never consent to serve, and, being under
the war-power, was resigned to suffer instead all the just penalties of the law. I begged of him
release from the attempts by violence to compel my obedience and service, and a trial, though
likely to be made by those having no sympathy with me, yet probably in a manner comformable to
law.
He replied that he had shown us all the favour he should; that he had, now, turned us over to the
military power and was going to let that take its course; that is, henceforth we were to be at the
mercy of the inferior officers, without appeal to law, justice, or mercy. He said he had placed us in
a pleasant position, against which we could have no reasonable objection, and that we had failed
to perform our agreement. He wished to deny that our consent was only temporary and
conditional. He declared, furthermore, his belief, that a man who would not fight for his country
did not deserve to live. I was glad to withdraw from his presence as soon as I could.
I went back to my tent and lay down for a season of retirement, endeavouring to gain resignation
to any event. I dreaded torture and desired strength of flesh and spirit. My trial soon came. The
lieutenant called me out, and pointing to the gun that lay near by, asked if I was going to clean it.
I replied to him, that I could not comply with military requisitions, and felt resigned to the
consequences. "I do not ask about your feelings; I want to know if you are going to clean that
gun?" "I cannot do it," was my answer. He went away, saying, "Very well," and I crawled into the
tent again. Two sergeants soon called for me, and taking me a little aside, bid me lie down on my
back, and stretching my limbs apart tied cords to my wrists and ankles and these to four stakes
driven in the ground somewhat in the form of an X.
I was very quiet in my mind as I lay there on the ground with the rain of the previous day,
exposed to the heat of the sun, and suffering keenly from the cords binding my wrists and
straining my muscles. And, if I dared the presumption, I should say that I caught a glimpse of
heavenly pity. I wept, not so much from my own suffering as from sorrow that such things should
be in our own country, where Justice and Freedom and Liberty of Conscience have been the
annual boast of Fourth-of-July orators so many years. It seemed that our forefathers in the faith
had wrought and suffered in vain, when the privileges they so dearly bought were so soon set
aside. And I was sad, that one endeavouring to follow our dear Master should be so generally
regarded as a despicable and stubborn culprit.
After something like an hour had passed, the lieutenant came with his orderly to ask me if I was
ready to clean the gun. I replied to the orderly asking the question, that it could but give me pain
to be asked or required to do anything I believed wrong. He repeated it to the lieutenant just
behind him, who advanced and addressed me. I was favoured to improve the opportunity to say to
him a few things I wished. He said little; and, when I had finished, he withdrew with the others
who had gathered around. About the end of another hour his orderly came and released me.
I arose and sat on the ground. I did not rise to go away. I had not where to go, nothing to do. As
I sat there my heart swelled with joy from above. The consolation and sweet fruit of tribulation
patiently endured. But I also grieved, that the world was so far gone astray, so cruel and blind. It
seemed as if the gospel of Christ had never been preached upon earth, and the beautiful example
of his life had been utterly lost sight of.
Some of the men came about me, advising me to yield, and among them one of those who had
tied me down, telling me what I had already suffered was nothing to what I must yet suffer unless
I yielded; that human flesh could not endure what they would put upon me. I wondered if it, could
be that they could force me to obedience by torture, and examined myself closely to see if they
had advanced as yet one step toward the accomplishment of their purposes. Though weaker in
body, I believed I found myself, through divine strength, as firm in my resolution to maintain my
allegiance to my Master.
The relaxation of my nerves and muscles after having been so tensely strained left me that
afternoon so weak that I could hardly walk or perform any mental exertion.
I had not yet eaten the mean and scanty breakfast I had prepared, when I was ordered to pack up
my things and report myself at the lieutenant's tent. I was accus-tomed to such orders and
complied, little moved.
The lieutenant received me politely with, "Good-morning, Mr. Pringle," and desiring me to be
seated, proceeded with the writing with which he was engaged. I sat down in some wonderment
and sought to be quiet and prepared for any event.
"You are ordered to report to Washington," said he; "I do not know what it is for." I assured him
that neither did I know. We were gathered before the Major's tent for preparation for departure.
The regimental officers were there manifesting surprise and chagrin; for they could not but show
both as they looked upon us, whom the day before they were threatening to crush into
submission, and attempting also to execute their threats that morning, standing out of their power
and under orders from one superior to their Major Commanding E.M. As the bird uncaged, so
were our hearts that morning. Short and uncertain at first were the flights of Hope. As the slave
many times before us, leaving his yoke behind him, turned from the plantations of Virginia and set
his face toward the far North, so we from out a grasp as close and as abundant in suffering and
severity, and from without the line of bayonets that had so many weeks surrounded us, turned our
backs upon the camp of the 4th Vermont and took our way over the turnpike that ran through the
tented fields of Culpeper.
At the War Office we were soon admitted to an audience with the Adjutant General, Colonel
Townsend, whom we found to be a very fine man, mild and kind. He referred our cases to the
Secretary of War, Stanton, by whom we were ordered to report for service to Surgeon General
Hammond. Here we met Isaac Newton, Commissioner of Ag-riculture, waiting for our arrival,
and James Austin of Nantucket, expecting his son, Charles L. Austin, and Edward W. Holway of
Sandwich, Mass., conscripted Friends like ourselves, and ordered here from the 22nd
Massachusetts.
We understand it is through the influence of Isaac Newton that Friends have been able to
approach the heads of Government in our behalf and to prevail with them to so great an extent.
He explained to us the circumstance in which we are placed. That the Secretary of War and
President sympathized with Friends in their present suffering, and would grant them full release,
but that they felt themselves bound by their oaths that they would execute the laws, to carry out
to its full extent the Conscription Act. That there appeared but one door of relief open, that was
to parole us and allow us to go home, but subjected to their call again ostensibly, though this they
neither wished nor proposed to do. That the fact of Friends in the Army and refusing service had
attracted public attention so that it was not expedient to parole us at present. That, therefore, we
were to be sent to one of the hospitals for a short time, where it was hoped and expressly
requested that we would consent to remain quiet and acquiesce, if possible, in whatever might be
required of us. That our work there would be quite free from objection, being for the direct relief
of the sick; and that there we would release none for active service in the field, as the nurses were
hired civilians.
These requirements being so much less objectionable than we had feared, we felt relief, and
consented to them. I.N. went with us himself to the Surgeon General's office, where he procured
peculiar favours for us: that we should be sent to a hospital in the city, where he could see us
often; and that orders should be given that nothing should interfere with our comfort, or our
enjoyment of our consciences.
Thence we were sent to Medical Purveyor Abbot, who assigned us to the best hospital in the city,
the Douglas Hospital.
The next day after our coming here Isaac Newton and James Austin came to add to our number
E.W.H. and C. L.A., so now there are five of us instead of three. We are pleasantly situated in a
room by ourselves in the upper or fourth story, and are enjoying our advantages of good quarters
and tolerable food as no one can except he has been deprived of them.
[10th month] 8th. Today we have a pass to go out to see the city.
9th. We all went, thinking to do the whole city in a day, but before the time 'of our passes expired,
we were glad to drag ourselves back to the rest and quiet of D.H. During the day we called upon
our friend I. N. in the Patent Office. When he came to see us on the 7th, he stated he had called
upon the President that afternoon to request him to release us and let us go home to our friends.
The President promised to consider it over-night. Accordingly yesterday morning, as I.N. told us,
he waited upon him again. He found there a woman in the greatest distress. Her son, only a boy of
fifteen years and four months, having been enticed into the Army, had deserted and been
sentenced to be shot the next day. As the clerks were telling her, the President was in the War
Office and could not be seen, nor did they think he could attend to her case that day. I.N. found
her almost wild with grief. "Do not despair, my good woman," said he, "I guess the President can
be seen after a bit." He soon presented her case to the President, who exclaimed at once, "That
must not be, I must look into that case, before they shoot that boy"; and telegraphed at once to
have the order suspended.
I.N. judged it was not a fit time to urge our case. We feel we can afford to wait, that a life may be
saved. But we long for release. We do not feel easy to remain here.
11th. .Today we attended meeting held in the house of a Friend, Asa Arnold, living near here.
There were but four persons beside ourselves. E.W.H. and C.L.A. showed their copy of the
charges about to have been preferred against them in courtmartial before they left their regiment,
to a lawyer who attended the meeting. He laughed at the Specification of Mutiny, declaring such a
charge could not have been lawfully sustained against them.
The experiences of our new friends were similar to ours, except they fell among officers who
usually showed them favour and rejoiced with them in their release.
13th. - L. M. M. had quite an adventure yesterday. He being fireman with another was in the
furnace room among three or four others, when the officer of the day, one of the surgeons, passed
around on inspection. "Stand up," he ordered them, wishing to be saluted. The others arose; but
by no means L. The order was repeated for his benefit, but he sat with his cap on, telling the
surgeon he had supposed he was excused from such things as he was one of the Friends. Thereat
the officer flew at him, exclaiming, he would take the Quaker out of him. He snatched off his cap
and seizing him by the collar tried to raise him to his feet; but findlng his strength insufficient and
that L. was not to be frightened, he changed his purpose in his wrath and calling for the corporal
of the guard had him taken to the guard-house. This was about eleven A.M. and he lay there till
about six P.M., when the surgeon in charge, arriving home and hearing of it, ordered the officer of
the day to go and take him out, telling him never to put another man into the guard-house while
he was in charge here without consulting him. The manner of his release was very satisfactory to
us, and we waited for this rather than effect it by our own efforts. We are all getting uneasy about
remaining here, and if our release do not come soon, we feel we must intercede with the
authorities, even if the alternative be imprisonment.
The privations I have endured since leaving home, the great tax upon my nervous strength, and
my mind as well, since I have had charge of our extensive correspondence, are beginning to tell
upon my health and I long for rest.
20th. We begin to feel we shall have to decline service as heretofore, unless our position is
changed. I shall not say but we submit too much in not declining at once, but it has seemed most
prudent at least to make suit with Government rather than provoke the hostility of their
subalterns. We were ordered here with little understanding of the true state of things as they really
exist here; and were advised by Friends to come and make no objections, being assured it was but
for a very brief time and only a matter of form. It might not have been wrong; but as we find we
do too much fill the places of soldiers (L.M.M.'s fellow fireman has just left for the field, and I am
to take his place, for instance), and are clearly doing military service, we are continually oppressed
by a sense of guilt, that makes our struggles earnest.
21st. -- I.N. has not called yet; our situation is becoming almost intolerable. I query if patience is
justified under the circumstances. My distress of mind may be enhanced by my feeble condition of
health, for today I am confined to my bed, almost too weak to get downstairs. This is owing to
exposure after being heated over the furnaces.
26th.- Though a week has gone by, and my cold has left me, I find I am no better, and that I am
reduced very low in strength and flesh by the sickness and pain I am experiencing. Yet I still
persist in going below once a day. The food I am able to get is not such as is proper.
11th mo., 5th. -- I spend most of my time on my bed, much of it alone. And very precious to me is
the nearness unto the Master I am favoured to attain to. Notwithstanding my situation and state, I
am happy in the enjoyment of His consolations. Lately my confidence has been strong, and I think
I begin to feel that our patience is soon to be rewarded with relief; insomuch that a little while
ago, when dear P.D. was almost overcome With sorrow, I felt bold to comfort him with the
assurance of my belief, that it would not be long so. My mind is too weak to allow of my reading
much; and, though I enjoy the company of my companions a part of the time, especially in the
evening, I am much alone; which affords me abundant time for meditation and waiting upon God.
The fruits of this are sweet, and a recompense for affliction.
6th. - Last evening E.W.H. saw I.N. particularly on my behalf, I suppose. He left at once for the
President. This morning he called to inform us of his interview at the White House, The President
was moved to sympathy in my behalf, when I.N. gave him a letter from one of our Friends in New
York. After its perusal he exclaimed to our friend, "I want you to go and tell Stanton that it is my
wish all those young men be sent home at once." He was on his way to the Secretary this morning
as he called.
Later. I.N. has just called again informing us in joy that we are free. At the War Office he was
urging the Secretary to consent to our paroles, when the President entered. "It is my urgent wish,"
said he. The Secretary yielded; the order was given; and we were released. What we had waited
for so many weeks was accomplished in a few moments by a Providential ordering of
circumstances.
7th. - I.N. came again last evening bringing our paroles. The preliminary arrangements are being
made, and we are to start this afternoon for New York.
Note. Rising from my sick bed to undertake this journey, which lasted through the night, its
fatigues overcame me, and upon my arrival, in New York I was seized with delirium from which I
only recovered after many weeks, through the mercy and favour of Him, who in all this trial had
been our guide and strength and comfort.
THE END
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