The fact that Gen. Prentiss exercised the rare gift of
oratory with which he is endowed, by making a speech to the people of Memphis,
while a prisoner in that city, has been alluded to by some of the papers, but
none have given the words he uttered. – Some men, who recently escaped from
Memphis, were present when the voluble General delivered himself, and thus,
they say he talked:
A few blackguard endeavored to create an excitement, when
Gen. P. exclaimed: “I am a prisoner of war, it is true; but if I speak at all,
I will speak my mind.” (Great applause
and some hisses.)
“Hiss on you vipers! It
is your time now, but mine will soon come.
We have, with 75,000, whipped your army of 125,000 under your best
General. And in less than one month the
stars and stripes will float over this city.”
(Cheers.) “Union men and women of
Memphis, take courage! Get your American
flags ready. You will soon need them
all.”
Here the Provost Marshal of Memphis interrupted him, and
said: “General, I can not permit you to talk so.” Gen. P. replied, “Sir, you must excuse me; but you see I am among friends. Yes, thank God! to the immortal honor of my
command, be it known, they were the first to pull down the greasy, filthy old
rag. I glory in that act. You promised to whip us five to one. Now, I am part Yankee, and I say I guess we
have whipped you two to one, and can do it all the time.” Here he was again interrupted, when he
remarked: “You called on me for a speech; I am giving you one – the only words
of truth you have heard for months. Look
how cowardly your Generals ran at No. 10, and left 300 or 400 prisoners there
entirely unprovided for. What do your
leaders care for you. They have basely
deceived you.” (Loud cries of that’s
so.) Here he was told he could speak no
longer, and as he jumped down from the box on which he stood, some one cried
out three cheers for Gen. Prentiss. They then gave him three rousing cheers, and
accompanied him in a crowd all the way to the cars. He was sent to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette,
Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 17, 1862, p. 2
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