Lowell Mass June 1^st 1913

                        Rev. C. E. Holmes                 

                                                            Westfield

                                                                        Mass

Dear Sir.

            I arrived home safely yesterday. As per your request I am sending you some “statistics” of the civil war as I personally saw some thing’s. In January 1865 when there were only 6 or 7000 of union soldiers in “Andersonville”(I being one of the number) there came into the prison one day 3 Confederate soldiers “(Irishmen.)”  They asked if there were any Irish Federals there who wished to join the “Confedercy?” If so they would be taken out and fed and clothed and given $100 in Confederate money (worth at that time 2 ½ cents on the dollar.)  Nearly 1000 men went out and joined the Confederacy-

                                                                        Geo M. Searle –

 

Enlistments in the union army 61.to.65 about 2,600,000 – Native born “American’s,” 1,625,367. Germans 186,817. “Irish,” 144,221.  British (not “Irish)”, 99,044. All others 48,410.  “Desertions”. Native born Americans, 5 per cent. Germans, 6 per cent. “Irish,” 72 per-cent.  British not “Irish” 7. per-cent.  All others, 7. Per-cent. Irish (mostly papists) Desertion’s 104,000. I am sending (under separate cover) some copies of the “Menace.” No’s - #.99. “Knight’s of Columbus 4^th degree oath.”  #.105, Lincolns Assassination’s-#.110. story of one of the inmates of the “Home of the Good Shepard.”  Shall be pleased to hear from you in reply at your earliest convenience and later should you desire I will give you some more information concerning the civil war from personal experience also from reliable official sources.  Regarding your subscription to the “Menace” will be forward it as soon as I obtain others to make up a club of 4  so as to be able to get them for 25 c per year each. 50 c single sub’s – Please excuse the pencil as I cannot very well use pen because of trembl’y hand-

 

                        I remain very Respectfully

                                    Geo M. Searle –

                                                #. 21. Hampshire Street

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