“'Yes,' said Capt. Redingson; 'but this is retaliation on property and persons that are not doing any injury. You must remember that we have many good friends North, and this mode of warfare would be the destruction of women and children.'
“'Very well,' said Dr. Blackman; 'let that be so. If those people are, as you say, our friends, let them join in and help us. They can stop this war if they want to do so. No, sir! they are only pretended friends. They are after the dollar, and play between the lines!'
“Jacob Thomlinson here spoke up, saying: 'You are quite right, Doctor; we cannot look for help from any of those people, and the sooner we light up their cities with a grand and bright light the better!'
“'Very well, gentlemen; I was merely wishing to understand the matter,' said Capt. Redingson.
“Dr. Blackman by this time was walking to and fro across the room somewhat excitedly. Halting in front of Capt. Redingson, he said: 'I presume that your Christian sentiments would revolt at my proposition, and to which the authorities have already assented.'
“'What is that?' quickly inquired Capt. Redingson.
“'It is to spread disease in the Northern cities and through the Northern army.'
“The Captain promptly replied: 'Well, sir, this would be a novel way of fighting battles. I had supposed that physicians were educated in the line of preventing and curing diseases, and not in the practice of how to spread them.'
“'Yes, sir! as a principle, that is so; but in a case like this, where is the difference between shooting a man to death and poisoning him to death?' said the Doctor.
“'Doctor, I can see a very great difference. In the one case you fight him, giving him an equal chance with yourself; in the other, you murder him in the most dastardly and cowardly manner.'