Every man who went to the war, or induced others to go, I held as the principal in the whole list of crimes of which slavery was the synonym.

Each one seemed to stand before me, his innermost soul laid bare, and his idiosyncrasy I was sure to strike with sarcasm, ridicule solemn denunciations, old truths from Bible and history and the opinions of good men.

I had a reckless abandon, for had I not thrown myself into the breach to die there, and would I not sell my life at its full value?
My style I caught from my crude, rural surroundings, and was familiar to the unlearned, and I was not surprised to find the letters eagerly read.
The _Journal_ announced them the day before publication, the newsboys cried them, and papers called attention to them, some by daring to indorse, but more by abusing Mr.Riddle for publishing such unpatriotic and "incendiary rant." In quoting the strong points, a venal press was constrained to "scatter the living coals of truth." The name was held to be a _nom de plume_, for in print it looked so unlike the common pronunciation of that of one of the oldest families in the county that it was not recognized.

Moreover, it must be a disguise adopted by some man.

Wiseacres, said one of the county judges.