The Vindicator, July 8, 1864, p. 1, c. 4
From Governor Isham G. Harris, of Tennessee, who accompanied, and has just reached this city, in return from the expedition of Forrest into West Tennessee, we get the following true version of the late attack upon Fort Pillow. In view of the perverted accounts of the Yankee papers, this official narrative of the whole proceeding will be found as interesting as it is necessary to vindicate the truth of history.
Arriving in the vicinity of Fort Pillow, Gen. Forrest, having previously arranged his plans and issued his instructions for the attack, rapidly advanced his lines, and gained, after a brief, sharp contest, the outer-works of the enemy. Having possessed himself of this position, he threw forward a line of skirmishers in a sort of ravine between the outer-works and the fort, which line was protected from the Federal sharpshooters by his reserve line in the outer defences.
He then sent in a flag of truce to the commander of the garrison, demanding the unconditional surrender of the fort and garrison, with all the stores and munitions, stating the advantage of his position, his determination to carry the fort, and announcing that if his demand was not complied with he did not feel certain that he, himself, would be able to control his men when they entered the fort, after having been forced to take the risks of assault.
Hearing, after the note was dispatched and before an answer to it was received, that the Federals believed the demand for surrender a ruse de guerre, and that Forrest, in person, was not in command of the assailants--Gen. Forrest himself rode up within hailing distance, announced to the enemy in person that he was General Forrest, and verbally demanded the surrender.
A reply was sent back, couched in defiant language, declining to accede to the demand.
The assault was commenced, and in five minutes after the bugle sounded the charge the fort was in possession of our men. Our advanced skirmishers went over the works pell-mell, all around them, each man lifting his fellow by the leg, and mounting on the shoulders of their comrades until the fort was filled with Confederates.
Col. Booth, commanding the garrison, was the first man killed, and not an officer of the negro regiments was left alive.
It is true that a few, black and white, throw down their arms and made signs of of [sic] surrender--but at the same time the men on each side of them still retained their arms and kept up a constant fire and show of resistance. In the heat, din and confusion of a fire at such close quarters there was no chance for discrimination. In less than five minutes after our men cleared the esplanade, the fort was cleared of the enemy, the main body of whom fled to the edge of the river leaving the fort colors still flying. At the river they still kept up the firing until the number was fearfully reduced, and until, as General Forrest states himself, he absolutely sickened to witness the slaughter. He ordered the firing to cease, and dispersed his staff along the lines with orders to that effect. It was next to impossible to effect an immediate cessation of the firing, the enemy, themselves still fighting. General Forrest rode up and down the lines ordering the men to cease firing, and finally stopped the carnage. The survivors of the garrison were all taken prisoners.
The maximum aggregate force of the Federal garrisons was 800. About 500 were buried by Gen. Forrest's man. About fifty of their wounded were paroled and sent upon a gunboat to Memphis. Two hundred prisoners were brought away, and among the number about thirty negroes.
There is not the semblance of a shadow of truth in the Federal exaggerations of wholesale slaughter. The above are substantially the facts of the capture, coming directly and officially from the prominent actors in the bloody drama.
The Vindicator, July 8, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
Our last paper made its appearance on May 27th, 1864, and we were preparing as usual to issue on the next week and were nearly ready when the advance of Gen. Hunter to Harrisonburg rendered it necessary that all who could be serviceable in repelling the invaders should go forth to meet them. Together with the citizens of town and county my printers were called to arms and consequently the publication of the paper on June 3rd was impossible. Owing to the misfortune of June 5th at Piedmont, Augusta, the enemy in force occupied Staunton on the next day, Monday June 6th. They proceeded to my office to destroy it, when to their amazement they found the sole tenement in Washington Press, (the type having been removed to a place of security on Saturday previous to the battle of Piedmont,) which they damaged, as they thought, beyond repair. The repairing of the press occupied but a short time, but the movement of the reserves with the forces of Gen. Breckinridge, and their participation in the rapid and fatiguing pursuit of the robber Hunter and his plundering incendiaries, prevented the return of my hands until the latter part of last week, thereby rendering the publication of my paper at an earlier date impossible. We have not, as far as the office is concerned, suffered a very material loss, a few hundred dollars covering the amount. However, we regret exceedingly the annoyance the delay has occasioned our readers and hope to be able to make ample amends by a regular issue hereafter.
To the people of the county and valley we tender our earnest, fellow-feeling sympathy, (our house like theirs being plundered by the vandals,) for the losses they have sustained.
To our readers we have only to say that we hope they will appreciate the difficulties under which we labored and promise should the vandals ever come this way again, that, with a few hours notice, we will place our office beyond the power of their fiendish malice to destroy and thus preserve it for the convenience of our people, no matter what may be the desire of the enemy to the contrary.
To many of our people, who have heretofore not been connected with us as subscribers or readers, but who have congratulated us upon rescuing our office from destruction, and expressed their gratification on account of its being preserved, we return our most heartfelt thanks and hope by a steady adherence to the course marked out at the commencement of our editorial career, to retain their kind wishes, at least, so long as we are connected with the editorial fraternity.
To the enemies of our country, the vile Yankees, we desire, in closing to say that what they have done to us, in common with our neighbors, has not varied the tone of our feeling towards them one iota. We have always hated them and what we have seen (or felt), of them in their late raid through our valley could not possibly have lowered them in our estimation, but has served simply to prove conclusively to us that we were not wrong in the estimate we placed upon them many years ago. They have injured us permanently to some extent, but they have not accomplished their purpose. The Vindicator will make its regular appearance in spite of their attempts to annihilate it and will continue to speak its true sentiments of the Yankee fiends who rule the hour at Washington and their worthy emissaries, who, faithful to their masters, shun the glare of Southern muskets, but vauntingly advance upon and plunder the widowed hearth and fatherless home.
The Vindicator, July 8, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
Our neighbors of the "Chronicle" and "Register" have been informed and asserted, that during the stay of the Yankees in our midst, some one or two of our citizens took the oath of allegiance to the United States. We have made frequent inquiries from persons likely to know and can not hear of a single instance. On the contrary we hear of two instances of downright refusal to accept paroles not in the usual form, (the only approach to an oath of allegiance offered,) and the offices indi[c]ting were forced to change the form and make the parties subject to exchange. A few of our citizens, participants in the battle of Piedmont, were captured and paroled in the regular way, but no oaths of allegiance taken. Supposing that one or two only as reported had taken the oath, it would be a conclusive proof that our people are loyal, but when not one took the oath and those who were at all approached in that way by the offer of permanent paroles, indignantly refused them, we think the loyalty of our people an incontestable fact. Information, and no doubt a great deal, was obtained here, in reference to citizens of this town and county, but from whom did they get it? We have heard it currently reported that the names of some five who had given information and expressed union sentiments had been shown to a gentleman captured and paroled by the enemy, but upon inquiry we learn that there is nothing further to substantiate this report than the word of the Yankee who gave the names of the parties to the gentleman spoken of above. Knowing the Yankee character as well as we do we cannot conceive it a super human task for the officer, in order to make Unionism exist here, to lie about it and even give the names of parties, whose names he might have happened to have heard whilst here.
Their information we think, on account of the character and incorrectness of a great deal of it, was obtained from negroes, though there were some few whites who left with them, who might have reported many things to them. In every case, those who left were not natives, but residents since the war only and brought here by circumstances occasioned by the war, which adds another proof of the great dislike of our people for the Yankees.
No people under the sun are more loyal to their country and government than the people of Augusta. They have suffered much, but preserve the same heartfelt desire for the success of the Confederate Cause and intense hatred to the Yankee Nation and people they have ever felt. Then as a matter of justice simply we request our co[n]temporaries of the "Chronicle" and "Register" to state what we now know to be the fact and thus do away, as far as possible, with the injurious effect of their, as we consider, too hasty assertion of the disloyalty of some of our citizens. We are satisfied that the wrong done was purely unintentional, but the statement having been made requires denial through the same channel and we know that it will afford our brother Editors pleasure to contradict a rumor so false and damaging to a neighboring people.
As an illustration of the facility with which false statements obtain currency and are circulated as facts, we will state an instance: One of our farmers, residing about six miles from Staunton, on the Monday following the departure of Hunter and his vandal horde, brought several barrels of flour to town to relieve the suffering occasioned by the robbery of private citizens. The empty barrels were returned which he carried home with him. Forthwith the rumor was started that the farmer, thus manifesting a desire to alleviate those who were in need, had taken three barrels of flour home. Thus was an act designed as a kindness, and as such received, converted into a mercenary speculation when there was not even the shade of a suspicion to justify it. Doubtless, similar misapprehensions have been received as to the action of others, and is evidence sufficient to guard every right thinking and justice loving man against receiving any statement as veritable, which may have a tendency to bring into question the loyalty and fidelity of a people, who have attested their patriotism on every field of contest, as well as by the liberality of their disinterested service to accommodate those who have been so unfortunate as to fall into the hands of the Yankee plunderers.
The Vindicator, July 8, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
The occupation of the Valley of Virginia has long been a much desired object with the Yankee Nation. Many have been their attempts to obtain full possession of it and as often have they been sent back howling to the banks of the Potomac. But a few weeks since they essayed it again and met an invincible host of heroes under Breckinridge, at New Market, whence they fled, whipped and demoralized, to their old retreat.
From some, to us, incomprehensible cause, soon thereafter, nearly all the forces who had gained this glorious victory over the army of Siegel, were withdrawn from our midst and as soon began the reorganization of Siegel's routed troops under the renegade Hunter. They advanced, and the handful of men under Imboden, left here to protect one of the richest and most important portions of the State, were compelled to fall back to a point in the rear, selected and fortified for the purpose of giving the invaders battle. The enemy attempted and nearly succeeded in flanking this position when the movement was discovered. Our small forces, then reinforced by Gen. Wm. E. Jones' command and the Reserves of this and adjoining counties, moved to meet them, and an engagement took place near Piedmont, about eleven miles distant from Staunton. The enemy's different charges had been repulsed and in a short time the victory would have been ours, (the enemy having commenced making preparations to retreat,) when, from some unaccountable cause, some of our forces gave way and lost both the day and the temporary possession of the Valley. Staunton was occupied by them the next day, our forces having fallen back towards Fishersville, when they commenced that incendiarism and thieving which has characterized this raid of Hen-roost Hunter and makes him as deservedly odious as Beast Butler. By Hunter's order the fine mill of J & B F. Walker, near Mt Meridian, was burned, also, the Woolen Factory of Crawford and Young, the Steam Mill, Steam Distillery Government Workshops, Stables and Forage-houses, the Stage Stables of J.I.A. Trotter together with twenty-six coaches, and the Railroad Depots, (all in Staunton,) and the large mill of W.F. Smith, in the town of Greenville.
They destroyed the track of Railroad west of this place, at intervals, to Goshen, burning the bridges at Swoope's, Craigsville and Goshen, and destroyed a number of culverts and small bridges at different points on the road. East of Staunton, they tore up the track, bending the rails, to Christie's Creek, burning the bridge over the same and the Depot at Fishersville.
They broke open the stores here, taking whatever they wanted and leaving the rest a prey to an accompanying rabble, cut to pieces and destroyed the machinery of the Shoe Factory, and broke the presses of the Spectator and Vindicator, throwing the type of the former into the street.
By an order from Gen. Hunter to take all the provisions from each family, leaving only three days rations, they robbed the man of means and widow with her mite of whatever their larder contained, leaving but a scanty supply, save where the humanity of some officer, to whom the execution of the order had been entrusted, prevented him from faithfully complying with it, in which few, exceptional cases something more was left. To particularize these robberies would more than fill our columns, hence we deem it sufficient to say that nearly every body in that part of the county occupied by the enemy, as well as the town, suffered in the same way. Some two or three who had been suspected of sympathizing with the enemy and who, report says, claimed protection on this account, suffered as did others, their unionism not being able "to save their bacon." In many instances, after the execution of Hunter's order, the plunderers returned at night and stole the remainder.
On their march beyond this county, they acted in the same fiendish way. At Lexington they burned the V.M. Institute and Professors' houses, save that of Gen. Smith, all the mills and manufacturing establishments on the point, near the bridge, the private residence of Ex. Gov. Letcher, and destroyed the office of the Lexington Gazette. They also burned the private residence and iron manufactory of John T. Anderson, Esq., in Botetourt, and as they proceeded towards Lynchburg left a track of desolation in their rear. We rejoice that by the timely arrival of troops in Lynchburg that city was saved the terrible ordeal of Yankee occupation. The enemy learning of the arrival of Earley, left that vicinity in hurried haste, and although our troops were anxious to overtake the invaders and moved with a vim, yet only occasionally could they get a meagre chance at the scared Yanks, many of whom were mounted on fresh horses stolen on their route, who rode and walked in turn with those on foot, and thus made it impossible to overtake them. Hunter is reported in Wheeling and has expressed his satisfaction at what he has accomplished. Nothing else could be expected from him. He has accomplished nothing as regards the overthrow of the Confederacy, having run away from the only point he could have materially damaged it, the immediate front of Earley, and is satisfied since he has robbed the people and burned their mills to starve them out. We consider him as mean, if it were possible, meaner than Beast Butler, having shown a disposition to surpass the latter's infamous course, but was forced to stop ere he had completed half the foul intent of his base and brutal mind.
The Vindicator, July 8, 1864, p. 2, c. 4
William J. Gum, the subject of this notice was killed in the battle of New Market, May 15th, 1864. Age 20 years 8 months and 15 days.
About the 27th of August 1862 he enlisted as a soldier in Co. H, 62nd, Regt. Va. Vols. He was a brave and patriotic young man, and nobly did he fight in defense of his country, until the bloody battle of New Market where he was struck by a shell from one of the enemies guns and died in a very short time. Thus died a man in the vigor of his strength, but he died not as many do without the hope of future felicity. In February last he became much concerned about the salvasion [sic] of his soul and sought an interest in the blood of Christ, and he was enable to rejoice from a sense of his acceptance with God and of sins forgiven. He united himself with the M.E. Church of which he lived a consistent member to the time of his death. Thus he lived and died, not only a soldier in defense of his country, but also a soldier of the cross of Christ, and is now reaping the rewards of the faithful in the kingdom of heaven, where wars and rumors of war are heard of no more, but where the sunlight of God's countenance shall be upon him for ever and ever. To the bereaved friends we would say, "hard as the trial and sorrows may be" trust in that being who holds in his own hands the destinies of nations as well as of men, and the afflictions that you are called to pass through in this world will be sanctified to your temporal and spiritual good, and you may meet with your loved ones again in the kingdom of eternal felicity.
The Vindicator, July 8, 1864, p. 2, c. 5
Ran away from the subscriber, near West View, Augusta county, on Thursday night, the 10th of June, a Negro man named,
about 19 years old, copper color, a white speck on the ball of one eye. He had on when he left a green slouch hat and a pair of capped boots. No other clothing recollected.
The boy was raised in Petersburg and is likely making his way in that direction.
I will give the above reward if delivered to me or secured so that I get him.
John Keller, Jr.
July 8--2t.
The Vindicator, July 15, 1864, p. 1, c. 6
In the House of Representatives on the 29th the Civil Appropriation Bill was under consideration. The Senate had proposed to amend the bill so that the 8th and 9th sections of the act to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port within the jurisdiction of the United States after the 1st of January, 1808, in which said sections undertake to regulate the coastwise slave trade, be repealed forever.
The Committee of Ways and Means recommended a concurrence.
Mr. Brooks, of New York, (Dem,) suggested the danger of interfering with the question of coastwise trade, which was now a monopoly in the hands of Americans exclusively. The public mind might be so agitated that changes would be made detrimental to commercial interests.
Mr. Davis remarked he believed the gentleman was mistaken as to the nature of the amendment; it only proposed to so interfere with the coastwise trade as to prevent the importation and transportation of slaves.
Mr. Mallory, of Kentucky, said if the Abolitionist could make any profits by continuing the slave trade they would do so.
Mr. Blaine of Maine, (Union) said the gentleman from New York (Brooks) would by his policy strike down protection to the navigating and commercial interests.
Mr. Brooks said that if there was free trade New York would vastly improve in all her material interests.
Mr. Blaine replied that the gentleman would strike down the laws of navigation in order that New York might be built up.
Mr. Cox said that the advantages of the coastwise trade was a contract between the North and South. The North has broken the contract, but holds the consideration.
Mr. Blaine said a Western Confederacy was talked of.
Mr. Cox said he never heard of it.
Mr. Blaine, in the course of his remarks said, a Western Confederacy could not be set up long enough to be kicked over, without an outlet to the ocean.
Mr. Arnold of Illinois, (Union,) said the gentleman from New York remarked some time ago, that Slavery was dead. Did he still think so?
Mr. Brooks replied that he was no undertaker or embalmer, to bury the body of Slavery.
Mr. Arnold asked, if slavery was dead, why continue the Slave trade?
Mr. Brooks replied, that the gentleman, like Don Quixote, was fighting a windmill.
Mr. Arnold said, he wished Slavery was a mere shadow; he was removing from the statute books all tracts recognizing Slavery.
Mr. Brooks, noticing some remarks of Mr. Blaine, said the latter was guilty of moral treason in saying that if the votes were taken, New York would give a majority of 30,000 votes for Jeff Davis. This would give aid and comfort to the rebels, and be paraded in the Richmond press.
Mr. Blaine asked how would New York decide between the Montgomery Constitution and the reelection of President Lincoln? Would she not prefer the former?
Mr. Brooks replied she wanted the Constitution of our fathers and no other.
The debate was terminated by order of the House, when the question was taken on the Senate's amendment, which was agreed to.
The Vindicator, July 15, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
Just when all Yankeedom is jubilant over the prospect of Grant's sure and certain capture of Petersburg and the consequent reduction of the Rebel Capital, and the daily journals are eagerly sought for the news of Grant's marching into starved out Richmond, comes the startling cry, from the upper Potomac, of a terrible Rebel invasion. Consternation is depicted in the face of Unionists and fear and trembling shakes their feeble knees. Nor is the alarm and panic allayed by the news from the threatened point. One report has it that Early with a large force is moving into Pennsylvania, another that it is only a small cavalry force bent on the destruction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Canal, both of which, (whether they are a handful or a multitude,) have been seriously damaged. Then they have it that Breckenridge heads this force of infantry and cavalry and that they number 15,000, and finally they have it that it is Ewell's and Longstreet's corps under the immediate command of Gen. R.E. Lee. That there is a multitude of reports flying which have not reached us may be seen from the following extract.
"A Chambersburg paper says that, in summing up the information gathered from various border sources by a large corps of reporters, "the rebels had crossed the Potomac at no less than twenty four different places, the previous afternoon, in columns from five to ten thousand strong, and that the main body had not yet reached the river," that according to all these reports, "not less than a million rebels were about to enter Pennsylvania;" that they had "maintained a line of battle twenty miles long all day Sunday, on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad;" that they had fired at the rate of fifteen cannon shots every second, and that, judging from the distance they were heard, some of the rebel guns "could not have been less than fifteen hundred pounders."
Since no one seems to be able to give them the desired information as to who the invaders are, we, in consideration of their late kind treatment to the people in the Valley, venture, in spite of all the Provost Marshals and Commandants of Posts in the Confederacy, to relieve their minds. Gen. Hunter, while in this county, received and had read to his troops official information of the evacuation of Richmond and its occupation by Grant. Grant wishing to make as much Bumcombe as possible has not desired this information to be given to the Yankee public yet and consequently it will be perceived that the last report they get from the threatened point is the reliable one, to some extent. It is not only Ewell's and Longstreet's corps but the whole of Gen. Lee's army, under his immediate command, which in the evacuation of Richmond, have been forced to cross the Potomac to avoid being surrounded and captured by the Victorious Hunter with Sigel as grand flanker. It is true that Lee has about a half a million or perhaps a million of men with him but they are so depressed at the loss of Richmond that Gov. Curtin's Melish can easily capture the whole of them. There now, don't be alarmed, Governor Curtin's Melish and Sigel's 100 day men are between you and danger.
The Vindicator, July 15, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
It will be seen from the several orders, published in to-day's paper, that the Reserves of the Valley are again called out.
We do not know what is the occasion of calling them out, but we do know that it is a source of great inconvenience to this section. They are mostly farmers, and have large crops out, which, even when they were absent a few weeks since, suffered very much. In the little respite since they were disbanded they have been assiduously engaged in saving their wheat crop, doing little or nothing with their corn, which they planted to their utmost capacity. As there is but little else than white labor in the Valley and no possible chance of working the corn crop, (now much in need of it,) if the Reserves are, at present, placed on duty, we felt it incumbent on us, not only as a duty we owe to the Reserves and those dependent on them, but also to the Confederacy, which will be greatly the loser thereby, to call the attention of those in authority to the state of the case here.
The circumstances east of the Blue Ridge may be such, for all we know, as not to be so much effected by the Reserves being called out, there being more labor and the crops maturing more early in that section, but here it works an exceedingly great hardship.
We are satisfied that the Commandant of Conscripts for Virginia, if acquainted with the state of the case here, (with which we opine he is not, but only acting for the good of the Confederacy from the facts in his immediate proximity, unless there is an emergency of which we are not cognizant and which we very much doubt,) could not make the hardship so great [illegible] people, who have been robbed of their supplies by the late Yankee raid and whose sole dependence is [illegible] the present promising prospect of abundant crops.
The Vindicator, July 15, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
The point of interest in the army of Gen'l Lee is now in front of Petersburg. Nothing of interest has transpired at that point during the last week. The Richmond papers assert positively that one corps of Grant's army has gone to Washington, and the impression prevails that more are going. In confirmation of the foregoing, authentic information has been received at Richmond that a large number of Transports have recently passed down the James River. The Northern papers inform us that the most intense excitement prevails in Maryland and Pennsylvania, (and no doubt in Washington) in consequence of a "Rebel" invasion, and it would not be at all strange that Lincoln regarding his own safety paramount to every thing else had perem[p]torily ordered Grant to Washington, to effect that object. While this may be mere speculation, there is no doubt some movemen[t] is going on in Grant's army, the character of which will be revealed in a few days.
From Northern Georgia, we learn that Gen. Johnston, in order to counteract a flank movement made in force by the enemy, withdrew his army on the 3d inst., from the vicinity of Marietta, and fell back to the line of the Chattahoochee River. With this river in his front, and a line of formidable breastworks prepared in advance for the reception of his army, he will be the better enabled to resist the advance of the enemy, and at the same time render the safety of Atlanta more secure.
An official Dispatch dated the 10th inst., from Gen Jones, says that Gen. Robertson attacked the enemy Saturday morning, and drove them from their position, with loss to us of 100 killed and wounded. Eenemy [sic] fell back to transports and passed to James and Morris's Islands. monitors and gunboats in Stone have been driven beyond effective range of our batteries--the monitor damaged. It appears that the force now operating against Charleston, is composed of all the available forces on the South Atlantic coast. Bombardment of Sumter heavy for several days--continues so.
By latest advices from Mississippi we learn the forces of Gen. Forrest were concentrating at Ripley, Miss., in order to meet Washburn, who was at and east of Lagrange, with a force of 18,000 men. It was not known with what force Gen. Forrest would be able to meet the enemy, though it was felt that a severe chastisement awaited him, as Forrest does not know the meaning of the word defeat. He was dismounting every man who was not well mounted and thoroughly equipped.
The Vindicator, July 15, 1864, p. 2, c. 3
The subscriber would announce to his patrons that the publication of the "Staunton Spectator" has been suspended since the date of its last issue, the 31st of May, in consequence of the destruction of the office by the enemy on the 7th day of June. He is making preparations to publish it again, and will do so as soon as it will be possible for him to obtain a suitable Press and the necessary materials. having had his Job Press repaired, he is again prepared to execute Job Work as heretofore. The enemy destroyed everything in the three stories of the building, and the Job Press is the only one that could be repaired--the others being, he fears, a total loss.
As the fabled Phoenix rises from its funeral pyre, so will the "Spectator," before many moons have filled their horns, rise from its heap of ruins--an eloquent monument of the enemy's Vandalism and cowardly dread of truthful utterances. They esteem an independent Press as more "terrible than an army with banners." They feel that, "the pen is mightier and will prevail"--hence their chivalric warfare upon Printing Offices.
The subscriber is pleased to learn that other Editors, in the line of the enemy's march of ruthless destruction, have not suffered so seriously as himself.
Richard Mauzy,
Editor and Proprietor.
The Vindicator, July 15, 1864, p. 2, c. 4
Taken away by the Yankee army from the Central Lunatic Asylum at Staunton, on the 9th and 10th of last June, the following named slaves hired to said Asylum by the following persons who have not yet returned.
Mary, a girl about 48 years of age, black skin, scar in the face, hired of W.D. Ewings of Augusta county,
Hannah, about 25 years of age, mulatto, scar on one eye, caused by a burn, hired from B. Jolly of Fauquier county,
Janetta, about 18 years old, dark mulatto, hired from Miss Laura Shefflect of Albemarle,
Jennie, about 18 years old, mulatto,
Lucy and 2 children, mulatto,
Susan, 20 years old, mulatto,
Peggy, about 65 years of age, dark mulatto, hired from Miss C.M. Shifflett of Albemarle county,
Julia, about 42 years of age, dark mulatto, hired from Benjamin Crawford of Augusta county.
Sarah, about 18 years of age, mulatto, hired from J.J. Winn of Albemarle county.
Laura, 20 years old, mulatto, hired from Miss F. Diggs, of Fauquier county.
Harriet and Child, between 30 and 40 years old, mulatto, hired from W.J. Shumate of Augusta county.
Joanna, aged about 40 years, mulatto,
Amanda, aged about 23 years, black, hired from R. Croper of Fauqueir county,
John, aged about 19 and Arch about 18, dark mulattoes, hired of Col. Franklin McCue, Agt. of Augusta county.
James, about 35 years old, mulatto,
Harvey, aged about 35, dark mulatto, hired from Clotom & Lynes, Ag'ts of Richmond,
Reuben, about 25 years of age, dark mulatto, hired from F.S. Pennybacker of Shenandoah county.
The rewards authorized by law will be paid for the recapture and delivery of said slaves or any of them, or for securing any of them in jail so that they may be recovered by the owners or the Asylum.
Samuel A. Hoshour
Steward of Central Lunatic Asylum.
Sentinel copy 4t and send bill to this office.
July 14--4t.
The Vindicator, July 22, 1864, p. 1, c. 6
We print below a document destined to become historic. The calm, dispassionate and truthful recital it gives of one of the most wanton and barbaric acts of the war needs no comment to awaken the indignation of every manly bosom. Our soldiers in Maryland, who are reported to have had in ashes the residence of the Yankee governor of that State, by way of retaliation, have given practical expression to the feeling of our people, and anticipated the judgment of mankind and the verdict of history. It is due to Gov. Letcher to say that this letter was written with no view to publication, and in response to a private communication addressed him by the Mayor of this city. The passages omitted relate to personal matters--Whig:
Lexington, Va., July 5th, 1864.
Finding the Yankees would take the town on Saturday (11th) I left home near midnight Friday night and went to Big Island, in Bedford, where I remained until Wednesday morning following, when, hearing the vandals had left, I returned I had previously heard that my house had burned, with all its contents. The threats made by the Yankees against me, for the past two years, satisfied me that they would destroy my house when they came to Lexington; but I always supposed they would allow the furniture and my family's clothing to be removed. In this, however, I was disappointed.
When the Yankees took possession of the town, Dr. Patton, medical director for Hunter's army, and who hails from Marion county, Va., went to my house, told my wife he was unwell, and said he must have a room in the house. He took the room, supped and breakfasted, and, when breakfast was nearly over, remarked, in a manner half-jocular, half-earnest, is Lizzie, that it was the last meal she would take in the house. Shortly after, he left, without taking leave of any of the family, nor was he again seen by any of them.
The threats made by soldiers on Saturday evening, induced my wife to fear the house would be burned, and she expressed her fears in the hearing of Dr. Patton and Capt. Towns of New York. Capt Towns very promptly said, that I, being a private citizen and the house being private property, burning it would be an inexcusable outrage, and proposed at once to go to Hunter's headquarters and ascertain. He went, and was directed by Hunter to assure my wife that the house would not be distur[b]ed--The sequel shows that the sole object of this assurance, was to quiet her apprehensions, and thus prevent anything from being removed. About half-past 8 o'clock A.M. (Sunday) Capt Berry and his Provost Guard rode up, and the officer called for my wife. She came to the door, when Berry informed her that he was ordered by Hunter to fire the house. She replied there must be some mistake, and asked for the order. He said it was a verbal order. She then said to him, "Can it not be delayed until I can see General Hunter?" The order is peremptory, he replied, and you have five minutes in which to leave the house. She then asked leave to remove her mother's, sister's, her own and her children's clothing, which was insolently refused. Immediately thereafter camphene was poured on the parlor floor and ignited it with a match. In the meantime, my daughter had gathered up an armful of clothing, and was going out when he discovered her, ran forward and fired the clothing in her arms. He then poured camphene in the wardrobes, bureau drawers, and ignited the clothing--taking out my clothing, which he said he intended to take North.
Every house on my lot was burned save a small grannery over my ice house. Not a particle of flour, meat, or anything edible was left, all having been carried off on Saturday.
My mother, now in her 78th year, lives on the lot adjoining my own having with her one of her grandchildren and a servant. After my property had been fired, the fiends fired her stable, located about forty feet from her house, with no other view than to burn her out also. The house caught twice, and would have been consumed but for the untiring effeorts [sic] of Captain Towns, who made his men carry water and extinguish the flames. This Captain behaved like a gentleman towards my own and my mother's family.
Generals Averill, Crook; Sullivan and Duffee denounced the whole proceeding as an outrage, in violation of all the principles of civilized warfare, and stated that Hunter alone was respo[n]sible for these atrocities.
I feel grateful to you and other kind friends in Richmond for their generous sympathy and kind tender of a home--There are no people on the earth who have been more uniformly kind than the good people of your city, and I assure you I appreciate their kindness, as does also my family. Accept our thanks for it. So soon as I can visit Richmond I will do so perhaps this month.
I am truly and in haste, your friend,
John Letcher
Joseph Mayo, Esq. Richmond, Va.
The Vindicator, July 22, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
The interest that has occupied the public mind for some days past, in regard to our army invading Maryland and Pennsylvania, has entirely subsided with the announcement that it had recrossed the river and is now on Virginia soil. What will be the future programme of this army, we do not know but feel perfectly satisfied, that Gen. Early will not remain inactive, but will, (after securing the booty obtained, and resting his troops for a short time) be on the march, in pursuit of the Yanks, ready and anxious to meet them where ever found.
From the army Gen. Lee in front of Petersburg, we learn all has been quiet for the past week with the exception of the enemy employing their pastime in throwing shells into City. The shelling thus far, has only resulted in the disfigurement of a few houses, and the annoyance of non-combatants. The Federal force sent by Grant direct to Washington is believed to be Hancock's second and Wright's sixth corps, together with Rickets 4th army corps, from Louisiana intended for Grant. The whole together according to Yankee accounts numbers between 30 and 40 thousand.
Whether they will remain in Washington, to guard the sacred personage of Abram Lincoln or return to Grant's army, time alone will determine.
The Atlanta papers of the 11th, state that our army crossed the river on the night of the 9th, and their lines are now about 4 miles north of Atlanta, extending to the right and left [illegible] the City, in order to protect it. The enemy were also engaged in crossing at two points on our right and left, and a battle was thought to be imminent, as it was supposed Gen. Johnson would attack Sherman before he could entrench on this side of the river. It is not expected that Atlanta will be given up without a fight. The impo[r]tance of the place as a base of operations and a depot for supplies, together, with the large amount of machinery located at that point, fully w[a]rrants this conclusion.
Since the above was in type, we learn that a part of the 6th and 19th corps with a portion of Hunter's force, pursuing Early, were allowed to cross the Shenandoah at Castleman's Ferry, when Gen. Early fell upon them driving them into and across the river. We lost about 300, the enemy lost about three times that number.
The Vindicator, July 22, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
The schedule of prices established by the Board of Commissioners for Virginia for the months of July and August, just published, gives great dissatisfaction to every class in the community. This dissatisfaction arises not from a reduction in the established prices but from a most extraordinary and ex[h]orbitant increase.
Just at the time, when money was more scarce than it had been for many months, owing partly to taxation and partly to the change in the currency, and a greater confidence was felt in the ability to reduce the volume and bring its value nearer to the gold standard, when the prices of produce were on a visible decline, not only here but throughout the Confederacy, and consequently every thing else was tending downward in price, the Commissioners, without even a plausible excuse, increase the prices, on some articles, 500 per cent.
It was presumed that the farming plans would have been delighted at the increase in the prices of their produce and that only non-producers would complain, but we have heard the greatest complaints from the farmers themselves. This increase, as the pretext is, was simply to stimulate the farmer to an early delivery of his grain, which is needed, and is only intended for the months of July and August and can be changed even for these months. We undertake to say that not 10,000 bushels of grain will be delivered over and above what would have been at the old schedule rates, since it could not generally have been thrashed before the middle of August, and large quantities of wheat had already been sold to the Government at from one fourth to one third the increased rates, deliverable when thrashed. This inducement so far from acting as a stimulus to speedy delivery will we fear have a contrary effect, (we hear of several who will not deliver their crops at the present rates,) for the farmers know that altho' the schedule may be altered after the expiration of August, yet prices once fixed, no matter for what purpose, are very ha[r]d to reduce, and the rise in the price of provisions is but the signal for the rise in other things. With the prices to continue six times as great as they were, the indebtedness of the Government will become six times as great also, and a more than proportionate tax must be levied to pay this increased indebtedness. They feel satisfied that this tax must be levied on the real and personal property, since the tax on businessmen now almost amounts to a prohibition, and a future tax on them will not only close their doors, but also deprive the Confederacy of the revenue accruing from this source, which is enormous, and throw the whole burden of taxation upon the producing lass, which increase in taxation they would not be able to meet with the advance received upon their produce.
The commissioners should assemble at once and remodel their schedule. It is an imperative duty they owe to the Confederacy and the farmers to do so. Both will be greatly gainers thereby.
The Vindicator, July 22, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
Our people have been eagerly on the alert for news from our forces in Maryland since they entered that State and great has been the desire to see retaliation for the acts of Vandalism committed by Hunter in our lovely Valley. The destruction of the residences of Gov. Bradford and Post Master General Blair in retaliation for the burning of the house of Ex-Gov Letcher and Colonel Anderson, meets with universal approbation.
While all were delighted at the near approach of our forces to Washington, not a little regret is felt by some on account of the failure to capture the city. The prey was surely in the grasp of Gen. Early, had he desired to seize it; but we presume, from his course, that he did not intend it.
It can not be doubted that, when the enemy were menacing our capital, and believed that all our available forces were defending it, and a column of thousands were rapidly thrown into Maryland, so quietly as to completely deceive their vaunted Grant, and threaten seriously the capital of our enemies, if it had been captured it would have redowned greatly to our credit abroad, but was not this credit gained by the movement made and the acknowle[dg]ment of the enemy that Washington could have been taken? However, would not the seizure Washington have enabled Lincoln to raise the vast number of men called for by an appeal to the people to rescue their capital?
As it is, our forces having withdrawn to this side of the Potomac, at leisure and of their own accord, the enemy being routed in the only instance in which they made a positive resistance, bringing off large supplies of grain, many horses, cattle and several hundred prisoners, &c., &c, without even a repulse, makes it one of the most successful raids of the war, and in the character of a raid fails to give that rallying cry for raising troops for Lincoln, which doubtlessly their authorities would have much desired.
We have amply paid them for Hunter's raid in the Valley and at a time when they had not forgotten the former. Our movement has made the enemy tremble throughout their dominions. It has given them an idea of what they may expect at any and every point. The secrecy with which it was conducted is commendable and should characterize any and all others.
The movement was a glorious one, may its consequent results be equally so!
The Vindicator, July 22, 1864, p. 2, c. 4
Left the subscriber on the 10th of June, with the Enemy, two negroes,
Bob is of dark brown color, between 25 & 30 years of age, 5 feet 8 or 10 inches high, with a scar on his breast, has rather a down look when spoken to. I will pay one hundred and fifty dollars for the apprehension and delivery of said negro to me.
Anderson is stout made, black and about the same height of the other boy and about 20 years of age. He belongs to the estate of D. Fishburn, of Waynesboro. I will pay all legal charges for the delivery of him to me near Staunton, or in jail so that I get him again.
John D. Brown.
July 23--4t.
The Vindicator, July 22, 1864, p. 2, c. 4
A negro man supposed to be about 25 years of age, tolerably dark complexion, about 5 feet in height and of pleasant countenance, smiling when spoken to, was wounded slightly about the knee and is near Hillsborough, Pocahontas county, Va. When wounded he was armed. He seems to be very conversant with persons and things professing to be free, is supposed to be the property of some one in that locality. The owner can get him by going to Hillsboro'. He is at the house of Mr. Kennerson, which is by no means in a safe locality. The owner is expected to pay for this advertisement.
The Vindicator, July 22, 1864, p. 2, c. 4
Left at Hightown, Highland county, at the house of Wm. Swadley, by the Yankees on their way to Beverly,
One boy about five years old, dark color, with a large scar reaching from the elbo[w] to the wrist on the left arm, caused by a burn, calls himself Hugh. One girl about same age and color, no marks, calls herself Lue, supposed to belong to some person near Middlebrook. The owner is requested to prove property, pay charges, and take them away.
The Vindicator, July 29, 1864, p. 1, c. 5
It really seems as if the justice of Heaven followed the retreat of Hunter's vandals. Taking from women and children the last morsel of food they possessed--in fact, wantonly destroying what they could not use-in the long retreat over the mountains the inhuman villains themselves suffered from hunger, and numbers died of starvation on the wayside. We published yesterday a paragraph from an Ohio paper, stating that Hunter had lost 8,000 men in his advance and retreat. The facts relative to Hunter's losses, and the just punishment that befell his followers, are making their appearance in the papers of the United States.
The following extracts are taken from the Columbus Statesman. After giving an account of their march through the Valley, the writer, a member of the 12th Ohio regiment, proceeds as follows:
On the morning of the 18th nothing occurred but skirmishing, except a demonstration of the enemy eleven lines deep made on our centre. Averill at the same time made an unsuccessful effort to burn the bridge in the vicinity of the city. On the evening of the 18th the army was ordered to retreat, and the line of march was taken up for the Kanawha Valley. Whether or not it was a retreat the narrator was not advised. The army marched about one hundred and fifty-eight miles to Gauley bridge, meeting a supply train some few miles before reaching the latter place. On the evening of the 17th, the army, while before Lynchburg, received its last rations.
During the retreat the soldiers received nothing except once each a handful of shelled corn. The report was current that twenty-seven men died from hunger on the march, three dying after receiving supplies, but from exhaustion unable to eat. The men marched the first night after leaving Lynchburg twenty-five miles, and continued to march night and day until reaching Gauley Bridge. A large number of men, unable to bear the fatigue, dropped down exhausted by hunger, hard marching and went to sleep. The number the writer could not ascertain, but it was very large. Nothing was found on the road to eat. Fruit was not ripe, not even whortle berries. The corn, if any in the country, could not be found. The cavalry horses had nothing but grass to subsist upon, and, as a consequence, a very large number of them fell down on the march exhausted. It was understood to be the order of Gen. Averill to shoot all exhausted horses, preventing them thus from falling into the hands of the enemy.
The army burned the Military Institute at Lexington, after rifling it of its library which was found to be very fine. He had in his possession one of the books. The railroad in the vicinity of Lynchburg was destroyed to a considerable distance, though the important bridge aimed at to be burned was too well guarded.
[This is the bridge across James river at Robinson's Mill. It was guarded by a section of the Lynchburg artillery and battalion of infantry. Two different movements were made against it--Ed. Virgn]
The Soldiers thought if General Hunter's intention was to take Lynchburg, he failed. If it was to destroy a portion of railroad and burn the Military Institute, he succeeded. The loss of men from all causes was very large. The loss of horses felt not short of four thousand.
While marching from Lynchburg, some two thousand or more of the soldiers became barefooted, and had to wrap up their feet with pieces of blanket. A number of negroes were taken on the route. A very large proportion of the negroes were furnished with horses, or were carried in wagons or ambulances. A soldier, whose feet were wrapped with pieces of blanket and exhausted from the march, halted a negro on a horse and took posses[s]ion of the animal. Gen. Hunter hearing of the fact, rode up to the soldier, ordered him to dismount, and horse-whipped him, placing the negro again upon the horse.
The retreat from Lynchburg was not in any order, General Crook told the men to make their way back as best they could. The whole army straggled, rather than marched, all the way from Lynchburg to Gauley.
The time of service of the 12th regiment expired while at Lynchburg. A portion of the regiment re-enlisted last winter. The larger portion have retur[n]ed home to be mustered out of service.
The Washington Repu[b]lican says:
An officer who accompanied Gen. Hunter in his recent raid in the direction of Lynchburg, informs us that the sufferings and adventures of the soldiers are scarcely paralleled in the history of warfare. On the return march hardly a blade of grass was seen for three days. The soldiers fed their horses with corn out of their hands, and ate only the grass that dropped to the ground. One informant saw men eating common tallow candles with a most extraordinary relish. Others dug up roots out of the ground and plucked buds from the trees for food.
The Vindicator, July 29, 1864, p. 2, c. 1
The calls of Lincoln for more men with which to strengthen his power in the North by subjugating, if possible, the people of the Confederate States have long since ceased to cause even a thrill of alarm in the Southern breast. We receive and repeat it as any other news from the North which is of but small moment to us, of which the Northern papers present a superabundance. The fact nevertheless exists. Lincoln has called for half a million more men. If these men are not forthcoming in fifty days a draft will be resorted to. But will they be forthcoming in the fifty days? It can scarcely be supposed that they will. The ardor of the North has been chilled by stern facts. According to their own showing, over two and a half millions of men have been raised to subdue the South, and now three millions, at least, ate acknowledged to be necessary to accomplish the work which was to have been completed by 75,000 in 90 days. It is and can be viewed in no other way by them than as a grand slaughter pen into which they will have entered, from which there is little hope to escape save by torturing disease or who death-dealing Southern rifle. The Governor of Massachusetts knows that from his state the men will not be forthcoming (and when Massachusetts, strongest for the war, will not furnish the men, what state will?) and has already ordered, in pursuance of an act of Congress of July 4th, 1864, that agents be sent to the States in rebellion to "find" and recruit negroes to be credited to that state. This would be a very humiliating confession for a Southern Governor to make by such an act, but it may save the lives of some of the people of Massachusetts and that is all he cares for Pride like honor has fled from them.
Lincoln himself has no idea of succeeding but consoles himself by saying that "if he fails he, at least, will have the satisfaction of going down with the colors flying."
We hope ere the fifty days expire such may be our success that the enemy may be perfectly willing to retire from the contest and leave us in undisturbed peace--but should they then attempt to drag forth the number of men called for, we have an abiding faith in the strength and valor of our noble armies and believe they will hurl back, discomfited and dismayed, all the vile hordes who may be driven at the point of the bayonet against them.
The Vindicator, July 29, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
Such has been the opposition to the recent schedule of prices established by the Commissioners for Va. throughout the State, that the Commissioners feel constrained to meet at an early day to revise the schedule by a reduction of prices. We trust that they may this time consult common sense, as well as persons from various portions of the State, who may or may not be interested, and give us a schedule which will be just and fair to all parties and will not destroy the effect of Congressional legislation by lowering the standard of Confederate Currency, but will rather aid it by appreciating the value of our money. We append the letter of the Commissioners:
July 22, 1864.
"The Board of Commissioners for Virginia will meet at an early day to revise their schedule of prices in regard to grain, flour, meal &c., with the intention of reducing prices. At our last meeting it was almost impossible to obtain reliable data upon which to found prices. In advising with gentleman from various portions of the State, we defer to the general opinions expressed by those we consult; nor do we derive our information alone from one class of our fellow-citizens, however respectable."
In this connection we call attention to the resolutions passed at a meeting of farmers and citizens held at the Court House, on Monday last, court day, published in another column.
The Vindicator, July 29, 1864, p. 2, c. 2
The same quiet for some days past, continues on the lines in front of Petersburg. Occasional shells thrown at the City, to gather with some picket firing constitute the total of recent hostilities in that direction. The report is current and is believed that the enemy has crossed a portion of one corps to the north side of James River near City Point for the purpose of preventing our artillery, firing upon their transports. It seems now to be a well ascertained fact. [illegible] resting upon the [illegible] road. This, like all former attempts of Ulysses, to take the [illegible] will prove a failure, and will only demonstrate more fully his utter incompetency to cope with Gen. Lee.
The news from Georgia as far as received is cheering. Gen Hood, scarcely installed as Commander in Chief, made a discovery not thought of heretofore by a commander of that army, that the enemy have flanks and a rear as well as himself. He very promptly took advantage of this discovery and the result proves, the driving them from two lines of their entrenchments, the capture of 2000 prisoners, 13 pieces of artillery and 18 stands of colours. Very good for a beginning, and augurs well for the future success of that gallant army. The Yankees commenced shelling the City without any notice being given to remove the women and children to places of safety. This barbarous violation of civilized warfare enabled him to murder only a few noncombatants.
Gen. Hood issued the following order to his troops.
Headquarters Army Tennessee,
In the Field, July 25.
Soldiers--Experience has proved to you that safety in time of battle consists in getting into close quarters with the enemy. Guns and colors are the only unerring indications of victory. The valor of troops is easily estimated, too, by the number of those received. If your enemy be allowed to continue the operation of flanking you out of position, our cause is in peril. Your recent brilliant success proves your ability to prevent it. You have but to will it and God will grant us the victory which your commander and your country so confidently expect.
(Signed) J.B. Hood,
General.
(On the 20th inst., Gen. Ramseur whilst on the move to attack the enemy beyond Winchester, his men at the time resting, was surprised by a large force of the enemy about 4 miles beyond that place, and compelled to fall back with the loss of four pieces of artillery and between 200 and 300 prisoners. Gen. Lilly of this place was wounded and fell into the enemy's hands.)
After Ramseur's unfortunate affair our army fell back this side of Winchester. On Sunday the 24th inst., General Early fought the enemy numbering 15,000, commanded by Gen. Crook, on the old Kernstown battle ground, in which he completely routed them, driving them through Winchester and five miles beyond. The streets of Winchester were again the scene of severe fighting. We learned that the enemy burned all their wagons, about 400, to prevent their falling into our hands and that we killed a great many and captured a large number, estimated by persons just from Winchester, as high as 2000.
The Yankee Gen. Mulligan, was mortally wounded and fell into our hands. Gen. Lilly, together with the other officers and men captured by the enemy on the 20th inst., was recaptured.
The Vindicator, July 29, 1864, p. 2, c. 3
A number of the Farmers and Citizens of Augusta County, having assembled at their Court House to take into consideration the schedule of prices recently established by the Commissioners for the State of Virginia, do hereby declare their earnest and unqualified disapproval of the notion of these commissioners. If that schedule be adhered to, it will lead to the Bankruptcy of the Confederate Government, or the repudiation of the debt for which its faith is solemnly pledged. Whilst the schedule is ostensibly, for the benefit of the fairness its advantages are altogether illusory. The extravagant prices in a depreciated currency, which are allowed for the present crops must be followed at an early day, (if the debt is over paid) by a system of taxation, which will, in the end, prove ruinous to the agricultural interest.
The publication of the schedule has already been fruitful of injurious consequences. Gold has risen, or in other words, Confederate money has been depreciated, fully 25 per cent and the feeling of distrust and insecurity has been greatly increased. As a necessary consequence, the prices of all provisions, and domestic supplies, have been enhanced, and in some parts of the state, farmers and others, refuse to receive the notes of the government on any terms. This single set of the Commissioners, has more than counterbalanced all the patriotic efforts of Congress and the Executive, to ameliorate the currency, and revive the credit of the government.
Its operation on the families of soldiers, and on all persons of fixed or moderate incomes, will be in a high degree, oppressive. Whilst Congress, by a recent law, sought to advance the interests of the soldiers, by increasing their pay about fifty per cent, the Commissioners have frustrated the beneficent purposes of Congress, by increasing the price of corn, flour and other necessaries of life, five hundred per cent!
An adherence to this schedule, must, soon swell the Confederate debt to an amount beyond the capacity of the people to pay. The debt of the government, is the debt of the people, and must be paid (if paid at all) by the people. But how can the people expect to discharge the debt, if more is paid for a single crop, than fee-simple value of the land which produced it. Examples can be found, in this county, in which the crops of the present year, will bring, at schedule prices, more than six times the original cost of the land on which they were raised!
Such a condition of things is well calculated to inspire, and has inspired, distrust and alarm, in the public mind, and no reverse that has yet befallen our arms, has caused as much despondency, or proved so injurious to the public credit, as this unwise and short-sighted act of the Commissioners.
The schedule may swell the nominal profits of a few large landed proprietors, but its effects on the non producers, and middle classes, will be sad indeed. The necessaries of life will be placed beyond their reach, and starvation and misery must be their lot, unless timely relief is afforded by its repeal.
The farmers, and other citizens of Augusta, do therefore, most earnestly protest against this extravagant, and ill advised schedule of prices. They believe that it would be better for the farmers to accept one third or one fourth of the schedule prices for their productions in the currency as it was before the schedule was adopted, than the full amount, in Treasury notes depreciated as they have been by than unfortunate measure, because they would then feel some assurance that the money would ultimately be of value.
What the farmers need, is not ex[h]orbitant prices, but a sound currency--exemption from unnecessary interference with their labour--protection from the lawless conduct of petty officers and a proper regulation of the rail roads so as to afford them ready access to market with their crops. If these are afforded--they hazard nothing in saying that the Valley counties can furnish all the breadstuffs, and a large portion of the other provisions and forage for the supply of the army of Northern Virginia.
In conclusion they earnestly invoke the President of the Confederate States to cause the commissioners, to be called together as promptly as possible, to set aside their extravagant schedule.
J. Marshall McCue, Pres't.
Hugh W. Sheffey, Sec'y.
The Vindicator, July 29, 1864, p. 2, c. 3
Ranaway from the Subscriber, living in Waynesboro, Augusta County, Virginia, on the morning of the 25th July, my negro woman
she is about 24 years old, quite short in statue and [illegible] cable heavy set no marks known (though she may be marked,) she may be known, certainly by her speech, which is sharp, quick, almost unintelligible, particularly when excited.
She took with her a Cotton and two Calico dresses, a Calico sun bonnet and shaker bonnet trimmed with blue and white fig'd goods.
I will give the above reward to any persons who may secure Mary, so that I get her again.
F.E. Dellinger.
Wa[y]nesboro July 20--1 mo.
The Vindicator, July 29, 1864, p. 2, c. 4
Office Recorder Virginia Forces,
Richmond July 15, 1864.
Gentleman: The accompanying circular will explain the prominent object for which this office was established. Another duty has been committed in it, and to that I ask your attention.
For some time past the newspapers of the county have been filled with accounts from every part of the Confederacy penetrated by the invader, and especially from the different sections of the State of Virginia, charging that the enemy's soldiery, and particularly, their raiding parties, are making war upon the unarmed and defenceless of this community, ravaging the country, and inflicting upon the people every species of insult and injury. Among the offences thus charged are, so devastating the country as to render it unfit for the habitation or sustenance of its resident population, abducting our negro slaves, and arming them against us; burning dwellings, mills, factories, records, seminaries, printing offices, libraries and works of art; breaking up fences, roads and bridges; desecrating churches; taking such private property as can be carried off and destroying what cannot be; stripping families of the necessaries of life; imprisoning and inflicting personal injury upon unarmed citizens--and worse than all, offering insult, outrage and violence to defenceless women.
These accounts have recently become so numerous, come from so many different quarters and the offences charged are so flagrant, that the Governor of Virginia, considering it necessary to have them fully investigated, has instructed this office to carefully ascertain what wrongs and injuries, contrary to the rules of war, have been committed upon the people of Virginia, prepare a properly verified narrative thereof, and preserve it among the records of this office.
This is a work which can be properly performed only by the people who are injured, and each country should make up and sent to this office a record of the wrongs committed within its limits, preparing its narrative carefully, sustaining each item by proper and sufficient evidence, and putting it into such shafe [sic] that it can be readily referred to. The county authorities should see that this record is promptly and properly made, and the people generally should ascertain all the facts and obtain all the evidence within their reach.
The county court is the custodian of the business interest and welfare of the county--the assertor of its rights, and the vindicator of the wrongs done to its people. Its members, usually the best business men of the county, come from its every section--are familiarly acquainted with all the people, are the friends and advisers of most of them in matters of business and periods of trouble and distress, and aggregate a greater influence and more general knowledge of all, whether of good or evil, which concerns the county people, than any other equal number of its citizens. The county court, then, is clearly the source from which this action should spring.
These views and the plan herein after set out, are approved by His Excellency Gov. Smith, and under his instructions I lay them before you, with the request that you will make such orders and take such action as will instruct the prompt preparation of such a record in your county.
Should no better plan occur to you, permit me to suggest the following: By the proper order of court assign to the magistrates of each district the duty of preparing the record, and taking the evidence of all outrages committed by the enemy within that district. Let them notify the people of the district when and where to come before them what is to be perpetuated, and by what testimony, so that before the time appointed facts may be collected, citizens can write out what they know and can prove and what is known to and can be proved by their neighbors. At each term of the court let each district send in what has been prepared, and directly after each term let all so sent in be so copied as to admit of being made into a book here, be certified by the clerk under the seal of the court, and forwarded to this office. If you will pursue this course, the work can rapidly and surely done with little labor for any one person, and all that relates to your county will be made into a separate book and preserved here, while the originals will remain among your county records.
Within your limits are many refugees from counties now in possession of the enemy and likely to remain so for a considerable time. Many of these are said to be the victims of wrong, and to know of many other cases. Let me request that those [illegible] and their evidence be also taken and certified by you and the originals forwarded to this office.
As reclamation may hereafter be made for property taken or destroyed by the enemy, it will be for the interest of the owner that the taking or destruction should when possible, be also proven by other persons that the owner.
In making up these statements, wherever it can be done, please state the company, regiment or force by which these wrongs have been committed, and the officer commanding the force, so that they may be fixed upon their immediate perpetrators.
In some cases the enemy has been guided, aided or encouraged by persons who then or previously resided in the state. In such cases please set out all the facts distinctly, with such description of the person as will thoroughly identify him.
In meeting these acts of the enemy many evidences of heroism, devotion and courage have been exhibited, especially by disabled soldiers, clergymen, old men, women and children--and many such have in various ways, during this war, often at great personal hardship and peril, rendered signal service to their country, and entitled themselves to a high niche in the temple of fame. These are jewels in the coronal [sic] of Virginia's honor too bright to be lost, and I beg that you will carefully ascertain and faithfully record all the details of these noble acts. Please send them to me separate from the history before desired, for such a bright record should not be bound in the same book with any thing disgraceful or unworthy.
I shall be pleased to hear from you that this work has been commenced, and will be happy to see any one interested in the subject at the Record Office, and furnish all the aid in the matter which it can render.
Very respectfully,
Your most ob'dt serv't,
Jos. Jackson, Jr.
Recorder Va. Forces.
Virginia: At a court held for the county of Augusta, at the Court-house on Monday, the 25th of July 1864.
The court having had read to it a communication from Jos. Jackson, Jr. Recorder of the Virginia Forces in respect to the perpetuation of testimonies proving outrages committed by the public enemy and other matters, it is ordered, that said communication be published in the newspapers printed in Staunton for the information of the justices; and the court approving the suggestions contained in said communication it is further ordered, that each justice be requested to take the testimony and statements indicated in said communication and to report the same as promptly as practicable to the Clerk of this court who is hereby directed, in such form as may be suggested by said Recorder, to copy or have copied the evidence, statements and matters so reported to him; and the said clerk is authorized to purchase the paper necessary for the purposes aforesaid on account of the county; and the court will hereafter appropriate the money necessary to pay the Clerk a reasonable compensation for his labor and expenses in executing this order.
A Copy, Teste,
William A. Burnett, Clerk.
July 29--2m.