Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1813-10-07

:" to calry on war with every attention to
the unfortunate individuals in whose imme
date vicinity militarysoperauon NAV take
place" Such sentiments can, alone give
splendor to courage and corfer honor on
military skill Worthless IS the laurel
stepped in female tears, and iossaAs. the
conquests Will have inflicted nee ss'woe
on the peacefI AND unresisting. I've frank
ness with which you admit the excuses at
Hampton is a guarantee against the repeti
ton 90
cannot doubt, sir, your Conviction that
the scene described by you at Craney island
was really acted. But by the very reason
it appeared to you incredible and inhuman,
it should have been unauthorized Your
own perception OF propriety shall decide, if
facts should not have been ascertained and
redress demanded, before retaliation was re-.
sorted to retaliation too extravagant In
its measure, applying not to the perpetra-
tors of the alleged offence on their colnAdes,
but to the innocent and helpless. have
reason to think that you are mistaken In
your impressions of the conduct of our troops,
at Cr4Eey lsland--that they waded into the
waters on the sinking Of your boat, is3frde
securing beir conquest and assisting the
perishins lone person, perhaps more, was
shot, but it was only for a continued effort
to escape, after repeated offers of safety on
surrender--such at least is the representa-
ton made to me. If however your yielding
troops have been butchcred, it is due to the
honor of our arms to disclaim and punish
the enormity. The fame of my country
shall never be furnished by such conduct in
the troops under my command have to-
day ordered an enquiry into the facts, by a
board of field oifcers--proper measures
shall be taken to punish whatsoever Of i'm.
propriety may have been committed | fiat
ter myself you will perceive IN these mea-
surcs a disposition to afford no cause of re-
proach IN any future conflict. When we
meet, let us combat as soldiers, jealous of
the honor of our respective countries, AMI
Gus 10 surpass each other as well in magma
ninlity as in courage.
coa @sdsf., on j e ssAsss :. ny -
lSgneD ls01ERT B. TAYLOR
! Brig Gen. command
To Sir Sidney Beckwith, al Ben
commanding the land ford Or
Il. Nj Hampton Roads.
S: 5ou AIDED
Extract Of a adler General Taylor
to y War. dated
M5rfolk, Cd July, 1918.
! enclosed, as vas promised yesterday,
copies ofthe letters written to Admiral War
rem and Gen. Beckwith. NV aid who car
ried them down yesterday, brought back
letter from Admiral w kp, (which
copy Is enclosed, and ha tatement
OF what occurred in his CO .e with the
General.
The letter of the. Admiral, though polite,
is certainly not responsive to any thing
which has occurred and the. conversation
with the General, though equally civil, is
obviously designed to prevent any further
discussion of the subject. From the report
ofpfisoners and deserters, there is too much
reason TO believe, that before the attack on
Craney Island, the cupidity of the troops
had been excited by promise of the pillage
of1o1o4t01<; to infame their resentment af-
lure, and to keep alive the hope
OF at Norfolk, there is much reason
to - TAT our troops have numerically
been charged with misconduct at Craney
Island, and that made pretext for their
excuses and their conduct at Hampton II
entertain no doubt of the justification of the
honor and magnanimity of our men, by the
report of the board Of officers do not
mean that the subject shall drop, but when
communicate the report, shall leave the
British Commander the alternative, either
of adopting similar measures in his own ar
my or remaining under the imputation of
having excited their troops to commit these
excuses. Our troops are highly infamed
Notes for Captain Myers ia his interview with
Admiral Warren.
A defenceless and unresisting town has
been given up to indiscriminate pillage--
though civilized war tolerates this only as
to fortified places carried by assault, and af
ter summons.
individuals have been stripped naked-a
sick man sta hhed txvica in the hosntal.--a