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

accompanying the Report ofd Commit
tee ofthe House Of Representatives. p-
pointed to inquire into the spirit and
manner an zchich the Scdr has been gcd-
ged by the enemy.
Extract of Letter from General Taylor to Admit
raj Warren, dated Head Quarters, Norfolk,
29th June, 1873
6 have heard with grief and astonish-
ment of the excuses, both to pspperty and
persons, committed by the land troops, who
took possession of Hainpton.--The respect
l entertain for your personal character leads
me to make known these excuses Ii would
not become me to suggest what course of
enquiry and punishment is due to the honor
of your arms.--But the world will suppose
those acts to have been approved, if net ex-
cited, which are passed over with IMMUNITY
do not however deprecate any measures
which you may think necessary or proper
but am prepared for any species of warfare,
which you may be disposed to prosecute
1t is for the sake Of humanity enter this
protest.
We are in this part of the country mere.
~ In the noytiate Of our warfare The
characterit will hereafter assume. whether
Of inildness or ferocity, will materially de
pend on the first operations of our arms and
| on the personal character and dispositions
of the respective commanders. For myself.
| assure you most solemnly, that i neither
have authorized, nor will sanction any out
rage ON humanity or the laws of Ncivilized
warfare. On the contrary, | think it due
no less to my personal honor than to that
of my country, to repress and punish every
Isexeess-i hope that these sentiments will be
efeciprocated 1t will depend on you whe-
| thel the evils indeparabe from a state of
war, shall in our operations, be tempered
| by the mildness of civilized life, or under
your authority be aggravated by all the
| iiend-like passions which can be instilled in
| to tlem.o
ApaIRAL WARREN TO GENERAL TAyLon
His Britannia Majesty's ship San Domin-
60, Hampton Roads, Chesapeake Bay,
June go, 1918.
SIR, ! have to acknowledge the receipt
| of your letter of this day, stating that YOU
| had communicated to your government the
proposal of-an exchange of prisoners, and
nlso that some excuses had been committed
k<he troops in the late affair at Hampton
communicated to my friend, sir Sid
n1<1Gth,i the commander of his ma
onshose,6this part ofroar let
l.ukbeg leav6Sto ass1if6 You that us nv.
to-alleviate the mistortunes of the war
against my country, by every
s. NY power at the same time |
prepared to meet any result that NAV
ensue between the two nations
have the honor to be, &c
| s(Signed) JOHN B. WARREN,
Admiral Of the blue, and commander
in chief
Brigader General Taylor, commanding the
United States forces at Hampton.
Il true copy.-JAMEs MAURICE, Major,
acting assistant Adiutant General
SIR SIDNEY BEcKwiTH TO GENERAL TAY-
LoR.
His Majesty's ship San Domingo
June 90, 1878. -
SIR, Admiral sir John Warren Having
communicated to me the contents of your
letter, l lose no time in assuring ron, that
your wish cannot exceed mine to carry on
war with every attention to the unfortunate
individuals, in whose Immediate vicinity
military operations may take place. In this
spirit shall vie with you to the utmost At
the same time ought to state to you, that
the excuses of which you complain at
Hampton were occasioned by asproceeding
OF SO extraordinary nature, that if l had
not been an eye witness, could not have
credited it. At the recent attempt on era
ney Island, the troops in barge sunk by
the fire of your guns clung to the wreck of
the boat Several Americans, assure YOU
most solemnly, waded off from the island,
and in presence of all, engaged fred upon,
and shot these poor fellows. With feeling
natural to such proceeding the men of that
corps landed at Hampton.
That occurrences of that kind may never
occur again, and that the troops of each