St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-08-01
Virginia Refugees.

\ writer at Fails Church, Va, says,
yesterday a large number of refugees
came into camp, forced to accept the
alternative of serving in the Confed-
crate army or fleeing to the Federal
protection. They have tales of hor-
ror, which will stir the blood of every
true patriot. Among the number is
gentleman by the name of Hall, who
years ago came from Western New
York and settled near Fairfax. Last
Spring he was q Union man and
raised the stars and stripes. When
the Ohio troops made the disastrous
advance upon Vienna, some one noti-
fed them Of the battery in ambush,
and rumor said he was the man. lie
was arrested by his accusers, his
hands and arms tied, and was taken
to Fairfax. Several charges were
made against him that he gave the
notice, raised Lincoln flag, gave
provisions to the Ohio troops when
they carried off their wounded. lie
was told that he had but two hours
to live, and he had better say his
prayers. At the expiration of one
hour he was informed that he had but
sixty minutes of life. A blood-thirsty
set of South Carolinians gathered
round him as he lay on the ground,
hands and feet tied, swearing and
using the most horrible oaths, level
ing their guns at him, saying that in
50 many minutes they would riddle
him with bullets aud chop him into
mince meat. At the expiration of the
hour an officer told him he was re-
prieved till morning. The South Car
olinians stood outside the tent greatly
enraged. He heard them lay a plot
to shoot him as soon as it was dark,
through the walls of the tent, but he
was spared such a death. lie was
kept sixty hours without food thus
confined. lie was closely guarded
He was refused a trial After twelve
days durance, by aid of friend he
obtained release.
No language can convey the devil
ish malignity Of the South Caroinians
against all Northern men. The vocab-
ulary of the bottomless pit only will
serve them when speaking of North
ern born man. They have also a poor
opinion of the prowess of Nirginians.
Mr.. Hall overheard Col. Gregg remarl.
to brother officer that 1.-the ID
Nirginians couldn't be trusted they
hadn't any fight in them "a remark
which, now that we give it publicity,
we hope will be duly appreciated by
the chivalry Of the Old Dominion.
The hot fire eaters Of the South fear
the Yankees, as is manifested by their
malignant hate, but they despisc the
Nirginians.
1t would require several columns
to narrate the experiences of Mr.. Hall,
who, in common with others now under
the protection Of the stars and stripes,
were notified yesterday to appear at
Fairfax on Wednesday, with such
arms as he had, clothes for six months,
and three days rations. AS soon as
the sergeant was gone, Mr.. Hall took
a short cut through the woods to our
camp and is now ready to report at
Fairfax. He will be there at day
break, armed and equipped, ready to
report himself to any commanding
officer Or private who may be there.
Your readers, sitting by their peace
full tiresides, unrestraincd, following
their avocations at will, can have no
adequate idea of the terrible despo-
tism which these rullians exercise.
They are lost to all sense of honor
They have become barbarians in their
mode Of warfare. There is one Frank
Williams, an excellent marksman,
with long range rifle, with seven
marks on on it, the tally of the num-
Der Of Federal pickets he had picked
off on dark nights. lie crawls stealth
lily upon the sentinel standing at his
post, fires, and then takes to his heels
like the coward he is.