Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-11-21
Occupation OF AccOmac and North
amptOn Counties.
PROCLAMATION OF GENERAL DIX

PROCLAMATION OF GENERAL DIN.
BALTIMORE, Nov. 18th. - About 1000
troops, including Minis Boston battery, will
march from Snow Hill, Md, into Accomac
and Northampton counties, Va, to-day. Ac-
comac is prepared to array itself tor the
Union, but Northampton shows fight.
The following proclamation from General
Dix has been sent in advance Of the expedi-
To the People Of 1iccomac and northampton
Counties, Virginia.
The military forces of the United States
are about to enter your counties as a part Of
the Union. They will 60 among you as
friends, and with the earnest hope that they
may not, by your OWL acts be forced to be-
come enemies. They will invade no rights
of person or property. On the contrary,
your laws, your institutions and your usages
will be scrupulously respected. There need
be no fear that the quetude of any freside
will be disturbed, unless disturbance is caused
by yourselves. Special directions have been
given not to interfere with tho condition OF
any persons held to domestic service, and in
order that there may be no ground for mis-
take or pretext for misrepresentation, the
commanders of the regiments and corps have
been instructed not 10 permit any such per-
sons to come within their lines.
The command of the expedition is en-
trusted to Brigader General Henry II. Lock-
wood, Of Delaware, a State identical in some
of the distinctive features of social organiza
ton with your own, and portions of his force
came from counties in Maryland bordering
on one Of yours. From him and from them
you may be assured of the sympathy Of near
neighbors as well as friends, if you do not
repel it by hostile resistance and attack.
Their mission is to assert the authority of
the United States, to reopen your inter-
course with the loyal States, and especially
with Maryland, which has just proc aimed
her devotion to the Union by the most tri-
umphant vote in her annals; to restore to
commerce it's accustomed guides, by re-es-
tablishing the lights to your coast; to afford
you free export for the products of your
labor, aud free ingress for the necessaries
and comforts of life which you require in ex-
change, and, in word, to put an end to the
embarrassmcnts and restrictions brought
upon you by a causclcss and unjustifable
rebellion.
If the calamitics of intestine war, which
are dcsolating other districts Of Virginia, and
have already crimsoned her fields with fra
ternal blood fall upon you, it will not be the
fault Of the Government. 1t asks only that
its authority may be recognized. 1t sends
among you force too strong to be success
fully opposed force which cannot be re-
sisted in any other than spirit of wanton-
ness, and malignity. Ii there are any among
you who, rejecting all overtures of friendship,
thus provoke retaliation, and draw down
upon themselves consequences which the
Government is most anxious to avert, to
their account must be laid the blood which
may be shed, aud the desoation which may
he brought upon peaceful homes. On all
who are thus reckless of the obligations Of
humanity and duty, and on all who are
found in arms, the severest punishment war;
ranted by the laws of war will be visited.
To those who remain in the quiet pursuit of
their domestic occupations, the public au
thorites assure all they can give, peace, free
dom from annoyance, protection from foreign
and internal enemies guaranty Of all con-
stitutional and legal rights, and blessings Of
q just and parental government.
80, [Signed] JOHN A. Dix,
! n Major General Commanding.