Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-02-26
Burning our Towns.


A correspondent at Hillsboro' sends US the two
following notes for publication upon subject of no
small Importance. We do not undertake to say
what our people should do in all cases. but there is
much force in the views of our correspondent, and
we incline to the opinion, that the destruction of
Southern property by ourselves ought to be confined
to that species alone which the enemy might or
remove to his advantage. War justi6esa resort to
any and to all measures usually resorted to by civ.
lzed nations to possess distress the enemy, but
the burning of our towns which he cannot or will
not make permanent residence Of, really distresses
and Injuries ourselves more than it ever can our
enemy. Our correspondent says:
The inhabitants Of Elizabeth City putting the
torch to their dwellings meets with so general ap
probation that it likely it may lie adopted as
principle of action required by patriotism in all
similar emergencies. The policy and propriety Of
the act are questionable. There may be exception
al cases. War itself is an act of violence-an
appeal from law to force. Of course its laws are
not very we'll settled. With a view, therefore, of
eliciting light and determining what is best to be
done with our cities, when circunstanced as Eliza
beth City. raise the following difficulties:
b. l. Does not the burning Of their homes, under
the circumstances mentioned above do their owners
more harm than to the enemy2 Since enough
houses almost always escape to afford the latter
comfortable quarters, certainly they are sufficient
if they are eked out by the tents and huts which
they can easily erect Again, as we do not antici-
pate that the enemy will remain long in any of our
towns which they may take, their houses will be
needed by the returning fugitives and if they have
previously to their flight fired them they will be pre-
vented from returning, ct least until their town is
rebuilt. What then? They must be taken care
of, that is, be burden to their friends. Thus it
seems to burn ourselves out of house and home is
to do an injury to our friends.
g. Do we not wrong posterity by destroying,
under the influence of supposed necessity, or per-
haps of resentment houses which ought to be trans
mitted to them?
g. Will not the owners of these burnt houses, or
their heirs hereafter prefer claims the Confeder
ate government for reimbursement on the double
plea that they had been burnt on the ground of mil
itary necessity, and that the government was bound
to protect and save the lives and property of its
citizens?
The memorable case of the burning of Moscow,
during NapoeOns invasion of Russia in 1912, is
cited as precedent and sublime exhibition of pa
triotlsn; but Moscow the religious capital the
centre of vast extent of country, the military key
of the Empire of great strategcal Importance, the
destination of Napoleon's vast host where he in
tended to 80 into winter quarters. 1t therefore be-
came apparent to the military councils of Russia
that if they deprived him OF that shelter, his army
must fall the victim of the cold and SHOWS of that
rigorous clme accordingly, the Governor ordered
the torch to be put to the city. When we have a
city thus circumstanced let US initiate their exam
pie; but it is very doubtful whether We can have
one thus taken, and at the same time be the pivot
which the safety or destruction Of whole coun-
try turns"
February Is, 1862.
In hic cecnpd pofa he cave.
"On the 18th instant suggested certain objec-
tons to the policy, which to be gaining favor
of burning cities and towns about to fall into the
hands of the enemy. Let ME be understood. My
objections do not lie against the act of burning, when
determined on by military council as military
necessity. But am so we'll satisfied that the pop
ular feeling in favor of these voluntary conhagra.
tions Gas shown in the burning of Elizabeth City
and the reported attempted burning Of Edenton) is
wrong, that must request you to append this note
to the communication above referred to- To many
undecided minds it will be sufficient to intimate this
momentous objection, that such acts can seldom be
unanimous; consequently bone of contention will
be thrown into our midst that may greatly divide
and weaken U.s. Indeed, it is reported that this ac
tually happened in Elizabeth City-one party ex
tingushing the fires which The others had put to
their dwellings. Be this as it may, the alternative
will be frequently presented during this war, and
this and the communication referred to are written
to elicit light on the subject"
! Hillsboro', Feb II. 1862.