Washington telegraph., 1862-08-20
no. %.
RetaliatiOu Cen. Cooper's Order.

Retaliation Gen, cooper's Order
Richmond, Aneu-t Imp rant gen-
eral order NJ. 5t, from The Aliatsni ami
Inspector t4ener4ls oitcc, Will be publish
rl ia Monday.
Tic first article states that the follow
ing ories i. published for the information
and oLservanc" of all concerned. The
second reiteratc. lhe order issued by the
Secretary Of War of the United States,
directing military commanders, that the
government viii >iczo the property belon-
inr 10 the Inhabitants Of this Confederacy
and states no provisions are made for any
compensation to the owners Of private
property thus sicZcl-
The third article quotes General Pope's
rcce NJ order for the arrest Of all disloyal
male citizens, who are to be required to
AXE tho oath Of allegiance, or be conduct
I'd beyond the lines. ect.
Tnu fourth article recite< the order Of
Gen. Stainuhr, for the arrest Of five Of the
most prominent citizens Of Page county,
Virgins, to be held as hostages and suffer
death IN event any soldiers of said Stein>
urh bein. skot bT bn~hwhackers, by Which
rns arc meant citizens VI Til Coated. racy
whD have taken up arn> "a defend their
4 homes and famIii.s The other three ar
/ ticles arc as lci"ws:
Whereas. il results from the above or
rirr Tint some at fha u.iirlrv authorities
~ THE United @tat.- WIFI Z lnielr with the
uilr>f q ..;re--i.a ..f.ea i=g,hlt,re wa
god @iri. s.ya-e cruelty against IN a.
Ufttnl.n. .,anpie, ,xrperate4 By the fail
urc If their ehirf- fp >Hhilgate them have
NOW l"t-rnincd ID viol4e all rules ami
u>n.e> III war. aud convert the hpstilities
hitherto waved against armed forces into
a : an.r. in Of robbery and murder against
unnruod citizen. ana peaceful tillcrs of
the -ril.
Whereas lHs government. hound bv
the highest obligations Of duty to its cit
izen>. j. thus driven to the necessity of
adopting, uch Just measures of retributiOn
and retaliation rs shall seem adequate 10
reprass and punish these barbarities
Whereas the orders above reciLed have
only been published ard made known 10
this government since the signatures TO
the cartel in so far as it provides for an
exchange Of prisoners hereafter captured,
wOull never have been signed III agreed ID
by this government if tile intention to
change the war into a System ofindescrim-
innate marder and robbery, had been made
known to IL.
Whereas = Just re- ri to humanity
fOrhij- thar the repression Of crime which
tbs Government is thus compelled to en-
force. should be unnecessarily extended
in retaliation on tie enlisted in the army
ct rne United ;<fatcs who may be unwi.l
inF instruments Of the savage cruelty Of
their commanders, 50 long as there is hope
that the excuses Of the enemy may be
checked or prevented by retribution on
commissioned Officers who have the pow
er q avoid guilty action by refusing SER
vice under a government which seeks
ihei. ali II the perperraIion Of such in
famous baIbari,ics.
Therefore il IS erdered that Major Cen
eral l'cPe, Brigadier- General Steinrhr,
and all commissioned officers serving un-
dlr their respective commands, be. and
they hereby aro cTpressly aud specially de-
eiarej 10 u. be entitled TO the benefit of
the cartel FIR parole Of future prisoners of
war Uidefe further, in the event Of
rhe c.Pture Of Major General Pope or
Brieadier-Gcncrfl Steinuhr. or any COM
ml-,loned officer serving under them, the
resro.live officer taken shall be held in
r.nsc confinement 80 long rs the orders
aforesaid shall continue 10 force and are
respected BY the competent military au.
th,riiies Of the United States, aud that
III the event Of the murder Of any un-
armed citizen or inhabiiant of this Con-
feirraov. BY virtue Or under prntert of
any NJ the orders hrreinbefore recited
whether with Or without trial, whether
under preience of such citizen being spies
or hostages or on any other pretence, IL
shall be the duiyof tie COMMANDING gen.
eral Of the forces Of this Confectionery to
cause Immediately Il b. hung, out Of the
commissioned officers, prisoners as afore-
said, number equal to the number of cur
own citizens that have been murdered by
the enemy.
3y order, signed =. COOPER.