New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-11
They Feel the Force Of Gen. Pope'S Orders.
A GENERAL ORDER FOR RETALIATION.
Gems. Pope and Steinwebr to be Held as
Hostages when Captured.
LETTER FROM JEFF. DAVIS.

THE following appeared in . portion Of Edition Of
WARRINGTON. Friday. Aug /, l962
The Richmond Despatch Of Monday the 4th says:
day of retribution is at hand for the outrages
which have long characterized the conduct Of the
enemy in the prosecution of The war.
ADJurAsT AND IssPEcToR-GKsKRALs OYYIcR
KIcHEoSD. Aug l. 1872. J
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 81. The following or
ders are published for the information and observ
apce Of all concerned:
9. Whereas, BY general ORDER dated ODD July,
1862, Issued by the Secretary OF War Of the United
States under the order Of The President OF the Uni.
ted States, the military commanders Of that Govern.
men, within the States Of Virginia, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florids, Alarams, Mississippi Louisiana,
Texas, and Arkansas are directed to seze and use
any property, real or persoDal, belonging TO the in-
habitants of this Confederacy, which my be necA-
ssry or convenient for their several commands and
10 provision If made for any compensation TO the
ownrrs Of private property thus seized and appro-
prlaed by the military commanders of the enemy;
s. aud rhertds, by general order No. III,
Issued, on the I'D of July, 1862 by MaJ0r-Cen.
Pope, commanding the forces of the enemy III North
ern Virginia. it Is ordered that all commanders If
any Amy corps, divisions, brigades, and detached
commands Will proceed Immediately to arrest all dis
10y al male citizens within their limits within their
reach in the Of their respective commands;
sucn ne are Hing TO take The oath Of allegiance to
tho United States, and Will furnish sufficient
uritles for its Observance, shall be permitted 10
enaln at TIER houses, and pursue IN good faith tier
accustomed syocarioLs; u ose who refure shall he
conducted south, beyond the extreme pi kets OF this
army, and be notified that, If found again anywhere
within our lines. or at any point in the rear, they
viii lie con,idered as spice, and subjected TO the
IRENE rI.or Of military law; If any person, having
taken the oath Us above specified, he found To have
violated it, he shall be shot, and his property seized
and applied 10 the public use;
4. Ard Nierea., BY IN order issued on the 18th
of July, 1862 by Brig Gen. a. Stenwehr, Major
William Steadman, a cavalry officer OF bis brigade,
has been ordered 10 arrest hive OF the moot promi-
nent citizens Of PAGE County, Va, ~ be held AS
hostages. and to tu death in the event Of any Of
the soldiers Of said Stelnwehr beiDg shot by bush
whackers, by winch term is meant the citizens Of
the Coniederacy who have taken up arms 10 defend
their homes and families
). Aad rhoTtdS II results from the above orersthat
some OF tile military Authorities of the United States,
not content with the unjust and aggressive warfare
hitherto waged with ravase cruelty Against al un-
of, Bding people, and exssperated by the failure
OF TIER efforts TO sublugaie them, have deter.
mined TO violate all the rules and usiges Of war,
and TO convert the hostties hitherto waged against
armed forces with a campaign OF robbery and muir
der against unaImed citizens and peaceful tillers II
the soil.
6. Aad whereas, This Government, bound by the
highest obligations Of duty " ITS CITIZENS, is thus
driven to the necessity Of adopting such ju,t
measures Of retribution and retaliation as sha.l
seem adequate 10 reprcss aud punsh these tarbari-
ties, and whereas the orders, above recited have
only been published and made known 10 tins Gov
eruneul since the signature Of cartel FOR the
change Of prisoners VI war, which cartel IN 70 far
IA IL provides for al exchange Of prisoners here
after captured, would never have been signed or
agreed 10 by this Government, II the intention to
change the war into system OF iniiscTiminate
murder aud robbery had been made known to il.
and whereas u Just regard 10 humaDiy iorbids
that the Repression OF crime Which this Government
is thus compelled 10 enfrce, should be unnecosshly
extended 10 retaliation on the enlisted men N the
army OF the UniIed States, who may he unwilling
instTuments OF the savage cruelty Of their COM
msnders 20 long ~ there ID hope that the e1ceses
Of the enemy may be checked prevented by retri-
button on the oOmmi-,ioned officers, who have the
power 90 AVOID guilty action by refusing service un-
der a Government winch seeks their AID IN the
perpetratlon OF such infamous bafbarities,
Z. Therefore, it il Ordered. that AH Gen. Pore,
Brig Gen. Steiuwehr and all COMMISSIONED officers
terving under their respective command, be, and
they are beeby expressly and specially declared TO
be not entitled 10 be considered sod,cr and there
fore not entitled 10 the benefit Of the cartel for the
parole Of future prisoner Of war.
OrdeTed FURTHER, That, III the event OF the cap
ture OF MaJOr-Gon. Pope, or Brgadier-Gen. Siein-
wehr or OF any commissioned oilcer serving under
them, the captive 70 taken shall be held III close con-
fuement 70 long AS the orders Aforesaid shall con-
tinue in force a. unrepealed by the competent mill
tary authority Of the United States; and that IN tue
event of the murder Of any unarmed CITIZEN
Of inhabitant Of this Coniederacy by virtue
q under pretext Of one Of the orders hereinbefore
recited, whether with or without trial, whether
under pretense Of such a citizen being spy, or
hoeage, any other preteDse II shall DO the duly
of the Commanding General Of the forces Of this
COnfederscy TO cause immediately To be hung out
OF the commissioned ofcer-, prisoners IA aforesaid,
n number equal 10 the number Of our own citizens
,I rda ~ ha
S. COOPER, A A. q.
The following is tie letter Of JEFF. Davis to Gen.
Lee nstructing him to communicate the facts in tho
above order 10 the Commander.in- Chief of the Uni
ted States armies
"RIomxoSp. Va. July 81. 1854
"SrR: On the ODD OF this month a cartel for u
general exchange Of prisoners Of war was signed
between Msj-Gen. ID. ii. Hill, in behalf OF the Con.
federate States, and Ma. -Gen. Johl A. Dix,
in behalf of tho United States. BY the terms
Of that cartel it ia stipulated that all prison
ers of war hereafter taken shall be DIS
charged Oh parole till exchanged. scarcely
had that cartel been signed when the military
Authorities Of the United States commenced practee
of changing the character OF the war from such as
b comes ci yilzed nations into campaign OF indscrm.
mate robbery and murder. The general order issued
by the Secretary Of War Of the United States IN the
CITY of Washington, the very day that the carter
was signed in Virginia, directs military commanders
of the United States 10 tako VIC IHNa'o Piopc'y -
our people for the convenience and use oil lheir
armies without compensation.
The General Order i-sued by Maj. Gen. Pope on
the I'D Of July, the day after the signing OF inc
care directs the murder Of peaceful inhabitants
as spies. If found quietly ng the farms In bis rear
even outside Of bis nes aud one OF his Brigadier,
Generals, Steinwehr, has seized upon innoceat ana
neaceful inhabitants TO be held rs hostages. TO tho
end ,La, thew maj be murdered In cold blood II any
of his soldiers are killed by unknown persons
whom he designaes III "bushwhackers."
Under this state Of facts this Government has is-
sued the inclo,ed General Order, recognizing Gen.
p ne and his commissioned officers TO DO In TIE pori