The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-06
A Terrible Lesson on Guarding
Rebel Property

ST. Louis, August o 1862,
II was on that terrible march of Cur.
tis' army from Baiesyille 10 Helena. Both
the land routes for commissary supplies
by way Of ROlla and by way Of Pilot
Knob, had been closed in anticipation
Of an immediate opening Of White river
by the gun-boats, and 4 transportation
Of supplies by water. When this enter
prise failed, you remember, here was
large army far inland, in an enemv's
country, that must double-Quick for sub
sistenee, or staryo in the forests OF Ar
kansas. For there was nothing like a
suiilciency of provisions in that Wild
country for such host and even #
there had been, An appropriation Of them
would not have been adiudged constitu
tional. So this jadcd, harassed, hungrg
army made straight for the Aiississippi.
as for salvation &
ii was ON this terrible maroh have
the story from a reliable man, who was
with the expedition as camp follower.
The division Of Steele was proceedina
! day in advance Of the division of Oster
haus. This noble army Of the Union,
with the battle glory Of Pea Ridge yet
fresh upon il, scars and wounds ofguer-
rillas all over il, worn out, half-starved
still kept ats columns, struggling into no
pantry, cellar, or barn-yard, but holding
sacred the private property Of the rebel
enemy, and even guarding it when re-
quested, against any danger Of violation
| Steele's division, chanced in its line OF
march, upon a settlement of thirty slay
/ hOlders-iive or six mansions in success
sion, at intervals Of plantation apart
who avowed themselves secessionists and
asked for guard 20 protect their pOsses-
sions against the pillage of such strAg-
glors as might, for the moment forget
the New Testament mode Of warfare. and
hate the enemy according to the old Mo-
sale disponsation, down in Egvpt
guard was promptly detailed oOnsislinr
Of sergeant and one soldier for the ilrst
mansion, and two soldiers for each of
the others, 20 remain on duty till the III.
vision (Osterhaus) should arrive. Tho
guards went 10 their posts, and the
marching columns passed on.
Next morning, the advance of the al
vision COsterhaus) came up, and the
spectacle that smoie them in Che face AT
the FIRST house they reached was alueost
too horrible for belief Tho soldier Of
the guard lay in tho yard, killed and
brutally mangied and the sergeant was
hanging by the heels from The highest
limb Of tree near by, with twenty -one
bullet holes through his body From
defiant and scornful hints Of the ahe-
devils Of the house, Il Was manifest that
the male members Of tho protected farai-
" had helped TO perpetrste this incredi-
BILE crime, and then had fed with their
associates The guard Al each Of tho
other houses, TOO, had been made way
wlth-~as priaonera, the women Baid--and
the male inmates had al disappeared.
Observe that the sentiment OF tie divi
aion (Os;eEhaus) then went back 10 the
Old Testament doctrine, Of "an eye for
an eye, and tooth for q tooth ~ The
commander could not have controlled
that sentiment ifho had desired. | know
OstCrhaus, and 1 DO not beliave be de
sired. Abraham Lincoln himself could
not have quashed proceedings then, how
ever firmly he had put his foot down
There was only tho one punishment
available Remove the womon and chi
dron" And the swapping, hungry fames
set upon and gobbled up every yestiee oi
human habitation there, and licked eaoh
plantation az clean as a no& prairie.
When the rebels returned, / presume
they found, in the ruins Of their peace
iul abodes, monsirous violation Of the
constitutionl-an utter disregard Of the
usages Of civilized warfare But they
smelt wholesome lesson, to-wii that
tho devil is to be fought with fire. Vor-
lily, they shall have q hot gospel preached
10 them henceforih. The army Of the
southwest, will, hereafter temper Che
warfare with more justice and less mer
I cy. We must crush these rebels, though
We have 10 descend 10 their arena Of
fighting 10 accomplish IL. They ar,
found In the very act Of high treason
even on their best behavior; they can.
not reasonably complain iC they are treat.
ed az outlaws. But when 70 high treas
on they superadd such mOnstrous crime,
As this, vengeance must be lot loose up0n
them. saith The Lord Of Hosts