The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-11
MEANNEss OF THE YANKEES.

Express eA posing the meannesS anu tuleVisuHeSS VI
the yankees who accompanied the Lincoln feet
in its attack on Fort Hatteras in August last
Ii recent communication he says 20 VI 81
at will perhaps, be better for me to give you
my experience and observations among the yan.
KEGS in "broken' doses" Certainly any one item
is enough to nasuate the stomach OF an honest
man. have not, for years past, had very high
opinion of the morality of northern men, or &c
least such of them as have not been remodelled by
association with Southerners; but must say Il
had never, before my Imprisonment among them,
formed anything that approach just concep-
ton of their meanness and deprayity AS soon as
Fort Clark (at Hatteras) was evacuated for the
want of ammunition, on the 2Sth OF August last,
the vandals rushed speedily into the adjacent bar
racks and seized everything they could lay their
roguish hands upon, not forgetting to rifle trunks
and steal or destroy articles which were of value
only to those who owned them. When the flag
of truce was raised on Fort Hatteras they poured
into that i-fated work like pack of h1ngry
wolves, and commenced their old game, but being
notified that the terms of capitulation had not
been agreed upon, and that unless they dessted
they would be fred upon, they spllenly withdrew,
and stood wishfully gazing in the direction of the
booty, at respectful distance, but intent upon
it as were of giving them grape if they dared
again to advance without orders. When the
order was given and honest men marched out to
give place to band of thieves, they swarmed all
over the Fort, and pillagcd everything in sight
with an eagerness positely disgusting yet un-
restrained by official authority. Indeed, some
said the officers of the Coast Guard we're as bad
the wild Irish, the low Dutch, and the unprin-A
cipled Yankees who united the meanness of both.
May never again have to suffer the humiliation
of that sad hour To have had to surrender to
honorable men, under stern, unbend:ng necessity,
would have been painful enough; but to be COM
PEELED to lay down our arms to pack OF thieves.
and gamblers, pick k-pockets and New York loafers
the hired minions of despotic infamous gov
ernment, who employs against those she still
claims her subjects, the ofscouring of the old
world, who fight alone for pay and the cherished
privilege of stealing. The heart sickens at the
bear recolIection and turns away in disgust aud
loathing. When | looked upon their heartless
deeds, and then turned my eyes from the filthy
squirming foreign and Yankee vermin, to that
noble band Of patriots who had braved the hard
ships of the sea coast to defend their homes and
fresides, the honor of their native land and the
virtue of their wives and sisters, but defeated in
their first battle and now marching out as prso-s
ners in the hands of marauders, | could not re-
strain the tear of anger and indignation, while
my heart would have rejOiced to see heavens
blighting curse fall upon them. s.F1
To be short, need only say they stole while !,
anything could be found to steal, and then begun
to steal from each other. An amusing INSTANCE
Of the latter polite accomplishment we had from
Mr. VIM. K. Clark, who lay wounded in small
house within the walls Of the fort, He says one
Of the sentinels placed over him appropriated
two pair of shoes which had been left in the
house. Another Yankee detected him, and
threatened to report him, ordering him at the
same time to leave the building. When chief
No. l had gone out, thief No 2, who had ap-
peared to be enraged at the theft, took the
shoes and proposed to divide with Clark; and,
when Clark tol4 him he could not accept what
then, I'll keep both pair" and yanlosed with
them! Clark had been shot through the thigh
with the fragments Of shell, and was suffering
great PAIN but he says he could not keep from
laughing to see the Yankee thieves stealing from
each other But the meanest thing we have ever
heard Of, and which we will venture has not its
equal in the annals of villainy, remains get to be
told While DR. Brown, our surgeon, was operat.
ing on wounded man, after the surrender, a
ankce slyly crept up behind him and stole his
case of surgical Instruments! One of the Yankee
surgeons witnessed the act, but said not word.
The instruments were never restored.
On board the steamer Adelaide, G. w Denni-
son, Federal Chaplain, accepted dirk from one :
Of our officers and said he would restore it when
called for; but when the officer called for il, d.
said he could not find it. A case of lying and
stealing by an abolition saint
On board the Minnesota whose officers were
honorable men, the crew and marines stole every
article they could lay their hands upon-such as
;ashes, and dressing case or two, which were
thought to be safe on the first ship of the Amsri-
can navy. When we were carried from Fort
Columbus to Fort Warren, our baggage was
placed under the Federal guard--we had nothing
to do with it. 1t was good opportunity, and
we'll improved; for when We reached our destina-
ton We found only such articles left the VIII
aims could not secrete. Boots and shoes which
had been tied to bedsteads, &c, were all gone.
Sma II boxes of provisions sweetmeats, and the
like, which had been prepared for the trip, were
1eyoured; and bottles, though well corked, the
craven wretches had scented out like blood
hounds. Even table drawers had been broken
open and their contents stolen. ssassf
At Hatteras we heard Captain excuse his
company to Cen Butler, denying that they had >
stolen ANYTHING. The Generals laconic reply
was, /" your company damned rogues as any
IF the othersp' sg- -
These are facts which can be verified, by any
humber of responsible witnesses. Will the editor
If the New York Herald, who is SO very fond of !
md Southerners and particularly about the treas- &
nent of Yankee prisoners, please give this .
,laee in his eolHmns-and also a few chapters
shch we intend to publish? We assure him
hey shall all be worthy tributes to Yankee char.
cter, as developed BY the present war. .-1s t-,ss