The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-08-13
From Richmond-Important General
Orders.


RICHMOND, Angus, 2.-Importapt Gen-
eral Orders No. 54, from the Adju,ant
and Inspector Generals Office, will be
published Monday.
The first article states that the follow
ing orders are published for the nforma-
ton and obedience Of all concerned The
next FIVE articles, in the form Of pream.
BILE, recte the order issued by the .Sec:e.
tary Of War Of the United States, direct
ing military commanders Of that Govern
ment to seize and use the property, real
or personal, belonging to the Inhabitants
of this Confederacy, and states that no
provision is made for any compensation
10 the owners OF private property thus
seized. The third ar,icle quotes General
Pope's recent order for the arrest of all
,disloyal male citizens, who are to be re.
,quired TO take an oath of allegiance to
the United States Government or be con.
Quoted beyond the Federal lines. This
article also recites the order Of Brigader
General Steinwehr, for the arrest of the
most prominent citizens Of Page County,
Va, to be held as hostages and suffer
death in the event that any one of the
soldiers Of said S,enwehr being shot by
bush whackers, by which term are meant
the cisizens Of this Confederacy who have
taken up arm. TO defend their homes and
families.
The other three articles are as follows:
s. And whereas, it results from the
above orders that some Of the military
authorities Of the United States, not con. ,
teLt WITH the upjus, and aggressive war.
fare hitherto waged with savage cruelty,
against an uLoffending people, and exas.
perated by the failure Of their efforts 10
suLjugate them, have now determined to
violate all the rules and usages Of war,
and 10 convert hostilities, hitherto waged
sgainst armed forces, into a campaign Of
robbery against unarmed citizens and
peaceful tIllers OF the soil.
6. And whereas, this Government,
bound by the highest obligations Of duty
TO its citizens, is thus driven to the neces
si.y Of adopting such measures of retribu.
ton and retaliation as shall seem ade.
quate to srepress and punish these barbar.
ities.
And whereas, the orders above reoited
have only been published and made
known to tbis Government since th sig.
nature Of the cartel for the exchange Of
prisoners Of war, which cartel, 10 SO far
as it provides for an exchange Of those
hereafter captured, would never have
been signed or agreed to by this Govern.
ment. il the intention 10 change the war
ioto a system Of indiseriminats robbery
had been made known 10 it.
And whereas, just regard to humani.
ty forbids that the repression Of crime,
which this Government is thus compelled
TO enforce, should be unnecessarily ex.
tended to retaliation on The enlisted men
in the army Of the United States, who
may be the unwilling instruments Of the
savsGs cruelty Of their commanders, so
'osg = sahere is hope that the srcssses Of
the enemy may be checked or prevented
by Istribution on commissioned officers,
who have the power TO avoid such guilty
actions, oy refusing service under Gov
eminent which seeks their aid in perps.
tration Of such iufsmaps bsrbasitiss.
z. Therefore, l. b ssdersd, that Maj.
Gen. Pope, Brig. Gen. Stein ~shr. and oil
officenD serving uuier their