Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-09
REBEL BARBARITIES.

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The joint committee on the conduct Of the
war have made report in regard to the bar.
barous treatment by the rebels of Manassas
of the remains Of officers and soldiers Of the
United States killed in battle there. They
examined a number Of witnesses whose testi-
mony is submitted. The facts disclosed are
Of a repulsive shocking and painful charac-
ter. The committee say in conclusion
"The members Of your committee might content
themselves by leaving this testimony TO the Senate and
people without word of comment but when the
mics q just and generous government are attempting
excite the sympathy " disuy8l men In
try solicit the aid II foreign governments by the gross
81 INTERPRETATIONS Of the objects Of the and II
the conduct " the officers and soldiers NJ the republic
this the most startling evidence Of their nsncefy aud
uhumanity, deserves some notice at our hands.
History will be examined In vain for parallel ~ this
rebellion against good government long prepared Tor by
| ambitious men, who were made duubly sure " success
by the aid and counsel Of former administrations and by
the belief that their plans unob served hy magnani
nous people. They precipitited The war az a moment
when the general government had just been changed,
under circumstances Of astounding perhdy, without
single reasonable ground compant and in The lace OF
repeated manifestations Of moderation and peace the
part Of the President and his friends They took up
and declared that thcy would surrender until
their rebellion had been recognized, or the Institutions
established by our fathers had been destroyed The PEG
pie N the loyal States, a last convinced that they could
preserve their liberties only by appeal Co the God NJ
Battles, rushed 20 the standard of the republic in
sponsc 20 The call Of The Chief Magistrate Eyrry tcu "
I
crime No tansgressl1n has been too great no wrong
startling Tor its leaders They dsrcgardcd the sancty
~ the oahs they had taken 20 support the Constitution.
They regulated All their obligations 20 The people Of the
free States. They deceived and bcray ed their ci
lowctzens, and crowded their armies with forced lev
ies They drove from their midst all who would not
yield TO their despotsm filed their prisons with mon
who would not enlist under their flag They have
ed the rebellion by the pcfPcrauon of deeds scarcely
known even TO savage warfare. The Investigations or
your committee have established this fact beyond
royercy. he witnesses called before us were men Of
unduub,cd yeracty aud character Of them occupy
high posiu ms IN the army and others hgh p9.iuous 10
civil life, differing in political sentiments Their evi
deuce presents remarkable concurrence of opinion and
judgement Our fellow countFymcn heretofore suti
GENTLY impressed by the generosity and fDrhcaflucc of
The government VI the United States and by the barbar
character Of the crusades against IT, will be shocked
able Witnesses, aud foreign nations must with
cord however they may heretofore clnsiyn
details exceed the of the Sepoys Of India
Humanity 20 the living has been the leading trait Of
the rebel leaders, but IL reserved for your committee
to disclose as concerted system Their insults u tue
wounded aud their muuiauon aud dissertation Of the
gallant dead Our soldiers taken prisoners ia honorable
battle have been subjected TO the most shameful treat
ment An the considerations that inspire ChvaHc
emotions aud generous confederation for have
been dsregardcd 1t is almost beyond belief that the
men hshti in such cause As ours aud sustained by
government which, in the midst u violence and esch-
cry, has given repeated evidences Of i indulgence,
should have been subjected 20 treatment never before
All the courtescs of professional and civil life
10 have been discarded. Hpaurcgard himself, who
very recent occasion boosted that he had been controlled
by human feelings after the battle Of Bull Run. cooy
proposed TO hold General Ricketts, as hosta for
Of the murderous pryateers and the rebel surgeons dis
daned Intercourse and communication with our own
surgeons taken in honorable battle The outrages upon
the dead will revive the Tecollecions Of the cHeltes
which the savage tribes subject their prisoners They
buried in many naked with their faces down
ward They left 70 decay in the open air, their
bones being carried Oft trophies-sometmes. as the
testimony proves 20 be used personal ornaments, and
one witness deliberately AYERS that the head of one Of
most gallant officers off by a secessinuist to
be turned into drinking cup the occasion Of his
rage. Monsuous as this revelation may appear 20 be,
your committee have been Informed that during the last
two weeks the skull Of Union soldier has been exhibit
ed in the office Of the scrgeantaarms Of the House II
Representatives, which had been converted 90 such
purpose, and which had been found the person of
" the rehc prisoners taken 10 conflict The
mony Of Gov. Sprague, of Rhode Island is most inter
esting 1t confirms the worst reports against the rebel
soldiers and concusvey proves that the body Of q
the brayes officers in the volunteer service burned
He does hesitate to add that this Dissertation
OF the honored corpse was because the rebels believed 1t
to be the body Of Col Socum against whom they were
mfuiated for having displayed much courage and
chiyalry in forcing his regiment fcaressIy aud havcly
coutesably do the constant inhumauy OF the rebel
leaders will be read with and indignation By the
people Of the loyal They should inspire these
people to renewed exetons to protect our country from
the restoration 10 power Of such men They should and
we believe they will arouse the horror and disgust off =
egn nations against this unh0y rebellion Let 1t be
duty, nevertheless furnish continued contrast tu
such barbartes aud crimes Let pcrseyere in the
good work Of maintaining the authority " the Consttu
ton, and Of refusing to initiate the monsrous practices
have been called upon 10 investigate. Nour commit
beg say conclusion that they have been
enabled to gather testimony in regard to the additional
inquiry suggested by the resolution of the Senatewheth
Indian sayages have been employed bY the bells
military service against the government Of the United
States and how such warfare has been conducted by said
tend 10 this important duty.
"(signcd) BIZ. WADE, Chairman.