Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-12-09
Cotton Burning.

Several weeks since Gen. French, who commands
in the military department of Petersburg and North
Carolina issued an order to burn all the cotton east
of the Wilmington and Weldon and Seaboard and
Roanoke Railway; but he was induced, by letter
from Gov. Vance, to postpone the execution of the
order until the 10Th of this month. friend called
our attention to the first ORDER and another friend
has called our attention to the second, which is as
follows
HEADo'Rs. DEPARTMENT OF N. G.,
PETERSBURG, Va, Nov. 21st 1852.
SPECIAL ORDER lExFRAcrl
/. Brig. Gen. B. H. Robertson, will extend the
day designated for the removal of Cotton, to the
18th day of December, NTH the distinct under
standing, that in the event of the approach of the
enemy, the owners will see that the cotton is burn
ed. All cotton must be removed west of the line
of railway by the 18th Of December 1862, other
wise it will be destroyed.
Cotton unpicked in the field, will be allowed a
reasonable time to be gathered and packed, but in
no event will more than one-fifth of the same be
permitted to remain upon any place after II is
ready for transportation west of the line of railway.
by command of MAJ. GEN. S. G. FRENCH.
GRAHAM Dawes, =,
Major and A. a. General
Now, it is physically impossible for the planters
to remove their cotton within the time designated.
They have been deprived by the war of many of
gagged in removing their negroes and other property
to the interior. Certainly, it is better to destroy
the cotton than permit the enemy to get possession
of it. but is it likely that the enemy will occupy
the IhOle country, including every neighborhood,
east of the line of railway before the 18th of this
month?
Why does not the government purchase the cot
ton and remove it to safe place in the interior p
We believe it purchasing cotton in the States
south of us-why not in this State? Cotton will
be specie at the close of the war; and even now it
would form an excellent basis for the millions of
Treasury notes with the government is issuing.
Devastation, instead of protection, appears to be
the policy. If we cannot protect you, we will burn
your property and ruin YOU seems to be the motto.
We tired of this policy. 1t cuts US like two
edged sword for the Yankees destroy on one side,
and our own government on the other. Gen. Viii.
ting intimates, for example, that he will destroy
Wilmington rather than let it fall into the hands of
the enemy. Wherefore? Shall we cut off the nose
to spite the facet Being miserable already, shall
We make ourselves more so? Away with the pat
protecting
Gen. French, who commands in the military de-
partment of Petersburg and North Carolina, will
have grand cotton burning on the 18th of this
month! We protest against it. Our people and
planters protest against it If the enemy ap-
proaches says portion of the ORDER the planters
must see to it that the cotton is destroyed. This
is all very we'll No doubt the planters WiH see to
it in that event. but the order goes on to say, that
all cotton not removed IOest Of the line of rail,ody
by the 18TH wiu be destroyed The order is, there
fore, contradictory.
But it reveals the fixed purpose of the govern
ment at Richmond to make the line of railway the
line oTdefence against the Yankees and this policy,
it is apparent will deliver the entire East to devas-
taton and ruin. 1t is in fact invitation to the
Yankees 10 advance to the railway for the cotton
is to be removed west of it, and of course, are
to fight them, and fight them only at that point