Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-03
OF THE FEDERALs on
RHEE RIVER.
CoAHoMA COUNTY, MISS, September /.

in the mass of falsehood that has constituted the
history of the war, that at last the public have
become incredulous until now startling facts
which, when known or believed, would consti-
tute a deep and stirring incentive arousing
all our people to a Jealous, determined and
eternal purpose of practical and universal per
sonal resistance, are lightly passed over as unre-
liable runors or fabrications, and, to believe, it
has at last become necessary TO experience and
personally feel that we are dealing with an
enemy the most implscable, revengetul, degraded
and dishonorable that has ever engaged in what
is called civilized warfare.
confess that l have accredited but little that
I have heard or read of Federal outrages. 1
tcould not believe that the United States govern
ment had SO far descended below the lowest
standard of civilized warfare. Yet I doubted
not that in the progress of their armies through
our territory, irregularities would occur, which
were only occasional, but always unauthorized
and not in the compass of a Fixed and author
lied war policy. But I have at last witnessed
| their wickedness, and in what follows, give a
chapter in the history of this war which may be
attested by hundreds of eye-witnesses-a chap
ter true in every detail.
On the first day Of August the Federals landed
in this county at Wilkerson's landing. They
visited the residence of Mrs. WilkerSon-her ne
eroes were few, and either too old or too young
for any useful service to the Federals. They
were anxious to go with them, but were not per-
! mit.ed. but were provided with arsenic-tor
what purpose has not been stated, but may be
easily imagined. Mr.. McLsod's residence was
next visited. He (Mr. McLeod) is an Oldman-
blind for ten years past, almost deati with a
family consisting of one son fifteen years DID,
and a daughter eight years old, and about twenty
negroes. He is & man VIGOROUSLY kind, gene
rous and hospitable, and above all men nave
ever known, indulgent to his servants. The
Federals ransacked his premises, took all his
negroes but three-one an old woman, the
remaining two little orphan children. They took
all his meat end provisions, all his clothing but
that he wore at the time-aH his deceased wife's
clothing, her saddle and other little articles, that
the old man had preserved as mementoeS Of his
deceased wife. They left him bereft of the honest
accumulation Of years, and left him virtually
an old blind beggsr-living, when heard OF last
at a neghbor's house. They found his son IN
possession Of seventy-fve dollars in gold-this
they took. Il cannot be alleged that these out
rsges were committed without authority or with
out the knowledge of the officers in command
for his residence stood on theriver, almost facing
their landing, and virtually in their camp. The
old man wandered around, seen and surrounded
BY the vandal horde for several days, blind and
and defenseless. He tottered about, and there
was no voice of pity, and no arm to defend IN
all that craven crew. all that can be alleged in
justification of their acts toward him, is that he
had one son in our army-another had died in
the army, and to wandering Southern soldiers
he had often dispensed timely and generous hos
pitality.
They then visited Winbish's plantation, here
they took one hundred and sixty bales of cotton,
all the meat on the place. and thirteen negro
men. They promised all the remaining negroes
consisting principally Of old, young and females
to take them before leaving tfe country, relying
upon this, they freely distributed among neigh
boring negroes most Of their effects, but when
the boats were ready to debark they were re-
fused passage, and are now on the plantation,
probably starving and bewailing their folly
The Yankees humanity did not embrace those
incapable Of rendering them a qHid pro quo
Leaving Winbish's, they passed the place Of g..
b Fleece, taking, as they passed, eight negro
men, four of WHOM escaped from them, they also
took several horses. They then pushed rapidly
on to the plantation of Thomas H. Mcneil
Here they stole about two hundr ed bales Of cot
ton, nearly all the bacon on the place, thirty ne
gro mon, fifteen mules, several horses, a guam
tity of clothing, and Mrs. McNeiIrs preserves
and poultry.
During their stay at McNeiis, a party visited
the house of Mr.. Williams-brOke open his
trunk, taking all his money, a gold watch the
last gift of a deceased fatLer-all of his silver
spoons, four negro men and several mules. This
case afords a positive proof that their depreda-
tons are known, and if not ordered, certainly
permitted and encouraged by their officers. Mr..
Williams wrote a note to the colonel in com
mand, setting forth his grievances in detail
The colonel replied to his note, saying that ne
could afford him no relief. l saw and read the
reply.
They next visited Judge Totten's place. Here
they were attacked by the Bolivar Troup, where
upon, after hastily burning the gin house and
residence. they retreated rapidly to their boats
The above embraces the principal operations
of the organized force, but does not embrace all
their depredations committed by small bands,
operating incidentally as opportunity offered.
The following is a list of the owners and
numbers of negroes taken SO far as heard of:
Mcleod I6, Saunders 10, H. H. Beard 3, I.
Webb 4, McGhee 9, Winbish IS, Joseph Nc
Mahon 4, Rev. VIM. Mcmahon 6, J. NJ. Beard
l, Lsdbetter 1, Fountain l, Dresdale 6, Mrs.
Wilkerson 9, DIR. Henderson 4, DR.. Green 2, G
B. Fleece .. l am informed that the number
-approximates 200 those named above embrace
all Of which 1 am certain. The mass Of the
stolen property was greatly swollen by indis-
criminate seizures of mules, horses, saddles,
meat, money, clothing, etc. The above en-
braces their operations in one neighborhOod
they have visited other parts Of the county, COM
hitting similar depredatiOns. The amount of
property already lost by citizens of this county
is estimated by we'll informed men at one million
dollars.
have not heard of an instance in which a
citizen of this county has asked compensation
or made any political concession to these seoun-
drels.
The depredatiOns recited were committed by
d~etachments of the LIST Wisconsin and SD Hi
nois regiments, under personal command of Col.
Hovey, a preacher, and formerly president ofthe
normal school in Illinois. Among them were