Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-29
EEpERAE. BRUTALITY RXPOsED

BhO EAAhAA ~
EDITORS APPEAL Under q deep sense Of
uerpetrated wrong, I address you a few lines
touching the recent murder eff Mr. Horace
Stafford, of Tishomingo county by tbe Federal
authorities at I-u-ka. Some six weeks since,
three young men, scouts belonging to Captain
Baxter's cavalry company, got on pursuit. Of a
wagon loaded with cotton, under conduct of a
clerk and driver. They overlook it about dark,
ct the house of Mr.. Stafford, two miles from
Danvills. and. without any Communication with
him, they dashed up to his yad gate, made
nr;soners of the clerk and driver, took the team
of four fine mules, set fire to the cotton and
bnrned it and tho wagon, and directly returned
To eamps. The Federal command at Danville
Immediately instituted a thorough investigation
10 ascertain the completely of Mr. Stafford. Not
q ~narticle of proof was elected to show that be
had the slightest warning Of or participation IN
the deed. Yet he was held to account therefor,
and was so dosged and h~arrassed by the soldiery
that he ct last went to The provost marshal and
did. what most of his neighbors had previously
| dome" took the oatb'-for his protection. Mr..
Stafford was a man of a most amisble dispose
tion. Of unblemishcd Christian character, and Of
an infrn and fessle bodily constitution, and
was. from necessity, a non-combattsnt. Bot
" the OATH and his well kBown inability to
fight were no exemptions of guilt in the eyes OF
ina fendish horde with which he was sur
rounded. He was finally arrested, some ter
davis since; his two sisters, tinid and tende.
girls, were ~sIingently examined under severe
threats, to extort proof against him rsla-
tive 10 the cotton burning, but without a
spark of evidence of concurrence therein, he
was taken a prisoner to I-u-ks, where General
Roseneranz was in command, and there he was
shot and killed by the guard, upon whist pre-
text we are not clearly informed.
The object of this communication is, not only
tn let nv fellow-citizens know that the wal
against them is prosecuted in a spirit unknown
to civilized humanity; and that passive and
quiet submission, and orderly department aHoTd
no safeguards under the domination of tho most
cruel, unfeeling and hateful foes with whom any
Deople ever had to contend; but to publicly i'm
reach the character of General ROsencTanz be-
fore an ultimately impsrtially Judging world. ]
solemnly accuse him of the murder Of Horace
Stafford. l know General Rosencranz, person
ally. 1 know that he claims to be q true man,
q gallant soldier, and q humane and generous
enemy. If he would transmit a name tins dis.
tinguished to postenty, he must %exonerate il
from the culpabilisy of so foul a crime as the
murder of Horace Stafford, perpetrated under
his command-fOr the deed shall neither be IN
known or forgotten. l further take tbs means,
the best in my power, to notify General Rosen.
crsnz that the fortunes of war are mutable; and
that he himself may, in time, be reduced to a
situation in which 'the avenger of blood can
reach him and hold him personally responsible
and, If eUer God permit It, that lodH be done. /,
however, close with this single remark. 1t is
said, that Mr.. Stafford was killed by the guard
while attempting to escape-but it is further
said that the attempt was instigated by the in
formation that he was under sentence Of death
to be hung next day-if this latter statement be
true, the guilt Of his death attaches to the com.
handing authority. L. L. L.