The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-11-25
oUTRAaEs I'm MARTIN COUNTY. N c

NIB. EDITOR That it may be perpetuated, and
for general information, send you an authentic
account of barbarity and desolation so hideous
and hendish rival. if eclipse any story of
ancient or modern ferocity.
Tell 1t not in Gath-bublish it not in the
streets of Askelon, that the Army Of the (so-cal-
'ed) United States of America is nothing under
the sun but a band of the most vagabon6 cut
tnroas, thieves, burg lars, pick pockets, and most
abandoned red-mouthed radicals; is more utterly
regardless of all law, order and right public and
private, Of all vestiges of civilization, of all feel
lngs OF humanity, Of all respect due the sanctua-
rles aud volumes of Heaven of all distinction of
age, sex, color, disease, deformity, afluence or
poverty, nay eren Of all potitcut sentiments than
ever were the hordes of Northern Barbarians in
the 1dtddfe Ages, the Arabs of the Desert, the
u:aoiators OF Spartacus, the Conspirators of Cata
l:ne, or the French Jacobins liz their Reign of
Terror!
In specis! and in proof, aIlude to the recent
advance and retreat Of Maj. Gen. Fosters Divis-
Ion OF the (so-cal!ed) United States Army through
Beaufort and Martin Counties, North Carolina.
Said Division consisting of some 1000 infantry,
400 cavalry, carrying 80 pieces of artillery, and
supported up the Roanoke by gunboats, left the
town of Washington gu the morning of the End
inst met spirited resistance in the evening at
Rawls Mill, five miles south Of this place, from
the 10th Regt. n. c. Troops, Col. Burgwyn,
which held them in check until the 18th and 59th
n. T., which was, the one 20 and the other IL
miles below WILLIAMSON On the Roanoke, could
reach here, and fell buck with the Goth for rein
forcenteEts, advanced into this place on the 3d. re-
manned four or five hours, encamped that night
five miles above, and the next night at Hamilton,
then marched as far on the Halifax road as to be
within ten miles of Tarboro, and, UNEXPECTEDLY
hndlng an army strong enough to oppose them,
retreated on the 6th arrived here again on the
eve of the 9TH, remained until the morning
of the 9th, and proceeded toward Plymouth on
the next Sunday after that on which they had
started from Washington.
Never was an expedition moro frutlcss in mill
tary results. nor more bliyhting and exhausting in
the path of its une1ampled desolaton! l know
not where to begin to describe the heart sicken-
ing scenes of dlabollcal vengeance, robbery and
mutilaten. Every statement | have made re-
specting the iuhuman cruelty of our invaders, can
be abundantly suostantiated In accordance with
the fendish resolutions of the Union Meeting in
New York, since they cannot restore the Union,
they have made this part of our country semi
desert Almost every square foot Of land, every
yard, every garden, every lot, every street, every
road, every field, has been made saushter-pen
Every hog, pig, cow, calf or fowl, that 10000
Fandals, scattered over the country, could either
see or hear of, has been butchered in its tracks
in numberless instances mt for the use of their
army, but for the complete starvation Of the f,eO-
pie! Almost even yet, entire carcasses of slaugh-
tered animals, shot down in the most wantou and
brutal manner, cucumber our streets and fields
and the wild birds of carriYn darken our putilen.
tial air "We'll perish the id seceshes" cried
the exulting fends, 'if we can't whip them."
For the same devish purpose, every grain of
salt shat could be found has been either destroyed
or carried off; medicines in private dwellings, in
stores and in Doctors shops, have been poured
upon the ground ladies' striving to retain little
OF the property from which their male relatives
had been torn and held in custody, have been in
suited cursed and CRASHED upon by these malig-
nant spirits, hot from Tartarus negroes, the poor
dupes of Yankee barbarity, have been cajoled
away by thousands; system of universal plumber
by the enemy, negroes and mean whites, has pre-
vailed wherever the barbarans have penetrated
Families fleeing in dismay from the approach of
the invader, have returned and found, us well as
the most Of the few that remained at home,
clothes, beds, bedding, spoons knives, forks and
books distracted costly furniture, crockery, doors
harness and vehicles demolished, locks, windows
and mirrors broken, fences and pailings burned |
up corn, potatoes and peas gathered from the
barns and fields aud consumed, iron safes dug to
pieces and thrown out Of doors, and their contents
stolen or destroyed. Stores and warehouses have
been completely ri1ed, and together with
d,celtinqs and church>s have been converted into
horse stables. Libraries, public and private, ga
cred and profsne, have been despoled of all their
most valuable volumes, which the enemy has ap-
propriated, cut to pieces or burned. Every horse
and mule wagon and cart, that could be hunted
up, has been carried off by the retreating ARMY.
The persons of gentlemen and ladies' have been
violently searched, and money and jewelry taken.
With scarcely single exception, every male cti-
zen was arrested BY the eneUy as they went up,
and released, paroled, on their RETURN en-
confined prisoners in their own houses, while they
we're given up to plumber | suppose that Troy,
Babylon, Athens, Carthage, Jerusalem, CONSTANT
nople or Rome were never more completely sacksa
than the three towns in the county of Martin.
And the case was exactly the with the build
ings and lands along the whole extent of the ene
my's march. Citizens, seen at a distance, have
been hunted down and shot like wild beasts.
Public and private pa ers and records have been
destroyed the Jail, grand jury room and two other
Offices in this place. and Ii private residences in
Hamilton have been burned down; the property OF !
the faithful negroes has been plaged equally with
that Of their owners. Old, blind and detormed
men have been treated with inhuman barbarity; !
the poor-widows, orphans and others, have been |
as heartlessly robbed of the scanty earnings OF
lifetimes drudging toll, as the wealthy OF their
comforts and luxures; and list as | whisper, Oh,
re children of men. graves have been dug up bJ
these Modern Ghouls, in their unquenchabie
thi-st after buried treasure.