Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-08-21
Rebel Retalintory Measures.

The Richmond Dispatch of August 4th, says
the day of retribution is at hand for the out
RACES which have so long characterized the con-
duct of the federals in the conduct of the war,
and publishes the following order from the rebel
war department. 1t will be seen that Gen.
Pope is expressly singled out as vessel of
wrath, on account of his recent orders concern-
ing the enemy:
ADJUrANr AND INSPECTOR GENERALS OFFICE,
RICHMOND, August l. 1862.
Fbst.-Ihe following orders are published
for the information and observance of all con-
cerned:
Second.-Whereas by a general order dated
22d July, 1862, issued by the secretary of war
OF the United States, the military commanders
OF the government within the states of Virginia.
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas,
are directed to seize and use any property, real
or personal belonging to the inhabitants of this
contederacy, which may be necessary or con-
venient for their several commands; and no
provision is made for any compensation 10 the
owners OF private property thus seized and ap-
propriated by the military commanders of the
enemy.
IhTd-And whereas, by general order No.
IL, issued on the I'd day of July, 1862. by
Maj. Gen. Pope, commanding the forces of the
enemy in northern Virginia, it is ordered that
all commanders of any army corps divisions
brigades and detached commands will proceed
m mediately to arrest all disoyal male citizens
within their limits or within their lines, in the
rear of their respective commands. Such as
are willing to take the oath of allegiance to
itpI will Snfi
security for its observance, shall be permitted
to remain at their homes and pursue in good
faith their accustomed avooations. Those who
refuse shall be conducted South beyond the
extreme pickets of the army, and be notified
that If found again anywhere within our lines,
or at any point in the rear, they will be con-
sidered as spies and subjected to the extreme
rigor of military law. If any person having
taken the oath as above specified be found to
have violated i. he shall be shot, and his
property seized and applied to the public use.
FomM.-And whereas, by an order issued
on the 18th of July, 1862, by Brig Gen. Stein
wehr Major William Steadman. a cavalry officer
of his brigade has been ordered to arrest FIVE
of the most prominent citizens of Page county,
Virginia, to be held as hostages, and to suffer
death in the event of any of the soldiers
of the said Steinwehr being shot by BUSH
whackers, by which term is meant the citizens
of the confederacy, who have taken up arms to
defend their homes and families.
FUh.-And whereas il results from the
above order that some of the military authori-
ties of the United States, not content, with the
unjust and aggressive warfare hitherto waged
with savage cruelty against an unofFending
people, and exasperated by the failure of their
efforts to subjugate them, have now determined
to violate all the rules and usages of war, and
to convert the hostilties heretofore waged
against armed forces into campaign of rob
berry and murder against unarmed citizens and
tiers of the soil.
SiTth.-And whereas this government, bound
by the highest obligations OF duty to Its clti-
zens, is thus driven to the necessity OF adopting
such lust measures of retributon and reialia-
ton as shall seem adequate to repress and
punish these barbarities and whereas the or
ders above recited have only been published
and made known to this government since the
signature of cartel for the exchange of prison.
srs of war; which cartel, in so far as it provides
for an exchange of prisoners hereafter captured
would never have been signed or agreed 10 by
this government, if the intention to change the
war into a system of indiscrimnate murder
and robbery had been known to it ; and where
as, just regard TO humanity forbids that the
repression of crime which this government ia
thus compelled to enforce, should be unneces.
sarily extended to retaliation on the enlisted
men OF the army Of the United States, who
may be unwilling instruments of the savage
cruelty OF their commanders. so long as there
is hope that the excesses of the enemy may be
checked or prevented by retribution on the
commissioned officers, who have the power to
avoid guilty action by refusing service under a
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