Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-11-14
The Herrikle Persecution of Union
Men i'm Kentucky.
a Plain Statement of the Case Of Ken
tucky Senator.
From the Cincinnati Tines.

We are permitted TO publish the follow
ing private letter, from a member of the
Senate OF Kentucky to friend. 1t is a
plain story of the awful tarbaiity of the
rebels, from a gentleman whose yeraciiy
none dare dispute:
CINCINNATI, Oct. 3, 1862.
L. w. HALL, Ravenna, Portage County,
Ohio-Dear Sir: In great distress of
mind, ] will attempt TO recount to you the
misfortunes and troubles | have recently
had to encounter in Kentuky. | am now
refugee. The torch of the incendiary
rebel has been put TO my mills, my store
and dwelling. All is consumed the labor
of nearly twenty years is destroyed. On
last Wednesday night the rebel cavalry of
John III. Morgan, TO the number Of 500
encamped within two miles of my place.
Through the whole night they were mo-
mentarily expe' ted to come upon us. Ev-
cry person left the road and hid in the
/ woods. / could not do so; my wife was
near her confinement, and my anxiety for
her kept me near my dwelling but to allay
her fears for my safety ! had to appear to
be absent. Nothing occurred during the
night. As the morning dawned, went
further from my house aud took view of
the premises and the roads leading to them.
| could see no rebels, and / determined to
see my wife, let the consequences be what
they might. As l was near my door, eight
rebels suddenly appeared before me, with
their guns presented to my breast, and took
me prisoner. Soon the whole rebel band
was upon me. Morgan cursed the men for
taking me prisoner, saying that he had or
He then opened my store door, and told
his men to rife it of everything they de-
sired and then set fire to it. / implored
him not TO do so, as it was SO near my dwell
ing that it also would be consumed. | in
formed him of the condition of my wife
for myself l asked nothing, but | begged Of
him, in common humanity, not 10 destroy
| my wife and little children. He answered,
| with fendish oath, that he intended to
burn everything | had-he would put fire
to my house and burn my wife and children
up in it-he would wipe out the whole Alb
clifton concern. This threat was applauded
by many of his men, who said they went
/ in for killing men, women and children. !
was then placed upon horse, without a
! saddle, and conducted TO the front Of their
column, and orders were given TO shoot me
down if fired upon by bushwhackers, as
they styled them. / assured them they
would be fred upon if the people had any
spirit and believed they hal. When they
saw the confagraton of their homes they
would wayay and FIRE upon them, even if
their number was ten times greater. Af-
ter firing my property. be (Morgan) rode
past me and said, pointing to the flames.
You find your loyalty to your Abolition
Government pretty expensive, don't your 2"
! Before we reached the woods, the cap
tain Of the men that took me prisoner, re-
moved me from my position in front, and
placed me in his company near the rear.
Immediately upon entering the woods they
were fred upon. l was surprised that l
was not shot. Morgan rode past, and de-
manded the reason was not shot as he had
ordered. They said they had not heard
the order. He told them, if fired upon
again to shoot the prisoner. They then
amused themselves by pointing their guns
at me, and saying they wished they could
hear gun, that they might have the pleas
ure of shooting me. After some time we
were again ordered to advance, and were
soon again fired upon. l heard the guns
click behind me, and felt sure that my end
was right then at hand. Their captain,
John L. Williams, ordered them not TO fire |
that it was cold-blooded murder. He |
said that his men had taken me prisoner
that be was not yet mustered into the SER
vice, and did not belong to Gen. Morgan's |
command, and would not obey him in this,
but would take me to West Liberty and put
me in jail till further orders. This was
some relief 10 me, you may be assured. |
Thus we proceeded for nearly twelve miles,
my friends emptying saddle every few
INMATES, and my cap,ors setting fre to ey. !