Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-14

Astounding Rebel Impudence.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH
ERN VIRGINIA, July 81, 1862 General -
1t has come to my knowledge that many of
our citizens engaged in peaceful avocations
have been arrested and imprisoned because
they refused to take the oath of allegiance to
the United States, while others by hard and
harsh treatment have been compelled to take
an cath not to bear arms against that govern
ment- have learned that about one hundred
of the latter class have recently been released
from fortress Monroe. This government re-
fuses to admit the right of the authorities of
the United States to arrest our citizens and
extort from them parole not to render mill
tary service to their country under penalty
of mourning punishment in case they fall
into the hands of your forces. | am directed
by the secretary of war to inform you that
such oaths will not be regarded as Oblig-
atory, and persons who take the oath will
be required to render military service. Should
your government treat the rendition of such
service by those persons as breach of parole,
and punish it accordingly, this government
will resort to retaliatory measures as the only
means of compelling an observance of the
rules of civilized warfare. | have the honor
to be, respectfully, your obedient servant,
II. E. LEE, Gen. commanding.
To MAJOR GEN. G. b. MCCLELLAN.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, WASHING
TON, Aug 13.-Maj. Gen. George B. Nc.
ClelIan, Commanding the A1my Of the Poto'
mac II have lust received from the adjutant
generals office your letter of July Both, IN
closing letter from Il. E. Lee, of July Dist
The government of the United States never
authorized any extortions of oaths of allegi-
ance or military paroles, and has forbidden
any measures to be resorted to tending to
that Instead of extortng oaths of allegiance
and paroles, it has refused the application of
several thousand prisoners to be permitted to
take them and return to their homes in the
rebel states. AT the same time this govern
ment claims and will exercise the right to ar
rest, imprson, or place beyond its military
lines, any persons suspected OF giving aid and
information to its enemies, or of any other
reasonable act, and if such persons so ar
rested voluntarily take the oath of allegiance
or give their military parole, and afterwards
violate their plighted faith, they will be pun
ished according to the laws and usages of.
war. You will assure Gen. Lee that no un-,
seemly threats of retaliation on his part will
deter this government from exercising its
lawful rights over both the persons and prop
erty of whatsoever name or character.
Very respectfully, your obd't servant,
II. w. HALLEcK,
General-in- Chief u. S. A,
HEADQUARTERS OF ARMY OF WASHINGTON,
Aug. 7, lS62.-Gep. Lee, commanding, &C.!
General: Your letter of July 9th was receiv-
ed at the adjutant generals office on the l4th,
but supposing from its endorsement that 1t
required no further reply, it was filed without
being shown to the president or secretary OF
war. Ilearn to-day for the first time that such
a letter had been received, and hasten to re-
ply. No authentic information has been re-
ceved in relation to the execution OF either
John Owen or Mumford, but measures Will be
Immediately taken to ascertain the facts of
these alleged executions, of which you will be
duly informed l need hardly assure you,
general, that, so far as the United States au-
thorties are concerned, this contest will be
carried on in strict accordance with the laws
and usages of modern warfare, and that all
excuses will be duly punished.
In regard to the burning of bridges, &C.,
within our lines, by persons in disguise as
peaceful citizens, refer you to my letter of
the 22d January last, to Gen. Price | think
you will find the views there expressed as not
materially differing from those stated in your
letter. in regard to retaliation by the taking
the lives of innocent persons. ! know OF no
modern authority which justities 1t, except IN
the extreme case of war with any unclYil-
lied foe which has himself first established
such a barbarous rule. The United States
will never eountenance such aproceedng I'M
less forced to do so by the barbarous conduct
of an enemy who first applies such rule to
our own citizens.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
H. w. HALLEcK,
General in Chief U. 5. A.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE CoNFEDER-
ATE STATES, near Richmond, Aug. 2, 1862.
10 the general commanding the army Of the
United States, at HaShingtoa-General;
On the night of the Goth of June last | was
instructed by the secretary of war to inquire
of Maj. Gen. Mcclellan as to the truth of the
alleged murders committed on our citizens
by officers of the United States army. The
cases OF VIM. b. Mumford, reported to have
been murdered at New Orleans by Gen. But
Ter, and Col. John Owen, reported to have
been murdered in Missouri by order of Mai.
Gen. Pope, were those referred. had the
honor to be informed by Maj. Gen. Mcclellan
that he had referred these inquiries to his
government for a reply. No answer has as
vet been received. The president of the
confederate states has since been credibly
informed that numerous other officers Of the