Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-08-13
The STANDARD.
President Davis, Order.

The STANDARD.
: President Davis Order.
The following letter and general order plainly and
uoeouivocally assure our people within the enemy
lines that President Davis is determined to check
the brutal and barbarous manner in which the war
is being conducted by Lincoln. The goyernmest
has BEEN very properly, slow to retalate upon cur
wanton and ruthless enemy but though late the re-
taaton it will be terrible and We trust effective IN
bringing Lincoln to his senses: 1, =.
FROM THE PRESIDENT 70 GEN. LEE.
a RICHMOND. VA, July 81, 1862.
SIR. On the 22d of this month Cartel for a gen.
eral exchange of prisoners of war was signed o.
tween Major General D. Il. Hill in sehalt OF tho
Confederate States, and Major General John A. DIX,
in behalf of the United States:
Byths terms of that Cartel it is stipulated that
all prisoners of war hereafter taken shall be dis.
charged on parole till exchanged.
Scarcely had that Cartel been signed when the
military authorities of the United States commenced
a practice changing the character Of the war from
such as becomes civilized nations into campaign of
indiscriminate robbery and murder. So -.
The general order issued by the Secretary of War
of the United States, in the city Of Washington,
tn6 very Jay tudI Iuc OoIlet was SiSucu !"
directs the Military Commanders of the United
States to take the private property Of people for
the convenience and use of their armieS without
compensation. ~ ~
The general order issued by Major General Pope
the 2ad of july the day after the signing of the
Cartel directs the murder of our peaceful inhabi-
tans as spies if found quietly tillipg the farms in
his rear, outside Of his lines and one of his
Brigadier Generals, SteinwshE has seized upon in
,h.h;< L. lid has
tages to the end that they may be murdered in cold
blood if any Of his soldiers are killed by some
unknown persons whom he designates as I" bush
whackers." .. .. e. - IL.
Under this state Of facts this Government has is
sued the enclosed general order recognizing General
Pope and his commissioned officers to be in the posi-
ton which they have chosen for themselves, that OF
robbers and of murderers, and not that of public
enemies entitled if captured, TO be considered as
prisoners of war.
We find ourselves driven by our enemies by steady
progress towards practice which we abhor and
which We are vainly struggling to avoid. Some Of
the military authorities OF the United States seem
to suppose that better success will attend savage
war in which no quarter is to be given and no age
sex to be spared than has hitherto been secured
by such hostilities as are alone recognized to be
lawful by civilized man in modern times.
For the present. we renounce our right OF retalia.
ton the innocent and shall continue treat the
private enlisted soldiers oil General Popes army as
prisoners Of war but if after notice to the Govern
ment at Washington of our combining repressive
measures to the punishment only of commissioned
officers who willing participants in these crimes,
these savage practices continued, we Shall re-
luctantly be forced to the last of accepting
the on the terms chosen by our foes, until the
outraged voice of common humanity forces
respect for the recognized rules Of war
While these facts would iuStify orr refusal to
execute the generous Cartel by which We have con-
scented deliberate of thousands of prisoners
held by us beyond the number held by the enemy,
sacred regard to plighted faith shrinking from the
mere semblance of breaking promise, prevents our
resort to this extremity Nor do desire to extend
merited alone by General Pope and such commits
stoned officers choose to participate in the
ton Of his Infamous orders.
You are therefore instructed to communicate to
the Commander- Chief Of the armies Of the United
States the contents of this letter and copy of the
enclosed general ORDER to the end that he may be
notified of Intention not to consider any officers
hereafter captured from General Pope's army US
prisoners Of war.
Very respectfully, yours, etc..
(Signed) JEFFERSON DAVIS
Gen. K. L. LEE, Commanding etc
AD'T AND INSP'R GENERALS OFFICE
RICHMOND, 1ugnst l, 1862.
GENERAL ORDERS, I
|. The following Orders are published for the
information and observance of all concerned
II. Waereds, by a General Order dated the 22d
July, 1862, issued by the Secretary of War of the
United States under the order Of the President Of
the United States, the Military Commanders of that
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 personal belonging to
the inhabitants OF this Confederacy, which may be
necessary or convenient for their several commands
and no provision Is made for any compensation to
the Of private property thus seized and ap-
propriated by the Military Commanders of the Enc
my:
III. And tohereas, by General Order Number
Eleven, issued the 2sd July, 1862, BY Major. Gen.
eral Pope, commanding the forces of the Enemy liz
Northern Virginia, it is ordered that all conman-
ders OF any Army corps, divisions, brigades, and
detached commands will proceed Immediately to ar
rest all disoyal male citizens within their lines
within their reach in of their respective CON-
lnands. Such as are willing to take the oath Of
allegiance to the United States, and will furnish
sufficient security for its observance, shall be per-
United to remain at their homesand pursue in good
faith their accustomed avocations. Those who refuse
shall be conducted South beyond the extreme pckets
of this army and be notified that if found again any
where within our lines atany point in rear, they
will be considered spies, subjected to the ex.
IRENE rigor Of military law. If any person having
taken the oath Of allegiance as above specified be
found to have violated it he shall he shot. and his
property seized and applied to the public use':
'EV. And vhereas, by an order issued on the 18th
July, 1862, BY Brigadier General A. Steinwehr,
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 deathn the event Of
any Of the soldiers Of said Seinwehr being shot by
"bush-whackers," by which term, are meant the
citzens this Confederacy who have taken up arms
10 defend their homes and familiesa
Y; And vhereas, it results from the above orders
that some Of the military authorities Of the United
states not content with the unjust and aggressive
warfare hitherto wsged with savage cruelty against
an unoendng people, and exasperated by the failure
Of their effort to sobjugate them, have now deter
mined to violate all the rules and usages of war
and to convert the hostlties hitherto wseed apains
armed forces into. campaign Of robbery and murde,
against unarmed citizens and peaceful tlers of the