Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-12-25
From the Richmond Enquirer
USPAIkI.LELED ERORMETT,


We have before US copies of two dispositions, which
detail the circumstances c Of the most fendsh out
RACES which our truly diabocal tee has as vet perpe
trated These dispositions have been forwarded to the
War Department through cur generals in North Caro-
lima, whpre tie crime was committed The deponente
are Caswel Woods and Elizabeth bis WIFE, of the c0uD.
ty Ct Craven. Mr. Woods is certif d to by Gen Evans
as being I" respectable cz N and loyal to our cause
which with his being poor man, to be the only
causes of the fendish ourages by the hesh savages
| 1t is also stated that he is class leader in the
Methodist Church. 1t is due to the civilized world aud
to outraged humanity, that the facts stated in these de-
positions should be known and vet they are too infa
mons'y obscete to be fully described in newspaper
The house CT these quiet and aged citizens was visited
on the night OF the I'd of Ocr by two Yankee troop
ers, armed with pistols and sabres O0e of them (be
youDger) who addressed by the other as
andsometmes john rode into tho piazza burst open
the front door, and then rode into the house. The 9TH
err who was addressed by the captain sometimes as
Charlie, sometimes George and Lieutenant walked
IN.
Mr.: Woods had retired to bed. We copy from bis
deposition
81 down stairs in hurry, in nv nj. BIT clothes
and tie one On the horse SAID to me, you ID old
greyheaded son Of BIB, where were you day before
yesterday" and when told him was at homo, be
said, you lie, for you shot at me-" Upon th.5 pre-
tence they cut out the cord from bed in the room said
they would hang him, but finally tied him. took him OFT
of The house ard Iaqhed him to tree with the threat
OF instant death II he made any cutlery ATTEMPTED 20
get loose They returned to the house and locked the
door alter them, and the old had the nexpressbe
agony OF listening for the rest of the night to the
and lamentations of bis wife and DAUGHTER
The statement made by Mrs. Woods in her deposition
OF what passed inside is truly heart-Iending The IN
paraleled Williams made the poor helpless women not
merely the victims of their brutal lust but accompa
MED the outrage, which is worse than death With cir
cumsaDces that mark them as the most devlish even
among the most abandoned of Williams Commencing
by cursng jesus Christ, with pistol in hand and with
threat OF instant DEATH the deponent was REQUIRED bv
one OF tie beasts to dves herself of every particle OF
clothing But this was almost Christian treatment
compared with other acts which may not be related
w bile such was her suferings, the ghreks of her
daughter IN another told that hers was similar
tate. About sunrise the next morning tie human
devils departed leaving horrible disease with those
whom they had so horribly outraged
1t is with pain that such sketch as the above il ed
mtted into the columns OF the Enquirer. But it is
due to our own people and to the world that the vii
lanies OF our enemies should be known The depos-
lions have been laid before with the suggestion en-
dorsei thereon by the Aduant General chat so much
of this ccunt as is not foul for publication should
be given to the public through the press in order that
the righteous Indignation of our PEOPLE our Generals
and our armies, may, under the Providence of God,
visit Jast retrlbution upon an enemy so fend-ke =
Concurrng IN the proprety of the suggestion we have
acted accordingly.
We are happy to say that Gen Gustavus w. Smith
has directed every effort to be made to ascertain the
names of the parties and to demand their delivery for
trial and punishment" We hope copies of the depo-
sitions have been forwarded to the authorities Of the
enemy. Surely there some, even among them who
would be horried by such conduct. The vengeance off
Heaven must light upon them and their cause!