The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-02-05

ST. LOUIS, Jan. %.
The following correspondence has tax en-
place between Generals Price and Halleck {:
The material points of Prices letter are
as fJllows:
HEADQUARTERS Mo. STATE GUARDs,)
Springfield, Jan. %, 1862. {
GENERAL Il have obtained information
that individuals and parties Of men, csp"ci
ally appointed and instructed by me to des-
troy railroad culverts. and bridges by tear
ing them up, burning, &c, have been ar
rested and subjected to general court mar
tial for alleged crimes which all laws of war
fare heretofore recognized by the civilized
world have regarded as distinctly proper
and lawful. have learned that such per-
sons, when tried, if convicted Of the offence
or offences, as stated, are viewed as lawful
subjects for capital punishment.
These statements cannot believe to be
correct. But L.: US understand each other
on this subject.
Do you intend to continue the arrest OF
Citizens engaged in their ordinary peaceful
pursuits, and treat them as traitors and
rebels )? If so, will you make exchanges
with IN. for such as | may or will make for
similar causes? Do you intend to regard
members of this army as persons deserving
death, whenever and wherever they may b.
captured, or will you extend to tn m the
recognized rights Of prisoners of war BY
tn. code of the civilized world! Do YOU
regard the destruction of important roads,
transportation facilities, &C., for military
purposes, as the legal right of bcligercnt
power? Do you intend to regard men
whom have especially dispatched to des.
troy roads, burn bridges, tear up culyerts,
&c. as amcnablc to the encmy's court mar.
tial, or will you have them tried, as usual
by the proper civil authorities, according to
the statutes of the Stateg
asigned) STERLING PRICE,
Maj Gen. Commanding Missouri State Guard.
The following embraces the main features
Of Gen. Halleck's reply:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF No.,
'.- st. Louis, Jan. %.
Gen. Sterling Price, Commanding, &C.:
Observation-Disclosures, dated Springfield,
Jan. IL, is received. =. :. -
You complain that individuals and par.
ties OF men specially appointed and in
'structed by you to destroy railroads, cul.
verts, and bridges, by tearing them up,
burning, &c, have been arrested and sub
jugated to u general court martial for al.
legged crimes. This statement is, in the
main, correct. Where individuals and par.
ties Of men violate the laws of war, they
will be tried, and, If found guilty, will GER
talnly be punished, whether acting under
your special appointment and instructions
or not. -
You must be aware, General, that no or.
ders OF yours can save from punishment
spies, marauders, robbers, incendaries,
guerrilla bands, etc, who violate the laws
Of war. You cannot give immunity to
crime. ......
But let us fully understand each other on
this point. xxx.
II you send an armed force, wearing the
garb Of soldiers, and duly organized and
enrolled as legitimate belligerents, to des-
troy railroad bridges as military act, We
shall kill them if possible in open warfare,
or If We capture them We shall treat them
as prisoners Of war; but it is well under.
stood that you have sent numbers Of your
adherents, in the garb Of peaceful citizens,
and under false prctences, through our
lines into Northern Missouri, to rob and
destroy the property Of Union men, and
burn and destroy railroad bridges, thus en-
dangering the lives Of thousands and this,
too, without any military necessity OF pos.
sble military advantages. ~ -.
Moreover, peaceful citizens Of No., qui.
etly working on their farms, have been in
s,igated by your emissarics to take up arms
as insurgents, and rob, plunder. and com.
init arson and murder. They do not even
act under the garb Of soldiers, but under
false pretences, and in the guise Of peace.
full citizens.
You certainly will not pretend that men
guilty of such crimes, although specially
appointed and instructed by you, are enti,
tied to any Of the rights and immunities Of
ordinary prisoners Of war. II you do, will
you refer me to single authority on the
Jaws Of war which recognizes such claim