Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-26
rmnnarrnrrn - PARrEsANe.

-
Under the head Of q Irregular GHerTt-
las and Thiepes.r the Memphis Bulletin, Of the
2ed. has a long article referring to the move
ments Of the p~artissns in West Tennessee, in
which occasion is taken to enunciate the policy
that viii be pursued toward them By the Fed
eral AUTHORITIES, IN the event Of the success o.
the latter. In making up the list of small sue
cessss obtained BY the rangers, its aggregate
must have stirred up the bile considerably, As
the venom Of the editor OOzes out foreibly, and
sill kinds Of threats are enunciated, and ePithets
bestowed. Even the planters come ia for severe
d~ennnciation, and henceforth a policy infamous
as that Of the notorious PoPE is to be the rule
toward both parties.
The assertion Of the BalstiH, that st is not
the wish OF the policy of the Federal govern
ment or army to destroy the farmers or their
farms" will not excuse the declarations that II
the farmers Of a neighborhOod encourage, or
even permit in their midst, a set Of guerrillas,
they cannot expect to escape the necessary con-
sequences p sit will not DO for them 1.-THE farm
ers to plead simple personal ignorance Of . par
tculAr transaction" Ignorant they msy truly
be, built it will not save them from being plum
dered to so aver. The mere fact Of p~arsisans
operating in a neighborhOod, will, declares The
organ, give "a color Of rigkt 70 Federal dstaeh-
meats, rhich are aleays N uniform, to commit
those acts Of ugasis and distraction Vhieh asM "a
eritably lead to the eutirs devastation gf the
country"
The prospective plundeTing Of the n%eutrsls, or
non-combattants, is termed Legitimate warfare"
and declared a part of the mission Of the regu-
lar soldier. In other words, waste and de-
struction are to be visited upon al, no matter
how innocent they may be.
In their desperation at the formidable resist
auce with which they have been confronted, and
disappointment as to the prevailing seHsimsnt of
the people of Tennessee,-which they had been
led to believe was intensely Union,-we have no
doubt the Federals win resort, if in their power,
to the mode Of retaliation suggested by the Bul-
letin. The article was, Of course, published with
the knowledge Of the Federal authorities, and
embodies their views. They are in earnest. and
viii, if in their power, perpetrase all that is fore
Swallowed. The threat is made that [" the pred
atory bands which follow up armies for robbery
and plumber, - viii be given a license to Leave the
city as gueuillas, when" says the BHletia,
exultingly, not q farmer OF family can escape
their raUages."
If this unlicensed warfare is to be tolerated in
Tennessee, it becomes the duty of the
Confederate authorizes to Immediately take such
steps as viii lessen the evils threatened. If the
snemy forces us to take the step Of retaliation,
let US not delay in doing SO. Action alone can
save our friends from spOilation. There are
in West Tennessee, other than Of q
commercial character, of the greatest importance
10 our cause, and to save these that section must
be protected. The people are patriotic, and the
government owes them protection. Duty and
both demand sttsAtion to this matter,
and if the few marauding bands Of Fsderals
now ia West tennessee are not at once driven
away, ne excuse can be offered by the COM
nanders or troops in the field; while the loss,
public and private, win be i~ncalcUlable. Let rs
haYs action-prompt and decisive Beside
the forces that we may send to the field, let a
Of retaliation be given out, that viii deter
The towards from thef projected schemes Of
plundering. Give than to understand, by
declaration and example if necessary, that no
lIegitimats warfare viii be tolerated, aud they
be deferred from the commission of their
contemplated crimes. With such an enemy we
have no comity-ho safety of the country
allow none.