Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-08-27
To the General Commanding.
II - Ir,o,, IT1vLiD1fon u (

U. S. Army, Washington, d. G.:
GENERAL.-In obedience to the order of His Ex-
ceency, the President of the Confederate States,
have the honor to make to you the following CON-
munication
On the odd July last a cartel for a general ex-
change of prisoners of war signed between
Major-General D.. H. Ill., in behalf of the Confed
crate States, and Major General John y. Dix, in
behalf of the United States.
By the terms of the cartel it is stipulated that ali
prisoners of hereafter taken shall be discharged
on parole till exchanged.
Scarcely had that cartel been signed when the
military authorities of the United States comInenc-
ed practice changing the whole character of the
war, from such as becomes civilized nations into
campaign of indiScriminate robbery and murder.
The general order issued by the Secretary of War
of the United States in the City Of Washington, on
the very day the cartel was signed in Virginia, di
reefs the military commanders of the U. States to
take the private property of people for the
vcnlence and Of their armies, without COM
penSatiOn.
The general order issued by Maior-Genera Pope
on the Odd day Of july the day after signing of the
cartel, directs the murder of our peaceful mhabi-
tants as spies if found quietly ting the farms in
his rear, outside of his lines, and of his
Brigadier Generals Steinwehr, has seized upon in
nocent and peaceful inhabitants to be held as hos
tages to the end that they may be murdered in cold
blood, if any of his soldiers are killed by
known persons whom he designatcs as Bush
whackers."
We find ourselves driven by our enemies by
steady progress towards practice which we abhor,
and which are vainly struggling to avoid. Under
these circumstances this Government has issued the
accompanying general order, which | am directed
by the President transmit to you, recognizing
Maj Gen. Pope ana his commissioned officers to be
in the position which they have chosen for them
selves that of robbers and murderers and not that
of public enemies entitled if captured to be treated
as prisoners Of war.
The President also instructs me to inform you
that we renounce our right of retaliation on the IN
nocent and will continue to treat the private enlist
ed soldiers Of Gen. POpes army as prisoners oil war
but it. after notice to your government that we con-
fine repreSsive to the punishment oil COM
missioned officers, who willing participants IN
those Crimes the savage practice threatened IN he
order alluded to be persisted in we shall be reluc
family forced to the last resort of accepting the war
on the terms chosen by enemies, until the voice
of an outraged humanity shall compel respect LOT
the recognized usages Of war.
While the President considers that the tacts re-
ferred to would justify refusal on our part TO exc
cute the cartel by which have agreed to hoerate
in excess of prisoners of war in our hands, sacred
regard for piighted faith which shrinks from the
semblance of breaking promise precludes resort
to such an extremty nor is it his desire TO eXtenu
to any other forces of the United.Stat the Puhs
ment merited by Gen. Pope, and such commissioned
officers as choose to participate in the execution oi
his Infamous order.
have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obd't. servant,
TSirncdl R. E. LEE
Gen. CONG.