Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-09-26
PILLAGING BY SOLDIERS.

Waton's Daily Journal, few days ago,
Contained the following extract Of letter
from soldier of the Vermont 9Th. sent to
his wife reading in Pandolph:
CApP nEs ALLENiSDs, Aug. 20, 1882.
Ne Dsor WIFE The reason why l did no,
ansssr your l-r ter is because the regiment the
past week ha. had something to do in e1nfscsting
DR. D riy. On IhursJ.y the 25th, the property
Of Gen. Richard Taylor was eonhscsted. De 10 a
Of cid Gen. Taylor, ard is now in the rebel
. my. There ware ever 100 males and IS head o!
cattle and $50 slavss. 1hefslaves were ell de-
clired euancipaied. This plantation form rig rs'
Gen. Taylor's, who gave it to his son Richard at
his death. 1t is one OF the most spleniid planta-
tious that ever saw. Tn ere are on 1t 100 seres
| o. sugar c4ue which must rot upon the ground II
the @ vernment does no,harvest 1t. l-ish you
could have seen the soljiers plu der this plantA-
ton Alter the stock was driven 81, the boys be-
gan BY ordering the slaves TO bring out every
| thing there was TO eat aud drink. they brought
out hundreds Of bottles Of wine, eggs, preserved
| hgs ami pc chez, TURKEYS. chickens and honey in
any quantity. brought aw,y large camp ket-
tie aud TRY ng pane that belonged TO old Gen. Tsy
| lor, and also many OF his private papers. have
| one lie ter OF his own baud writing, AID many
| from Sec. Marcy-some frOmGen Scott, and some
| from the traitor Floyd. brought to mp four
bottles Of aret VINE. Lieut.. -- brought
away half barrel Of the ct syrup from the
sugar house, and a large can Of honey. Tho
camp kettle and pans intend 70 send nome. They
are made OF heavy tin covered with copper. |
think will se-d hO-e the private papers 10y mail
! if d, lot let any one have them. TGe camp 10
| loaded Gown with plunder-al. kinds OF clothing,
rings, watches, guns, pist,ls, sNUris and some VI
| Gen. iayl r. OLD hats and coats, bel's, tvJrcs-
sud, in tact, every OLE relic he had il Nern about
| the camp.
Yesterday morning there was a detachment
| from this Regiment II two companies, the battery
| Of Two pieces OF cannon, ami oue company OF cav
airy from TIE city. went out securing the country
Tor rebels aud their property. We have not yet
heard from them, but expect them back night
killed large fat COW on TLursilT tina, came
from raylo plantation. had the tongue for
dlnuer. Tas boys said t was too fat. Inc boys
Wao use tobacco nave coudscatot enough 70 last
| them ole year. We are bound 20 live nCw-that
is, # We are called ut every day 10 take retefs
property. l expect 10 90 again to-l1orrOT. When
! get a box full oi cGriusIJIes ! VIII send them
home. expect Lieut.. -- will bring some
thing more from Isylofs plantation to-day. You
aud every one may DO thankful that you are out
OF tie reach Of plaLd,ring armies. Here ar
whole families of wlmen AID caiiiren running 10
! the WCods-lar-e Limitations entirely deserted
nothing loft except siayes Old to run Awsy-all
klaus Of the best OF mahogany furniture broken
10 pieces. Nothing l. respected
We a1c sorry that any Vermont soldier
should have a hand in such dsssraceiul ill
laying As IS recorded above; and ye; moit
sony to read n almost every paper that
stragslers from our arGy in Maryland BY
hundreds and thoG-an-s. r.lage indiscrimi-
nltely, wherever icy g5-thst in this re-
pect the re5e. settlers were kept in far bet
ter subjecuon u orders. The night, accord
ing To all tie usages Of war, II taking 10 ST
o Derby way and under ordrr- Of superior
6 .er, what Is necessary for the sustenauc
OF the a.my-the property e. taken to Il
s,rcIy acc untel Tor. and it the property o
friendly persons to be honestly paid for b,
the goyernmcnt-,s uuq Questioned But tht
irregular seizure and appropriation Of prop
erty Nv individuals aud d.sJrderly squads
4 fir their own qualification and profit, Is con
demued ~ all laW. except that Of robbers
ANY army will be ruined by an indulgeno
in such practices, IN very short time. y
/ assumption that they are only rillagiug To
enemy OF the friends Of enemies, Will bel
= the case. TIE soldier who begins with psi
laying rebel dwellings will soon &c. beyon,
= making dIstinctiJns-friend as well 10
will he victim TO his raplcity. Genera
orders TO restrain. under severe penalties, al
such practices, have been issued bat it
said that ufhsers It lower grades-and cope
claliy volunteer Ufiters-fail to see them eu
forced.