Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-12-10
Cotton RurnlnR.


Several weeks since Gen. French, who commands
in the military department of Petersburg and North
Carolina issued an order to burn all the cotton east
of the Wilmington and Weldon and Seaboard and
Roanoke Railway; but he was induced, by letter
from Gov. Vance, to postpone the execution of the
order until the 18th of this month"; Afriend called
our attention to the first order and another friend
has called our attention to the second, which is as
HEADQRs. DEPARTMENT OF N. CO.
PETERSBURG, Va, Nov. 2lst 1862.
SPECIAL ORDER lExrRAcr]
l.. Brig. Gen. B. H. Robertson, will extend the
day designated for the removal of Cotton, to the
18th day of December, soith the distinct under
standing that in the event Of the approach of the
enemy. the owners will see that the cotton is burn
ed All cotton must be removed west of the line
of railway by the 18th of December, 1862, other
wise it will be destroyed.
Cotton unpicked in the field, will be allowed
reasonable time to be gathered and packed, but in
no event will more than one-fifth Of the same be
permitted to remain upon any one place after it is
ready for transportation west of the line of railway
l;y command of MAJ. GEN S. G. FRENCH.
GRAHAM Dawes,
Major and A. A. General.
Now, it is physically impossible for the planters
to remove their cotton within the time designated.
They have been deprived by the war of many of
their teams and wagons, and many Of them are en-
gagged in removing their negroes and other property
to the interior. Certainly, it is better to destroy
the cotton than permit the enemy to get possession
of it; but is it likely that the enemy will occupy
the Uho1 country, including every neighborhood,
east of the line Of railway, before the 18th of this
month?
Why does not the government purchase the cot
ton and remove it to safe place in the interior y
We believe it is purchasing cotton in the States
south of us-why not in this State? Cotton will
be specie at the close of the war, and even now it
would form an excellent basis for the millions of
Treasury notes which the government is issuing.
Devastation, instead of protection, appears to be
the policy. If we cannot protect you, we will burn
your property and ruin you seems to be the motto.
We are tired Of this policy. 1t cuts us like two
edged sword, for the Yankees destroy on one side,
and our own government on the other. Gen. Viii
ting intimates, for example, that he will destroy
Wilmington rather than let it fall into the hands of
the enemy. Wherefore? Shall we cut off the nose
to spite the face? Being miserable already, shall
We make ourselves more SO? Away with the pat
riotism that consists in destroying rather than in
protecting!
Gen. French who commands in the military de-
partment of Petersburg and North Carolina, will
have grand cotton burning on the 18th of this
month! We protest against it. Our people and
planters protest against it. If the enemy ap-
proaches says one portion Of the order the planters
must see to it that the cotton is destroyed This
is all very well. No doubt the planters sciH see to
it in that event but the order goes to say, that
all cotton not remoced uest Of the line Of railway
by the 15th ,oiA be destroyed The order is there
fore, contradictory.
But it reveals the fixed purpose of the govern
ment at Richmond to make the line of railway the
line etdefence against tile Yankees and this policy,
it is apparent will deliver the entire East to devas
taton and ruin. 1t is in fact an invitation to the
Yankees to advance to the railway; for the cotton
is to be removed west of it. and, of course we are
to fight them, and fight them only at that point