Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-15
CORRESPONDENCE or 7ux WA1o.

MATHEWS County, Oet 10Th.
On Tuesday, the 9th inst, Federal gunboats trans.
por!s aud other vessels the number Of twenty
tered the waters surrounding Mathews county, Va
commenced Smelling the shores most urously. At tho
same time large number OF cavalry, under the COM
maud Of Col Spears, Of the Eleventh Pennsylvania
Cavalry entered the county from the direction OF Glou
cesLer, Point. battery Of artillery, numbering four
pieces, accompanied them; also, regiment Of negroes,
who posted near Brdsers Store in the upper por
ton OF the county. Their cavalry and infantry COM
menced 10 sco the woods and fields and 70 search the
houses for the purpose they avowed OF catching Be
ATS men" whom they styled "prates" and whom they
threatened to hang the spot where caught-not be
ing aware, perhaps, that the party was regularly
ganzcd, and acting under the authority OF the Navy
Department the otficerd holding commissions in the
Confederate States Navy. -l.
On "Wednesday morning some Of the cavalry chased
into the woods Mr. Sands Sm h. one of the most widely
esteemed and patriotic citizens OF Mathews county, aud
sixty years OF age with the Intention Of capturing
him. DURING their last rad they bad dragged Lin ilom
his own house, destroying at the time portion at
his properly, aud carrying of his negroes aud horses
On this occasion he had armed himself with double
bzrrelled sbot gun and on the approach of the YAH
KEGS, fred on them, killing one Instantly. he
Ieveled his gun at the other, but the second barrel
missed fire. They then rushed upon him. and seiziEg
him, overpoWered him by main force, and took hin
prisoner. They tied rope 10 his feet aud dragged him
to his yard. His daughters who have neither
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their knees, implored the officer be allowed 10
him and bid him farewell. They we're refu.ed, ard
their lives threatened il they dared 10 approach him.
He was then tied behind buggy and carried four miles
beyond Mathews Court House, their return TO
Gloucester Point "a,
While on the march, Mr. Smith was SO bruttlly
ed by the private soldiers that he asked TO Colonel
Spears. When that officer came up, instead Of reproy
ing the soldiers he seized stick and beat tho prisoner
over tho head He begged for glass OF water, which
was refused him, with the remark that he would not
want for long. They then, by order OF the Co
lone ted his hands behiod bis back, placed bin Oh
horseback tied rope around his neck and threw the
end of t over the limb OF persmmon tree. Tie
horse was lbeI driven from under him. Tie fall was
not sufficient and h. fell to the ground He begged
for mercy, bat none was shown him, and Col SpeSrs
ordered his mel to FIRE into him, which they did aud
he died pierced with live balls They then buried him
near the tree, leaving his feet sticking OFT OF the
ground and placed at his head the following inscrp-
ton: .s I.tI. t... ....-
Warning TO d--n bIsllw hackers.-Every d--n man
We catch with arms in the woods we will hang high
that the birds will build nests in them. So take warn
ing such will be your fate, you d-n towards. Here
lies the body of an old bu'hshacker."
The next morning, after the departure of the Fedo
rails, Mr. Smiths body carried TO his almost dis
tracted and now orphan family Mr.. Thomas Smith, the
brother of the murdered man, and owner Of the sd-
joining farm, was aso dragged from his house prison
er and carried of. LIE was made to stand by without
word and witness the murder OF MS orothcr and tie
rope with which he hung fastened around toe
neck of the horse which the brother compelled 10
ride. Such brutality needs no comment
The Yankees CARED oil from the county number
of citizens, burned Mil, drove of quantity ofcAe,
and d royed all the salt works and fishing seins They
loft without having accomplished their object in CATCH
ing "Beals men, only twelve of whom in the
ccuaty the tme the having been sent away
days previous TO The raid.
The murder Of Mr.. Smith, aud the brutality OF his
treatment, will the OF Col Spears, Of the
Ilh Pennsylvania cavalry, to be remembered with de-
testauon when heads that youthful shall have
grown grey and laid beneath the grass OF the val
ley. r.-
Mr. Smith has two aud q son-in-law in the Con-
federats army, and his brother has also son in the
26h Va. regiment OF infantry.
The Fsderals expressed their discrimination TO return
shortly and burn the house of every who dared TO
entertain Capt Bea or any OF his men, The whole e1
pesiIon under the command of Brigadier General
Wister. ''' NJ