The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-09-11
The Barbarism Of the Rebels.
ST. J0HNsLUEY, Aug. 80. 1863.

Arkansas refugee, formerly Of Peacham.-
The letters, two Of them, speak for themselves
as 70 whether we are wagirg war against a
civilized people or against pirates ara mur-
drrers. Would to God that this was an iso-
lated case, out We know that it is not; We
know it is Just what the people OF Tennessee
and Arkansas are suffering hourly in mos,
cases Tor loyalty to the flag Of the free, but
IL many cases where such loyalty is unex-
pressed, the crime Of having been born
among free men in free state is a sufficient
PfeteXt .Cr the determination Of a whole
family. Nine years ago the coming winter
Mr.. Carter visited Arkansas, with perhaps
Some intention Of removing th!ther, but more
particularly to see my step mother who wa,
his sister. Charmed with the mildness Of
the climate, the natural beauty Of the coun-
try, the comparative ease with which prop
erty could he accumulated, and at the earnest
desire Of numerous citizens, who thought
that smart man with some money would
be quite an acquisition to the community, the
slaveholding portion of which laughingly as
sured him that they would soon cure him of
his aati-s ayery notions, he was induced to
remove there in the following summer. His
property in Peacham was turned into gold,
every dollar of which was stolen from him
in Cincinnati. Unfortunately he had paid
his passage from there to Napoleon, at the
mouth Of the Arkansas river The steam
boat captain unwilling to refund the money
he had no choice but to proceed. Arriving
there, he was compelled to proceed overland,
ton account of low water to his journevs
end, which was in the vicinity of Fort Smith,
the head Of navigation on the Arkansas riv-
er, 400 miles by land. His family at that
time consisted of himself and six children.
their ages ranging from 6 to IS years; three
boys and three girls.
Notwithstanding his losses, and his age,
he went to work with that energy which
chaiacterizes those who have ever breathed
the air of freedom, and soon compelled for
tune TO smile on lis efforts. The first diff
Guilty he experienced arising out of slavery,
occurred as follows, which shows the extreme
sensitveness of the Shareholders A Negro
man applied 10 him on the Sabbath for the
privilege Of making rails, to make hundred
e winch IS days work, for which he would
AVE rec..ssd 80 cls. Mr.. Carter gave him
,Ar &c -. marking at the same time, "your
master y..vuld allow you other time than tie
H'a,h to WORK ior yourscjf.'
the vigilance committee got hold Of it,
Immediately held meeting, but contented
themselves with warning hin to be more
guarded IL his language. The second attempt
70 gag him, Il use the word literalv} was
clused by the writer Of this (havng removed
t. Roston) sending him Boston Journal,
which was opened and examined in the post
I.~e according to law, although until then
never enforced there. Upon this they d4ilb-
clately det, rmined to hang him, hut tioally
!rt him off in consideration of his age. This
was Just prevous to the breaking out OF the
rom him until the arrival Of these letter..
Inc writer Of these letters escaped to Mis-
souri, in company with his brother Amos
himself enlist'ng in the Union army, his bro
Thea .eturning on account of his family whom
he nai lett behind.
SPRINGFIELD, May $.
have heard directly from home. The
secesh have taken father and hung him IN
I'll he was nearly dead to make him tell where
there was Union company, but did not qaite
to which Amos belonged. Henry Carroll
commands company Of secesh. They had
fight, some were killed, the Union boys
surprised, were defeated, Is prisoners taken,
among whom was Amos. They have taken
er-in-aw,) was taken out of his house and
shot dead. They are killing all of the Union
men taking their property and leaving their
families to suffer-
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, May II.
have just heard further particulars Of
fathers death. After hanging him until
nearly dead he was compelled to march on
foot to Little Rock. He died Immediately
on arriving there. Amos escaped from them
and is in the bush. They have taken every
thing your mother had and she is in desti-
tute circumstances"
SPRINGFIELD, Mo, Aug. Is
have again heard from home. Amos is
dead the secesh caught and hung him, he
had been in the bush over year. And more
painful news to you, Charles, they took youl
mother and wanted to hang her. but could
not find any one 20 do it. Your brother Ed
ward is in the bush and eight hundred dol
!ars reward is offered FOR him. The rebel;
are playing a full hand, determined to sweep
Ike land clear of all who love their country
before it is occupied by the Union forces.
remain, Your afectiorate brother.
HAzEN B. CARTER"
Nv brother for whom the above reward i
of,reI, IS 1G wears old, born and brought u
there, ~ amer being Northern man
al. mo e r l. H.