Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-09-17
From the Raleigh Progress.
Eastern North Carolina.

Eastern North Carolina.
CHoWAH Co., n. c., Aug. %.
Up to tie middle of this month We had cause for
gratitude for preservation from what called the
!. horrors" of war Beyond the foFc;be abduction or
the running off of negroes, the taking of teams,
ard come Instances of robbery and violence we had
suffered wholesale and systematic pundering, oppres
sion and insult such have to relate. But nov we
have to look back upon which but short time
since the Youngest OF never expected to witness in
our once peaceful region, We ere now plundered,
insulted outraged aud huiliated people. shall speak
of only what came under my knowledge. Doubtless
other deeds were done which would view with any
have heard of in bAseness or atrOcity.
About Friday, the l4th inst, the quiet old
town of Edeaton was rudey startled by several hun
dred cavalry, under Col. Oaderdoak Nothing could
hav" been more unexpected. Many citzens from the
country we're in town. several with their families Not
one could escape. The enemy bad posted their pckets
at every street and corner, and one poor fellow who
managed 10 get without the limits OF the town, was
oyertaken arrested carried back detained for hours On
some improbable charge and released to 60 home rob
bed of the only horse and cart which he possessed
Immediately they began general seizure of horses,
mules riding vehicles of all kinds carts and wagons,
harm ss and saddles, in town and country. They bad
no difficulty in finding what they wanted They had
native negro guides and il is said white men,
who were familiar with every part of the country
They remained till Sunday morning, about two days
and nights during which time they exceld themselves
in msanness. Every inhabited house in town was
searched from cellar 10 garEtG IOI III
cases. it must be said with toerabe cvity AMI under
the eye of an officer. Every vacant house was ran
sacked without ceremony by the rabble OF sodiery
The elegant dwelling OF Mrs Page, for instance was
uhrCnged all of Saturday. A faithful old negro who
remains in charge of the premises says that from early
morning till late in the night they going and COM
ing swarming through the whole house, examining
er7 piece of furniture opening doors and drawers and
forcing them with axe Or hammer even where the key
could be had emptying boxes of books and pictures,
and medicines each carrying away something, and
taking every key which they could lay hands upon
This latter circumstance deserves to be noted fer it has
occurred elsewhere. Evidently many of the men were
aibrds aud convicts turned out OF the penitentary
professional burglars, thieves pckpock ts, who un'
derstand theft art, and 60 prepared with all ne
cessary tools for its practice Many of them, too,
were Germans Dutch or Irish but of the great
est brutes were Yankees without doubt Such, too,
were great proportion of the officers Nor were they
New England Yankees they were from New York
and Pennsylvania, almost to man. 80 great was the
rivalry between them that it s impossible to say which
did most stealing and when questioned about it, they
were equally expert il lying evasions or shung 1t Oh
on another. But many thieved with the efrontery
which only professional skill impart and took no
pains to conceal 1t.
But extend my narrative beyond its proper limits
Hearing of great destruction at Rev DR.. Johnston
house, went and saw for myself 1t bad been exag-
gerated of course but the fact was bad enough The
Williams had held regular orgies there, In which there
was mingled something of the ludcrous. Most OF the
furniture had been lett in the house, amongst Other
things fine modera piano forte in the parlor, and
very antique one in the Doctors library at the oppo
site side of the house. These were both played upon