Daily national Republican., 1863-07-25
CIvHlzED WARFARE.

Alexander H. Stephens started on q mission
to Washington, according to the hypocritical
letter of JEFF Davis, "to place this war on the
footing Of such as are waged by civilized peo-
PIE Of modern times" The letter also con-
tains the following complaint:
Your attention is also called to the uubeard-
OF conduct OF the Federal officers in driving
from their homes entire communities Of women
and children, as well us of men, whom tbey
hnd in districts occupied by their troops. for no
other reason than because the unfortupates are
faithful TO the allegiance due to their States.
md refuse to take an oath Of fidelity to their
enemies"
This charge against our Government Is false.
The practice is not unheard of" for in April,
1862, proclamation was issued by Col. w.
NJ. Churchwell, provost Marshal ut Knoxville.
addressed ITO the disaffected people Of East
Tennessee" ordering that all persons who fail
TO return to their homes and accept the amnesty
offered on condition of "laying down their
arms and acting as loyal citizens " shall " have
their wives and children sent to their care in
Kentucky or beyond the Confederate States
lines at their oUn erpease." Also, that the
families Of all males who shall leave after the
date OF this proclamation "will be sent imme.
dfately AFTER them. The women and children
must be taken care Of by husbands and fathers
either in East Tennessee or In the Lincoln Gov
ernment.' r...
Specimens of the "civilized warfare ~ w,vcd
by men wearing JEFF. Davis uniform are given |
by the editor OF the Memphis Bulletin, who
Vouches for the truth Of the statements below:
SCARCITY OF SALT.
N hp npth ~ \.
C., near the Tennessee border, ali the sail was
seized Tor distribution by Confederate commits |
sioners. Salt was selling al SIS and sIOD ner
sack. Inc commissioners declared that The
tories should have none," and positively re-
fused to give Union men their portion az the
quantity to be distributed In that vicinity. This
Palpable injustice reused the Union men. thev
assembled together and determined TO seize
their proportion OF the salt by force Thcy did |
soi taking az Marshall, N. c., what they deemed |
70 be their Just share. Immediately Afterwards. |
Lieut.. Col. James Keith, was ordered To- Lsurei
- arrest the offenders.
ARREST FOR SEEING SALT.
Among those arrested were Joseph Wood
aoout sixty years Of age; David Shelton. sixtv'
Ismes Eis"s s1eisoI MY koddy Shelton foryays;
Moore, thirty-ave; Isaiah Shelton, fifteen: vii.
iam shelton, twelvej James Metcalf, ten; Jas
per channel, fourteen; Sam'l Shelton, nineteen.
ana MS orother, aged seventeen, sons of Lins
sneiton-in all thirteen men and boys. Nearly
al OF them declared they were innocent, and
in nad taken no part In appropriating the salt.
They begged for a trial, asserting that tbev
could prove their innocence. N'
THE EXECUTION.
Soi. Allen, who was with his troops. told
ihen they should have trial, but they would
= ~ 'sken 70 tennessee for that purpose. They
oid farewell TO their wives, daughters and sIs
ters, directing them. TO procure the witnesses
ana bring them to the court In Tennass.a
where they supposed their trial would taks
place. Alas how little they dreamed what a
iatc awaited them! ""A' ,
HORRIBLE BARBARITIEs,
The poor fellows had proceeded lint n ,o,,
inles, when they were turned from the road
into gorge In the mountain. and hailed
Without any warning of what was to be done
win them nye OF them were ordered to kneol
aoNh; len PAGES In 'front.' Of these five, a file
oI soldiers were placed with loaded muskets'
The terrible reality flashed upon the minds of
,ried out; "for Gods sake, men. % Von a. srs sge,
'oing to shoot usi II you are going TO murder =.
IS, give US al least time to pray" Col. Allen
vas reminded Of bis promise to give them a
mai They we're Informed that Allen had no .
authority, that Keith was In Command. and o
nat there was no time for praying. f
Inc order was given to fire, the old men and u
,,oys put their hands to their faces, and rent 7
w w ar win agonlzlng cries Of despair; the SOL
neis wayered and hesitsted to obey the com .
nand. Keith said If they did not fire instantly l.
&c would make them change places with he L,
prisoners. The soldiers raised their puns The
'iclims shuddered convulsiyeIy. the word was
,Wen 70 hre, and tho five men fell pierced will n
eoei bullets. Wood and Shelton were shot in y y
he head, their brains scattered mon ,ha r
round, and they died without a stru1pie Tho Fl
ther three lived only few minutes +,
MURDER or BOY or TWELVE I'D
Five others were ordeie cd to kneci amo, ro
hem little Billy Shelton, a mere chi,d "ons ns BE
Felye years old. He impiored the men no, on,y " wi
boot him In the face. "You have Killed , 10 70 w
'ther and brothers," said he, "you have shn,
" father In the face; do not shoot me in The II,
ee." He covered his face with his hands ,,,
he soldiers received the order TO FIRE. and Ave VIZ
oro fell. Poor little Billy was wounded in u
'th arms. He ran 10 an officer, clasped him "a
,onnd the legs, and besought him to spare his tn
'e. You have killed my old father and nv on
rec brothers; you hayeshot me In both arms; ~
forgive Tor all thisj can get well. Let me
to my mother and sisters" What heart fl,
aoamant the man must have who could dis H
gard such an appeal The little boy was WI
agged back to the place of execution, again
terrible word fire y, was given and he
] dead, eight balls having entered ia bodv ve