The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-05-20
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN GEN
WISE AND THE FEDERAL GENERAL

COKhESPONDENCE BEI IWEEN GESN.
WISE AND THE FEDERAL GENERAL,
JUH A. DIX.
A spicy correspondence has recently ap.
peared between Gen. Wise and Gen John
A. Dix, the Federal Commandaut a, Fortress
Monroe, in relation TO the Lunaic Asylum al.
Williamsburg.
Dixs letter is dated Fortress Monroe, April
2S. In this letter he proceeds to inform Gen.
Wise that the town Of Williamsburg has been
occupied by the troops under his command as
picket station or outpost to Yorktown, and
that large portion of the inhabitants of the
town are known not to be we'll disposed to the
Government of the United States Nsverthe.
less, the condescension of his Government has
prevented them FROM being molested while
quietly pursuing their domestic avocations,
| and they have been permitted to procure sup-
plies at Yorktown and Fortress Monroe. He
refers to the fact that the Insane Asylum has
besn placed in charge of AL army surgeon,
and it's three hundred helpless inmates supplied
with everything necessary to their comfort,
and with the remedial treatment they required,
at the expense of the United States In speak
ing of the successful attacks Of Gen. Wise g
troops upon his forces, by which the latter
were twice driven ont of the town, he charac.
terizes them as ''raids,' and, under the peculiar
circumstances, in violation Of every dictate of
humanity lie says he has directed Major.
General Keyes to re-occupy the town, and
gives Gen. Wise notice that in case any reps-
tition of what he terms these aggressions'
ehall occur, Gen. Il. is to execute the annexed d
threats:
let. That the inmates of the Aeyium will be
sent to Richmond, and the United States re-
ieved of the burden of their support;
I'd. That any house which may be taken
possession of for the purpose of firing upon
The troops stationed there will be razsd to the
ground; and
Sd. That any citizen of Williamsburg not
belonging to q regularly organized corps, who
shall be found cooperating in these attacks,
and rising in arms against the occupying
troope, will be put to death as vi0lator of
the laws Of civilized warfare.
To this letter of Dix, Gen. Wise responds
at length, and in his own peculiar and scath
ing style In hisreference to the Insane Asy-
lum, Gen. w. says:
You have declined all response to the ques.
not modest the necessary men and means CT
conducting the operations Of the Asylum in
case it was held by tho State authorities, and
the town by the Confederate forces. Why
not yield both to humanity and charity, aud
let the insane be treated by their own "kith
and kin You are to them aliens and enc
mics, and they know it. You can practice no
pathology upon them; they want NO army ply
sic-no physic of yours of any kind. Is i.
that you want, because you know we are not :
prepared TO get at your forces, except through
Williamsburg. and that by holding up the
"three hundred helpless ones" there in your
front, YOU bope to be spared from attack -
II such he the use you make Of the insane
if that be the reason why you feed them with
army rations and physic them by Az army sur
geon, and if such he the reason why you put
in the pea Of feeding them against attack
then your sanity cowardice will surely bs
cursed, not by attack but by every defence in
our might and main, of Williamsburg. anu its
inhabitauts, and its Asylums, and it's inmates
You are the inraders, not we; you have made
the attack and gained, and now hold posses
sion and mean, Ia any and every way in my
power kc0wn to civilized warfare, to regain
and hold poes: ssion II can, and whenever l
ca. We are offending an invaded, insulted
and outraged country. II We attack you, it Is
TO drive the invader and oppressor away--it is
to regain and hold, forever, entire possession
of country which 10 oure, not yours. Aud
while he has and holds possession, he shali not
do tG in peace. If can help 1t he shall not
rest. We will attack him, harass him, annoy
him, scout him, fight aud destroy and conquer
aud crush him, BY all the means which dod
has given and permits
In speaking Of the threats with which the
letter of Cen Dix concludes, after discussing
ths distinction between Q citizsn taking up
arms to rspel invasion and soldier belonging
to regularly organic ID corps" he thus eau
tions the Yankee General:
You are "bslonging t, regularly organ
lied corps" and you are found rising. in arms
against The sovsrsignty Of Virginia 10 her own
limits This distinction, you may tbink, Will
save you II captured. Bat, General, Il you
dare, againat al law. ~ you th!eatsn, 70 pnt
70 dssth any ciEixsn Of Williamsburg, this Dis
tiaslion shall not aays you Il you happen syer
70 fall into ny hands. Win beyo yen hung