Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-04-17
For the Standard
JAMES 4. Seldom,
Secretary of " ar.

Mr.. HOLDEN In looking over the Standard, of
the 18th instant, | was surprised to see an article
published under the head of " Cold. blooded Mur-
der, which you state written to you by a
friend from of the western counties. Your
western correspondent seems to write quite elo.
qiently on the outrageous murders committed up
on the hjgh-miHded, 'adePthdcat people Of Laurel,
as he would have you believe they were; and en-
deavorS to make the impression on the minds Of
the people Of this Stale, that they were only con-
tending for their just proportion of the coany SALT
which they had not received
Now, let examine the facts in'the case OF those
iHGcpeIde5t thieves, robbers and tories Of Laurel
About twelve months ago, these men on Laurel
commenced their outrageS on the defenceess citi-
Zens Of that settlement and other places. They
shot one man in his own house, stole and killed
horses robbed the Southern citizens Of guns, bacon,
meal Clothes, and every thing they could lay their
hands On. The militia OF TWO or three counties
were called out to suppress these marauders, and
large force marched into that region of country,
and many of them were taken up and great many
came in and surrendered, making an kinds of
acknowledgements that they had done wrong; that
they had been miSled and signilied a willingness to
join the army, and to act in future good, loyal
citizens. Many of them volunteered in the Con-
fedeTate army, and all believe, set at liberty
without any punishment being inflicted upon them.
Shortly after that one of the leaders who bad not
been taken up, shot a man down for acting as
pilot for of the forces that were marched into
that settlement For this offence, he not
brought to justice nor no effort was ever made to
arrest him for it as | have heard Of So the tories
OF Laurel had things their own way until winter.
BY this time, all who had volunteered from that
country, had deserted and brought off their guns
and ammunition, and commenced organizing COM
Panies, under the command, as they declared of a
Yankee officer, sent from Lncolns government for
that purpose. company was raised of one hun
dred men, and they then commenced rObbing and
plundering private houses in settlement called
Flag Pond" in Washington county. Tennessee,
taking money guns, clothes, meat, and every thing
they could carry away, making women and children
strip off their shoes, socks and clothes for them
and left many families almost destitute of clothing
bedding or provisions. | did not learn that salt
was the Object of the thieves Boys from ten to
fifteen years of age were engaged in these robberies
and gentleman told me, whose house they robbed,
that they were the most active rogues in company.
l did not hear of any salt being taken.
The next depreciation was committed at Marshal,
Madison county, n C., where they not only took
salt, but they broke open store houses and dwelling
houses and carried off every thing that they could
take away. They broke into A. e. Bard's dwell
ling house, large well furnished boarding house.
and robbed it Of all the blankets and other bed fur
niturc They also entered Col. l. NJ. Aliens dwell.
ling house, and abused it at great rate-robbing
it Of all its furniture and, | have heard made Mrs
Allen even strip off her under clothes, shoes and
that they got any salt there. On the same night,
some distance from Marshall they entered A. Farms
wOrths house, robbed it of BEDS furniture, and
clothes, and emptied dticks of their contents in
order to pack their stolen goods in the ticks. did
not learn that those "inds pendent, high minded"
men packed any salt from there in the bed ticks.
This is true statement of facts relative to these
Laurel people, | have been informed. OF course
such state of affairs could not be endured Col
L. n. Allen, high-mnded honorable Confederate
officer, was sent there with sufficient force to
chaStise these miserable outlawed villains which
suppose be done satisfactorily to himself
Your western correspondent seems to be horror
stricken at the idea of prisoners being shot, boys
killed, and great many other dreadful things done,
and cries aloud for justice and trial Of the officer
Who was ne? Every body knows in these western
counties that Col L. NJ. Allen was the Confederate
officer in command, and have no reason to doubt
that he acted with these according to the reg
ulatiOns of the army. l suppose he had right to
court MARTA! them, and deal with them according
to their crimes and | am sure they have received
nothing more than justice according to the enorm
ty of their crimes. This is no time to make such
accusations, in order to encourage all such as
the Laurel tories to persist in their awless course
against the good citizens of our country, and by
such articles to give aid and comfort to the enemy
EBERT.