The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-16
Mai. Gen. Dix to Henry A. Wise.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VA.)
7Tu Army Corps

9TH ARMY CORPS,
FORTRESS MONROE, VA, April %, 1853.
To Gen. Henry Il. Wise, or the Command
ing Officer Of the Troops n.the Gtickahons-
my;
SiR-The town of williamsburg has been
occupied, as you are aware, by the troops
under my command, as picket station or
outpost of Yorktown. large portion Of
the inhabitants are known not to be we'll
disposed to the Government of the United
States. They have, nevertheless, while
quietly pursuing their domestic avocati0na
been unmolested, and have been permitted
to supply themselves with the necessarie9
of life at Yorktown and Fortress Monroe.
The Insane Asylum at Williamsburg has
has been put under the superintendence Of
an army surgeon, and its three hundred
helpless inmates supplied, at the expense
of the United States, with every thing nee
essary to their comfort, and with the rem
edial treatment they require. While exer-
cising these offices of humanity, the troops
at Williamsburg have been several times
attacked by your forces, not with view to
gain and hold possession of the place, and TO
assume the guardianship which has been
extended to the inhabitants and the ten
ants of the Asylum by us, but for the pur-
pose Embarrassing those who were perform
ing this generous service. On the 3lst ult.
your forces entered and endeayored totake
possession of the town, occupying several
houses and firing upon the troops, and in
this, as L am informed, they were aided by
some of the inhabitants, who have been
living for nearly year under our protec-
ton.
More recently, your forces entered the
town and took possession of it, placing our
EMPLOYEES in the Insane Asylum under
parole carrying off some of the servants.
and depriving its inmates of the care to
which they have been accustomed, and
which their helpless condition renders in
dispensable. You have, by withdrawing
your forces, left the Asylum again to our
charity, and compelled Maj. Gen. Keyes,
the commanding officer Of the troops at
Yorktown and Fort Magruder to supply It
with food to save the inmates from starva-
ton.
These raids, under the peculiar circum-
stances, are IN violation of every dictate Of
humanity. Having no result, and, appa-
rently, no object but annoyance and a use
less sacrifice OF life, they are also in viola
tion OF every principle Of honorable war
fare. have directed Major General Reyes
to reoccupy the town, and, that the agrees
sions referred to may cease, give you no.
tice, in case of any repetition OF them: s
/. That the inmates of the ASYLUM will
be sent TO Richmond, and the United States
of the burden of their support.
2. That any house which may be taken
possession of for the purpose of firing upon
the troops stationed there, will be RACED to
the ground, and ~.
3. That any of the citizens. of Williams
burg, not beloning to regularly organic
ed corps, who shall be found cooperating
in these attacks, and raising in arms
against the occupying troops, will be put
to death as violator of the laws of civilized
warfare.
:. am, very respectfully, your ob't. sev't,
JOHN A. DIX, Maj. Gen.