Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-05-05
GOV. sTANLT TO MAJ. GEN. HILL.

NEwBERN, n. T., March 27, 1868.
To AGj1r General D. II. Hill, G. s. H., GOlds6orO' :.
SIR: BY flag Of truce last night, 1 received a
communication from you of the oath inst. full of
insolent falsehood and BLACKBOARD abuse.
To those who know anything of the peculiar
traits of your character it will be amusing to learn
you were capable feeling "mortifcation and pain 1"
because of any unfortunate conduct of North Car
GILMAN.
You say have descended to low abuse of nv own
people. do not know what the abuse to which
you have reference can he, unless it was when
charac erized as "cowardly incendiaries" the men
under the command of General French who burned
the town of Plymouth.
did condemn and do condemn as "cowardly in
cendaries" the perpetrators of that diabolica out
rage; butt have never believed they were citizens
of North-Carolina. 1t was evidently premeditated
attempt to destroy the whole town. The houses of
widows, OF Union men and Secessonists, who had
been protected by the troops of the United States
were indiscriminately burned, without regard to
the entreates and tears of their wives and daught
ers Gen. French only admitted the firing of one
house. You now admit that some houses were
burned IN Plymouth by Confederate troops" But
unfortunately to be convicted of falsehood can
he misfortune to general in the Confederate
States Army while you confess his sin, YOU from
the force of irresistible habits guilty of the same
lnhtnlty. You say " 1t is alleged it was done to
GUST some Yankee thieves and marauders" What
have stated above of the character of the nersons
residing in the houses is a sufficient refutation of
tits. O- u
am happy to know that you and differ in min.
ion IS to those upon whom the burden Of this Gin
rests. f.the Union forces were "brutal invaders y
see no excuse for your burning the towns of those
peaceful citizens whom yQu profess you came to
IL It Will afford you pleasure you may know that
l. have omitted no opportunity of rebuking any
"!trocities committed by troops of the United
States, in which have been sustained nv the GAL
lant general upon whom you so unworthiIv endeav.
Or 70 cast reproach.
As far as my observation extends, I know of but
t"o attempts in North Carolina to destroy towns bv
b.lrning-5oth of these were made by men of vonr
political school refer to the attempt to da:tror
Nswbern and to the burning of Plymoath.
You are pleased, in the mean malignty of vorr
nature to make comparison of the civil and mlitaTv
Governors of North Carolina in the hope of wound-
IN; my feelings. How little you know of the feel.
would assail. '0D
fesi just and proper pride for the good conduct
or any true son Of North Carolina even when en-
gagged in bad Gauge. The gallant gentleman to
Thom you rascr-as fhtle honored By your praise as
q q An injured 5y Your EneerS-was honored by my
own people NORTH CG~o inians--for his lifelong
osyotion 70 the Union and bis often expressed de-
,estaetop OF secession viilans-yolr associates in
He was justly endeare6 TO his own people,
oeuse Of MS eloquent denuncston of the fisndsh
yourself who were trying for years to
plunge his country in civil war; In az our of ex-