Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-04-22
For the Standard.

Nix. HoLDES:-In looking over the Standard, of
the 18th instan., was surprised to see article
published under the head Of " Cold. blooded MUIR
DER" which you state was written to you by
friend from one of the western counties. Tour
western correspondent seems to write quite elo.
quently on the outrageous murders committed u,
ON the AiGh.ninded. independent peop!e.af 4.arel
rs he would have you believe they were and co.
desvors to make the impression on the minds of
the people Of this State, that they were only
tending for their just proportion Of the coapy Salt,
which they had not received.
Now let US examine the facts in the case of those
Independent thieves, robbers and tories of LAUREL
About twelve months ago, these men on Laurel
commenced their outrages on the defenccless citi-
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
we're called out to suppress these narauders, and
large force was marched into that region Of country
and many Of them-~ere taken up, and great many
came in and surrendered, making all kinds of &C.
acknowledgements that they had done wrong; that
they had been mised, and signi6ed willingness to
join the army, and to act in future as good, loyal
citizens. Many Of them volunteered in the Con-
federate army, and ALL believe, set at liberty
without any punishment being inflicted upon them
Shortly aGer that one of the leaders who had not
-
pilot for some Of the forces that marched INTO
that settlement. For this offence. he was 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
Yankee officer, sent from Lincoln's government for
ofcadn f mn h1n
dred men, and they then commenced robbing and
piunder,ng private houses in settlement called
Flag Pond, IN Washington county, Tennessee,
taxing money, guns, clothes, meat and every thing
tney could carry away, making women and children
strip OH their shoes, socks aud clothes for theQ
ana lett many families almost destitute of clothing,
bedding or provisions I did not learn that salt
was the object Of the thieves. Boys from ten to
niteen years OF age we're engaged in these robbere
anu gentleman told me- whose house they robbed,
that they were the most active rogues in company
CID not hear of any salt being taken.
IRE next depreciation was committed at Marshal,
Madison c.Nnty, n. G., where they not only took
sait oos tneJ orcke open ssore houses and <lweing
houses, and carried off every thing that tiey could
take away. They broke into A. E. Baird's dwell.
ling house large, well furnished boardnp.h house
and robbed it of all the blankets and other he'd fnr
| niture. They also entered Col. L NJ Aliens dwell
| ling house, and abused it at q great rate-robbiop
IL OF III! us furniture, and, l. have heard made Mira
Allen even strip off her under clothes, shoes and
stockings for them to carry away. 1 did not hsar
that they got any salt there. On the same NIGHT
some distancefrom Marshall, they entered A Fasns.
| worths house, robbed it of beds, furnitnre and
clothes. and emptied bedticks Of their contents in
order to pack their stolen goods in the ticka 1 did
not learn that those indt pendent, hiph.umndeds
men packed any salt from there in the bed ticks
This is true statement of facts relative to thesa
Laurel people, AS have been informed. OF course
such state of affairs could not be endured. Col
L. Al. Allen high. minded, honorable Copfsierste
officer, was seat there with sufficient forca r.
chsstise these miserable, outlawed viisins, which
suppose he done satisfactorily to himself - -
Your western correspondent seems to he, horror
stricken at the idea Of prisoners being shot; hoys
killed, and great many other dreadfal things done
and cries aloud for justice and trial ii the officer
Who was her Every body Knows m these western
counties that Col l. N. Allen was the Con5ederat,
! officer IN cotnmapd, and have NO reason 70 deub
that ne acted with these men according to the reg
ulations OF the army. suppose he had right
l. court martial them, and deal with them accordin,
TO their crimes and am sure they have received
nothing more than justice according to The enormi
ty Of thsir csimeG This il no time to make suei
sseusations, in order to encourage all such men d
the Laurel tories to persist in their lawleas cours
l. against the good citizens Of our country, and b,
such istielss - give I'D and eonfaet to ths snemy
} | s-'-'r.s - EfnEnE