, 1863-12-01
TEE EIILS OF C0NFEDERi iTE EULE.
WHAT he THINKS or THE WAR.

AAI Lt1s<9 VI @NNFEUEaAlk ktLEs
WHAT He THINKS OF THE WAR,
On the 18th ultfmo, John Minor Bolts ad-
dressed letter to the Richmond Examiner, q
I copy of which has since been obtained for
publication by the correspondent Of the Asso-
ciated Press with the Army Of the Potomac.
In this letter, dated at Auburn, Cnlpepper
county, Virginia. Mr.. Bolts enters an en-
pllutic protest against his arrest and tic de-
etruction Of his property by the rebels, aud
fatty denounees the evils Of Confeaerater
After some preliminary remarks, in contra
diciion Of false reports concerning himself,
he eays:
now THE ACCOUNT sTASps-MR. Borzs'
WRONGS. 49,
Let us see how the account stands. On
my part lave done nothing from first to
last Of which the Government can complain,
unless it be that I have not become dGmo1al-
ized and hive made no concessions to democ-
racE, and have none to make hereafter, and
because hare not chosen to follow blindly
wherever democracy might choose to lead
ION the other hand, Of what have to COM
plain: First, the Legislative power of....the
Government has been especially directed
against me, while Lwas leading the most re-
tired and secluded life, as was clearly admit
ted BY Nh. Henry s. Foote, at the following
session Of Congress, when he said he had
martial law and suspension Of the writ Of
ha1sa> Fv,7'us upon representation of the
condition Of things supposed to exist in tho
neigh'rorhood of the city Of Richmond, but
which turned out to be entirely ground
less.
"second}y,. the power of the executive
branch Of government has been e1erted
against me when, under this detestable, ,un-
written, unknown code called martial law,
upon no Charge preferred before the Court Of
Inquiry, they had me arrested In my bad, be-
tween the hours Of midnight and iaybreak,
where l WIS kept in solitary conf1ne-
ment for eight weeks, when, with oil the rig-
Ilance and research of their numerous detec-
tives, they could find nothing upon which to
hinge q. charge; and now comes second
arrest without charge, whilst the army It.
stroy my property, by design, and By order
Of officers in high commond, which can es-
tablish If can procure their arrest and trial
by court martial under which order my yard,
garden and corn7e1ds have been ruthless1y in
yaded, the fencing Of each torn down to the
gound, and all. converted into general
Under command of Captain Randolph, and
when DR.. Kidwen-with whom had been
until ten o. clock, picking up and nursing the
wounded men Of both parties,' more than
twenty Of whom We're brought to ny house
-emonstlated with them, thcy said It was
were ordered to destroy whatever they
damn pleased;' and upo1 this being repeated
by DR.. K to Captain e. he neither affirmed
NOR denied that such orders had been given.
"From which scenes of violence, together
with tho effects droduced by my arrest on
he n ar nj YY1y. \ or1f tt4
III of nervous typhoid fever ever since; md
not only has my fencing been torn down and
and destroyed in every direction, but some
twcnty-dye or thirty Of my best hogs have
been shot down, and have not been left one
car Of my entire crop Of corn; all Of which
stroycd. And now challcnge any aud every
man Of the Southern Confclcracy to come
forward With my charge that can be made
against me for anything said or done for
y tcomplain. And but for the protection
noy offered me By guard from the head
quarters of Gen. r. E. Lee, none can tell to
what condition should have been reduced.
WHAT he THINKS OF TIE oH1GISAToRs or THE
WAR.
@Have then, Mr.. Editor, think you, had
much reason for attachment or devotion to
eds You complain Of the treatment Mr.
Vallandigham has received at the hands Of
his Government He made many violent
speeches, in which he took active and strong
ground aguinst bis Government, and for this
lie Was sent among his friends, as they sup
part, but maintained firmly and consistently,
as shall continue to do, my own private
opinions md the convictions Of my best judy
me1t, which has not been controlled by any
considerations Of selfishness, ambition, or
fear, Us wrote the Secretary Of War whist
{..H Tn $414, $r$1 FL
Spring Of 1862; and, because cannot surren-
der these convictions, an thus to be op-
pressed and pcrsecuted By the Government
and it's a1mys 1want no better v1ndicat1on
for having withheld my approval Of this war
than is to be found in the fact that there Is
that would do it, Il, with their present expe-
ricncc, it Ind to be gone over again, or #
they could have foreseen what has followed,
all of which did forcsce and did foretel1;
and any man with bruins In his head and
heart In his bosom says he would, then say
fatty don't believe him.
HIS SECOND ARREST BT STUART. -
"But to come back to my second arrest by
General ]. E. D. Stuart. On Monday morn.
the ruthless and distraction Of my property,
General Stuart's Provost Marshal rode up
with guard to my house, with warrant,
Of which the following is copy:
"Lieutenant nyalls: You vii arrest join Minor
Bolts and eend him to Richmond. Charges viii be
practicable. Don't allow him to annoy Gen. Lee,
but keep him as prisoner Of etate. Let me know
how many p13sonera
"a. 3. Venable. Major and Ad}utant-"
"Dpon thus warrant, containing no charge,
I was arrested about halfpast ten o'clock on
Monday morning, carried under guard to Cu1.
pepper Court House, Kept there until f1yc
O'Clock, and then discharged on the ground
that there was no charge against me; but
have been semt-of1cia1ly informed from two
sources, either Of which would be regarded
as authentic, that the sole ground of my ar-
rest was that had entertained Gen. Meade
and other Federal officers at my table; and If
it was not that, 1t WAS some other pretcxt
equally frivolous and contemplate, which I
hereby challenge Gen: stuart to lay before
the pence and dignity Of Gen: Stuart, or Of
the Confederate government that I. should
hive entertained Federal officers ut nv table,
which would Justify my arrest, then Minor.
General Stuart has signal]y failed in. the dis
charge ;;of his d9ty to TIE peace and dignity
bringing nc to trial for this high crime and
misdemeanor; for although It Is not true that
General Meade took his dinner at my table,
hereby make it known to all whom 1t may
concern that invited him to do 60, and deep
1y regretted that his constant engagements
prevented his acceptance of the Invitation.
moreover further proclaim TINT should he re-
turn to this vicinity (which I do not at all an
tcipate) I shall in all probability subject my
self to: another arrest by d repetition Of
the sanae offense, without consulting Gen.
stuurt'a pleasure on the subject.
WHOM BE HAS ENTERTAINED,
"Thc truth Is hare entertained freely md
Hospitality the officers and gentlemen of both
armies whose acquaintance have en1oyed.
aud shall continue to do so SO long rs I mn
master Of my oRn house, and SO long as they
trent mo with kindness and civility, let 1t of- |
fend whom 1t may, provided the means are |
left me with which to entertain them, and |
unless IN the meantime ] shall be prohibited |
By Law, or some higher authority than that Of !
General Stuart- In fact, have met with no /
officer In the Confederate army, and with few !
priyatcs with y HON was acquainted, from !
General Robert F. Lee down, with the ex- |
Ct ption Of General Stuart, that have not in !
yiied to my house-nearly all Of whom have |
pnrtakaq Of my hospitality-whilst hundreds !
Of lalffamfshed soldiers have been furnished |
n It'll meals, for which hare never charged |
tic first dime, whilst they were In the habit !
OF puyinE, as they said themselves, to braWl- |
ing sccee6ion1sts from two to three dollars !
Z: cal; but this furnished 10 ground of com
r iaint with any gentleman Of the northern |
oguy, many Of whom expressed their surprise |
end qualification on hearing that they had