Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-10
aaR BANDsr nanB rs Az OK
EeseD

Ill gaR B2NDBF aanB Rs Az O.
EO&D.
;, Were It ever to be proposed again 70 enisr iut
uason with such peope. could a. more conssn 10
s.; it faau e rust myself den Of thieves H-Pres5d
e i2a7ls iais spsseA az Jackson Mss.
y EDrT0Rs APPEAL; The unfortunate retr,
Ae from Abbeville, left twelve grain growing con
10 ties in north Mississippi exposed to the Tavag
y Of unbTidled robbers Of Grants army. Il
greater portion Of the troops under Grant we
% from Illiuois-lhat State which had reeaiv,
T. perhaps more money from Mississippi than q
" The other Western Ssatss He had some trooI
from lows, Wisconsin, and the Kansss Isl
e hawkeTs with him. On Tuesday, December q
Z 1852 the Kansas jsyhawkers, aud some othe
7 bandit cavalry, after skirmishing with an ine
feient force Of our cavalry, entered Oxford
They came in with YeIls, and acted like IN
chained devilsi shooting at old men, womei
and children, unfortunately, wherever the
could be seen. Il rained that evening, and th
natural gloom was favorable to the work Of thr
demons. The men of the towa were nearly al
absent, and about one thousand six hundred
from the county were in the army, and the ofict
holders and few citizens were absent on othel
business that evening. In an incredibly short
space Of time they occupied every nook and
corner Of the town, galOping up to private resi-
dences, throwing open gates, breaking down
enclosures, etc, and entering private dwellings
generally, unlocking with stolen keys which
they had with them, smoke-houses, laEders and
cellars, and all other buildings, and forcing an
entrsnce when neeessary-taking thsTefrom
provisions and wines when they could be found.
! They broke open stores and took what goods
they wanted, and gave to such negroes as they
found near enough to receive the stolen goods
what they wanted, and the balance they cast
into The streets and scattered to the four winds.
They forced lawyers Offices, drug stores and
silversmish shops open. Against them they
seemed to exhibit special and 6endish malice,
and the destruction of furniture, safes, papers.
records, drugs, medicines, watches, clocks, and
fixtures, which followedy has no parellel in wars
ancient or modern of the most bsTbaTous na-
tons. They bivousced that night ell over town,
mostly in private yards, tying their horses to
shade trees and shrubbery and palings, and
feeding them on forage which they stole from the
cidzens-staying in houses where they succeed
cd in gaining an entrance, and taking the beds
Of negroes in their kitchens and occupying
them They were so busy at their fendlsh
work that they did not get to sleep until about
, o'e,oek-from that hour until a. n, all was
quiet. Families set up all night, guarding lheir
doors and windows, and for many nights bat
little sleep did they enjoy Remember, too
most Of the families consisted Of women and
eliidren-a few old mon and beys were at
hog9e-bu. they afforded no protection what
ever; their presence seemed rather to exasper-
Gss lhs infuiete3 bauditd Ol Wednesday, tbe
-fsu'ry eud baggage wagons Of Grants army
s1.e-ed OEisgd ia large Numbers. They pitched
thy tais al over town, bas lhe main body
nssr tie BurueY spring, and qutee nunbsr ca
The University section. a regular system af
pill 20 and plumber was now inaugurss5d.
Residences which had escaped tbs jayhawLers
ws1e force, ard furniture broken sad destroyed, /
beds toyn to pieeas and scattered, clothing rent
aud burned money, watches end iewslry, sil-
ve1 plate, sud all articles Of value were ssken.
Cupe;s, blankets. ead bed clotbing seemed 20
be in great demand. Pianos broken to pices,
fine carpets were used for bsds--toTn Up and
made into blankets and saddle c.otas lor shs
miserable hirsIngs. Table ware taken to their
dry camps, and buckets, cups, stcve dre-
dogs, chairs, and every article they could lay
thoir hands upon thst they could use in their
csmpc, and when they had no use for them they
would destroy Or give them to the negroes
Tan yards were robbed, especially Of upper aud |
harness leather; carriage snd buggy harness, /
brides, saddles, and leather lines, wsre always
taken Mechanics tools were invariably taken
Or destroyed They mAslfested g strong pen
chant for pies and preserved fruit. One Of the /
beasts could empty jar of preserves in double
quick" time. An old church, so by 40 feet, was
fall of corn, containing several thousand bush
els, which was burnt the evening they entered /
town to prevent the robbers from using it, bat
the cribs of the citizens were made to pay for
that fire. The town cribs were first rifsd and
then those Of the planters. The town was soon
relieved of its provisions Of all kinds, aud then
8 regular system Of robbery commenced in the
country-they called it JoragiHg'
Trains, of from forty to sixty wagons a day, /
would go out with mon enough to losd them
with corn and fodder, and enough besides to
slaughter cattle and hogs enough to cover the /
load, and as much as they could carry on their
backs and on the mules, they would steal and /
take rom citizens they found from home. One
Ysnkes could carry two live sheep and dead /
hog, aud string of ducks and chickens on |
mule. They teok al the corn, pork, beef cattle,
mileh cows, poultry, cloth, hour, meal, sugar,
ard every thing else of value from some
families, especially if they had left home In
most instances they lsfe something. They took I
al the horses and mules they coald put their 4
hands on, and stole every negro that their chap /
lains could attend to. The commaudant Of the
post, Col Marsh, Of the 20th Illinois, become 1
with the cuffees, and much to the dis /
comfort and ehagrin Of the Rev. Billy Button,
chaplain, etc, drove them beyond his lines, four
miles from town. But when their retreat hap
paned the soldiers walked and1he negroes were
put on the cars, riding until they got them across
the TaIshatchie, then they took the mud. Alas,
poor eattee, you saw your last happy dsy when |
you got off those cars.
The Kansas jayhswers, as q general rule, cen
fined themselves 70 watches, money aud horses,
but would take all small articles Of value, espe-
ciany iewelry. The infantry jsyhawkeTs would 1
steal anything, whether it was Of any value to
them or not, they would take it or destroy it. I
II is not possible for pen to describe the scenes
which occurred during the twenty-five days Of /
the Ysakes raid iu Oxford aud lafayette county
Oar ministers oftae gospelseem TO have been Pc +
culiag objects Of their malice. They took every
thing they eopid get away from them, and /