The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-10
West Virginia.
oES ucxrER on GrrRau1Aa.


HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT WEsT
VIRGINIA, n THE FIELD, NALLE
OF SHENANDOAH, May q, 1864 J
SE ~ our name has been reported
to me, with evidence that you are one
of the leading secession sympathizer8
in this Valley and that you counte-
nance and abet the bushwackers and
guerriilas who infest the woods and
mountains of this region, sWooping out
on the roads 10 plumber and outrage
loyal men, falling upon and firing into
defenseless wagon trains, and assass.-
mating soldiers OF this command who
may chance to be placed in exposed
positions. These practices are not re,-
Ognized by the laws of war Of any civil
lied nation, nor are the persons engag-
ed therein entitled to any other treat
ment than that due by the universal
code Of Justice 20 pirates, murderers and
other outlaws.
But from the difficulties Of the coun-
try. the secret aid and information Civ
en- 10 these bushnhackers by persons Of
YOUR class, and the more important oC-
cupatiOn Of the troops under my com
mand, it is impossible to chase, arrest
and punish these common maursuder5
as they deserve Without the couu-
tenance and help given 10 them By the
rebel residents Of the valley, they could
not support themselves for "a week
You are spies upon our movements.
abusing the clemency which has pro-
tected your persons and property, while
loyal citizens Of the United States resi-
ding within the rebel lines are invaria-
bly plundcred Of ali they may possess
imprisoned, and in some cases put TO
death 1t is from you and your fami-
lies and neighbors that these bandits
receive food, clothing ammunition ana
information; aud it is from their secret
hiding places in your houses, barns and
woods, that they issue on their missions
OF pillage and murder
y on are therefore. hereby notified
that for every train fired Epon, or sol
der Of the Union wounded or as=assi-
mated by bushWhackers IN any neigh
bOrhOOd within the reach Of my caVal-
ry. the houses and other property or
every secession sympathizer residing
within a circuit Of five miles from tho
place Of the outrage, shall be destroyed
By fire; and that for all public proper
ty jayhawked or destroyed by the ma
rauders, an assessment Of five times the
value Of such property viii be made up
on the secession sympathizcrs, residing
within a circuit Of ten miles around the
point at which the ofense was com
mitted The payment Of this asse sment
will be enforced by the troops OF the de-
partment, who will seize and hold ia
close military custody the persons a.
sessed until such payment shall have
been made. This provision VIII also
be applied 10 make good, from the See
cessiOnists IN every neighborhOOd, five
times the amount Of any loss suffered
By loyal citizens Of the United States
from the action Of the bushwhaclceFs
whom you encourage
NJ YOU desire 10 avoid the consequen-
ces herein set fOrtk, you VIII notify
your guerrilla and Mountaineering
friends 10 withdraw from that portion
Of tue Valley within my lines, and %
.oin-if they desire 20 fight for the 10
5ellion-the regular forces Of the Ss-
,ession army in front or elsewhere
You VIII have no one but yourselves u
blame for the consequences that viii
certainly ensue IL these evils are per
nitted to continue. This circular d
not sent 10 you for the reason that you
have been singled out as peculiarly Cd
noxious, but because you are believed
10 furnish the readiest means OF com
with the prominent seces-
sion sympathizers Of your neiehoof
hood. Il viii be for their benets that
you communicates to them the tenor Of
bis circular D. IISTER
MsiorGeneral Commanding