The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-06-08
Vandalism in North Carollna..

The following official order fixes the
responsibility of the wanton destruction
of the town of Washington, North Caro-
lima, upon the Federal forces, and by inn
piication on the 18th Massachusetts, and
and the 10Th Connecticut Volunteers. Il
is terrible rebuke to these men, and
the country WILL thank Gen. Palmer for
his timely order. He does not attempt to
palliate the outrage, for such vandalism
cannot be palliated, but speaks of it in
the terms it BELTS man TO hold against
tl.esot haVe disgraged rhe American
name and outraged humanity: .I
sHEADo'Rs DIS. OF NORTH CAROLINA, J
'NEyBERNsN. G. May 8, ga,
n General Orders, No. 5.-While the
troops of this command may exult and
take just pride in their many victories
over the enemy, yet a portion of them
have, within few days, been guilty of
an ousrage against humanity which brings
the blush of shame to the cheek of every
true man and soldier. YES
sit is we'll known that, during the1ato
evacuation of Washington, North Garoli-
ma, that town was fired, and nearly, ifno
entirely, consumed, thus wantonly rem
dering houseless and homeless hundreds
of poor women and children (many Of
them the families of soldiers in our own
army, and destroying the last Vssrfge of
the once happy homes of those men who
have now given up all to serve their coun-
try in her hour of peril.
"And this was done by men in the mil.
itary service of the United States
sit is also well known that the army
vandals did not evon respect the charita-
BILE institutions, but bursting open the
doors of the Masonic and Odd Fellows
Lodges, pillaged them both, and hawked
about the streets the regalia and jewels.
Sand this, too by United States troops
at is we'll known, too, that both public
and private stores were entered and plum
dered, and that devastation and destruc-
ton ruled the hour. ss3ss
''The Commanding General had, until
this time, believed it impossible that any
troops in his command could have com.
mitted so disgraceful an act as that which
now blackens the fair fame of the army Of
North Carolina. He finds, however, that
he was sadly mistaken; and that the ranks
are disgraced by men who are not soldiers
but thieves and scoundrels, dead to all
sense ot honor and humanity, lor whom
no punishment can be too severe. .f}t1B
"The Commanding General is well
aware what troops were in the tewn of
Washington when the flames first appear
ed. He knows what troops last left thas
place. He knows that in the ranks of
only two of the regiments in the District
of North Carolina the culprits now stand.
s'To save the reputation of the COM
mand, it is hoped that the. guilty parties
may be ferreted out by the officers who
were in Washington at the time OF these
occurrences. 5ta Eidf
ssThis order will be read at the head of
every regiment and detachment in this
command, ut dress parade, on. the day
succeeding its receipt, and at the head Of
the Seventeeth Massachusetts, Volunteers
aud the Fifteeth -Gonnecticut v elunters,
at dress yarade, every day for ten ccnsec-
utive days, or until tha guilty parties are
found.
HBy command of
s'Brig. Gen. I. W. PALMER.
"J. A. JUDsoN, Asst. Adj. Gen."
Talk about Forrest at Fort Pillow, after
the above act of the Massachusetts and
Connecticut Regiments! Forrest could
at least claim that he found the men In
arms whom he killed, but here are tho
homes of women and childreH, even Of
soldiers who had Joined the Union. army,
laid in ashes, and the inmates may or
may not have been burned in them. The
chances are altogether that they we're
The very severity of General Palmer's
Order No. 5" is evidence of the mon
strosity of the worse than savage outrage.
6 Retaliation" will not be heard of in t'the
prints VS. presume after
reading the above. q - Tsaaae
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