Weekly Trinity journal. [volume] (Weaverville, Calif.) 1857-1972, 1864-04-30
CALIFORNIA, APRIL 80, 1864
Retaliation.

Inc nenuish outrages perpetrated by the rebels
at Fort Pillow have stirred up Congress, and
Senators are loudly clamoring for retaliatory
measures. our Government should by this time
be pretty well convinced of the fact that it is
war with savages that the boosted chiyalry of
the South has no more refinement than the Hot
tentot ; that the rebels are as blood-thirsty
treacherous vindictive and cruel as the Co
manche Indians; and it is high time that some
severe measures be resorted to for the purpose of
checking the barbarous practices of the rebels.
The cowardly numbering of prisoners at Fort
Pillow IS no worse than many other acts of
which they have been guilty. They have starved
our soldiers to death in their prisons, have sum-
marily hung and shot prisoners of war, have
murdered and massacred without stint, and still
their work goes on, and all We do is to q swear
EN- and let EN- go whenever we can catch any
of them
We are not Of Il vindictiye and revengeful dis
position, but do think that severe retaliation,
we'll applied, will prove beneficial. To be sure,
retaliation will beget retaliation, but we cannot
see how the rebels can do much worse than they
are now doing. \ few stern examples, just to
show that we are in earnest and willing to abide
the consequences. would serve TO tame their
tcrocity al least prevent the exhibition of it,.
We believe our Government has executed three
four rebel spies, but it has sci loose many
score, while hot Federal spy: OF one suspected
even OF beng such. has ever been known to eS-
cape from the rebels after being taken. Thou
sands have violated that most solemn of all obli-
gaGons, their parole, and not one has ever paid
the penalty. Meantime, the rebels the most
triiling pretcnses hang and shoot Federal pris-
oners, and not satisfied with that, even murder
in cold blood. We are not surprised that Sena-
torial Indignation should exhibit itself, but We
are surprised that il has not been manifested be-
fore. 1t must now be evident TO all that the only
way to do is to ght the devil with fire.
Persuasive words and easy measures will not
stay the hand OF the assassns. neither Will in
dignant Senatorial speeches prevent rebel cut
Threats from saughterinR prisoners that fall
into their hands. General, Grant, Sherman and
Butler must supply the remedy, and that remedy
should be the summary execution, when taken
prisoners, of all soldiers aud officers attached to
any portion of the rebel army guilty Of such
acts as those perpetratcd at Fort Pillow.
While we advocate stern retaliatiOl We must
admit that some good may come to US from such
acts as those perpetrGted at Fort PILLOW; if i'll
slant death Is to be the fate OF oil prisoners
men will take care TO die sooner than be made
prisoners. The negro soldiers, especially. will
be made 10 stand up to theii1 work by the as
surance that defeat is certain death. Ii they
had understood this at Fort Pillow that place
would not have been captured and the ma ssacrc
would not have occurred but the negroes fled
from the defenses where they could have repulsed
the rebels, and sought safety by skulking along
the rivers bank. where they were butchered-
Death was the penalty Of their cowardice The
lesson will doubtless prove beneficial hereafter.
and we shall hear less ofcaptures by the rebels
Sacramento Bee