The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-07-08
BURNING OF ALEXANDRIA, LA,
BV Order Of Gen, Banks,

the burning VI Alexandra, La, by the troops
under Gen Banks:
The scenes attending the burning of the city
were appalling. Women gathering their help
less babes III their arms, rushing trantically
through the streets with screams and cries that
would have melted ihe hardest hearts to tears.
Little boys and girls were running hi,her cry
ing for their mothers and fathers; old men lean
iag a staff for support TO their trembling
limbs, were hurrying away from The sutfpcating
heat of their burning dwellings and homes
The fair and beautiful daughters ol the South,
whose fathers and brothers were i'll one army
OF the other; the fail and helpless wives and
children OF absent husbands and fathers were,
almost in :Av twinkhng OF an eye, driven from
their burning homes into the streets, leaving
everything behini but the clothes they then
wore. Owing to the Simultaneous burning III
every part of the ciy, the people found 10 Sc
curly III the streets, where the heat was So in-
tense as almost to create sutiocati0n. Every
body rushed TO the rivers edge, being protected
there from the heat by the high bank OF the
river The steamboats, lying at the landing
were subjected to great annoyance, the heat
bcing SO great that the decks had 10 be flooded
with water to prevent the boats from taking
bank were the wives, daughters and children,
helpless anl now all hJmelesS, Of the Union
men who had joined the Federal army since
the occupation OF Alexandria. Their husbands
had already been marched Oft in the front to-
wards Simnlesport leaving their old homes, but
20 the tender nergies OF the ContederaIes. Inc
Federal torch had now destroyed their dwell
ing5, their household goods and apparel, the last
morsel of provisions, and left them starving
and destitute. As might 6e expected, they de-
sired TO 20 along with the Federal army, where
their husbands had gone. they applied to Gen.
Banks with tears and entreatieS to be allowed
80 90 ABOARD the Transports I,tey 'c5re REUSED!
They became frantic with excitement and rage.
Their screams aud piteous cries were heartreud-
iug. Win tears streaming down their checks,
women ana children begged AMI imp!ored the
boats to ta..a them on board. The officers OF
the boats were desirous of doing SO, but there
was The peremptory oc.!er from General Banks
not to allow amy white citizens to 80 aboard
rush would hays ave RapFun RfapFu unla7 ~ RR9a the B9ais
and none could mount the stage plank except
they bore tha special permit OF the commanding
General Could anything be more inhuman
and crnel7 But this Is not all. General banks
+
thousand neqr0eS, that had been gathered IN from
the surrounding country, Cotton that had been
loaded on transports to be shipped through the
Ouartermaster to New Oorleans, under banks
order, was thrown overheard, 10 make room for
negroes BIT no room cou@ be toa0d tor fota!e
acomcu and cj1a1ea, ,chose husbands aud brothers
lDgre tn tie Federal army, and ach0ss houses and
/ all lad Just been bu,aed By IKE EedsTm torch! l
challenge the records of all wars for acts OF
such perfdy and cruelty.
! But there is still another chapter in this per-
fGious military and political campaign. Banks
on arriving at Alexandria tod the people that
! his occupation of the country was permanent.
That he intended TO protect all who would come
| forward and take the oath of allegiance; whist
those who would not were threatened with ban
lshlnent and confiscation 0t property. Hun
dreCs came forward and took the oath. An G.
lection was held and delegates were sent 10 the
Constitutional Convention then IN session al
New Orleans. A recruiting office was opened
and over a thousand white men were mustered
into the United States service. Quite num-
Der of prominent citizens OF Alexandria took
the OATH and were promised protection Then
houses and other property have Dow al! been
reduced to ashes, and they turned out INTO the
world with nothing-abs0tutey nothing, save tle
amnesty oath They could not now go to the
Conlederates and apply for charity. They, too,
applied to General Banks to lie allowed to &c
aboard the transports and 90 TO New Orleans
IHey tCere refused m ereyy instance Among those
who applied was a Mr. Parker, q lawyer OF
feeble health, who had been quite prominent
making speeches, since the Union occupation,
and the suppression Of the rebellion. Pernis-
sion to 20 ON transport was refused hun. lie
could not STAY and hence, feeble, as he was,
he went aioot with tile army. Among the prom
inent citizens who took the oa;h was Judge }.
i. Eigee, Of Alexandria. Before the rcsur
of the army from Grand Ecore, Judge Elge4
went to New Orleans, leaving his family behlndi
expecting to return. He was not able to do s.
before the evacuation of Alexandria. Jud9'
Elgee is one of the most accomplished and abI
men of the South. A lawyer by profession
he occupied prominent position both political
" and socially, and had immense influence. \
great stress was placed upon his taking the oalI
: that one of our bands sercnaded him at his RI
idence, and Gen. Grover and Gen. Banks I'D
ored him in every way possible. During 4
stay in Alexandria, had occasion to call up4
the Judge at his residence, and at his CHI 7
(Which were both in the same building on bl {
mess. His law and literary library occuT 9
three large rooms-being as fine cohectior1
books as ever saw. His residence was rlcl s
and tastefully furnished, single painting c. II
ing twelve hundred dollars. In his abse.
the Government be had sworn to support, Ii
which had promised him protection, allowes a
soldiers to apply the torch to his dwelling, ! D
turn his family into the streets. His ine 0
dencc, with all Its costly furniture, his b+
pap ers, and his fine paintings, were burne,- II