The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-11

General Hunter Adopts . vigor.
GUS Policy 10 Stop Guerrilla
OutFoEes.
The guerrillas and bushwhackers who
proved themselves source Of trouble and
annoyance to the different officers COM
manding the department..
General Hunter has adopted q vigorous
and wise policy with respect to guerrillas
and bushwhackers, and is determined no
marauders and midnight assassins, If he
can prevent it.
A copy Of the following circular has been
sent to about thirty of the prominent se.
cessionists resident in the valley:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEsr
VIRGINIA, IN THE FIELD, VALLEY OF THE
SHENANDOAH, May "A, 1s64.-Mr: Your
name has been reported to me with evil
dence that you are one of the leading se-
cession sympathizers in this valley. and
that you countenance and abet the bush
whackers and guerrillas who infest the
woods and mountains of this region.
swooping out the roads to plumber and
outrage loyal residents, falling upon and
firing into defenseless wagon trains, and
who may chance to be placed in exposed
positions. These practices are not recog-
nized by the laws Of war Of any civilized
nation, nor are the persons engaged there
in entitled to any other treatment than
that due by universal code Of justice to pi-
rates. murderers. and other outlaws.
But from the difficulties of the countrv.
the secret aid and information given 10
these bushwhackers by persons of your
class, and the more important occupation
Of the troops under my command, it is inn
possible to chase, arrest, and punish these
common marauders as they Deserve
Without the countenance and help given
to them by the rebel residents Of the val
ley, they could not support themselves for
week. You are spies upon our move
ments, abusing the clemency which has
protected your persons and property,
while loyal citizens Of the United States
bly, plnndered of all they may possess.
imprisoned, and in some cases put to
death. 1t is from you and your families
and neighbOrs that these bandits receive
food, clothing. ammunition and informa-
ton; and it is from their secret hiding
places in your houses, barns and woods.
that they issue on their missions of pillage
and murder.
You are, therefore, hereby notified that
for every train fred upon, or soldier of the
Union wounded or assassinated by bush-
whackers in any neighhorhood within the
reach OF my cavalry, the houses and other
RAORNAty Va CVVJy SCCcoSlOu SVmO8I0lZaH
residing within circuit Of five miles
from the place of the outrage, shall be de-
stroyed by fire; and that for all public
property jayhawked or destroyed BY these
marauders, an assessment Of five times
the value OF such property will be made
upon the secession sympathizers residing
within circuit Of ten miles around the
point at which the offense was committed.
The payment Of this assessment will BE-
enforced by the troops of the department.
who will seize and hold in close military
custody the persons arrested until such
payments shall have been made. This
provision will also be applied to make
good, from the secession;sts in every neiQh-
borhood, five times the amount of any loss
suffered by loyal citizens Of the United
States from the action Of the bushwhackera
whom you encourage.
Ifyou desire to avoid the consequences
herein set forth, you will notify your guer.
rilla and bushwhacking friends to with.
draw from that portion of the valley with.
in my lines, and to join-if they desire to
fight tor the rebellion-the regular forces
of the secession army in my front, or else
where. You will have none but yourselves
to blame for the consequences that will cer-
tainly ensue If these evils are permitted TO
continue. This circular is not sent to Won
for the reason that you have been singled
out as peculiarly obnoxious. but because
you are believed to furnish the readiesf
means OF communicating with the promi-
nent secession sympathizers ofyour neigh
borhood. 1t will be for their benefit that
you communicate to them the tenor of this
circular.
D. HUNTER,
Major General Commanding.
Official copy: r. q. BIER, A. A. G.
This circular was sent out and distribn.
ted. Yesterday the seed which was sown
brought forth fruit, for this morning dep-
utatjOn of the #. F. Wa Of sncoceiO,, -
clivities, waited on General Hunter. ana
offered their assistance and Cooperation
in detecting and catching these bushwhack-
ers, volunteering at the same time some
valuable information, which, for the prea-
ent, would be improper to make public.
GEN: WILLICH AND WESTERN TRoors.
The Nashville Press speaking OF General
hear this able and enthusiastic soldier speaf
OF our brave men. No language is strong
enough to express his admiration for Their
courage, their persistency and high morale.
He thinks no soldiers ON earth surpass
them, few equal them. On one occasion.
he said, he found one Of the regiments Of
ms brigade falling back from the position
asked what was the matier? Command
us, General, tell Us what to dc, and We win
DO 1t" He told them, then. first to dreaa
their line. The balls played over and thro'
their ranks, and one or two were wounded.
but the line was dressed as perfectly. and
The several orders to shoulder and present
and then the regiment was ordered to e.
sumo its previous perilous position. II
had done this once BEFORE" said the Gene
ral, with my Dutchman, but nv Illinois
boys were just as brave and cool.3
we were much interested in the account