The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-29
Tho Rebel Invasion.
BEHAVIOR OF THE REBELS -FALsRHOODs CON.
CERNING THEM HOW THEY JUSTIFY THEIR
CONDUCT WHAT THEY TdINK OF THE
WAR, ETO ITO.

1t has been impossible for me to get
away from this city to day on account of
breaks in the railways leading South, and
| will, therefore, employ the time in tell
ing you something more about our rebel
visitors.
believe have already stated that the
behavior of the rebels toward reidents of
tue country through which they passed
was gentemanly and courteous. The men
under Early, with very few exceptions,
seemed to respect Themselves too much to
wantOnly outrage the f.. lngs OF ybOdy !;
and, even when insulted by foolish persons,
tOrbOre to resent with bitterness.
For instance, two of their soldiers in
Frederick sat down to rest upon the door
steps of jealous Union lady, who has a
son in our army. She soon ordered them
away, using offensive and insulting Ian
guage; and while they were vt standing
near, brought water and cloth and scrubbed
the steps, talking all the time about their
tilthiness. Of course, human natureis hui
man nature all the world over, and the
soldiers replied to her scolding as almost
every other person would
She Immediately went after her land
lord. told him how grossly she had been
insulted, and asked him to see her protect
ed. He called on the provost marshal,
and, on relating the circumstance, was
furnished with guard of two men to post
in front of her dwelling! Now, assure
you that this is true version of a story
which you will hear told quite differently
as soon as the rebels are gone. Can any,
body blame these young men 'or the course
they pursued, when it is taken into con-
sideratiOn that they used no foul language
in their replies? l cannot think so, but
am inclined to believe it vas they who
were insulted, and not Mrs. -.
can give you no better example of the
behavior Of these men than to say it was
similar to that of some OF our Western
soldiers, who are fresh from the country,
and uncOntaminated by contact with the
vicious men and women always to be
found in camps. Another noticeable trait
about them is the seeming pride they have
in their cause. They appear to glory in
warning in cause they believe to be glO
rious, instead of seeming ashamed of an
irksome and degrading service.
4hdO VI luC SCOIlcS GOIu vi UuGIu
are untrue is easily demonstrable by con-
versing with the residents of those Sec
tons of country they have visited. For
instance, | was told that they shot a Mr.
Corrick dead at MlddletOwn, on last We'd
nesday, when in truth they neither shot
him, nor at him, nor at anybody else !;
that they killed citizen at Sharpsburg,
when no such thing took pace there; that
they robbed citizens of money, watches,
hats, clothes, etc., in the Cumberland val :
ley, and took articles OF uetu and value
from their ho~ses. Now, the citizens of
those places, without regard to the tone of
their sentiments, deny these assertions in
toto. There may have been soma isolated
cases Of their doing wrong, but I could
find no one who knew of any such in all
that country.
1t is true that they have taken horses,
cattle and supplies, levied contributions,
and committed such like grievOus acts !;
but what army ever refrained doing the
like in an enemy's country? And how
many frequently do so in their own!
These are the natural and necessary con-
sequence of war, and, while opp esSive Ca
Iamities of the people subjected to such
outrages, cannot be used as illustrative of
the depravity of our army. They said
that if they got into Pennsylvania they
would not be restrained from plundeIing
and destroying; but why? As retribution
for what Hunter had done to them. This
is natural, and we ought not 70 expect to
find these people superior to the passions
and impulses OF human nature :"
They justify their Selling horses, cattle,
supplies etc, from private citizens, a d
levying contributi,ns thus: First, their
own people have been similarly served by
our armies; secondly, these things are ne
cessary to the maintenance of their army,
and they have not the means to buy;
thirdly, it is law and Gu ,tom of war, as
it tends to weaken the enemy and lead
him SCORE" to cease fighting. They say,
to the complaints of those who -ofess to
sympathize with them: Chow can you
object? Ifyou think us in the right, if
you are of Us though not with us, what
possible fault can you find? Ought we
not rather to blame you because you place
Us under the disagreeable necessity of TAX
irg instead of coming cheerfully forward
and giving?" To those who oppose them
they reply: 8" You are our enemies; you
sanction what your armies have done to
us; you have no right to complain that
we do the same toward yourselves
The rebels think the war will soon be
over, that the people of the North must
by this time be convinced of the futilty of
I'll further efforts for their subjugation,
and be nearly willing to let them alone,
which they declare to be all that they
want. They believe that the continuance
of the wal this year is attributable, almost
solely, to the influence Of feeble politicians
(who know that peace will drive them into
obscurity), backed by government con-
tractors, who are anxious to grow still
richer out of the public crib They do
not seem to hold any animosity against
the people of the North, but express the
hope that they may soon again be able to
h We friendly Intercourse with them. An
other reason they have for thinking this
campaign will close the war, as they state
it, is that & General Grant is so inhumauly
unsparing of the lives of bis soldiers he
will soon use up all the men you [we] can
raise to keep up the army
nn1 ~ THAR A. - A. bot