The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-04-02
Pc Ople Of the VaIley-A Plan Of
Organization for Defence.
NRAp Wrscgssrgr. VA, March is. 1864,

To the Editor of the DiSpates:
For the frat time for months have been able TO
get Dispatch, aud am scarcely less pleased with
the face of my old friend than with the tone OF the
editorial encouraging oar people TO organize for
local protection. Many have been dcs;r0us to do
in this ne.eboriood, but have iiled 80 far rom
condition not being clearly understood by our
commission granting powers; and the ;.rmcd man
caugh; h.,s without the proiecl0n Of being IN the
regular service receives the full benz fl of Averilrs
threat.
As this eeion has been several times, and may
be again, pied by the enemy, and ls this enemy
's tole,aby INSCRIPTIONS, We have large proper
on OF tilne-servns people, who .,y 10 ''run " th
the hare and hunt with the hounds" Kos, OF
these people live In Winchester, ard oppose any
step which may lead some sliifoy like gentleman
appropriate their par;or furniture, to stop The
supplies of delicsciss an fine" the x are In the
habit Of receiving through the hands of sons
daughters, kindred or fiends In Yaakeedom. for
they show the liveiieSt regard for the domestic and
social lies strained, but not severed, by this ua-
natural war. These gentlemen, who's. priva; and
safety Invested fortunes allow them to tafc time
20 wrte, white we piu8cefed country folk s,rrgr
for life, Rave, unfortunately, an undue niuenoe,
rather have their assertions believed because
nothing IS said in contradiction -em Their
main argument strongly resembles that OF the
wolves TO tlc sheep, and, so lat, country nso-
pie have paid the 6heop's penalty. Grave men
acquainted will. history, sobeGiy eay of we keen
few men 'iase; 1t viii only provoke The Yankee;
i Will therefore ba better not II have day and
thcn 'hay viii mol be likely 10 DO rs so much
harn,' rs If they would not do US all the harm,
pos bic, uEdct &ny circumstances. In .0Wn. the
number OF Witnesses and Interference of Union
men, who fear retaliation, protect property
Ia certain e1;gnt-th0Ugh half a dozen
Yankees NAY do as they please there and
no citizen will dare 10 oppose theIn--
but i'll the country, Witcye there no !. it,ta.ses
and very few Union p.opie, the will of the officers
Is the only fen'!ilnt upon the acis OF their com
mnids, and iii" stc-se3r 0utfases, r1hberes and
murders, haV" becn committed with inipuhity.-
FhG sufferers nave In many instances banded to-
gJtieT 10 Hgc"gc their wrongs, hata-s these bands
0i ma,auGcrS, and io Try TO get back enough ffori
those who hdve piunieted them Ia keep their lstn
iies from nake,tnes- and starvation. Sometimes
Tie f&nkf'S receive iuOImation from, or are
gnid,d by, taion men belonging 10 the neighbOf-
hood, VINO also carry or got the Yankees tn carry,
their gfalh, ac., to the ehslny's posts. Wnen our
,en discover these acts stiteV do not rrr1n,te 10
take the offenders horses but woe 10 them IL the
teGdeT cor=c.encrj lin wrongs tpwduls Yaakess)
town pcopc discover II Complaints ore at once.
sent 70 ndtis1qarg u5d 20 he South, bp-h, against
them, and the man whose aged father has pteu
murdered, and gay haired mother outraged hy
these Yankee mi-crrtnts, Is denounced rs "A com
mon cat throat and horse thet, because he way
lays Yankees wherever and whenever he
can, and has taken the horse Of man
who lad Union flag ur0n his i;onsf, mate
parties iOrthc Yankees, rode with thcm himself,
had his wifc ana daught"rs going about constantly
with or among them, aud Kept employees who be
tray"d our soldiers 10 tie enemy ihs is noi
supposi;;Unai case, but which know Ia. be
true, and r only one OF many Fortunately sFthe
voice OF others III praise blame" does not en-
9ireiy deprive IA oi the only protection solitary
country families have fut mDntii. az a Time An,.
could yen the glad faces, hear the hearty wei
come, 0nd tcivrnt "God bless and keep you safe -
which greet and follow ihcse hUafci men when ne
ventures u1Sp--rnECh he kurn
known 10 shelter him the WGiacn take the
covers Nom their beds ana Cit Nh their own fan
mel clothes 10 iiiahc hI!n shiis, you would under
stand hoW in spite ct inis. representations, they
keep the field and hght for those VINO can oniy ra-
ward llteni ~ sh1':ng the little that is left to any
vino will not StHop a. tue hasgne.s NJ sec King Vau
Zee protection u the esr ansG Of conscience,
whici. !ltti& the Yankee GT9, o IN. LIshWh hack
eli alone keeps hem if0i leaving the main reads
10 carry Of or destroy. Here = hoIn. Guard would
aa different itoin what Il W0nl;! la with YOU We
coui! 10: on:y project ourselves aya.ast small
bands, hut could il ,fa-s the enemy border, which
il "hy j .arec- hours easy ride iroa. After
sii6kins over :he matter, and iaikiDg freely with
those who know hy experience what we y,ari ;
have set dcnn The tuilowin: as thc n.ain n0;nts
and Wish from ny sJui had power 10 imp,e,s
taeta upon these who, by sl.0hc of the pen can
place as where, fSaken Ne viii siii ed as
poor Edwards -huI. tiine ago, bat be regarded
p isogcrc Of Wai
Il plan IL oryaHt-g Tie HGY5amsn Of IL Valley Of
FUg;ti1
None shall cngage III this serVct egcep. those
who ave from age or iyeical disability, exempt
from CONSUMPTION, % are the only male members
over sixteen years Ui age in families living in the
hD.titf S0unto5-
= These men harequip and suppor, themselves,
aud shall DE htp together, OK ba allowed 10 stay
h0He, at the discretion ut their commanding officer.
lhsy must have asree upon sigsa's oGi places VI
meeting
}. They shall not te fequ!ted 10 leave ,iiat .-.rs
OF The Valley extending tro" stfas3af; TO Tie 20
i0ulac: hEt nay 10 So II they Choose.
4 They shall select ;ies own officers, anh iaa
relations between officers and nen shat be The
same III all other branches Of The service. The
hieE shall ee subjec. 10 thcc own uficef- only, n
the officers shall be Responsible to the Genera!
commanding this i;"palihent.
AtL'E retaining enough FOR themselves, they
.n n.ii hand over all captured atn.5 horses, supplies
50, tc the Ghsefnmeit, receiving stipulated price
in ftjUru Tie Oifctr handing over shalt de
clare upoa his homer. thlL ;le has KEEP; back Ho
more than is necessary to: i.s command
In paying for captured articles, one tenth OF
thelr yalae shall be given 10 the captain, and The
r&iiahtng ninc-tanths be divided equally tetw cen
him aud his men.
I. They shall furnish guides and scouts through
the region from StrasoiIg 20 he fo,aWlc whenever
required to do so by written otdcT from the Gen
eTal commanding this department.
g. Every commanding officer shall, upon rccstv-
ina i,npoEtan. information regarding The movements
os ths sne,ny, inaet.at2iy seEd II report thereof
20 Tie commander o! the nearest regular faree ths
mdH while pefiorinng tic duty.
.. Whenever performing duty under o.deTS 81
the General e0ulUaA aAi!ng lii lie department, thsY
shai! receive the pay and rati0ns OF c.vaifymeE.
1t may be necessary to egpiaia son;e parts more
fully. The men must be allowed 10 chGose their
oHn officers, becau.e in sneh hazardous service
they VIII not follow any except I'll - in whom tty
have perfect confidence and THIS couf' nee can
only be- felt towards those Wh0m experience mas
taught them - trust
The one ilGn over sixteen In each border family
is intended Tor those who have bel p!.ss families
dependent upon tieGi who cInnot ahu VIII not 20
into the~regui2r service, because tiey viii leave
them exposed N want and outrage. 10 give you
some idea III ttese outri.es, yesterday about tW"
hundred Yankees went to tho iI.u,. Of MI james
Jones and destroyed everything ia il, because they
''harbore3 rebcs"hat Is, Fed and shelteI I'D their
own sons when they came hone ON our amy 10
see their mother. And We must E0i provoke these
mea by Keeping soldiers here, lest they should do
u6 more harm
You may wonder why the people here do not
move South. We have no horses, and uu money
to pay the fuin0us prices charged thsre for food
and think ii better 10 live on oar enemies here than
TO there 10 be tue recipients 0i the cold charity
o! strangers. Liyng-waefe even most deicately
ntrtured women have 10 perform the duties O men Il,
AM 10 undergo the suiierass and privations of
soldiers, do Judge too i!arElg Ii rouah life
show somewhat plainly ia the rough speuch ola
hoRpgRKR,