Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-11-16
Butchery OF the Union Wounded Men
al Saltvillc.

IIHADQ'Rs ARMY OF THE JAMES,
October II, 1864
The rebel flag Of truce boat William Ali
son brought down to Coxs Landing this
morning about Ave hundred paroled Union
prisoners, in exchange for batch Of parol-
ed rebel prisoners sent up on Saturday.
The boat lcft Richmond about 6 A. NJ, and
reached the landing at about halfpast 0.
A number of men (between thirty and
forty, ] believe belonging TO Burbridges
command, captured at Saltville on the I'll
instant were among the prisoners who ar
rived to-day. One Of Them gentleman Of
the Teutonic persuasion, gave me his opin-
ion on the result of that expedition in the
following somewhat laconic style; I've
gets not mooch salt ders, said he, but We
gets peppcred like der tuyfel,' The fol
lowing regiments Of Burbridge's command
were represented 18th Ohio Cavalry, llth
Michigan Cavalry, llth and 18th Kentucky
Cavalry, and Both, 18th, 40th and 57th Ken
lucky Mounted Infantry
According to the accounts Of several Off
GERS and surgeons with whom conyersed.
the conduct Of portion Of the rebel troops,
subsequent to the engagement at Saltville,
was utterly lawlees and brutal IN two
field hospital near the scene Of the battle
were twenty three wounded negroes Of the
LIST ColOred Cavalry-ffteen in one and
eight in the other Al but three Of them
were murdered in cold blood by the rebel
soldiers. who called there for that special
purpose; and these fcnd- in human form
boosted while doing this hellish decd, that
they had been engaged in tins same work
all day. They claim 70 have buried one
hundred and twenty colored soldiers.
Of whom nearly all must have been slaugh
tered in the same way, az it is said scarcely
adozen were killed in the battle This was
on the Sd inst The three ncgroe. who had
been spared 1T is 10 be presumed through
oversight, were removed, with the rest OF
the wounded, to the Emory and Henry Col
Iege Hospitals. -Four days later, or on the
9TH inst q party Of cut-throats, In rebel
uniforms, entered the building and shot two
Of those dead The other was fired at twice,
and left for dead, but tho woull-bo muir
dorcr, it appears, did not look critically to
the effects Of hi. shots, and the negro was
but slightly grazed on the head lie was
afterward removed 10 the house Ola citizen
in the vicinity, and concealed until he could
be removed to 4 safer place
But these demons had not yet appcascd
their thirst for blood. and on the day sue
tecding the outrage just related. the sth IN
slant, band Of fifteen men, led by the no
torious Champ Ferguson, appeared. Fer
guson himself wrested his musket from the
hand Of a sentry lrebel) who stood AT the
door Of the hospital and leaving two men
., 81 l. a. I'LL 81 II
rest Of his gang and went straight t. the
room of Lieut.. Smith of the 18th Kentucky
cavalry. His men passed through the door
in two files, and Ferguson, walking up be-
tween them, approached the bed on which
the wounded Lieutenant was lying
How are you Smith o. Glow are YOU.
Captain q were the solutions first cx-
changed, when Ferguson, balancing his
musket on his hand, said taun,ingly "Look
here, Smith, do you .ee this p "For Gods
sake, Captain, don. -hoot me" mplored
the lieutenant but he had scarcely uttered
the words before the other had raised the
gun and shot him through the head. The
gang then inquired for Col Hanson Of the
37th Kentucky mounted infantry ,com-
manding brigade and Capt DagcnfcId.
Of the 18th Ohio cavalry, declaring their
intention to shoot them both
BY this time the surgeon. aud hospital
attendants had become aware of what was
going ON, and they FASTENED 10 the spot
By persuasion. and almost by force they
cndcavorcd TO restrain these dcspcradu,S
from carrying out their savage purpose
Ferguson was on the point of shooting the
rebel surgeon III charge. DR. Murphy for
daring TO interfere and one of his men az
tually presented a revolver at the breast Of
major who CHANGED 90 be visiting at the
hospital at the time, and had volunteered
his assistance. BY argument and resist
cncc combined the rufiians were induced 10
leave without having full carried out their
murdcrouS designs. but sworc To return at
night and complete their work
Col. Hanson was Immediately removed to
the house Of a citizen to await other ar
rangcments for hi. safety and Il guard Of
convalcsccnts was raised and placed around
the hospital to resist another incursion.-
During the succeeding night Col Hanson.
Capt. Dagenficld Surgeon l.. e. Woodman.
11th Michigan cavalry. Surgeon Gardner.
18th Kentucky cavalry, Assistant: Surgeon
Hunt, 18th Ohio cavalry, and Acting Az