Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1866-07-25
Shocking Rebel Barbarity in Virginia,


Shocking Rebel Barbarity in Virginia.
Among the voluminous reports lust re-
celVed by Gen. Howard from his subor-
dinates i'll the freedmen's bureau is a de-
tailed certified statement of the barblrity
OF Virginia 1cOHtOn, inflicted uDOn her
female slave, which almost defies human
belief, and far surpasseS the exaggerated
pictures Of fiction.
This woman has been in the habit of
beating her slaves for many years. and
the fact that they were made free seems
to have intensified all the passions of her
nature. The case referred to is that of a
girl or young woman, and is said to be a
mere illustration of the manner in which
similar cruelties We're inflicted upon 9TH
ers. She was stripped naked tied, and
thrown face dOWnWards before hot fire
her mistress proceeded to lacerate bv
whipping her with the greatest fury, after
which, horrible to relate, a mixture of
cayenne pepper, vinegar and oil was
poured over the shrieking and almost de-
liriOus victim. Lest what | say NAV be
doubted, ] deem it my duty 10 tell YOU
that L have this statement from General
Howard's own lips. Gen. Howard has a
photograph Of this poor creature in his
possession, and Judge Underwood of Vir-
ginia proposes to take her into his own
family and to accompany her to the Pres
ident OF the United States, there to let
him see the last specimen OF the human
ity OF the reconstructed rebels.
Official reports from officers of the
Freedmen's Bureau, show instances like
the following:
Extract. from ReD0rtof d. r. BrotUer, is
SiStaat Surgeon, Richmond, Va., dated
,Jlulc 4, 1866.
L have the honor to report that Martha
Anne Banks, freed girl, aged II years,
from King William county, Va, late SER
want of Henry Adams, was admitted to
this hospital June ?. 1866, in the follow
ing condition:
One large ulcer, one and three-quarters
by one inch in dimensions, over left
shoulder blade; two ulcers and one cica-
triX over middle of right upper arm. ex-
ternal face ; three ulcers over right elbow
joint; three large cicatrices and one ulcer
over Occiput; all doubtless the result of
burns. The ulcers over shoulder blades.
back of neck and elbow Joint, are exceed
ingly severe. These wounds are ali re-
cent, doubtless produced within two or
three weeks.
In addition to these there are scars
without number scattered over the entire
cOtN SblIlS NSA OANy -OIllC CcNCICd W I'LL
recent scabs, some the result of burns.
some the result of the whip. No written
description can convey an idea of the out
rageOus manner in which this child is
SCARED. Her external injuries are, how
ever, OF but little moment compared with
the impairment of her mental faculties
She is scarcely able to give expression to
an intelligent idea. Her mother and her
sister are very bright negroes, and the
family resemblance is very striking.
Extract from Report Of r. ". Roche, da-
ted June s, 1866.
[ have the honor to inform you that |
proceeded TO King William county, Nir-
ginia, agreeably to orders from headquar-
ters assistant commissioners bureau r. f.
and A. L., dated Richmond, Va, June
3, 1866, and respectfully submit the fol-
lowing report OF my Investigations in re-
gard to the alleged cruelty by Mrs. An
ne Abrams toward Lucy Richardson
(colored}. her children and others.
I find that prior to and since the fall of
Richmond, Virginia. the said Mrs.
Abrams has been the cause OF the death
of three females and one boy (all colored)
by cruelty inflicted as follows: Five of
the children of said Lucy Richardson
tcOlored), named Martha Anne and Mary
Ellen Banks, (twins), aged sixteen; Geo.
Banks, aged nine years, with Robert
Banks, aged seven and half years, have
on different occasions, each of them, been
placed i'll nude state before the fire until
their backs We're actually broiled, then
they were whipped with a birch rod on
the back until it was raw, then strong
salt and pepper water was rubbed on the
back, and they Were whipped again.
Francis Banks (colored), sister to the
above named, died February, 1866, from
injuries received at the hands of said Mrs
A, being. stamped upon, Said FRANCES
year OF her age.
In other cases, where colored men were
brutally murdered, they were acquitted
by the courts without regard to law or
justice.