Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-06-27
From the Metropolitan Record 4 Vinaisator, N. y
nnmnins Record Of the war.

From the Metropolitan Record Il Vinaitator,N.
Damnins Record OF the war.
DIR. Rachnan, Southern clergyman, oi
the Lutheran chucch, having been a:sailed by
! Journalist Of bis own denomination, who is
moreover n minister of the Lutheran church
North, replies at length 10 the charges brought
AGAINST him, and In the course OF his Tindica-
ton makes scathing exposure of the atroci-
ties committed by Sherniah'S army. How
any one anxious for the honor OF tbe North
ern troops can provoke controversy ot this
Kind is a marvel. DR.. Bachman's statement
but sustains the charges made by others-h's
account Of the cruelty and rapacity OF Sher-
mans officers and men is but an echo of> the
General voice: nevertheless it will do more
harm to the Federal cause than any general
charge would do, for personal narrative
makes more impression on the mind ana takes
n firmer hold on the memory of the reader
than any enumeration Of enormitiea, however
exact, or massing together OF facts, however
disgracefu!. =,
l. would have been wiser not to have
brought out such damning array OF facts as
DR.. Bachman puts on record while vlndlcatlng
his character from the aspersions flung on 1t
by brothsr clergyman. Read the following
account of the doings Of Shermans grand ar
| nv in Carolina, and say if it is not disgrace
ful to human nature itself:
A system of torture was practiced towards
the waak, unarmcd and defeneelesS, which, as
| far as I know sad believe, was universal
throughout the whole coDrSe of that invading
.,my. Before they arrived at plantation
,ho, inquired the names Of the most faithful
and and tru., .,tworthy family servants; these were
Immediately INN seized, pistols were presented at
their heads, with he moSttcrrl!ic curses they
we're we're threatened to be Sshot if they did not as
sist them in finding buried t:-easures. Ii TINS
dil not succeed. they were tied up ana cruei-
ly beaten. Several poor creatures dica 2noeI
tho ir0ction. The last resort was that OF
hanging, and the officers and men OF the trl-
umphant army of Gen. Sherman, were engag-
sd in erecting gallows, and hunging up these
faithful aud devoted servants. They were
strunr up until life was nearly extirct, when
thew were let down, suffered 10 rest awhile,
thea threatened and hung up gam. 1t Is NOT d
surprising that some should have been lett
banping SO long that they were taken down
dead. Coolly and deliberately these harden
ed men proceeded on their way, as If they
had perpetrated no crime, and as il the God
of Heaven wouldn not pursue them with hls
vengeance. But it was not alone the poor
blacks Ito whom they prolessedto come as hb
srators) that were thus subjected to torture
and death. Gentlemen of high character,
nnre and honorable and grey-headcd, uncon-
pected with the military, were dragged from
,be;r fields or their beds, and subjected tc
tlis process Of threats, beating and hanging
Along the whole track of Shermaa's army
traces remain of the cruelty and inhumanity
practiccd en- the aged and detenceless Some
of those who were hung up, died ander the
rope, while their cruel murdcrers, have moi
only been left unrcproached and unhung, bu'
have been hailed as heroes aud patriots. The
list of those martyrs whom the cupidity OF tht
officers and men of Sherman's artny sacrliic
ed to their thirst for gold and silver, is large
aud most revolving.
But Mr. Bachman was to feel n his owl
person the tender mercies of the invaders
He, an old and venerable man, for fifty year
the pastor Of tie same church and congrega
ron. was to Know from his own experience
how ineeniously they could torture. In Or
dor To ob:ain from him clue to the gold ant
silver, which they maintained was buried Oh
Tho plantation by tie owner, and which the.
lose M to believe lie knew all ebou;. they-t'
use his own words" coo!ly and toliberate.
r,ransred e to irilict torture on q (lefencelesa
rray-headed old man."
Ibey carried me behind stable, and ono
again demanded where themoney vas buried