Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-06-26
Outrageous Robbery at City Point----Dis-
graceful Acts of the Federal Troops
Merchants Robbed, Beaten and Stabbed.

graceful Acts OF the Federal Troops
Merchants Robbed Beaten and Stabbed
City Point was ON Thursday night the scene
of one of the most scandalous occurrences it has
ever been our ill-fortune to chronicle; and from
statements made to us by several witnesses we
prepare what we have every reason to believe
Is a most accurate and truthful report.
Several hundred negro soldiers having assem-
bled at City Point to be paid off and mustered
out, number of merchants principally Israel
ites) from Richmond Norfolk and Petersburg,
opened stores at that place, being compelled to
pay to the suffers 40 pei cent. on their sales for
the privilege Of selling
On Thursday evening it became evident that
trouble was brewing among the white soldiers,
who threatened to ''cean out the jews" that
night, but no steps were taken by the officers
to prevent them from carrying out their threats.
Soon after dark squad of soldiers belonging
to companies ID and L, 18th Infantry, Whose
number is varlously estimated at from 20 to 6O)
broke into the store of Messrs. Collins and Sons,
of Petersburg, whom they robbed of goods yal
ued at $500.
The store of Messrs. Bear, Hirschberg and
Grau, of this city, was the next point of attack,
and In the melee which ensued a pistol shot,
fired by some party unknown supposed to be
a negro in the employ of those merchants
wounded one of the robbers. Lieut.. Triplett
and Keys, the officers on duty, who had hith:
erto been totally oblivious of the disgracefuI
scenes which were being enacted, Immediately
rushed In, and swearing that they had rather
see ten thousand Jews killed than one of their
men injured, ordered the arrest of the mer-
chants, leaving the soldiers to prosecute their
work of plumber, which they did by robbing the
store of goods valued at between four and five
thousand dollars. The guilty merchants were
confined in the guard house, and after their ar
rest the whole pocket of Mr.. Hirsehbergs S coat
was torn out to obtain a memorandum book
supposed to contain money, the owner being
choked nearly to death, and Mr.. ,Grau was rob-
bed of his breastpin.
Mr.. VIM Fegenhemer, of Richmond, being
requested by the prisoners to endeavor to pro-
tect the rest of their goods, appealed to the
lieutenants above mentioned for guard They
replied, sarcastically, that they '''had left a
guard there and sshoped the men would take
every dollar the Cd id Christ-killing sons
of = had, who had shot one of their men, and
if he die they should all be killed, and if they
remained until tomorrow they should all be
robbed" ' ,i'1, ac..
Lieut.. T. then entered the store of Mr.. Mem
field, placed revolver at the head of young
man, cursing him and threatening to blow his
id brains out. The youth requested him, to
take away the weapon as ''he had no fancy for
smelling powder OF swallowing blue pills. and
after much abusive and profane language the
| officers ordered some liquor, which they drank
and retired
A rapid discharge of fmpsketry and the sounds
OF doors crashed In and shelves torn down an
nounced that the store of Mr. J. Greenwald was
sharing the fate of others. The old man was
| Knocked down with the butt of a musket, beat
en- unmercifully, this head and right eye being
so cut and bruised that it is feared he win lose
his sight) and his store Quilted. .t:. 4.f.
| MIR. Il. Falk was stripped of his clothes,
beaten and robbed Of valuable jewelry.
Mr.. j. GREENWOOD "a clerk of Mr. G.. 8, was
and boots, and a valuable gold watch and chain,
and stabbed with a bayonet near the left eye
| Messrs. Flegenheimer and Kraker fed for pro-
lection to the warehouse of Mr. McCance, the
agent of the steamer Albenarle, who treated
them kindly and attended to their wounds, but
a guard of soldiers soon demanded admittance,
arrested the gentlemen (who they threatened to
| stab and carried them to the guard-holse,
where they were kicked, cuffed and very rough
| ly handled. -.
The Lleutenants then marched their soldiers
to all the stores and disarmed all the merchants,
| bursting open all doors not instantly opened. @
All these outrageous deeds, which would dis
grace the cannibals of the South Sea Islands,
were perpetrated under the shadow of the Stars
and Stripes, and by the very officers and men
placed there for the protection of the citizens.
io tuC VI Sult Vi tue Negro CTOOpS, III Is Sllu
they behaved well, and took no part In these
outrages. p. f...e..F-..a
Major Dunn the commander of the post,
evineed no disposition to stop the robbers or
protect the citizens, who, when appealing to
him. for redress and protection, were answered
that he had no time to hear them them al
though he had time to take his toddy," as we
are informed by correspondent who was pre-
sent. d5'lW 5Iiqs g8t iy $50 .c Eais bes
MIR. Newfed, of Richmond, while chasing a
party who had stolen some clothes, was arrested
by the guard. r., 80.
The next day the stolen goods were openly
exposed for sale by the soldiers, who said that
as 'the goods cost them nothing, they could af-
ford to sell cheap which they did accordingly,
disposing of them at a fourth and even tenth
OF their value. .., -'
The merchants arrested were at length re-
leased, and afterwards, Mr., Flegenheimer was
assaulted by eight men, and robbed of a valise
containing jewelry and sundries, valued at $3.50.
lie made a desperate resistance, and was very
badly beaten, his head being much bruised by
the application of the heels of some of the
stolen shoes.
The merchants, alarmed for their lives, char
tered the STEAMER Triumph and returned to
Richmond on Friday night
Comment on such proceedings is unnecessary,
and we hope Congress will exhibit It's wonted
promptitude in sending down Commission to
investigate the ffair.-Enquarer of June lS.
Iaf Tradition gives this origin to the Apostles
Creed The twelve assembled in council be-
fore dispensing to preach the gospel through
out the world, and each contributed an item to
the creed, thus: = = 49, =
Y Peter-s'I believe in God the Father Almigh-
Ety, Maker Of heaven and earth :" Andrew
."'And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord :
James the Great -s'Who was conceived by
the Holy Ghost. born Of the Virgin Mary"
ohn-.Sufered under Pontius Plate, was
cruci6ed, dead and buried - Thomas-''H He
descended into hell, the third day he rose from
/ the dead James the Leslie ascended
into heaven, and sitteth ON the right hand of
God the Father Almighty - Philip--sFrom
the dead:' Bartholomew-..I believe in the