The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-11-13
Inhuman Brutality Of Federal
Officers. ~ dasl'

''' !Ha Officers. 81 d11l'
iaf le1ei q. IS gs fafe i
- From the Macon Telegraph.l
Fl ti3 - ~ LOG MACON, GAR
/ rs EadzEi 5as 0ctober7, 1867. 4
Hon, II. Clay Dean, Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
DEAR SIR:-I have read your last
communication addressed to the "Pris-
eners of War, and Of arbitrary arrests
in the United States of America"
You alleged that "the Congress of
the United States refused to extend the
investigation contemplated by reso-
luton, adopted by that body on the
10th of July, 1867, appointing certain
partiesto Investigate the treatment Of
prisoners OF war, and Union citizens
held by the Confederate authorities du-
ring the rebellion, to the prisoners OF
war victims Of the arbitrary power and
military usurpation by the authority OF
the Federal Administration" ~ q
! Approaching your object Ito put the
truth upon the record" and concuring
| in your patriotic suggestion that sit is
the duty of every American citizen to
look to the honor of his country, and
the preservation Of the truth OF history"
! l have feltaconstrained, to respond to
the call made in your circular, SO far
as to acquaint the public, through you,
with the following precise, simple and
unexaggerated entof facts:
When the Capital of the Confeder-
ate States was evacuated, the specie
belonging to the. Richmond banks was
removed, with the archieyes Of the gov
eminent, to Washington, Georgia.
Early after the close of the war a wagg-7
OH train, conveying this specie from
Washington to Abbeyville S., C., was
attacked and robbed Of an amount APP
proximatipg to 100000, bya band of
disbanded soldiers of the Confederate
army. A few weeks subsequent to the
event Brigadier General Edward A.
wild with an escort Of twelve negro
soldiers under the command of Lieut..
Scaton, of Captain Alfred Cooley's com,
pany, (I56th Regiment New York Nol.l
repaired to the scene of the robbery. in
the vicinity of Danburg, Wilks County
Georgia. BY order of General Wild,
land III his presence, A. D. Chenattlt, a
Methodist Minister, weighing two hun
bred and seyenty-five pounds; his
brother, John N. Chenault Of moderate
I size, and a son Of the latter only fifteen
years of age weighing two hundred and
Thirty pounds, were arrested and taken
! to an adjoining wood, where the money
distracted from the train, OF a portion
of it was supposed to be concealed.
\ Failing to procure the money, upon the
4 order of General Wild, these three cit
! liens, who enjoy tile esteem and conf
/ |dence Of all Who know them, were sus-
pended by the thumbs, with the view
of extorting confessions as to the place
! of its concealment. .s.gg $. :.
! Mr.. John N. Chenault was twice sub
iected to this torture, and on one occa-
sion until he tainted, and was then cut
down. Rev. A. D. Chenault was also
hung up twice byhis thumbs, and un-
til General Wild was induced, only by
Ibis groans and cries to release him from
| his agony. The youth, A. +. Chcnault
Twas hung up once and until lie exhibited
evident signs of fainting when he was
cut down. While this scene was being
enacted, General Wild and his subal
tern were both present directing the
whole operations. These citizens, with
the exception Of John N. Chenault who
1 was unable to be removed, were then
taken under guard. to Washington
about fifteen miles distant.
/ BY order of General Wild, a daugh-
ter of John N. Chenault, above seven
teen wears of age universally beloved
Iby her neighbors, and distinguished fol-
piety, was searched, by being stripped
in the presence of the lieutenant, who
was charged with the execution OF the
order. When her garments, piece ny
piece were taken from her, and the
4 yery last one upon her was reached, II
, the instincts of her native modesty she
threw herself upon a bed and sought
to conceal herself with its covering
She was ordered to stand out upon the
floor until stripped to perfect naked
ness. :,
], By the order Of General Wild, the
wife of John N. Chenault was arrested
and taken under guard to Washington
!, where she was incarcerated tor severa
.bdays. on bread and water, in one OF TIL
petty-iury rooms of the urt-house ant
latter she had been forced to leave a
homo her nursing infant but nln'
months old, where it remained until until IL
mother was released. -
During the period other imprisonl
ment General Wild was waited upo'
at his hotel by three citizens OF tn
y county, to wit: Francis G. Wmgfeld
Richard T. Walton, and your CORES
pondent, who importaned this Office
| to permit one Of the party to take MIS-
lbenault. to his residence in the villiag
each plcdging his neck. and all tender
ling bond, with security in any amour amour
(which he would be pleased to nominal
for her appearance at any time fl: AM
Iplace in obedience to his order. Hi
request General Wild promptly an
cmphatically refused, but gracciioousi
: allowed her friends to supply her wit
/ suitable food at the place OF her con
finement. aetik.a'a''.' va sss'''45'
:, The fortunes and indignitics thus in
flieted upon this family, who. are res
c pccted and esteemed by all who kne'
: them, failed to discover any ev ,'Sasle
: Whatever Of their completely in the rob