The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-10-07
STARTLING NEWS FROM TEXAS.
Rebels in open wnrrAre-AssauIt on
U. s. Troops.
Persecution of Union CitIzens--
Northern UnIonIsts Flee
JnS for Life. sa



The following letter, addressed to a
we'll known citizen OF this city, by his
grandson, who has for some time been
a resident of Austin, Texas, where he
has heen compelled to flee for his life,
gives graphic, and unquestionably a
truthful account, of the state of things
in that unreconstructed State:
SHERMAN, GRAYsoN Co., TExAs,l
September, 8, 1868.
L expect to mount my horse next
Saturday morning, before sunrise, and
travel IN the direction of the nearest
railroad depot In Kansas. i will be &C.
companied by three members of the
Texas Convention and several other
citizens, who, like myself, are leaving
rebel persecution for kind and loyal
friends North. The rebels are daily
becoming more bellIgerent. In this
section of the State they have several
organized bands, in all comprising sew
eral hundred men, now in active ser
vice, and a reserve comprising nearly
all the white citizens of the country.
A party of these rebel outlaws, under
the command of u desperate named
Bickerstatf, have lately captured sew
eral Government trains. giving the
waRoners receipts therefor, and pay
ing them for their services. These des-
peradoes have killed eight or nine SOL
diers, eleven white Unionists, and
freedmen without number. i4t
The last outrages these murderers
committed occurred n few days ago, at
Sulphur Springs, in Hopkins county.
where they surrounded company OF
United States troops, and compelled
them to fortify themselves in brick
store in the centre of the town, two
hundred and fifty rebels being undo T
nTIt n hR
garrison. They were only prevented
from accomplishing their hellish de-
sign by the arrival of a company of
cavalry from Pilot Grove, in this coun-
ty, who dispersed the rebels, killing
and wounding several, besides captur-
ing number of horses, arms etc.
The citizensi with very few eXcep-
tions, sympathize with these outlaws,
and sustain and succor them by fur
nIshing them with horses, DIVISIONS,
&c.; and take this occasion to further
state, thRtit is the settled policy OF the
Democratic party TO overawe the white
Unionists OF the South, by assassina-
ting those who energetically oppose
them, and to run outof the country the
more passive Republicans by organ
lied systems of persecution and rob
berry; which policy is carried to such au
extent that loyalty is made odiou5 and
treason respectable. 50 liaF pa
Union men anu lnelE families aE6ulS-
carded from society, members of reiig-
gious denominations who adhere TO
the principles of Republicanism are
turned out of the churches. Children
of Unionists have, in many instances,
been prevented from attending schools.
The merchant who isa Union man can
not get any trade. The stock raiser,
who is n Union man, has his stock
driven Off by the rebel "cow boys;2 and
know of instances within my own
personal observation, where farmers
have had their crops destroyed by fire;
professional men could get no practice,
laborers no work, and weary travellers
no place to lay their heads, simply be-
cause they boldly maintained the JUS
tice OF the Reconstruction acts of Con-
gress. 1 intend to assert these facts
from Kansas to Washington; and If
men are capable of self-government,
and our citizens not as depraved as the
people destroyed by the flood, must
believe that every honest citizens who
desires the prosperity of his country,
will support the Republican party to
the end that those who live in the reb-
el States, and have given all up for the
Union, may not be socially ostracised,
religiously prosecuted, Indignantly
robbed, politically destroyed, and foul
ly murdered.