Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-11-03
From the Raleigh Caroinian-
LETTER FROM ADJUTANT GEN!
GO2MAN.
HIS EFFORTS TO CAPTURE THE
LOWREY GANG.
THE REASON OF FAILURE,
SC SO .Rc
MniiOr WiHiam a. Hed,ne,

| MnJOr William A. He077ae,
Manager Noalh CproEinian
| So many inquiries have been made o
me concerning my recent operations IL
Robson county, and 60 many of the news
papers Of the State have seen proper tC
disparage the efforts which have been made
to capture the Lowrey and Strong banditti
l have thought is proper to write out {
statement and submit it TO you fer publ
cation in your columns.
About the first of August last, soon af-
ter my appointment as Adjutant General
| Gov. Caldwell requested me to visit Rob
eson county, and see if I could not devise
some means to capture the gang of OUT
laws who had Infested that county for
years past, and whose depredHtions and
murders had attracted such general atten-
ton. La compliance with his request
| went to Lumberton and conferred with
| the most prominent men OF the place, aud
also visist Shoe Heel, another promisi q &
village OF the county, for the same pur-
pose. [ found the communities much
divided IN gentiment III regard to the
proper course to pursue. Many were OF
the opinion that nothing could be done
until martial law Was prOclsimed, and the
whole of Scuffiutown Invested of its inhab-
itan's, whom they alleged were all in SYM
pathy with the outlaws, fed and clothed
them, and gave them Information. Others
thought the use of blood-hounds the only
means which could be successfully used to
capture and rid the community Of the
pests, while others again were of opinion
that if number Of U. s. Troops were
procured, and if a body of citizens would
actively Co operate with them, success
would follow in short while. I took
the latter view myself, after conference
with all the different suggestCrS, but told
them that it was my candid opinion that
the reason Why the outlaws had not
been captured before then, was on &C
count OF the diversity Of opinion which
done as long as they themselves were di-
vided in sentiment in regard to the ques
ton. and that If they would listen and act
upon my suggestions, and offer no imped-
iment to the successful prosecution Of my
scheme, that thought I could rid the
county of the outlaws in less than thirty
days. proposed that fifty volunteers be
raised in the county from among the citl-
zens, composed of men who knew the out
laws by sight, who should receive from the
county rations and the pay Of regular SOL
diers, and that, in the event that this was
done, would try and secure the co-opefa-
ton of like number of .. 8. soldiers, to
act with them, and with the combined
force, to commence regular and syste-
matte campaign, in which proposed to
take an active part. This volunteer force,
it was thought, could be readily raised,
especially as there was already a nenclus
around which they could form, consisting
of party of some. twelve or fifteen refu-
gees from that immediate section, who had
been run from their homes, by the threata
of the outlaws, snd who were then in an
organized body hunting in the swamps,
under the command Of Capt. Wishart.
After visiting a majority of tie COMMITS
sioners OF the county, and comforting with
them in regard to my proposition, they
readily agreed to second my efforts. and
acceded to my suggestions in regard to
pay and ration.s
With their assent and recommendation,
which was seconded by almost every one
who seemed in earnest in the extefmina-
tion of the banditti. agreed to commits
sion Captain Wishsrt, as Colonel of the |
18th Regiment N. @. Militia, and author
lied him to raise the volunteers required |
from his and the 58th regiment, which
composed the militia of that county, and |
returned to Raleigh to try and obtain the
troops, promising to return in q week with |
them, if possible. I succeeded in obtain
ing two depleted companies Of United