The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-20
nAUI.Y REGISTER.
BAYONET RULE.
flaming the Embers OF War In the
Palmetto state.
I,nrraSnnndenca nf the New York Snn.

Correspondence OF the New IorR sum-
LAURESs, S. c., April 7, 1872.
Your correspondent arrived here on
Tuesday following the military raid
and found a deserted village. Laurens'
the county seat Of one of the most
thrifty and peaceable counties OF the
State, is situated seventy miles from
the capital, in a county that once boosted
as much prosperity as any in the State.
The people are generally quiet, and.
indeed, have been more 80 than those OF
apy section of the State until the new
tangled tricks of reconstruction were
brought to bear upon them.
Although the county Of Laurens was
included in Grants martial law procla-
nation, nobody ever dreamed that there
would in reality be a military occupancy
of the place, for the reason that there
had never been reported a single Ku.
Klux raid in the county.
AN EASTER SUNDAY RAID.
The establishment and dismay Of the
inhabitants cannot be described when
on Easter Sunday company Of United
States cavalry rode into town on gall
lop and began to pounce upon the in
habitants unfortunately and hurry
them off to Jail. The first detachment
that arrived surrounded the town and
completely environed it with line of
pickets, so that neither ingress nor
egress was permitted.
A SCENE THAT BEGGARs DESCRIPTION.
The arresting process was very
simple. Warrants were in the voca-
tive. A man was just informed that
he was wanted, and was forthwith hur-
ried Off to prison. Toward noon rein
forcemcntS arrived in the shape OF
another detachment of cavalry, who
approached the town from another d.
rection, bringing with them a number
Of prisoners whom they had picked up
on the road. The arrests were then
pushed forward with renewed vigor,
and the scene beggared description.
The streets were filled with weeping
women, wives, mothers, sisters, children,
clinging to the necks OF their husbands,
brothers and fathers, and filling the
air with their lamentations. 1t was
pitiable in the extreme. The locker on
could not help strong desire to shout,
"Hurrah for Grant"
The local deputy United States Mar
shals who had personal spites to crafty
did not lose the opportunity, and the
strong arm Of the government was
called upon to Wi pc out many an old
grudge by hustling off the unfortuuates
10 military prison. One man, Eschel-
berger by name, who had been involved
in a personal rencontre some two years
ago, which had been settled at the time,
was arrested and thrown in Jail, and
kept there without being Informed Of
the cause of his arrest for several days
After being confined two days, he was
informed that he was arrested on the
old score, whereupon he produced the
Governors pardon and was released
by the officer commanding the
army OF occupation. These arrests
continued for three days. Not only
was the town ransacked, but squads Of
cavalry raided through the adjoining
country, arresting all that fell in their
way and bringing them into town.
Soon the county Jail was filled, and
then a temporary camp prison was
improvised, wherein the prisoners were
confined until Wednesday. On that
day the military evacuated the town,
carving with them every white male
they could lay their hands on. No
transportation was furnished. The un-
fortunate victims Of Grants lust after
office were forced to make the journey
from this place to Newbury, distance
of over thirty miles, on foot.
THE CoLoRED PEOPLE lNTERCEDING FOR
THE WHITES.
1t may he mentioned as an exhibition
Of the feeling between the white and
cOlored population that during the stay
OF the military here the headquarters OF
the commandment was constantly be-
sieged by the colored folks, who were
lDpOTluudte iOT tuc EelSdSc vi tuSii
white friends. Thus ended one of the
most brilliant achievements Of the gift
taking President.
An entire community, wherein dwelt
peace and contentment, harmony and
good feeling, has been in one day bro
ken up. The people, ground to the
very dust by the unprincipled adven-
turers who are eating up the Substance
of the land, had just begun their work
of preparing the coming crops. and
freed from the troubles that usually
attend a political campaign, were work,
ing out the problem OF lite in
peace and comparative happiness,
when at a signal from the govern
ment to which they have a right to look
for protection the dogs of war are let
loose and all is destroyed. The coun-
try has been completely deserted, and
there is an exodus OF whites. Should
these arrests continue for two weeks
longer the country will be entirely de-
populated. The trisls begin at Charles
ton during the coming week, and many
strange developments are expected.
A Description Of Nassau, New Provi.