Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-01-21

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Near Leonardtown, Jan. IA, 1875. |
Nsssrs. Editors FL must again ask
your indulgence for spec in your COL
umns TO say few words in reference 10
the communication Of Mr.. Graves pub
lished in your Issue Of the 9TH inst, an
indulgence heretofore generously grant,
ed and for which you viii please accept
my sincere thanks. At first conclud-
ed not to pay any attention to it from
the want of truth exhibited, deeming it
unworthy ofnotice. Upon further con-
sideration, however, thinking tina. some
people might misconstrue my motive in
remaining silent, I determined to pub
lish refutation Of his statements, trust
ing that this explanation viii be accep-
ted as an apology for my so doing BY
those who think ought to have pur-
sued different course. Mr.. G.. refers
not to any of the points already in is
sue, and thus virtually admits his ina
bility to controvert the conclusions az
rived at by me in my last communion
ton. In the new field he has chosen he
proceeds upon premises, which are alb
So ktely and sotoriousi withous fsun-
dation. He tells us that the leader of
the Confederate States said in a speech
at Stephenson, Ala, in Feb. 1861, 1--WE
will carry the war where it is easy to
advance, where food for the sword and
torch awaits our armies in densely pop
ulated cities" which sentiment, he saws,
''immortalized his name in the estima.
ton Of his followers" 1t is probably
the first time any of his followers have
heard the annnouncement-at least as
coming from the Confederate leader
1t certainly sounds more like the Ian
guage Of Federal than Confederate lead
ers, for some of them did do what Mr..
e. charges the Confederates intended.
With those who know the Confede-
rate leader personally, and who were
cognizant of the well known humanity
which pervaded all his actions almost to
fault, his heightened, honorable con-
duct throughout life, his speeches and
writings and the manner in which the
war was conducted by the Confederates,
this charge and all else he says in con-
nection Herewith carries on its face its
own refutation. Charges suchas these,
however, may well be expected from the
authors of such communications as those
with which Mr.. G. has favored the pub
lie, who, aware of the estimate to which
their own published sentiments have as
signed them, seek to drag others down
to similar level. But let us see how
the facts of history sustain Mr.. G. in
this accusation.
The Confederate cavalry leaders fire.
quently penetrated the enemy's coun-
try, yet We heard of no destruction of
thickly populated cities. The Confed-
crate armies under Gen. Lee twice in
vaded Northern soil, and did they ex-
bibit a desire to carry on The war i, The
manner in which he charges was their
intention? As is well known when
Gen. Lee advanced into Maryland the
soldiers under his command conducted
themselves in most exemplary man
ner, so much so as to excite the surprise
of the inhabitants, who had been led by
Misrepresentation to expect something
so different.
| The rules of civilized warfare were
strictly observed by them, and private
property and individual rights most
scrupulously respected. Again on the
second invasion. Gen. Lee issued gen.
eral order, No. 20, while at Chambers
burg, Pa, from which 1 give the fol-
lowing extracts THE Commanding
General considers that no greater dis
grace could befall the army and through
it our whole people, than the perpetra-
ton of the barbarous outragcs upon the
innocent and defenceless, and the wan
ton destruction of private property that
have marked the course of the enemy
in our own country. 1t must be re-
membered that we make war only upon
armed men, and we cannot take ven
geance for the wrongs our people have
suffered without lowering ourselves in
the ewes of all, whose adherence has
been excited by the atrocities of our ene-
nv and offending against Him to whom
vengeance belongeth. The Command
ing General, therefore, earnestly exhorts
the troops to abstain with most scrupu.
lous care from unnecessary or wanton
destruction of private property" &c
There speaks the great and good man
all his other orders were in harmony
with this, and he acted under the au-
thority and sanction of the chief leader
of the Confederate States. Can the
Northern leaders produce sucharecord:
Are they exempt from the charges
brought by Mr.. c.? We will see.
Who burned Atlanta. Ga, Columbia,