Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-06-26
WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA.
Wednesday june a6. 1878.

"old fields" and is giving the results
of his observations in series ofletters.
At Strasburg he stopped at the Hotel
and thus speaks Of his interview with
his land lady.
II sat down to supper next to my
hostess. There were two others, who
soon left, which left the lady to me. l
improved the opportunity by entering
into conversation with her. She had
lived during the war further east, at
which time she was quite young lady.
Then her father and grandfather had
plenty Of ''niggers, f" servants to do any
thing for them. But the war had swept
away their ringers" and made them
poor. She said nealy all are poor now,
and have to do a great deal different
from what they formerly did. Then,
and even long since the war, lady
couldn't do her own work and be taken
into society. Every lady had to keep
a servant or she wasn't regarded very
highly. If a lady did her own washing
it was the objectionable sin, and ifshe
should attempt to do her own house
work she would be slighted and would
not be received into society. Ofcourse
she wasn't speaking of the ''poor white
trash" Now, she said, times have
changed a great deal. A great many
now do their own homework and even
washing who once would not have
thought Of such a thing. People are
getting more freedom to work and still
be well thought Of. l remarked that
tho ught they in the South were learning
q great lesson and in time they would
be greatly prOfted. She gave me some
war items. One she spoke of with
some feeling. A number Of Yankees
had captured one Johnny White, who
lived near them across the mountain
and who was one Of M0sby's men. They
dragged white through the village be-
hind horse and killed him before his
mothers eyes. OF course there were
many narrowing scenes during the war,
and many acts Of great cruelty. Some
things seemed wanton and cruel from
Southern standpoint which from a
Northern view were necessary as re-
prlsals and really in the interest Of
humanity. Take for instance BUSH
whacking and guerrilla warfare. These
were often convenient modes of taking
revenge on an enemy, and, being so
convenient to them, the South through
their glasses couldn't see it as we so"'
il. They nd,9 tho n,,s>orfrS-i4- ~ adopt
il if tbe, chose to do so, bat in so choos-
inc they should not complain If their
odemy protected himself. This case
may have been as told me (although
it probably happened before his mothers
face because his mothers face happen
ed to be before it), for Moseby's men
had a VIGOROUSLY bad name, and this
man may have been a VIGOROUSLY bad
one Of that VIGOROUSLY bad set"
The incident referred to was the cruel
murder Of young Rhodes, q youth of Is
who had just joined Moseby's COM
mand. He was captured by some Of
Clusters command near Front Royal,
he was tied to horse, dragged through
the streets by his mothers residence,
and he and several others were taken
to tree a short distance from town
and hung. These young men were
regular soldiers and were entitled to
such treatment as captives generally
received.
From Southern stand point, it was
most felndish act Of barbarity, from a
Northrcn stand point, if we may Judge
by the writing Of this correspondent, it
was in the interest of humanity. A
few days after this occurrence, Mosby
captured a number of the command
which had so cruelty murdered his men.
He made them draw lots and taking
number Of them to the Valley pike
along which the Yankee command was
accustomed to march, hung them and
placed upon their bodies placards upon
which were written notices that for every
one of his men that should be murdered
after capture, he would hang five
yankees. The notice had good effect
and the yankees ceased to regard the
cold blooded murder of rebels an act
Sin the interest Of humanity" This
pulled up Pharisee continues:
I'VE too often forget in our enjoy
ment OF the fruits Of our victories
through what they have come. While
all hatred should be buried, and we
should great all who wish to meet US as
citizens and upholders of one common
country, yet we should never forget our
victories and their price. Men whe
were once rebels may become good
citizens. and, with those who fought for
the Union, may fight for it in the future,
and many deserve our respect and
honor for what they shall do, but when
. they assemble under their old name, as
such they should not expect our en-
couragement or honor. We should not
encourage those who unwisely would
have companies ofmen, as rebels, meet
companies Of Union soldiers and extend
to both honor alike. We may all
meet alike as citizens, but we can never
meet alike as rebel and Union soldiers.
To honor both alike is to dlstort the
sense of Justice Of those who sustained
the government, and even those who
once were rebels feel it 10 be unnatural
and cruel not to expect it. They were
brave men; the land had no Drawer than
many of them. l am glad TO meet
them as citizens of one country, but as
rebels, never. have been we'll treated
by them and would treat them as well.
The hand Of God, my reader, was
saSainst them. Let US hope that the
Eime will come when no honorable man
i will say, boastmgly, "Hy grandfather
tor my ancestor fought against his coun-
try" but if he does say 1t, may it be
said with regret"
After reading this sonsensical stuff
about respect and honor, we can very
readily imagine how he could consistly
adopt the prayer Of The Pharisee and ex-
, claim "God, / thank thee, that am not
as other men are, extortioners, unjust.
alulterers. or even as this" poor rebel.