Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-11-06
MISCELLANEOUS.
Horrible Atrocities Near Island
No. 10.
What the Onion and Onion Soldiers
HuCe Done for Ne.

What the Onion and Onion Soldiers
Huce Done for Ne.
The following article, . war relic,
from the Mcmphis appeal of July 7th,
1864, which is published by request,
will be read withinterest, particularly
in jefferson county:
COMPROMISE, ORION County, TsNN., !
NEAR ISLAND No. 10.
1 am going to give short descrip-
ton in outline showing the man
ner in which 1 have been treated du-
ring the war. will not speak Of the
many times my husband, A. +. Beck
ham, was robbed previous to the
time of his murder lie was mcr-
chandising, and his store was repeat
cdly pIundcred, even our dwelling
was entcredin the night and searched.
The greater part of our negroes vol
UNFAIRLY left home and went to the
FcderaIs at Island No. 10, among
whom was an old negro woman.
Before leaving, she had made various
threats concerning what she intended
having done. When she left, hertwo
children (girls) remained behind.
She had been on the Island sometime
before we heard from her \ man.
calling himself Adiutant General
Guynnc, with two armed c0lorcd SOL
diers, came to the house and demand
ed the children. My husband told
them they could not have them.
After insulting me and speaking very
naughtily to my husband, Guynnc
left taking with him the negroe wo-
mans plumber, which she had left at
home. Guynne remarked to my hus-
band at the same time that he should
be very sorry for not letting him have
the children.
We heard no moro from them for
several weeks, then eleven armed
negro soldiers came to our house.
drew their pistols on my husband,
and told him they were sent by their
captain for the children, meaning
Thomas, the commander of the negro
troops at the Island. l was away
from home and had one of the chill
dren with me. My husband talked
to them very kindly, and told them
they were much better off at home;
finally, the cOIored soldiers left.
seemingly very well satisfied.
The next day l started up the river,
taking the eldest with me as n nurse.
Two nights after left, several white
soldiers came and fired into the
house, killed the Watchdog, and
tried to get in. My husband told
them if they forced themselves in he
would shoot. They then went to the
negro cabins and said to the negroes
that there was money in the house
and they intended to have it, but
fearing they might get hurt they left
and went to my fathers, (Daniel
Watson's) who was away from home
My mother and my sister were alone.
They knocked at the door and said
they wanted something to eat, that
they were on picket duty. Supper was
brought to them on the porch, and
when they got it they said we do not
want anything to eat, we wantmoney.
They then tried to push my sister
into the hall she tried to resist them {;
they then drew their guns told her
if she did not give them the money
which they said was buried i'll the
cellar they would shoot her. This
she refused to do. They then went
to the cellar and dug it over returned
saying that they had been misin-
formed, that there was no money
there. They then left, which plainly
showed it was money they wanted at
my house. On Tuesday morning
about 9 O'Clock, August 4th, 1868,
twelve armed negro soldiers come to
the house, there being no one there
except my husband, father-in-Iaw,
Benjamin Becktam, and four of my
children, and some of our family ne
groes. They rushed on my husband
and tied him, took off his watch and
pin, and ri1ed his pockets. They
then tied my father-in-Iav, and drag
ged them to the river, (it being about
thirty yards.) They killed my hus-
band on the top of the bank by shoot
ing him in the head They then cut
off his shoulder-blade and rolled his
body into the riye-, his clothes looked
as if there had been a great struggle.
They then took the old gentleman,
stabbed him three times, once in the
heart, and cut one of his ears off.
After throwing his body into the
river, they proceeded back to the
house, where two of them had been
guarding my little children. They
spoke to my oldest daughter. Laura,
aged fourteen years, telling her to get
up and follow her damned old daddy,
at the same time presenting a pistol
to her temple. The children then
were driven to the waters edge.
| whore thair. father and crrnndfnthnr