Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-19
REBELS BONES As RELICS!
To'est from GENTLEMAN Who
writes from the North.

10 the Editor OF the Dispatch:
IL was very much cherished hone
no doubt Of many good people of tn,
Nortn and the South that the present
war between the United States and Spair
would result In more closely uniting the
North and South. We trust this hope Is
not in vain, but atrocious crimes COM
mltted by northern soldiers in southern
! iahds against the remains Of southern
| heroes OF the civil war endanger q
| "iuer preach than ever What souther n
| man would not be incensed to read what
| was published this morning in one of the
Ieading daily papers OF the North. Here
IS the account in the Philadelphia Record.
In large, black letters is the heading:
Rebels Bones as Relies
Thoroughfare, Va, August Ii.-Our
boys OF the Sixth Pennsylvania Volun-
teers have undergone severe hardships
during the week and are now in camp
here along the railroad. Since we left
Camp Alger we have had varied expe-
riences. While we rested along
Bull Run last Sunday, several OF our boys
came into camp and reported that two
cows and calf were running loose about
mile away. This was good news. and
search OF the beasts. We were armed
with dull knives, axes, etc. We were
soon on our prey, which we lost no time
In bagging. We succeeded in killing
cow and a calf and for a time lived pretty
well. The other regiments now shout,
when we pass by: Who stole a cow"
The State Fencible boys are all consid-
cred game. and we say that we will never
anything crosses our line it is dead espe-
starye, and you bet we will not. for II
cially IL we are hungry.
Near Bull Run several soldiers gained
entrance into small graveyard and dug
up a Confederate officer. They divided
his remains among the crowd as relies"
III that don't make a southern mans
blood hot / don't know what would. And
this comes out in a northern paper as a
huge joke that .'our boys" played while
on their long march. There may be some
excuse for a hungry soldier 10 Kill n COW.
some one else's property, for food, but
what excuse for digging up the remains
of a Confederate officer? 1t is not only A |
crime against the laws OF the country.
but 1t is an insult to the South. A sol |
dier's license does not permit him to dis |
regard the laws Of State, nor bring uIs-
grace upon the army. much less heap in |
suit upon loyal citizens.
They divided his remains among the |
crowd as relics" Relics Of what: Their |
valiant deeds in the cause for which they |
took up arms? No; relics of the great |
rebellion" when we licked the rebels |
until they cried out for mercy.
II was a shamef full. disgraceful. crimi-
lal act, that Virginians should demand
corrected, and the perpetrators Of the
rhine punished. Who was that Confede-
ate officer whose remains. after thirty
fears of rest, were so rudely disturbed
aiken up and distributed among the de-
pendants OF the enemy from whose
ayages he died 10 defend his country?
Who he was, know not, but he was a
Confederate soldier and a Confederate
ficer, and for one l protest against al
owing such a violence 10 a brother coun-
ryman going unnoticed and uncon-
emned. Let those who have greater |
uthority demand. at least, that these
ones be returned to the Confederate Off
er's grave in peace.
Sewell, y. j. A NIRGINIAN.