The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-10-12
THE CKUELTIES OF WAR.
The Monument to Mosby's Men n
Memorial OF Yank co Brutality.

The Monument TO MOBDy'S Men
Memorial OF Yankee Brutality.
Tho Washington correspondent oi
tho Now York Evening Post says that
the recent dedication OF q shaft al
Front Royal in the Shenandoah Valley
| to seven of Mosby's men who were OK.
ecuted by the tcdcral authorities dur
Ing tho civil war, has, IN q way, q
bearing upon the much disputed ques'
tion whether or not our soldiers nave
been committing atrocities IN the
Philippines. Several weeks ago u
member OF the cabinet, talking with
your correspondent concerning the re-
| ports which were then coming from the
Philippines in the shape OF soldiers
| letters gave his opinion that the ex-
planation was found in the fact that all
war Ia full Of brutality and ruflianism.
He thought it very probable that the
American soldiers in the Phlllpplncs
had on occasions treated with cruelty
and reyengefulncss moro or less in
nocent persons. Flo called attention
to the fact that Southern communities
are to this day full OF accounts OF the
same sort Of conduct on the part OF In
vading armies from the North that Is
now charged against our soldiers IN
the Philippines The eStept to which
o surprise to every Northern traveller
in that section. Local newspapers to
this day reha3h stories OF cruelty,
brutality and w@ntonncss on the part
OF Northern invaders, showing That
such recOilcctions are still vivid. a
man who could clip Hll such references
from Souune newspapers, especially
those printed in the smaller cities,
would be surprised at the mass OF al
legations which would como to him in
q months time.
The rearing OF this shaft at Front
Royal Is concrete example OF TINS
general feeling throughout the South.
The inscriptiO on Its face asserts that
these seven men were executed whlic
prisoners Of war, which is plain VIC
lation Of all the laws Of war. 1t Is as
if the inscription should read "ErCct-
ed to commemorate tho cruelty Of tho
Northern invaders Of tho war Of 1861
65." OF course, tho reasons which the
Federal authorities had for taking
sharp measures with MosDy's raiders
seemed at tho time valid. 1t was apart
OF war. These reasons will in time be
forgotten, while the cruelty Of the
thing itself will nc perpctuated in en-
during granite.
Tho monument IS thirty-tivc feet in
height, resting on pedestal five feet
square, and located on the brow OF q
hill overlooking the town, and at tho
head Of q hight OF terraCcd stone steps.
The people OF Front Royal will prob.
ably look upon it much as the statue
Of Nathan Hale Is viewed in Now York
city, with the exception that unle's
execution was strictly in accord with
the laws Of war, while tho Southern
people always maintain that this WAS
not.
1t seems that on the 23rd Of Septem-
Der, 1864, the company Of Mosby's com
mand to which these men belonged at
tackled wagon train just south Of
Front Royal. Thoy wore surprised to
find that they had encountered u large
Federal force, y part Of Clusters bri-
gade. In tie sharp fight that followed
those seven mon were captured. 1t had
been charged that Mosby's men had
fired on Union ambulances, and had
otherwise conducted themselves with
out regard to the proprieties Of war,
and hence the severity OF their punish
ment. Three Of these seven men were
shot near where they were captured,
two were hanged on a walnut tree
north Of Front Royal the sixth
Rhodes. a l7-year.old hoy-was, &C.
cording to the Southern narrative
dragged through the streets by two
cavalrymen before his mother, who
begged piteously for his life, and ther
he was shot. The seventh man was
hanged about six miles away. In re
taliation Mosby ordered to be shot ar
equal number OF Clusters mon whom
he had Gaken prisoners.
The message that the Robert E. Lee
camp OF Confederate veterans at Rich
mond tclegraped to the exercises Il
significant, thirty-iive years after thu
close Of the war. 1t was this: "Is. E. Lee
camp sends greetings, and heartily
commendS the honor you do this day tt
your brave comrades, martyrs to tht
cause Of constitutional liberty"