The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-27
B1IleT NTalgTIITeITl UT IVU t17FI1T FII1T1ts s1Te
Commands by Their Own Testimony.
HISTORY COMMITTEE. OF GRAND
CAMP MAKES ITS REPORT.
Every Rule OF Civilized Warfare Elegantly Violated
The Conduct !of the Confederates Was
in Marked Contrast.
in Marked Contrast.

Committee OF the Grand Camp of Confed-
crate Veterans OF Virginia, which was
presented 70 tia. body Saturday by Judge
George L. Christian. OF this city, chair
man Of the committee.
TO the Grand Camp Of Confederate yete-
rams OF Virginia:
Before entering upon The discussion OF
the subject selected Tor consideration IN
this report. Soar committee bess leave
10 tender its thanks 10 the camp ana
TO the pubic for the many expressions
1t has received OF their appreciation OF
its last TWO reports. These expressions
have come from every section OF the
country and they are not only most
gratifying. showing rs they do. in the
most satisfactory manner. The Importance
OF the work of this camp in establishing
the justice OF the Confederate carse; but
that this work is also causing the truth
concerning that cause 10 be taught 10 our
Children, which was not the case until
these Confederate camps effected that
great result Our report OF 1889, pre-
pared By your late distinguished and
lamented chairman, DR.. Hunter Mcguire.
was directed mainly to criticism of
certain histories then used in our schools
and to demonstrate the fact that the
South did not go to war either to main
tain or to perpctuate the Institution of
hard to make the world believe was the
case. That of 1900 was directed
First, to establish the right Of seceS-
sion tthe real question at issue in the
war; by Northern testimony alone: and
Second. 10 establish the fact that the
North was the aggressor in bringing on
the war and by the same kind of test-
mony.
These two reports have been published,
the first for two and the second for one
year, and, rs far as we know, no fact
contended for in either has been at
tempted to be controverted. We feel
justified, therefore, in claiming that
these facts have been established.
HOW THE WAR WAS CONDUCTED.
Having then, we think, established the
justice of the Confederate cause and that
the Northern people were responsible
FOR and the aggressors in bringing
the war and both CT these by testimony
drawn almost exclusively from Northern
sources, il is only left for us TO con
slider how the war, thus forced upon the
South by the North. Was conducted by
the respective combatants through their
Representatives. both in the Cabinet and
in the held. We fully recognize that
within the limit of this report it is I'M
possible to do more than TO touch the
fringe, as il We're. OF this important
inquiry The details of the horrors OF
'
many. many volumes. a1a ii is not our
purpose or desire to go fully into any
such sad and narrowing recital. We
propose. therefore. only 10 give the prin-
ciples of civilized warfare as adopted by
/. The Federal authorities Tor the govern
lneat of their armies in the field during
The war and then cite some of the most
Migrant violations Of those principles by
some OF the most distinguished represent
tatives of that Government in the war
4 waged by it against the South. or
course. in doing this, we shall have to
refer to some things very familiar to all
OF us: but the repetition of them in this
report would nevertheless seem necessary
and proper to its completeness.
In performing this solrowful and dis
tasteful task, we wish III The beginning
10 disclaim any and all purpose or wish
on oGr part To reopen the wounds or OF
reltlndling the feelings OF bitterness en-
gendcrcd by that unaolE- and unhappy
strife. As We said III our last report, we
recognize that this whole country is one
country and our country, and we Of the
South are as true TO it and will do Us
much To uphold its honor and defend its
rights as those of any other section.
But we are also true to a sacred past
a past which had principles for which
thousands OF our comrades suffered and
died and which are living principles to-
G1N--pr1lClDlGS WHICH We iclStil IL
tain and for which our whole people, al
most without exception, willingly and
heroically sacrificed their lives, their
blood and their fortunes; and, whilst We
Go not propose to live IN that past, we
do propose that the principles of that
past shall live in US and thai we Wall
transmit these principles to our children
and their descendants TO the latest gen
erations Vet unborn. We believe that
aply bl- SaiDo- this III and they make
good citizens of the republic as founded
10y our fathers and that not to do this
would be false to the memory Of our
dead and to ourselves.
RULES ADOPTED.
Then let us enquire, first, what We're
the rules adopted by the l'ederals for the
government OF their armies in war.
The most important Of these are as fol-
lows:
j. Private property. unless forfeited by
crimes or by offences of the owner
against the safety Of the army or the dig
nifty OF the United States and after con-
Aiction OF The owner by court martial
can be seized only by way OF military
necessity for the support or other benetit
OF the army OF the United States.
All wanton violence committed
against persons in the invaded country;
all destruction Of property not command
cd by the authorized officer; all robbery,
All piilaEe or SaSkl!lS. even after LahiHS
"A place by main force; ali rape. Wounding
manning or nilling of such inhabitants
are prohibited under penalty OF death. or
such other severe punishment as may
seer, adequate for the gravity Of the Of
fence.
$. Crimes punishable by all penal
codes. such as arson, murder. manning,
assaults, highway robbery, theft. burg
larry. fraud, forgery and rape, if commit
ted by al American soldier in hostile
country against its Inhabitants. are not
only punishable as at home. but in all
cases in which death is not inflicted the
severer punishment shah he preferred, be-
cause the criminal mas, as far. as in
lin lay, p.ostitnted the power con-
terrcd on a man OF arms ard prostituted
The dignity OF The United States.
Now. as we have said, these We're the
important provisions adopted by the
jaedcrais for tic government of their
armies in war.
General McCieliaa-a gentleman, a
trained and educated sciaer-recogn:zed
these principles from the beginning and
acted on them. On july /. lssg he wrote
to AR. Lincoln from Garr.son's Landing.
saying among other things:
This rebellion has assumed the char
acter Of a war; as such il should be
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