The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-10-01
HISTORIC PARALLELS,


the Germans written by the celebrated war
correspondent. Richard Harding Davis,
whose words of condemnation of German
brutality are as true as forceful How
ever true Mr.. Davis indictment, Henry E.
Shepherd, knowing "there are Others"
rectes a little history for the information
of Mr.. Davis and other Northern writer's,
as follows:
"If the liberty were accorded me could
speedily transform his account of the
burning of Louvain into picture of the
destruction of Columbia by Sherman, Feb
ruary II, 1865, by mere change of time,
place and local designations. The like
ness is borne out even in minute and cir
cumstantial detail, the element of humanity
being essentially in favor of the German
Army when brought into contrast with the
barbarous horde which swept through the
Carolinas under the guidance of Sherman.
IT MIR. Davis is 10 search of historic paral
lels drawn from American records, rich
and congenial field lies at his disposal in
the exploits of Sheridan, Hunter, Milroy
and Butler, in addition to the affluent sup
ply subject to his command in the ideal
infamy of Sherman's carnival of desolation
in South and North Carolina when engaged
HI tiio NdupdlSu az dltSI aye dIu liilduCy,
against the grave and the sepulchre."
And Mr.. Shepherd could also have
added to his list of infamous Federal COM
manders Generals Burbridge in Kentucky
and Lewis Merrill and John McNeill in Mis-
souri,, whose unwarranted deeds of blood
shed and violence are disgrace to cvili-
cation, and have never been surpassed
except by savages. 1t is entirely gratui-
tous to speak of. Weller in Cuba, Villa in
Mexico, or any other bloody brute, while
deeds OF these Federal monsters of 1875
are still fresh in the minds of Confederate
veterans.
To substantiate what we have said, we
make a few quotations from Federal officers
serving in Missouri, where war was waged
according to Sherman's view of it,
General Orders No. 2, issued by Gen.
j. M. Schofield, Wellsville, Mo-, January
/. 1862, War of the Rebellion, Series /,
Volume s, page 478, says:
The practice of plundering and robbing
peaceable citizens and wantonly destroy
ing private property has become so preva-
lent in some portions of this command as
to require the most rigorous measures for
its suppression"
Same, January Cd, writing to Gen. Hal
Iech, salHe, page OUo, says:
Upon my arrival at Warrenton found
battalion of Reserve Corps Cavalry, un-
der command of Maj. Holland, the only
cavalry at my disposal. These men had
preceded me only few days, but they had
already murdered one of the few Union
men in that vicinity and committed numer-
Gus Expectations upon the property of
peaceful citizens. Since that time their
conduct has been absolutely barbarous.'
In writing from Montgomery City, Jam
uary 3, 1862, to Gen. B. M. Prentiss, at
Palmyra, Mo-, Gen. Schofield, same, page
482, says:
The only cavalry force now at nv dis
rosal is a battalion of Germans, utterly
worthless for this kind of service. If trust
them out of my. sight for moment they
will plumber and rob friends and foes alike.
| have arrested two of the officers and
have five of the men in irons. have
asked Gen. Halleck to recall this battalion
and send me civilized human beings in
their stead"
Gen. Halleck, writing to Gen. Mcclellan,
January 18th, same. page 500, says:
Indeed. strong Union men in South
western Missouri (and among them Col
Phelps, Member of Congress), have beg.
gen me not permit Gen. Sigel's command
lGermansl to return to that part of the
country, as they robbed and plundered
wherever theywent, friends and enemies
alike
The above are few samples of Fedora
brutality during the War Between the
States. We could fill this page with re.
citals of deeds of shame perpetrated acains
Confederates by Federal soldiers, which
would only be a beginning of the horrible
history of wanton murder and plumber, hae
We the space to spare.
The brutality of Germany in the present
war is enough to arose the condemnation
OF all civilized nations, but we have the
word of Gen. Schofeld, afterwards com.
mander-in Chief OF the United States
Army, that German battalion did no
act like human beings, and many othel
German commands in the Federal Arm,
were noted for their atrocities. However
"the pot should not call the kettle black
and we make the prediction, no matte
which side wins in the European War, tn,
defeated rulers will not be shackled ane
imprisoned, as was President Jefferson
Davis, by the bloodthirsty Federal Gov.
eminent.
Hurrah for Virginia! In the parlance o
some, we would say "She did hersel
proud" Old John Bareycorn got another
knockout in that State from which he vii
never be able to recover. It was grea
victory. 1t was moreover q clean.on