Year: 1863

I0rQ, SeQt me u Hoto, saying u0 Aoo uCch "a
rested and was then in the custody of the
federal officers, and asked me to ride over
to Brandy Station to meet him, which did.
On NV return passed Gen. Lomax's bri-
gade, and when half their column had pass,
ed me and was between me and the fede-
rails, and in the presence of the other hall,
I met young Slaughter, SON of DR.. Slaugh.
ter, of Culpepper Court House, who had q
gun and knapsack in his hand, with which
eucumbrauce he could not control his horse
and he asked me to take it with nae to my
house and keep it until he called for it. AT
great Inconvenience took 1t, and this act
of kindness and accommodation was tor
tured into nv bearing arms against the
South: although General Stuart knew
what had carried me to Brandy, for he had
seen letter from me to Mrs. Bradford, tell
inc her of the arrest of her husband, and
of my being sent for to Brandy Station,


However, these rumors, publications, and
arrest have had their desired effect, as they
have led to the most wanton, wicked, aud
savage destruction of my property, such as
il have already mentioned and excited the
prejudice of the army, and possibly OF mis-
led citizens, against me. But | hope to out
live it all, whilst the authors of such van
dalism will be hold to a just accountability
at the hands of mi litary commander whose
high moral, intellectual and military quail
ties are Justly esteemed by tue whole couns
try, and by none more highly than myself;
and if not by him, then by still higher
military authority, to wit, the War Depart
ment, and if not there, then by the civil
tribunals Of the country; and if not there,
then by just, discriminating, aud indig


nant public judgment. .....ls, a


And now let me inquire, Has martial law
been declared again? and if not, when,
where, how, and from whom did General
Stuart derive the authority to arrest me or
any other citizen for any offepse whatever,
and retain me as a prisoner Of stateP If any
charge was to be preferred against me for
cipH ofense, where were the civil authorl-
ties, and why was not complaint lodged
with them upon affidavit, as the law re-
quires? How came 1, a private, psaceable,
and quiet citizen, subject to the military
authority Of General Stuart and why was
l not to be allowed, if thought proper, to
appeal to his superior in command, General
Lee against this fragrant usurpation of
power and most inexcusable instance OF
false imprisonment .,'


If mistake not, Congress, by an express
vote, refused to grant these high preroga-
tives of dictatoral power to Mr.. Davis,
how is it, then. that General Stuart under
takes first to establish a martial law for
himself, and then virtually to suspend the
writ of habeQs corpus by denial OF my
right to appeal to his superior in commands


If such power can be exercised by Gen.
Stuart with impunity-with whom and
where does the power stop2 To how low
a grade of military authority does it de-.
scend? And | may further ask, why OF all
the gentlemen in and around the Court
House who entertained federal officers,
was alone to be selected for the exercise
of this military power, for this indignity
and outrage? These are questions OF grave


interest to the liberty Of every citizen, that
can not, and shall not, be slurred over, If
there is any justice in the military depart
ment of this government, or independence
to be found in the judiciary of this state


Hitherto | have been silent as to the
wrongs, injuries, and indignities that have
been heaped upon me; but | am not span
iel to lie down aud crouch at the bidding of
any master, nor to lick the hand that
smites me; nor am | Christian enough,
when Que cheek is slapped, to turn the
other; and if am thus 70 be selected as
particular object Of persecution, and can
find no protection from the low, then will
protect myself. This cannot dOagainst
the army; but can and will do it when
the law, military and CIVIL both fail me,
Against any one man that this coDfederacy
can boast.


When purchased my present home lt
was to seek retirement and obscurity, to
get out of the way of the way of the world
and to follow for the balance of my lie the
peaceful pursuits of agriculture. There
was then no army here, nor did / suppose
there would be one. disturbed nobody,
went nowhere exceptamong king and friend
ly neighbors, with whom it has been my
good fortune TO secure as large share OF
respect as any man who has lived in the
country; and in this condition of things 1T
was that IN imitation Of the confederate
Government. "al I asked was to be let
=


alone"


But what is the liberty Of any citizen
worth if military commander can, in
the exercise of his despotic power or
weak and imbecile discretion, or in mt OF
spleen toward one who has offended, by re-
porting him for official misconduct, In which
eight other gentlemen united, drag hat cit
izen from the bosom of his family; heap
upon him the iudignty and wrong of hav.
ing him arrested and conducted through the
streets of a crowded village under guard,
keep him in that condition long enough for
all sorts of idle and malicious rulnors to De
circulated and sent over the telegraphlc
wires respecting hun, and order his dis
charge upon the ground that there was
nothing 10 be alleged against him.


And now. Mr.. Editor, in concluslon' let
me say that the press may continue to mis-,
represent and abuse me; may be arrested
and thrown into Dungeon: my fencing
...,, he thrown down and destrOyed: my