|
His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, President of the Confederate States:
The undersigned, under the authority of a resolution of the citizens
of Northumberland County, unanimously adopted in public meeting, beg
leave to state on their behalf that their situation has become one of
extreme peril. Irritated by recent defeats and maddened by stupendous
failures, the enemy have suddenly assumed toward us (an unarmed and
defenseless people) an attitude of ferocious barbarity, (...) Recently
a force of negro troops, with a squad of cavalry, were landed about
eight miles above Westmoreland CourtHouse. (...) in addition, the
negroes, so far as we could see, were allowed unbounded license in
pillage and waste, and in the indulgence of their brutal passions and
appetites.(...) houses
searched and ransacked, ladies and gentlemen in many cases stripped of
all their clothing,(...)
But the loss of property and the devastations committed are of
minor importance in comparison with the insults and outrages heaped on
an unoffending community by these beastly savages. The negroes were
suffered to wander about from house to house without control, and
wherever they went ladies were insulted, cursed, and reviled. The most
disgusting proposals were made to some, others were subjected to
indecent familiarities or rude and revolting embraces; twelve or fifteen
escaped almost miraculously from successful violence, and four at least
became unfortunate victims of brutal lust. (...).
These are
consequences worse than death;
R. A. CLAYBROOK, SAML. L. STRAUGHAN, A.
J. BRENT, Committee.
OR S I VOL XL, PT 2
Same affair :
RICHMOND, VA., July 5, 1864. Maj. T. O. CHESTNEY,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters:
MAJOR: I have the honor to report that about the 13th of June last a
regiment of negroes, commanded by Colonel Draper, of Massachusetts,
arrived at Pope's Creek, in Westmoreland County, Va., accompanied by
about fifty regular U.S. Cavalry.(*) They marched to Union Wharf
Richmond County, in divided commands, taking negroes, horses, cattle,
bacon, wagons, farming utensils, &c., all of which were either
carried away or burned. About the 14th ultimo, at a place called Hutt's
Store, near the center of Westmoreland County, some of the negro
troops went to the house of Private George, of Ninth Virginia Cavalry,
and committed a rape upon his wife, who had just been confined with a
babe only six weeks old. She is now almost a maniac, and begs that some
one will kill her. This atrocious crime can be verified by a number
of witnesses who are personally cognizant of the fact. In Warsaw,
Richmond County, the negro troops attempted to ravish white ladies, but
were foiled by the assistance of the female slaves of the households. In
the case of Mrs. Belfield, she escaped by flight to the woods. Many
other instances could be mentioned of like atrocities if desired. In
order to repel similar raids, which are liable to be made upon this
insulated section of our State, and to protect the honor of our mothers,
wives, and daughters, I respectfully suggest that arms will be furnished
for the use of every boy and old man in the several counties in the
Northern Neck and in the adjoining counties drained by the Rappahannock,
and that such of the citizens as ave heretofore remained who may be
liable to conscription be exempt from field service in the regular army,
so as to be a nucleus of defense for the protection of that section of
country.
JNO. S. BRAXTON, Captain and Assistant
Adjutant-General.CSA
OR S1
vol XL pt 3
|