More Union rapists

  • MURFREESBOROUGH, TENN.,January 11, 1863.
Hon. E. M. STANTON.Secretary of War:
The crimes of spying, murder, arson, rape, and others, as well as desertion, are increasing, and the power to check them by inflicting the penalty of death is a nullity, for [with]the delays necessary to get them a regular trial by general court-martial, and then holding them until the matter is reviewed and approved by the President, such a time elapses that the troops are relieved and the culprit escapes. This ought to be remedied.
W. S. ROSECRANS, Major-General, Commanding.        OR S 1 volXX pt 2

  • HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WILMINGTON, Wilmington, N. C., April 1, 1865.
Lieut. Col. J. A. CAMPBELL, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of North Carolina :
(...) The country over which I am obliged to exercise more or less control extends on radii of from ten to forty miles. The authority of the Government is weakened and brought into contempt by the impunity with which stragglers, deserters from either army, marauders, bummers, and strolling vagabonds, negroes and whites, commit outrages upon the inhabitants. To say nothing of insults and plundering, there have been three cases of rape and one of murder, to say nothing of rumors of others (...)
JOS. R. HAWLEY, Brigadier-General, Commanding. OR S1 vol XLVII pt 3
  • MOSELEY HALL. March 28, 1865---11 a.m.  Colonel CAMPBELL, Assistant Adjutant-General, Goldsborough:
Your communication of 10.30 p.m. yesterday received at 8 a.m. to-day. Reports from Kinston place the enemy at seven miles this side, which is impossible. This morning everything was all right from Falling Creek bridge to this point. Commanders must furnish guards for their trains between Kinston and Goldsborough unless I have special orders. One train of 180 wagons is on the road with but one regiment. I trust the enemy cannot get very near me without my getting information of their approach. Women are ravished and robbed by stragglers all over the country.        D. N. COUCH, Major-general.  OR S1 vol XLVII p
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