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On the rape
of colored
women...(3)
- Four white cavalrymen raped two black women at Newport News
during july 1862 reported the "American missionary" of september.
A visiting black female acquaintance was int eh family yard when
one pair of soldiers seized and violated her in turn while the
other pair stood guard with pistols and swords. The soldiers then
entered the home where, as the first pair guard the door , a young
black woman was raped "after a terrible struggle" in the
presence of her father and grandfather. (In "Black Conf. &
Afro yankees in CW Va" E.L.Jordan jr)
- Head Quarters 1st brigade Grover's division in camp on bayou
Boeuff beyond washington La, april 27, 1863
(...) This
brigade encamped on the evening of the engagement, April 14, 1863,
near the scene of the action. Next morning it marched in pursuit of
the enemy, and at night encamped near Indian Village. Next day it
marched to New Iberia. The scenes of disorder and pillage on these
two days' march were disgraceful to civilized war. Houses were
entered and all in them destroyed in the most wanton manner. Ladies
were frightened into delivering their jewels and valuables into the
hands of the soldiers by threats of violence toward their
husbands. Negro women were ravished in the presence of white
women and children. These disgusting scenes were due to the want of
discipline in this army, and to the utter incompetency of regimental
officers.
At night in New Iberia there was some noise and
confusion in this brigade, owing to the fact that some soldiers got
hold of Louisiana rum.(...) WILLIAM DWIGHT, JR.,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Brigade. USA
OR S1 vol XV
- During the court-martial of guerilla James Johnson
of Platte county, Mrs Frances Kean testified that Johnson, John
Nochols and another bushwackers seized her eighteen year slave
girl . She reported what the girl had told her.
" They rode on a piece and said to
her, god damn you we will punish you ...Nichols then got off his
horse and said now boys ride and she told me thay all done with
her what they wanted to-she said they violated her
person". May 18, 1863 Jefferson City MM1021 153 file 2786 RG 393 NA
in "Gender in the CW"
- A yankee prisoner, private Louis Kakuske, reported that
during his march to Shreveport,
"watched by three heavily armed,
ragged, wretched and wild ruffians", the rebels encountered a slave
woman during a lunch stop " a bit buxom, but not unattractive" . They ordered her to
come near. " Each
one of the trio in turn raped the helpless negress and after they
finished their lustful desires they turned to me, one of them
saying, Now yank, it's your turn. I refused the invitation and the
woman retired in tears". Kakuske says he was particulary
horrified by the white women who watched the rape, clapped their
hands, and "laughed as if they were applauding actors at a
theater". (In CWTI february 1975, cited by T.
Lowry)
- At St. Mary parish (Louisiana) some Union soldiers visited the
home of "a venerable lady", they looting the house, drinking up
the wine cellar and raped some of the slave women. ("The conduct
of Federal troops in La during the invasions of 1863 & 1864;
Official reports compiled under direction of Governor
Allen", cited by R. Mitchell "The vacant chair")
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