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Union rapists.
Of
course, all soldiers guilty of rape were not tried by military justice.
Probably the most part of Civil war rapists stay unkown and
unpunished...
"Guerrillas are forming in various parts of the country,
provoked by rapes and other crimes committed by Union men.
Cases have occurred in this vicinity recently of an aggravated
character." Colonel
H. Haupt, Potomac creek (Va) 16 mai 1862, OR
SI Vol XII pt 3 p196
Question by General McDowell. What acts of violence on the women of
the country came to your knowledge near Fredericksburg? Did you report
anything of this to General McDowell?
Answer.(by ColonelHaupt) I reported one case, which
occurred within 3 miles of Potomac Bridge. A rape was committed upon
the daughter of a farmer who had rendered me material assistance in
searching for timber through the woods. I inquired of the parents in
regard to the facts, and found that the act had been perpetrated by one
of the numerous stragglers who were continually passing through the
country in every direction, and from whose ravages not a single
farm-house in the vicinity of the road was exempt, except when guarded,
and not always even then. While searching for timber I met these
stragglers in every direction, often miles from the road. I reported
these facts to General McDowell previous to the issue of his order on
the subject of rape.
from
Record of the McDowell Court of Inquiry.--14th Day, dec.62 OR
SI Vol XII pt 1 p78
"A small party of deserters from the Union forces then in
Fauquier County were roaming that region with arms in their hands,
entering the houses, marauding and ravishing in the neighborhood.
They had ravished two respectable females residing within a few
miles from Mr. Scott's home. He hearing of it sent a message to the
nearest Union command, urging the apprehension of these desperadoes,
and at the same time started, accompanied by his overseer and a
half-dozen neighbors, and in attempting to apprehend these men they
shot him and killed him. His death caused infinite consternation in
the community, as the marauders escaped, and did more to destroy the
remaining Union feeling existing in that section of Virginia than any
other event of the war that had occurred up to that time."
Witness W.D.Wallach, from Record of the McDowell Court of Inquiry.--8th
Day OR
same volume
"The most terrible outrages---robberies, rapes,
arsons, and plundering--are being committed by lawless brigands and
vagabonds connected with the army, and I desire authority to punish all
those found guilty of perpetrating these crimes with death by hanging.
Wherever I am present in person all is quiet and
orderly, but in some instances, in regiments remote from headquarters, I
hear the most deplorable accounts of excesses committed by soldiers. I
beg authority to control these plunderers by visiting upon their crimes
the punishment of death".
19
May 1862, Major Gl Ormsby M.Mitchel, 3rd div. army of Ohio to Stanton,
camp Taylor near Huntsville (Alabama).
OR SI vol X pt2 p204
- D.H.Whittle ("Anecdotes & incidents") speak about a
rape case received december 3 1864 in Howard's column, during the
march to the sea. The perpetrator was unknown but every effort would
be made to " find the scoundrel".
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