[CIRCULAR.]
HEADQUARTERS C. S. TROOPS,
Iuka, Miss., February 18, 1862.
The general commanding has been deeply mortified to hear from the citizens that we came to protect complaints that some of the troops of this command had been guilty of the most disgraceful plundering of private property; that chickens had been stolen, hogs had been killed, a horse wantonly stabbed, private gardens robbed. Such conduct is disgraceful in itself, unworthy of Southern soldiers, and only equaled by the marauding hordes that are invading our soil. It is hoped that such things may not occur again in future, but if ever they should, it is enjoined not only all officers, but upon all good men also, to ferret out and expose to ignominy and punishment the guilty parties, whose conduct when unexposed brings down common disgrace upon all. The patriot soldier who has left all the comforts and luxuries of home to battle for his country's rights will be exposed to suspicion and must bear his portion of the common disgrace. It therefore behooves him above all others to assist in detecting the quilt.
By order of Brigadier General James R. Chalmers:
ADDISON CRAFT,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
Official Records, Series I., Vol. 7, Part 1, Page 891.
Confederate troops in Mississippi were not an occupying Army, were not in a country of divided loyalties, and had the good will and support of the population. And still offenses against the local population occurred. It does not excuse those instances were armies in occupied territory exploited the vulnerability of civilians, but it does show how easy it was for the worst elements in a military unit to act as a mob and take advantage of their position.
No comments:
Post a Comment