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[475] at Raleigh has often bared his bosom on the deadly bullet in defence of his native State. Her military Governor has not thought it prudent to expose his gubernatorial person in battle. It is to be hoped, however, that when he has organized his negro brigade, his Excellency the military Governor will (having laid in an abundant supply of ottar of roses and eau de cologne) put himself at its head, and strike for his own, his native land.

The parallel between Governors suggests another between generals. There was a Yankee general named Arnold, who turned tory. There was a Southern general named Washington, who was a rebel. The British honored the rebel and despised the tory. North-Carolina has a civil Governor and a military Governor — a rebel and a tory. Mean as the Yankees are, they respect the former and loathe the latter.

In conclusion, permit me to assure your Excellency that, with the distinguished consideration due to your exalted position, I subscribe myself your obedient servant,

D. H. Hill., Major-General Confederate States Army.


Governor Stanly to Major-General Hill.

Newbern, N. C., March 27, 1863.
To Major-General D. H Hill, C. S.A., Goldsboro:
sir: By flag of truce last night I received a communication from you of the twenty-fourth instant, full of insolent falsehood and blackguard abuse.

To those who know any thing of the peculiar traits of your character, it will be amusing to learn that you were capable of feeling “mortification and pain” because of any unfortunate conduct of a North-Carolinian.

You say I have descended to low abuse of my own people. I do not know what the abuse to which you have reference can be, unless it was when I characterized as “cowardly incendiaries” the men under the command of General French who burned the town of Plymouth.

I did condemn and do condemn as “cowardly incendiaries” the perpetrators of that diabolical outrage; but I have never believed they were citizens of North-Carolina. It was evidently a premeditated attempt to destroy the whole town. The houses of widows, of Union men, and of secessionists, who had been protected by the troops of the United States, were indiscriminately burned, without regard to the entreaties and tears of their wives and daughters. General French only admitted the firing of one house. You now admit that some houses were burned in Plymouth by “confederate troops.” But unfortunately — if to be convicted of falsehood can be a misfortune to a general in the “Confederate States army” --while you confess his sin, you, from the force of irresistible habits, are guilty of the same infirmity. You say, “it is alleged it was done to oust some Yankee thieves and marauders.” What I have stated above of the character of the persons residing in the houses is a sufficient refutation of this.

I am happy to know that you and I differ in opinion as to those upon whom the burden of this sin rests. If the Union forces were “brutal invaders,” I see no excuse for your burning the towns of those peaceful citizens whom you profess you came to save.

If it will afford you pleasure, you may know that I have omitted no opportunity of rebuking any “atrocities” committed by troops of the United States, in which I have been sustained by the gallant General upon whom you so unworthily endeavor to cast reproach.

As far as my observation extends, I know of but two attempts in North-Carolina to destroy towns by burning — both these were made by men of your political school. I refer to the attempt to destroy Newbern and to the burning of Plymouth.

You are pleased, in the mean malignity of your nature, to make a comparison of the civil and military Governors of North-Carolina, in the hope of wounding my feelings. How little you know of the feelings and character of the gentleman whom you would assail.

I feel a just and proper pride for the good conduct of any true son of North-Carolina, even when engaged in a bad cause. The gallant gentleman to whom you refer — as little honored by your praise as I am injured by your sneers — was honored by my “own people” --North-Carolinians — for his lifelong devotion to the Union and his often expressed detestation of secession villains — your associates in treason. He was justly endeared to his own people, because of his eloquent denunciation of the fiendish traitors, like yourself, who were trying for years to plunge his country in civil war. In an hour of excitement, believing his State was about to be invaded, he drew his sword in her defence. I honor his patriotism, while I mourn his error. He will, I trust, continue to merit public gratitude by resisting the tyranny of the destructives who hate and slander him. He will live to regret he ever did any thing to call forth your praise. Those who know you both, know you are not worthy to unlatch his shoe-string. He was not indebted to you or to your friends for his present position, and, notwithstanding his gallantry, his breast was exposed to all the bullets of your calumny.

You “bite a file,” viper, when you speak of my organizing a “negro brigade.” In this respect, even from secessionists, my conduct is unassailable.

But truth demands I should declare that if I were compelled to choose between fighting with such secessionists and town-burners as you are, attempting to destroy the government, and with “a negro brigade” to prevent is destruction, I should prefer the negro brigade. Under no circumstances could I submit to the degradation of an association with men who would serve under such a man as D. H. Hill.

Your allusion to Arnold is beneath contempt, and only reveals the deep malignity which you have had toward me. Though bound to my native land with “hooks of steel,” my adopted


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