The latest information we have from these counties, represents that the
Yankees are literally carrying out the recent outrageous orders of
General Pope, and that the citizens are being regularly plundered of negroes, stock, and household effects.
In many instances families have been deprived of every article of comfort, and of everything in the way of provisions and supplies.
All negroes who have heretofore refused to desert their owners voluntarily, are now being forced to leave whether willing or unwilling.
Some time since they visited the farm of
Mr. Charles F. Berkeley, and compelled one of his negro boys to accompany them to the
Federal camp, against his earnest declarations that he desired to remain in the service of his master. --Complaint having been made to
Gen. Abercrombie, the boy was immediately returned.
The notorious
Ceary hearing of the affair, and resolute in his determination to carry out his peculiar mode of war fare in regular and systematic thieving, sent a squad of men to demand the boy, who was ordered to take a favorite mare of
Mr. B., and forced to accompany those who were robbing him of his protection and support, and his master of his property.
At ‘"
Chantilly,"’ the beautiful country seat of
Tupperville Stewart,
Esq., in
Fairfax county, they seized all the furniture, stock, &c., and a few days ago offered it at public auction.
For the past two weeks parties have been going round to the houses of those who are engaged in the
Confederate service and assessing the household and other personal property preparatory to offering it at public sale.
All such effects they designate as ‘"deserted property,"’ and appropriate to the use of the
Federal army.
Many of the citizens are endeavoring to effect their escape to avoid arrest and imprisonment, or the necessity of taking the execrable oath of allegiance.
The principal force now in
Loudoun is a band of
Unionists, headed by an unprincipled scamp named Means, whose brother is a gallant soldier in the
Confederate service.
A short time ago this traitor and his followers arrested
Messrs. Robert W. Gray and
James S. Harris, of
Leesburg, and carried them to
Harper's Ferry, where they were imprisoned for several days, with nothing to subsist upon but crackers and water.
There being no charge alleged against them, except a warm sympathy for the cause of the
South, they were released by the commandant of that post,
Col. Dixon II.
Miles, and allowed to return to their homes.
This, however, did not suit Means, and he made several subsequent attempts to arrest
Mr. Harris, who succeeded in evading his vigilance and tyranny, and is now safe within our lines.
A few days after his return from
Harper's Ferry,
Mr. Gray sent his negro man to his farm, a few miles from town, for some corn.
When the negro arrived at the farm he found Means and his party in possession, and was sent back to
Mr. Gray with word that he could have no more corn from that place.
This traitor and his band are kept in
Loudoun by the
Lincoln Government to annoy and harass the people, and it is said that he has been employed to enforce the recent order of
Pope in that county.
On Saturday week he sent to
Harper's Ferry for one hundred men, to aid him in carrying out that order.
Some three weeks ago three companies of Federal cavalry were sent to
Leesburg, and their Quartermaster announced their intention to remain there.
They had been there but a few days when a report reached the town that the Confederate cavalry were in
Snickersville, in the upper end of the county, and they left in great haste.
It turned out that the cavalry at
Snickersville was a company of their own.
The Rev. Mr. Nourse, who, with
Gen. Rogers and others, was arrested some time ago, and afterwards exchanged, has been greatly annoyed by Means and his party, who have repeatedly threatened his arrest.
Knowing the vindictive and malignant spirit by which Means was actuated,
Mr. N., to avoid arrest, though once regularly exchanged, left
Leesburg on Saturday week, and is now beyond the tyrant's reach.
