‘ [121] controlled by satelites of government; elections carried on under military supervision; a ruffianism, both of word and action, eating deep into the country * *; the most brutal humanity in the conduct of the war itself; outrages upon the defenceless, upon women, children and prisoners; plunder, rapine, devastation, murder—all the old horrors of barbarous warfare which Europe is beginning to be ashamed of, and new refinements of cruelty thereto added, by way of illustrating the advance of knowledge.’ He further says:
It has also produced qualities and phenomena the opposite of these. Ardor and devotedness of patriotism, which might alone make us proud of the century to which we belong; a unanimity such as was probably never witnessed before; a wisdom in legislation, a stainless good faith under extremely difficult circumstances, a clear apprehension of danger, coupled with a determination to face it to the uttermost; a resolute abnegation of power in favor of leaders in whom those who selected them could trust; with an equally resolute determination to reserve the liberty of criticism, and not to allow those trusted leaders to go one inch beyond their legal powers; a heroism in the field and behind the defences of besieged cities, which can match anything that history has to show; a wonderful helpfulness in supplying needs and creating fresh resources; a chivalrous and romantic daring, which recalls the middle ages; a most scrupulous regard for the rights of hostile property; a tender consideration for the vanquished and the weak. * * * And the remarkable circumstance is, that all the good qualties have been on the one side and all the bad ones on the other.In other words, he says that all the good qualities have been on the side of the South, and all the bad ones on the side of the North. (See Confederate Secession, by the Marquis of Lothian, p. 183.) And all this was written prior to the conduct of the armies under Sherman and Sheridan, some of which we have herein set forth. How could the learned Marquis find words to portray those things? We could cite other authorities to substantially the same effect; but surely this arraignment from this high source ought to be sufficient. If anyone thinks this distinguished writer has overdrawn the picture, especially in regard to illegal arrests and imprisonments and brutal conduct towards women and children, and the defenceless generally, let them read a little book entitled ‘The Old Capital and Its Inmates,’ which has inscribed on its cover what Mr. Seward boastingly
