Incidents at Butler's camp.
--In an order promulgated by
Gen. Butler of
Mass., commander at the
Relay House, on Wednesday, we find the announcement that a soldier named
Charles Leonard, private in the New York Eighth Regiment, was killed by the accidental discharge of his musket, on the previous day. The order further says:
‘
"Wishing to establish the most friendly relations between you and this neighborhood, the
General invited all venders of supplies to visit our camp and replenish our somewhat scanty commissariat.
But to his disgust and horror he finds well-authenticated evidence that a private in the Sixth Regiment has been poisoned by means of strychnine administered in the food brought into the camp by one of these peddlers.
I am happy to be informed that the man is now out of danger.
This act, of course, will render it necessary for me to cut off all purchases from unauthorized persons.
Are our few insane enemies among the loyal men of
Maryland prepared to wage war upon us in this manner?
Do they know the terrible lesson of warfare they are teaching us?
Can it be that they realize the fact that we can put an agent with a word into every household armed with this terrible weapon?
In view of the terrible consequences of this mode of warfare, if adopted by us from their teaching, with every sentiment of devotional prayer may we not exclaim: ‘ "Father, forgive them!
they know not what they do!"’
’
Certain it is that any other such attempt, reasonably authenticated as to the person committing it, will be followed by the swiftest, surest and most condign punishment.
