The murder of Colonel Harman.
To the Editor of the Richmond Dispatch:
Among the many acts of fiendish barbarity committed by the Yankees during this war may be included the murder, in cold blood, in the streets of Waynesboro', Augusta county, Virginia, after he had surrendered as a prisoner, of Colonel W. H. Harman, of Staunton.--He had command of some of the reserve forces in the Valley, and as many of his men as could be collected from their homes within the very short notice given of the approach of the Yankees he had mustered into service, and they were present with General Early in the fight at Waynesboro'. Some short time after our troops fell back, Major W. J. Hawks, of Early's staff, in making his escape from the enemy, who were industriously engaged in collecting our men, who were scattered in every direction, after the fight, came upon Colonel Harman in the street, who was halted by two fierce, blood thirsty-looking Irishmen (to use the Major's language), who ordered him (Harman) to halt.
Harman replied, "I have halted, sir. " At that moment one of them spying Hawks, ordered him to halt, and at the same time leveling his carbine on him. In a moment changing his position towards Hawks, the latter took advantage of it, put spurs to his horse and dashed off, and in a moment a gun was fired, but the Major did not know whether at him or at Colonel Harman.
Through a letter received at Lynchburg a few days since by a niece of Colonel Harman from her aunt, the wife of Major John A. Harman, at Staunton, the intelligence of his death was confirmed, as it mentioned the fact of his remains having been brought to Staunton, and been committed to the tomb there on Sabbath, the 5th instant.
There is little doubt but he was murdered in cold blood by the inhuman brutes who were in charge of him at the moment Major Hawks escaped.
Indeed, the Yankees at Charlottesville were heard to express regret at his death when they learned that he was the Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge of Virginia. --Miserable hypocrisy!
If they felt any compunction, how easy would it have been for them to have investigated the facts, found the perpetrators and hung them, as they so richly deserved.
Colonel Harman was well known through the State, first as one of the officers of the Virginia regiment in Mexico, then as colonel of the Fifth Virginia infantry at the commencement of this war, and to the Masonic fraternity as the highest officer of the Lodge of Virginia.
He leaves a wife and four (or more) young children to mourn his untimely fate. 