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The Yankees in North Carolina.
A correspondent of the Petersburg Express gives the following account of the brutal conduct of the Yankees on the occasion of their recent visit to Elizabeth City. The letter is dated South Mills, N. C., April 14. On last Monday night I slept in Elizabeth City. Very early in the morning I was aroused and told to look out and see the Yankees passing under my window!. I looked out, and there they went about two hundred Zouaves, traveling at a quick pace towards the ‘"rebel"’ militia camp, about a mile from town, where there were about one hundred green militia. I was also informed that large transports had just passed up the river. In about two hours one of the companies returned, flushed with a glorious victory, having with them about thirty prisoners, while behind them came others driving in cattle, which they had stolen on their way — Shortly after this in came the other company that I had seen go by, singing a drunken song and keeping sten to the music. I waited until the last straggler had passed, and these were all I had seen go out in the morning, I concluded that I had better march in the direction that they had marched from, but before I had reached the bloody battlefield — the rebel camp — lo! and behold! I saw matching towards me a large body of my mortal enemies, with swords, muskets, and bayonets gleaming, and I having no weapon more deadly than a pen-knife! To run was impossible; so I faced the music boldly. The stars and stripes were floating over them; also, a beautiful silk flag, having on it, ‘"Sixth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers."’ Fronting the column were four mounted men, one of whom was the Colonel Griffin or Griffith;) by the side of the Colonel walked a sweet sample of a traitor, named Phoenix Spry. Being unknown by Spry, and being but a country citizen, I was allowed, after a little, to pass, which I did — Passing this body, I met stragglers for about a mile, when I came to a skirt of woods, beyond which I heard rapid but irregular firing. I imagined that it might be a guerrilla war going on, but when I passed on I discovered at least one full company of Yankees scattered over the woods and roads, and fields, some shooting chickens, turkeys, &c., some after larger game, such as oxen, cows, hogs, &c., while others were scampering all over the fields after fowls. Here I saw a sad sight. In the house of my old and respected friend, Mr. C. S. Whitehurst, the rascals were swarming. My heartfelt sympathies were with him, but I could render him no assistance. A short distance from there was the house of another respectable citizen, whose name, for reasons that may hereafter be seen, I forbear to give. Here acts were performed of the most shameful, cowardly, and brutal character. The house was filled with the wretches, who not only plundered all they could lay their hands upon, but after using the most brutal and beastly language to the old man's wife and daughter, actually attempted to outrage them. The ladies begged, implored, and even got on their knees, but to no purpose. Their cries and screams were heartrending, but there was no mercy there, and no earthly protection but an old gray-haired father. The scoundrels took the young lady and attempted to throw her down, but she succeeded in reaching a corner where she crouched and dragged her old father upon her to shelter her from worse than death.--In the meantime the mother was assaulted in the same manner, but having greater strength than her daughter, succeeded at last in tearing herself away. Failing in this, the Yankees went to the old man and demanded his money, threatening death upon his refusal to give it up. He gave them all he had--$120--and his terrible persecutors left him. During this time, as I have said, they were swarming in the house of Mr. Whitehurst. The first to enter this house was a Lieut. Hale or Hays. He stood in the door way, in full view of his men, who were gathering around, and said to Mr. W., ‘"Have you been robbed or molested by our soldiers?"’ No. was the answer. The Lieutenant then walked in where the old man and his daughter sat, followed by a swarm of his robbers, and here the Lieutenant might have added. ‘"as you have not already been robbed, I have brought men to do you that kindness."’ That was certainly his intention, for he had no sooner sat down than the plunderers begun. Every room, from the ground to the attic, was crowded with men, who were stealing everything they could find; bed clothing, crockery, spoons, knives and forks, glassware, baskets, razors, brandy, combs, paper, tobacco, window curtains, his own and his children's clothing, and everything they could carry off. From the house they went into the yard and commanded a war with the fowls, stole the honey and turned over the bee hives. They then opened the barns, and stole a small quantity of cotton, some bags, farming utensil, and even the keys in the doors. They then went out and shot a fine yoke of oxen, some other cattle, a number of hogs, and to cap the climate, the Colonel came along, took and carried off all the old gentleman's horses, (four,) riding the best one himself and giving the others to his officers. Two of the horses were splendid animals, worth five hundred dollars. They next went into the house of old Mr. Jonathan Sawyer, where they found his wife and three pretty daughters, Misses Mollie, Kizzie, and Jennie. The greatest damage they did here was to steal all the old gentleman's bacon, some axes, hoes, &c., kitchen furniture, and poultry. Some very amusing scenes took place here. When they went into the house, one of the rascals went up to Miss Mollis and asked her if she was ‘"Union?"’ ‘"No," ’ said she, ‘"I am a Secessionist."’ ‘"Have you any brothers in the Confederate Army?"’ ‘"I have no brothers, but I wish I had forty in the Confederate Army."’ Here was a pause. At last he resumed: ‘"Our troops expect to march to Norfolk soon"’ ‘"Yes, I expect your troops will march to Norfolk like they did to Richmond You will meet a Manassas on the way. !"’--This was a damper, and the fellow surrendered. The writer gives some further account of the doings of the infamous scoundrels in the neighborhood, and closes as follows: ‘ Shortly after this, the troops returned to Elizabeth City, some to their land vessels, but most of them by the land route. I do not know how many there were, but there was at least a large portion of the 6th New Hampshire regiment and about 250 New York Zouaves. I have been told that as soon as they reached town they embarked and left for Roanoke. I had forgot to say that they tried every argument to persuade Mr. Whitehurst's negroes to go with them; but they all refused and thus ended this outrageous Yankee raid into North Carolina. ’
The Daily Dispatch: April 21, 1862. Richmond Dispatch. 4 pages. by Cowardin & Hammersley. Richmond. April 21, 1862. microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mi : Proquest. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
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